Let the throttling begin: Netflix raising prices almost double in Sept

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Update 8 24 11
Just noticed Netflix was started enforcing streaming device limits (ie how many devices at once can stream) Guess this is so they can push their "family plan" is that is rumored

Netflix just announced that they are raising the price of their plans. They are splitting off the streaming and non streaming plans.

Stream only will cost $7.99 with no disc option
DVD only with no stream will be $7.99

Both 1 disc out at a time and stream will be $15.98. More discs out raise price more

edited to add more price
2 disc only $11.99

2disc with stream $19.98
3 disc with stream $24.99
4 Disc with stream $29.99

STAYS THE SAME
1 Disc out (2 max per month) $4.99
 
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Yeah it depends a lot on taste and whether you want to watch stuff right away. Blockbuster video stores have a pretty good catalog for 99 cent rentals. Haven't searched for foreign movies but heard from a lot of people that they don't have foreign movies.
 
What does Blockbuster stores charge for DVD rentals again? $4 each for catalog titles, $5 for new releases?
Click to expand...

$2.99 new releases 5 weeks or newer
$1.99 new releases 6 weeks - 1 yr.
$.99 over 1 yr.
dvd and blu rays same price

Haven't searched for foreign movies but heard from a lot of people that they don't have foreign movies.
Click to expand...

all stores have a foreign section (at least around here) its just some will have a better selection than others depending on demographic.
 
[quote name='arsenal_fan']Yeah it depends a lot on taste and whether you want to watch stuff right away. Blockbuster video stores have a pretty good catalog for 99 cent rentals. Haven't searched for foreign movies but heard from a lot of people that they don't have foreign movies.[/QUOTE]

Oh, the stores dropped their catalog rentals to 99 cents? Been so long since I've been in a Blockbuster store (because of Netflix ;)) that I had no idea. Even before Netflix, I always strongly preferred Hollywood Video (which unfortunately is now gone too). All of the BBV stores near me closed a while ago, so it's kind of a moot point now, I guess.

Oh, and can I just say that the huge "Goodbye Netflix" box on the front page of the BBV website just reeks of desperation? Stay classy, Blockbuster.

Edited to add:
[quote name='hawaiiboy']$2.99 new releases 5 weeks or newer
$1.99 new releases 6 weeks - 1 yr.
$.99 over 1 yr.
dvd and blu rays same price[/QUOTE]

Yeah, as I said, been a long while since I've even set foot in a Blockbuster. Before, they were even more expensive than their brick and mortar competition (I always went to Hollywood Video because they were a dollar or two cheaper and let me keep the discs longer), let alone Netflix. Looks like they've lowered their prices a good bit since I was last there. Too bad they waited so long (until it was too late) to become competitive. I might have gone there more often at those prices.

I find it interesting that you changed what I wrote when you quoted me, though... I said "what did Blockbuster stores charge", referring, again, to what we used to pay a few years ago, you changed the quote to "what does Blockbuster stores charge" (please, in the future, at least use correct grammar if you're going to misquote me, so it doesn't look like I did that ;)) referring to the price now. I was making a specific point about how what we would have seen as a good value even a few years ago (i.e. $8 for 4-5 movies -- would have seemed like a real deal back then) is now seen as bad, your change kind of loses that point entirely.
 
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[quote name='arcane93']Oh, and can I just say that the huge "Goodbye Netflix" box on the front page of the BBV website just reeks of desperation? Stay classy, Blockbuster.[/quote]
I didn't read that way. They saw an opportunity. A bunch of Netflix fans unhappy. They said lets match their deal and offer more than Netflix can for the same price to attract even more users. Thus, Goodbye Netflix plan, which is available to ex-Netflix subscribers.
 
[quote name='arsenal_fan']If you'll cancel streaming, I think you'd be better off if you cancelled Netflix itself. Paying a guaranteed $8 + tax per month for DVDs makes little sense to me. At least in my case I get a DVD every 3 days if I watch it the same day it arrives and send it out next morning. That is a maximum of 10 DVD's a month. But so many times I just don't get to a DVD for days and as a result I end up watching say 4-5 movies a month & I'd rather pay $5 at a BBV or a redbox.[/QUOTE]


It just doesn't make sense for you.

