Thousands of Netflix customers, including many across Washington and Idaho, were unable to receive mailed DVDs this week as the San Francisco-based company struggled with a technical problem affecting its mailing and processing system.

Company officials say the problem, which was not identified, is affecting most of its 55 processing and distribution centers, including the one at the Spokane Airport Industrial Park.

The problem prevented the entertainment company from sending DVDs to customers and was the most significant technical problem Netflix has had since launching its service nine years ago.

Disks mailed back are being processed normally - the company was able to send out some discs on Wednesday, but shipped none on Tuesday or Thursday. Affected customers were promised a credit to their accounts for the delay.

The glitches didn’t affect Netflix’s Web site or its service for streaming movies and television shows instantly to customers’ computers. (Spokesman Review)