Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
#76
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
I wonder if they'll ever adapt the "rental only" price on new releases again? That did keep the market more exclusive. And it's probably why it was exciting to go the video store and see what was there. More than Red Box, THAT was the death of home video rentals - when they got rid of that high pricing. It used to last 4-6 months, before you'd see a movie "priced to own". By then, you could buy the used VHS for around $10 or $15.
So the total wait on seeing it in the theater, to buying it on home video, was around one year. With the exception of the movies that were immediately "priced to own" (Disney often did this, and the biggest blockbusters).
Awe, shucks. Now I'm feeling all nostalgic.
So the total wait on seeing it in the theater, to buying it on home video, was around one year. With the exception of the movies that were immediately "priced to own" (Disney often did this, and the biggest blockbusters).
Awe, shucks. Now I'm feeling all nostalgic.
#77
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
Video stores going away doesn't bother me, but I am going to be very bummed out when record/music stores are all gone.
#79
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
I think the problem was the rental companies got greedy when this happened. I remember a lot of places were actually charging MORE to rent the DVDs than they had for VHS in the beginning, despite the fact they were getting the copies at a fraction of the price. Most places were charging a minimum of $3 a rental for DVDs and a few were doing the $5 thing (but you got it for a week, which did nothing for me since when I rent something I watch it the same night). It got hard to justify paying $5 to rent a movie I could get for $7 through some Reel.com special.
#80
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Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
I think the problem was the rental companies got greedy when this happened. I remember a lot of places were actually charging MORE to rent the DVDs than they had for VHS in the beginning, despite the fact they were getting the copies at a fraction of the price. Most places were charging a minimum of $3 a rental for DVDs and a few were doing the $5 thing (but you got it for a week, which did nothing for me since when I rent something I watch it the same night). It got hard to justify paying $5 to rent a movie I could get for $7 through some Reel.com special.
Video stores are still viable businesses; look at Family Video.
The problem is the business model needed to succeed is not compatible with the business model of a giant, publicly traded company. The writing was on the wall when Hollywood Video and Blockbuster began worrying more about shareholders, market share, and shady gimmicks rather than satisfying their customers. I worked for both companies and watched both of them shut down profitable stores because they weren't making enough profit.
Redbox did not have much to do with the demise of HV or BB ... Both were already long past done before Redbox became a standard fixture. I don't think Netflix was that big of a thorn in the side until the Big 2 began alienating their customers with crappy programs and shady policies. HV and BB drove their customers to the competition; the competition didn't take them away.
#81
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
^That is the single biggest mistake these "misbred, gray executive I've seen heavily advertised" make all the time. It's amazing how out of touch with their customers they become when they attempt to dictate what they want rather than provide the cutomers wants. Then they never think that their own actions are the biggest problem.
#82
Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
Still alive
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jWYGjQxcxXU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jWYGjQxcxXU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
#84
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
There’s a Showtime Video about 15 minutes from my house. I’ve been meaning to go in for nostalgia’s sake and see if it reminds me of the old school rental shops.
I don’t think I’d give two shits if I drove by a still in operation Blockbuster, aside from maybe flipping it off as I drove by.
I don’t think I’d give two shits if I drove by a still in operation Blockbuster, aside from maybe flipping it off as I drove by.
#86
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
We still have a Family Video a few miles from my house. I usually hit it on Friday afternoons to pick up one or two for the weekend. Other than the blue and yellow theme, a video store is a video store. Not too nostalgic for me. The big difference was the great 4 or sometimes 5 / $20 sales.
I had BB online and found it far superior to Netflix up until the end.
It's a good thing the geniuses running the place didn't waste all that money buying Netflix when they had the chance. WHEEWWWW. Crisis averted.
I had BB online and found it far superior to Netflix up until the end.
It's a good thing the geniuses running the place didn't waste all that money buying Netflix when they had the chance. WHEEWWWW. Crisis averted.