I watch 1-2 movies a week on disc from them (2 most weeks) and think it's well worth the $10 (I have Blu-ray) vs. hassling with driving to and from a Redbox or local store and worrying about getting it back by the due date/time. And the selection is a lot better as Redbox is only new releases and local stores lack foreign films, indie films and documentaries beyond the few mainstream, award winning ones.

So let's say I average 6 discs a month, that comes out to about $1.67 per title. Redbox is I think $1.50 for Blurays. I'm very happy to pay an extra .17 cents or so to not have to hassle driving to the redbox a couple miles away (with city traffic so it's at least 10 minutes each way x 4) and having to worry with making sure to watch it and get it back within the 24 hour window.

But yeah, if you're only casually into movies, then Netflix's disc only plan doesn't make as much sense, whereas maybe the streaming does if you watch a lot of TV shows.
 
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[quote name='hawaiiboy']$2.99 new releases 5 weeks or newer
$1.99 new releases 6 weeks - 1 yr.
$.99 over 1 yr.
dvd and blu rays same price
[/QUOTE]

Those are current prices after they went bankrupt and closed a ton of stores.

He was talking about what prices were before that at BBV. Around where I was at the time it was $4-5 for new releases and I think $2.99 for older rentals.
 
[quote name='arcane93']Oh, and can I just say that the huge "Goodbye Netflix" box on the front page of the BBV website just reeks of desperation? Stay classy, Blockbuster.[/QUOTE]

Not like they're going to say "It's only a small increase, just stay with Netflix."

Might as well jump on what they can since this is a rare opportunity for them for the past decade or two.
 
As it is right now i find myself just watching stream only. I used to have the 2 disc option but found myself keeping them way to long. So i went to one disc, but come Sept. stream only will be the way for me.
 
[quote name='killer9']i just got an email saying i would be getting 3% credit applied to my next bill for the outage yesterday anyone else[/QUOTE]

Me. Love saving that quarter. ;)
 
[quote name='killer9']i just got an email saying i would be getting 3% credit applied to my next bill for the outage yesterday anyone else[/QUOTE]

I didn't- time for a class-action lawsuit! ;) LOL
 
[quote name='dmaul1114']I got 3% credit as well.[/QUOTE]

So they e-mailed you and the credit was put on your credit card, or are they going to take it off your next month's membership fee?

I'm guessing we have to do something collectively to get this refund, and I'm willing to take whatever steps necessary to do so (e-mail them, threaten a boycott, etc.).
 
[quote name='LeonSKennedy']So they e-mailed you and the credit was put on your credit card, or are they going to take it off your next month's membership fee?[/QUOTE]

It's a credit applied to the next month's bill.

[quote name='LeonSKennedy']I'm guessing we have to do something collectively to get this refund, and I'm willing to take whatever steps necessary to do so (e-mail them, threaten a boycott, etc.).[/QUOTE]

Whoa, seriously, calm down dude. It's 3% of the monthly streaming account charge -- i.e. 24 cents. Nothing to get that worked up about.
 
[quote name='LeonSKennedy']So they e-mailed you and the credit was put on your credit card, or are they going to take it off your next month's membership fee?
[/QUOTE]

You get an e-mail and there's a link to click to get a 3% credit on your next bill.

As others have said, it's 24 cents so it's not worth worrying about if you don't get the e-mail.
 
[quote name='NeuralFizz']If you can't spare 24 cents you ought to not have a TV.[/QUOTE]

Way to make an a-hole statement about something that only "a select few" are receiving. I pay my damn membership fee like everyone else, and I don't care if it's one cent, let alone 24 cents! If they're paying some people a refund, they should be paying everyone the refund.

Besides, I saw 3%, and thought it applied to my entire membership fee. Unlike you, I pay to rent blu-rays on top of the streaming plan, so my initial impression was I'll get a $1 or $2 rebate back. Didn't know it applied to the streaming costs only.

