Business

Seeing as the price for the online movie and mail-order DVD subscription Netflix plans are going to increase by 60 percent, many people took to social media platforms to voice their upset. Before the price hike, the company charged $10 for unlimited streaming and one DVD mailed at a time, but it is now planning to raise the charge to $16. Here are some of the comments by angry customers who expressed their outrage to the company's Facebook page:

"I came up with a solution. We're going to cancel our subscription to Netflix and check out DVDs from our local public library. It's free, easy, and quick. We can reserve DVDs online and have then sent to our local branch!"

"This is gonna be a boon for Redbox. Unfortunately, Netflix and I will have to part ways . . . "

"For anyone that doesn't understand why so many are upset about $8/mo, for many of us that's our entertainment budget. Can't afford groceries, much less going out to movies. This is a sucker punch to loyal customers who were just trying to hang on anyway. No one else gets away with price gouging during tough times, why should Netflix?"

"Knew this was coming. The portfolio of streaming programs/movies is very limited and is always older. So the only way to get recent content is via DVD. Not sure about y'all, but I am off to Red Box, its cheap, its convenient and it doesn't make me feel like I am being fleeced! Bye Bye Netflix!"

There are over 14,000 dissatisfied comments on the firm's wall, and some of them are claiming that Netflix is deleting their comments. Obviously the public is very upset, and personally, I'm considering switching out of Netflix myself, or at least, downgrading my package so I'm not paying more than double what I used to pay. If you're a Netflix user, how are you dealing with the rise in prices?

Source: Flickr User kristipwrs

There's never a dull moment at Starbucks. Just ask CEO Howard Schultz, who's just revealed the name of his second business memoir. The book, which drops March 29, is titled Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul and is available for preorder on Amazon, where a mock-up of the cover shows Schultz has already incorporated the company's controversial new logo.

The book will cover Schultz's return to the Starbucks helm after an eight-year hiatus as CEO, and detail the company's struggles with its core brand identity as well as its recent successes. This one's going straight to my brand-new Kindle. Will you read it?

Source

A lot of you chimed in on the goodbye post I dedicated to the closing of my local Borders. I'm still reeling from the loss (no more free WiFi and treasure trove of books!) and don't know what I'm going to replace it with. Seems like many of you had something to say; perhaps it's because we're all surviving this economic downturn together and stores closings are sadly a common sight in these times.

• Independent bookstores are great, but there's nothing like a Borders. They closed my favorite one, too. There's one in the mall, but it's not nearly as nice as the old stand alone one. I miss it terribly! — bellakaoru
• It bothers me, because I prefer books. I think the other options are great for traveling & better for the environment. But if they used recycled materials to make books it wouldn't be so environmentally damaging. And I love to visit the bookstores & browse or look through a magazine too. Online just isn't the same. — Anonymous
• Hmm I don't know, I'd be sadder if an independent book store closed. — RoaringSilence
• Thankfully, I live in a city that hasn't been as affected by the recession as most of the country (Washington, D.C.). However, my hometown is a suburb of Cleveland and it's quite the opposite there, in that the recession seemed to hit that area before it hit the rest of the country. And, many local business closed, including a wonderful local book store my family regularly patronized. Like RoaringSilence, that affected me more than if a Borders had closed. My current favorite book store is a place with rooms upon rooms of used books. I don't think they will ever close, but I would be very sad if they did! — lilkimbo
• Thankfully, the library is always there! I don't go to bookstores at all. — amber512

Find out what others have to say, after the jump.

My Sunday relaxation plans include a trip to Borders, one of my favorite places in the world. However, horror struck me yesterday when the discount signs plastered all over the store's windows finally registered in my mind — my local Borders is closing! It was heartbreaking to see the "Everything Must Go!" signs all over the bookstore and the depressingly empty bookshelves. It was also very sad to read the goodbye messages that patrons and workers scribbled all over the bathroom walls.

Borders has been losing money and closing stores because of the battle against the online book industry. I love my Kindle and am a big supporter of ebooks, but there is nothing like sitting in a Borders cafe, drinking a latte, and flipping through some glossy magazines on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

R.I.P. Borders, I will miss you. Has the recession closed any of your favorite stores?

The struggles of American Apparel's woes have been splashed across the press, and we've all heard about CEO Dov Charney's sexual harassment suits and bad money practices. The firm's appeal used to be that it was different from the other retail giants because of its strong ethical values. Charney's image is fraying away lawsuit after lawsuit, and I'm wondering if this will make you think twice about making a purchase at American Apparel.

I must admit, I admire companies that embrace a strong moral core and are doing social good. I bought my first pair of Toms shoes two weeks ago, and I felt good about my purchase. The company was founded on a premise that for every pair of shoes you buy, another pair will be donated towards a less fortunate child.

Founder Blake Mycoskie started Toms because he was inspired by his trip to Argentina, where he saw children without shoes to protect their feet. It seems that the public is supportive of the message he's sending — Toms will be fitting its millionth pair of donated shoes on a child this September.

Source