#87
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
Blockbuster SHOULD have been Netflix in 1998. Instead they arrogantly clung to their B&M model (thanks to myopic dinosaur management -- see the recording industry) because that was their money. By the time they adopted BB Online and utilized a B&M/hybrid model, it was far too late for them.
#88
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
I still miss renting a movie at Blockbuster. Call me old fashioned but it’s the little things like this that keep everyone in their bubbles. On the other hand, I love Netflix for the new and older TV shows (complete seasons).
#89
Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
#90
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Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
I hated renting from Blockbuster. They came in and shut down all the Mom and Pop rental stores in my small town. Their customer service was terrible. I bought a 30 day gaming pass where you could rent one game at a time for a month. I bought it and a week later the manager was telling me it about to expire. I argued with him about it and finally he realized he was wrong. He said you're right go on get out of here. I signed up for Netflix discs and I never rented from them again after that....
I moved from South Nashville to Lebanon, TN recently. There are two video stores still here. A Captain Video which also has a post office in it and Tanning Beds and a Family Video which I absolutely love. Lots of 2 for $1 5 nights rentals and $1 for 5 nights rentals. I have been going to Family Video every week since I moved. They are surprisingly very busy. Especially on the weekends. The line was insane when I stopped by last Friday.
I moved from South Nashville to Lebanon, TN recently. There are two video stores still here. A Captain Video which also has a post office in it and Tanning Beds and a Family Video which I absolutely love. Lots of 2 for $1 5 nights rentals and $1 for 5 nights rentals. I have been going to Family Video every week since I moved. They are surprisingly very busy. Especially on the weekends. The line was insane when I stopped by last Friday.
#91
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
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Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
If anyone is on Twitter, The Last Blockbuster is a really fun follow.
https://twitter.com/loneblockbuster
https://twitter.com/loneblockbuster
#92
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
http://www.businessinsider.com/block...million-2015-7
But you're right, they probably would have run it into the ground. They had a complete lack of vision.
#93
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Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
We still have a Family Video a few miles from my house. I usually hit it on Friday afternoons to pick up one or two for the weekend. Other than the blue and yellow theme, a video store is a video store. Not too nostalgic for me. The big difference was the great 4 or sometimes 5 / $20 sales.
I moved from South Nashville to Lebanon, TN recently. There are two video stores still here. A Captain Video which also has a post office in it and Tanning Beds and a Family Video which I absolutely love. Lots of 2 for $1 5 nights rentals and $1 for 5 nights rentals. I have been going to Family Video every week since I moved. They are surprisingly very busy. Especially on the weekends. The line was insane when I stopped by last Friday.
#94
DVD Talk Legend & 2021 TOTY Winner
Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
The last two Blockbuster stores in Alaska are closing, leaving just one location left in the US, in Bend, OR.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/bu...ster/36832227/
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/bu...ster/36832227/
#95
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
There's no Family Videos around here; in fact, I don't even think there are any mom and pop video stores except for those that serve non-English-speaking demographics. I guess Redbox is enough as far as renting physical media goes.
#96
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
I wonder how John Oliver will feel about this after donating so much to the store...
#97
DVD Talk God
Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
I thought internet is slow and expensive in Alaska so that’s why the video store was still a viable business up there. Sad they were forced to close.
#98
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Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
It sounds like their leases were going to go up too much to not make the business profitable. The main reason Family Video is still around, is that they own most of their buildings and all their revenue/profit goes toward paying the mortgage. I think they sell the stores once a store can't afford to pay the mortgage anymore. I believe the company is worth quite a bit due to the value of the real estate that they own.
#99
Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
"Film is Truth" video rental store is still operating in Bellingham, WA. It's in one of the segments of my mini-documentary from 2014 (when there were 3 remaining stores.) I'm proud that it is still there. Video rental stores are near and dear to me.
#100
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Blockbuster closing down remaining stores.
They suck
They had 20 copies of one movie on VHS but all of them would be checked out.
They had 20 copies of one movie on VHS but all of them would be checked out.