This just epitomizes to me how Netflix stock is going to drop to less than $150 a share (currently $287.29 as I write this). They have a monopoly as it is, and profitability out the roof, but they're so damn greedy they want to make as much money as they can. Hell, why not just have a Netflix channel on DirecTV and make it on demand. Charge $20 or $25 a month, and you can pull up any movie instantly in HD through DirecTV. If you're truly going to be that greedy, just do it already. Don't nickel and dime us loyal customers who were with you when nobody knew who the hell you were, or thought you would even exist in 3-5 years. We supported you when your stock was worth nothing, and this is how you repay us.
 
[quote name='LeonSKennedy']Way to make an a-hole statement about something that only "a select few" are receiving. I pay my damn membership fee like everyone else, and I don't care if it's one cent, let alone 24 cents! If they're paying some people a refund, they should be paying everyone the refund.

Besides, I saw 3%, and thought it applied to my entire membership fee. Unlike you, I pay to rent blu-rays on top of the streaming plan, so my initial impression was I'll get a $1 or $2 rebate back. Didn't know it applied to the streaming costs only. [/quote]
My guess is this refund is given because these users tried to access instant stream and it wasn't working when they tried. Netflix has done it this way in the past to only pay back the few that tried to use the service when it was down.

They have a monopoly as it is, and profitability out the roof, but they're so damn greedy they want to make as much money as they can.
Click to expand...
Far from one. Blockbuster still does mailers, in fact they brought down their prices on them and offer more. Redbox/Blockbuster Kiosk are at about every grocery/gas station. All the Cable companies still offer Pay-Per-View. iTunes/Amazon/Zune/Hulu+ all have a streaming aspect. All premium movie channels offer free OnDemand and some have websites for streaming like HBO. Again, way far from a monopoly.

While I do not agree with the price increase, I still think it is affordable; just their competitors offer MORE than Netflix can. This was the biggest factor in my drop of service on them.
 
[quote name='lordopus99']My guess is this refund is given because these users tried to access instant stream and it wasn't working when they tried. Netflix has done it this way in the past to only pay back the few that tried to use the service when it was down.[/quote]

I got the refund and I didn't try to access streaming when it was down this time.

Far from one. Blockbuster still does mailers, in fact they brought down their prices on them and offer more. Redbox/Blockbuster Kiosk are at about every grocery/gas station. All the Cable companies still offer Pay-Per-View. iTunes/Amazon/Zune/Hulu+ all have a streaming aspect. All premium movie channels offer free OnDemand and some have websites for streaming like HBO. Again, way far from a monopoly.

While I do not agree with the price increase, I still think it is affordable; just their competitors offer MORE than Netflix can. This was the biggest factor in my drop of service on them.
Click to expand...

It's not a monopoly. But it's still the only really good option for serious movie fans. All the other services stink for foreign films, indie films, documentaries etc.

So if you want to watch more than Hollywood movies and US TV shows, then you're pretty much stuck with Netflix if you want to rent rather than buy everything.

But I do agree the Netflix plan is still affordable ,and is still a good deal. I'll probably drop streaming for a while since I generally only watch a couple movies a week anyway, and I can do that with discs and just get a disc for anything I'd want to stream anyway.
 
[quote name='Xizer']That is just patently false.

Blockbuster's rental selection is far greater than Netflix's.[/QUOTE]

BS. Netflix has always had a bigger selection of movies than BB. Though BB certainly has most movies most people would want to watch so the difference is moot for most.

For me every time I've though of switching I search their site for some foreign films, documentaries etc. I have in my Netflix queues and find a few they don't have and end up staying with Netflix.

One example I just checked off the top of my head. I watched "Wasteland" on Netflix streaming the other day--fantastic documentary, got an Oscar nomination last year. Checked Blockbuster.com and searched for it and they don't have it.

Just no way BB has more movies than Netflix. They have everything you'd want if you only watch Hollywood movies, and do have a decent amount of foreign films and docs, but they still lack a lot of lesser known foreign films, documentaries etc. If you're big into those things like me, Netflix is the best rental option currently.

Especially if you don't have BB nearby anymore for in store exchanges and if you don't rent games, as that negates BB's two biggest advantages. If you still have a store and interest in renting games, then I definitely say to give BB Online a shot.

