Netflix price hike angers customers

July 14, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

san francisco

Some Netflix customers called it a slap in the face. Others a betrayal. Many threatened to drop the movie service.

On Wednesday, many of them vented on Twitter, Facebook and elsewhere, seething over Netflix Inc.’s decision to raise its prices by up to 60 percent for the millions of subscribers who want to rent DVDs by mail and watch movies online.

By Wednesday afternoon, more than 40,000 people had responded to a post on Netflix’s Facebook page announcing the change, with some saying they would switch to rivals such as Hulu.com’s paid service and to Redbox’s DVD-rental kiosks.

Less lead in US toys

washington

The amount of lead allowed in toys and other children’s products sold in the U.S. will soon be reduced to one of the lowest limits in the world. The move was praised by consumer advocates but denounced by critics worried about job losses and shuttered businesses.

In a 3-2 vote split along party lines, the Consumer Product Safety Commission cleared the way Wednesday for the limit to be lowered next month so that most products intended for children 12 and under will move from being about 99.97 percent lead- free to 99.99 percent lead-free.

Proponents say there’s no known safe level of lead, which can cause irreversible brain damage, learning disabilities and other problems such as aggressive behavior.

Chrysler recalls Ram pickup trucks

detroit

Chrysler is recalling nearly 250,000 Ram pickups because a bad part in the steering system can cause drivers to lose control of the truck.

The Ram is Chrysler’s top-selling vehicle. The recall covers 242,780 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups from the 2008 to 2011 model years.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Wednesday on its website that a part near the left front wheel can fracture, and potentially cause crashes.

The problem happens mainly at low speeds when drivers are making tight turns. Chrysler says drivers have reported a few minor crashes and one minor injury.

Affected models include 2008-11 Ram 2500 and 3500 four-wheel-drive pickups and 2008-2011 Ram 3500 two-wheel-drive chassis cabs made from Feb. 14, 2008, through March 28, 2011.

Dean Foods, farmers reach settlement

dallas

Dean Foods Co., one of the largest dairy distributors in the United States, says it has agreed to pay $140 million to settle a lawsuit over pricing with a group of dairy farmers in the Southeast.

The dairy farmers said Dean and cooperatives that are major buyers worked together to keep the prices of milk artificially low, thereby limiting the farmer’s profits. Dean denied the claims.

The case was scheduled for trial in August. But under the agreement, Dean Foods will pay the money over a four- to five-year period into a fund for the dairy farmers in several Southeastern states.

Vindicator wire reports

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .62, 22.42 .03

Avalon Holdings,2.8099.16

Clear Channel, .63 59.26 .78

Cortland Bancorp, 7.01—.11

Farmers Nat., .12, 4.94 .09

First Energy, 2.20, 43.73—.17

FirstMerit Corp., .64,16.87 .17

First Niles Financial, .32,7.50.00

First Place Fin., 1.00—.28

FNB Corp., .48,10.36.11

General Motors,30.75.07

General Electric, .60,18.51.13

Motors Liquidation, .0422.00

Huntington Bank, .04, 6.19.00

JP Morgan Chase, 1.00,39.62.23

Key Corp, .12,8.09.08

LaFarge, 13.90 .36

Macy’s, .40, 29.82.16

Parker Hannifin, 1.48, 86.56.37

PNC, 1.40,58.01—.04

RTI Intl. Metals,37.451.09

Simon Prop. Grp.,3.20,118.18—1.07

Stoneridge 15.06 .09

United Community Fin. 1.30.04

Selected prices at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Provided by Stifel Nicolaus. Not to be construed as an offer or recommendation to buy or sell any security.