Add an Extra (Free) Disc to Your Netflix Queue by Adding Less Popular DVDs

Netflix is a pretty awesome service, but if you want to squeeze a bit more value out of your account, this little workaround from Lifehacker reader Colin Jackson lets you add an extra DVD to your queue.

(Click the image above for a closer look.)

I recently came across a way to get an extra DVD shipped to you via Netflix. My wife and I subscribe to Netflix with the 3 DVD plan. (Ed. note: The screenshot only shows two DVDs because Jackson and his wife share a queue with separate profiles.) I love Italy and other travel documentaries, and when I put a travel series on my queue, something interesting happened. Because they aren't in high demand, these travel DVDs aren't on hand at every Netflix shipping facility, so they appear as a "Short Wait" under the expected availability column. Because of that, Netflix shipped the "Short Wait" movie to me from the facility that's farther away, and because it would've taken longer than usual, they also ship other, regular DVDs. In effect, I get a bonus DVD. (Notice the "Why do you have an extra DVD?" link in the screenshot.) They usually ship my regular movie the day after that.

Since then, I have staggered my "Short Wait" movies with my regular movies and now, we usually have 4 DVDs at our house instead of the regular 3. You'll notice that the extra DVD shows up as a + instead of a regular number in my queue.

Update: Reader rainbowofleaves notes:

The real reason that they do this isn't because it's on a short wait, but because they have to send the dvd from a shipping facility that's further away (some movies are only available at some facilities), and since it will take an extra day or two to ship from across the country, they ship a bonus from your local facility so you can have one on time.

The post was half right, but don't be fooled: it actually has nothing to do with "short wait" status.

Similarly, commenter avalon73 points out this Netflix blog post explaining specifically when and why this happens.