And of course, on the other hand, if you like the selection Netflix's streaming service, there's really nothing else out there with near that selection of movies and tv shows for $8 a month--so that's a big selling point for their service even after the price hike. So they do have a bit of a monopoly there. Hulu is good for people who mainly want TV shows and don't care as much about movies and documentaries etc. And there's all the pay per view movie options, but those will cost a lot more for people who watch more than 2 or 3 movies a month.
 
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[quote name='LeonSKennedy']I pay my damn membership fee like everyone else, and I don't care if it's one cent, let alone 24 cents! If they're paying some people a refund, they should be paying everyone the refund.[/QUOTE]

There's nothing all that "select" about it. The refund is for people who attempted to use streaming and were unable to due to the outage, to make up for the inconvenience. If you didn't try to use the streaming while the streaming was down, you weren't inconvenienced, and you don't qualify. Simple as that.

No, I have no idea how they determined who did and did not try to use streaming during the outage. More than likely they could see who logged in (or attempted to log in) during that time. And even if you did get the email from them, they don't give the refund automatically, you have to tell them that you experienced the outage. Direct quote from the email: " If you attempted and were unable to instantly watch TV episodes or movies yesterday, click on this account specific link in the next 7 days to apply a 3% credit to your next billing statement for your $7.99 a month Unlimited Streaming plan." (emphasis mine) Of course I'm sure that some people who didn't experience a problem clicked on it anyway.

But if it's really that big a goddamn deal to you, I'm sure if you contacted them and told them that you had tried to use the streaming on Monday and couldn't get in (i.e. lied to them), and you heard that other people were given refunds, they would give it to you just to shut you the hell up. Enjoy your 24 cents.


[quote name='dmaul1114']I got the refund and I didn't try to access streaming when it was down this time.[/QUOTE]

More than likely, you logged in during the downtime, maybe to check your queue or something like that. They probably can't tell what you were specifically trying to do, just that you were in the system.
 
[quote name='arcane93']
More than likely, you logged in during the downtime, maybe to check your queue or something like that. They probably can't tell what you were specifically trying to do, just that you were in the system.[/QUOTE]

That is probably it as I did watch a disc rental on Sunday and did log into see what disc was next in my queue and moved some things around.

The site was working fine though, and I didn't try to stream anything.
 
So for those of you that receive dvds we should put Blockbuster or redbook flyers in the cases when we send them back! :D
 
[quote name='dmaul1114']That is probably it as I did watch a disc rental on Sunday and did log into see what disc was next in my queue and moved some things around.

The site was working fine though, and I didn't try to stream anything.[/QUOTE]

Then in theory, you didn't experience a problem, so you shouldn't have clicked the link for the refund. ;)

That being said, I've experienced enough outages and other issues that I've never gotten credit for (and knowing how little the refunds are anyway, that I haven't bothered to contact them about) that when I do get these emails and I haven't tried to use streaming during the outage they're for, I usually just take them anyway and consider them to count toward those other problems.

[quote name='Slappybob']So for those of you that receive dvds we should put Blockbuster or redbook flyers in the cases when we send them back! :D[/QUOTE]

What are they going to do with women's magazines? ;)
 
[quote name='dmaul1114']
It's not a monopoly. But it's still the only really good option for serious movie fans. All the other services stink for foreign films, indie films, documentaries etc.[/quote]
I keep hearing you say this but it isn't true.

Oscars
Documentary winner - Inside Job (on BB)
Documentary nom - Gasland (on BB)
Documentary nom - Exit Through the Gift Shop (on BB)
Documentary nom - Restrepo (on BB)
Foriegn nom - Biutiful (on BB)
Foriegn nom - Dogtooth (on BB)
Foriegn nom - Outside the Law (on BB)
So in all, Netflix has 1 title BB doesn't have (Waste Land)...

As for indie films, not sure what you are referring to. Blockbuster has plenty. Every oscar type title that wasn't big I could find for the most part. When you say Indie are you talking the C type movies that show up on netflix's stream?
 
I know this is shocking, but there are many good foreign films and documentaries that aren't nominated for Oscars. Many of them are even better than the ones that are nominated (what? the Oscars aren't always given to the best films? scandalous!). Blockbuster gets the Oscar-nominated films because those are the ones that everyone, even those who don't follow foreign films, documentaries, or whatever, have heard about. He's referring to their selection beyond that, which is pretty pathetic.

Edit: That being said, I'm looking at Blockbuster's selection now, and it does look like they've improved significantly since the last time I looked. Enough to possibly merit more investigation.
 
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[quote name='lordopus99']I keep hearing you say this but it isn't true.

Oscars
Documentary winner - Inside Job (on BB)
Documentary nom - Gasland (on BB)
Documentary nom - Exit Through the Gift Shop (on BB)
Documentary nom - Restrepo (on BB)
Foriegn nom - Biutiful (on BB)
Foriegn nom - Dogtooth (on BB)
Foriegn nom - Outside the Law (on BB)
So in all, Netflix has 1 title BB doesn't have (Waste Land)...

As for indie films, not sure what you are referring to. Blockbuster has plenty. Every oscar type title that wasn't big I could find for the most part. When you say Indie are you talking the C type movies that show up on netflix's stream?[/QUOTE]


I'm not going to waste time digging up more titles.

All that matters is when I've checked things on my queue, I always find titles Netflix has that Blockbuster doesn't. Sure, they mostly have all the major foreign films and docs and indie films--especially things that get oscar nominations etc. But they don't have all that great a selection in those categories outside of the award nominated type films.

If it works for you, that's fine. I'm not telling anyone not to use Blockbuster, and I get that a lot of people are pissed about Netflix's pricing change and switching and that's fine.

Myself, I've never liked Blockbuster from having a string of crappy experience with their retail stores years back from them losing returns and accusing me of not returning them etc. So Blockbuster would have to offer 100% equal selection and superior service and pricing to Netflix to get me to switch. The selection is slightly inferior based on my tastes and queue comparisons, the price is the same for 1 blu ray at a time and the service at best is equal and could possibly be a day or two slower on disc shipments (again instore exchanges and game rentals are useless to me).

So I'm sticking with Netflix. But Blockbuster is certainly a fine option for other's that don't hate the company and don't care about more obscure indie films, documentaries etc.
 
[quote name='arcane93']I know this is shocking, but there are many good foreign films and documentaries that aren't nominated for Oscars. Many of them are even better than the ones that are nominated (what? the Oscars aren't always given to the best films? scandalous!). Blockbuster gets the Oscar-nominated films because those are the ones that everyone, even those who don't follow foreign films, documentaries, or whatever, have heard about. He's referring to their selection beyond that, which is pretty pathetic.

Edit: That being said, I'm looking at Blockbuster's selection now, and it does look like they've improved significantly since the last time I looked. Enough to possibly merit more investigation.[/QUOTE]

Exactly.

And yes, it has definitely improved since the last time I checked for sure. But not enough to get me to switch when the price is the same and Netflix's service has never let me down.
 
FWIW got a notice yesterday that Blockbuster was upgrading my 1 out a month with 5 store exchanges to unlimited exchanges for no cost. No bad since I paid $3.33 per month for bb and use it for games. Sad when my deal runs out next month ( I bought gift cards that allowed you to try 3 months of BB for $10)
 
[quote name='LakersForLife82481']My last night of netflix instant is tonight :([/QUOTE]

FYI....The prices don't go up for existing customers until your billing date in Sept.
 
[quote name='arcane93']Then in theory, you didn't experience a problem, so you shouldn't have clicked the link for the refund. ;)

That being said, I've experienced enough outages and other issues that I've never gotten credit for (and knowing how little the refunds are anyway, that I haven't bothered to contact them about) that when I do get these emails and I haven't tried to use streaming during the outage they're for, I usually just take them anyway and consider them to count toward those other problems.[/QUOTE]

Same here.

Plus it's a service that should always be available, so they should just credit everyone who pays for it anyway IMO.

I can get limiting it if the outage was limited to a specific device like the 360 or PS3 etc.and only giving it to people who have those devices registered to their accounts.

Otherwise, if it goes down just give everyone the small credit and be done with it.
 
Seems like Netflix streaming is down again...at least on the 360.

I'm getting the "We're unable to connect you to Netflix. Please try again later." message.

Edit: Streaming works on my laptop, so much just be an issue with certain platforms.

Edit2: Tried again and it's working on the 360 again now.
 
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I canceled and went with blockbuster. No extra charge for blu rays, unlimited in store exchanges. and games are included.
hopefully bb will stick around a bit longer
 
Too bad all my blockbusters closed. I'm going to cancel in september there isn't much on tv now but then the new shows should be starting. I plan to pick it back up when those shows go into reruns. I find it hard to find things on it anymore that i haven't seen that look as if they are worth watching.
 
[quote name='spug21']No extra charge for blu rays...[/QUOTE]

That one is moot since it's $9.99 for one disc at a time, which is the same as 1 disc with bluray under Netflix's new plans.

The in-store exchanges and game rentals are a big advantage for people who'll use them though.
 
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Quick question about netflix, I know you need gold membership on 360 to watch netflix, do i need to pay anything to watch that on my wii?
thanks
Plus my Wii and 360 both have wifi with cable internet, is it fast enough to steam?
 
Xbox is the only one that has a fee on top of the Netflix sub. No fee on Wii or PS3.

Cable internet should be fast enough I'd think. Anything over 3mbps or so should be pretty much good to go. Maybe even slower than that, though you might have issues with HD streams with slower speeds. Though the Wii can't do HD anyway, so moot point.
 
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I was already just using the streaming only ever since I registered on my PS3, and my family uses it enough to get more than our money's worth out of it. It's also really convenient to have on the iPhone, since it helps with long car rides, or sitting through other family member's graduation ceremonies. I'm just keeping since nothing is changing for me, and the other services like Hulu or Charter On Demand charge more than what they're good for.
 
I'm still not upset about the price change as it's a $4 decrease for on my plan, but I'm probably changing to BB anyway. Lately at least 1 out of every 2 discs I get from Netflix is completely broken or is so scratched it won't play. The straw that broke the camel's back was when I returned a scratched up, unplayable disc and received the replacement today. Not only was the replacement also bad, but the second movie I got today was also unplayable.
 
That's odd/bad luck. I think I've gotten 3 unplayable discs from Netflix in the 3+ years I've used them.

The broken discs may be an issue with your local postal systems machinery breaking them in shipping some how. Scratches can't be explained by that though.
 
[quote name='ragtop70']I'm still not upset about the price change as it's a $4 decrease for on my plan[/QUOTE]

How on earth are you getting a $4 decrease on your plan? I don't see any scenario in which anyone will see a decrease on their currently existing plans. The only way that you're going to see that is if you drop either the streaming or the disc service (at which point, it's not the same plan anymore).

[quote name='leung19']Quick question about netflix, I know you need gold membership on 360 to watch netflix, do i need to pay anything to watch that on my wii?
thanks
Plus my Wii and 360 both have wifi with cable internet, is it fast enough to steam?[/QUOTE]

Your questions appear to have pretty much been answered (no extra fee on the Wii, yes cable should be fast enough), but I'll just add a note that (sorry if this is obvious to you, but I'm sure some people haven't thought of it) since the Wii doesn't have HD, you're not going to be able to watch the HD streams in HD (you'll get the programming downgraded to SD). I'm also not certain (never tried it) whether the surround sound works at all with the Wii's kludgy Dolby Pro Logic II surround (definitely not going to be as good as real 5.1 regardless). So if you want the full HD, surround sound experience, you're going to need to use the XBox or some other HD-capable device. If you don't care one way or the other, the Wii should work for you.
 
[quote name='arcane93']How on earth are you getting a $4 decrease on your plan? I don't see any scenario in which anyone will see a decrease on their currently existing plans. The only way that you're going to see that is if you drop either the streaming or the disc service (at which point, it's not the same plan anymore).[/quote]

I'm guessing that's what he meant. For someone that only uses discs and was never using streaming at all, they can save some money by switching to disc only--it's not the same service technically, but it is the same practically since they never used the streaming anyway.

If he was only using streaming then it is moot since the $7.99 streaming only plan was already an option. The $7.99 disc only plan is the new, cheaper option.
 
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