whotony

We're having a meeting Saturday to discuss the new pricing for rentals in store.
Essentially it will be $1 a day.

Every rental will be 5 days for $5 then $1 a day for each day you keep it past 5 days.

the exact details will be given to us tomorrow, this is going to be ugly.

ChristianB

Still fascinates me how Blockbuster can't come up with a reasonable pricing structure...it's not THAT difficult!? DVD has been out for how long now?

DeanoBKN

So this has been the latest change...in how much? It sounds like every few months I hear word of new plans.

BravesMG

I kinda like this pricing structure, but I bet this will cause issues. I don't use BB that often, but one of the things that drove me nuts is it seems like there were 15 different rental options for new releases, favorites, and catalog titles.

whotony

Before this We had 99 cent family price for 8 days.
a $5 for the wall 2 days, new releases
and $4 for catalogue 8 days.

Now I guess $5 for 5 days for everything.

whotony

What would that price structure be?

dino88

It costs $5 for one rental? Why would anyone rent from them when they can get it from their on demand service for the same price.

whotony

most people rent for more then 1 day.
Almost everything we check in has been out of the store for at least a week.

dino88

99% of the time people will only watch the movie one time, so the rental time isn't really significant.

komsik

So if you are just looking for a movie for one night you still have to pay $5 and rent for a 5 night minimum? Its nice that it averages out to $1 a day but I don't think it will help them get those redbox customers back. Seems like just plain $1 a night would be better and might get people to rent more.

DJariya

I don't understand why the old titles have to be priced the same as new releases.

I like to rent an old title every once and awhile of something that I probably have never seen, but spending $5 for it is not very enticing.

DJariya

What I turns me off with the Redbox machines is the shitty selection. I know if I had the opportunity to go to a Blockbuster (with a much better selection) and rent for $1 a night and not have a 5 night minimum to pay for, I would probably be more inclined to rent 4-5 titles.

whotony

I think they should have made the older titles $1 a day.

Now everything is $5 for 5 days then $1 a day after.

the one thing that's different is that if you rent something that would sell for $3.99 as pvd, then that is the cap on the am't of the additional daily rental (adr)price.

So you rent it for $5 for 5 days, kepp it for 8 more days you only pay the $3.99 additional price.
Same if the pvd price is $14.99, that is the cap.

ok the fun starts Monday.

BKenn01

I dont think a B&M can feasibly do rentals for $1 for 1 night. Labor cost would likely be well over $300 per day, rent about 167 per day (5k month). That would be almost 500 rentals per day to break even and wouldnt count utilities, product cost, advertising or other misc expenses.

I am afraid the B&M video store is done....

Abob Teff

That's because there are "no late fees" ... once you start charging for late movies, you will start seeing stuff arrive back on time (or shortly after).

btbrossard

Agreed.

I don't want to be forced into a 5 night rental, even if that rental works out to only $1 a day.

Blockbuster may remain in business, but not like this. The $1 a night cat has been let out of the bag, and convincing consumers to go out of their way to pay more for the same product is going to be a tough sell. You can't throw a rock without hitting a Redbox, but I have to drive 5 whole miles to get to Blockbuster to pay more, no thanks.

tonyc3742

5.00 for any title is too much.
I don't know, I know there are lots of people who really work the Redbox, but 1.00/night allows them to do that, and have the flexibility to keep it another day "it's just a dollar" if they didn't watch it.
That said, I haven't rented from BB in a long time, i did buy 3 things for 20.00 last fall when they had a sale.
The only bad thing about Redbox is, like has been said, the limited selection. I also heard a coworker comment that the box was full one time and wouldnt take her return, but I'm not sure how often that happens.

majorjoe23

It seems like an option would be good here. Something like $3 for 1-2 days, $5 for 5 days.

Alan Smithee

Hooo, boy- this goes back to when Blockbuster started out around here and was charging $3 for 3 days on every VHS. $3 was usually the new release premium price at the other stores, so to pay that much to rent a catalog title was outrageous. I only kept rentals for one day, so why should I be forced to pay for 3 days?

If there hasn't been enough to kill Blockbuster already, this might just do it. As I've said before, the only thing that can save them now is to ditch all their prudish policies and start stocking PORN!

DJariya

I know rent and overhead costs are much more expensive than they were when Blockbuster 1st started out. But, I think lower prices would help you move more rental product. Older catalogue titles should IMO not be priced the same as new releases.

Let's see, should I rent 4 movies for $20 and essentially be forced to keep them for 5 days each or go with Netflix which I currently have and get about 12 movies a month (I usually watch 3 per week) and pay $16.99. I think I will stick with Netflix.

whotony

I realize t hat, I also think that the poeple who continue to use bbv will adopt to the new price terms and not even care.
There will always be the same small group who come in and complain
no matter what the rental terms are.
Not yet, I'm in till the end. And when that comes I'll see where things take me.

BravesMG

That's kind of shitty since they're knowingly making you pay more to rent the movie than it's worth. I'm guessing the system won't prompt the cashier to let the customer know if they have a PV copy of a movie they're trying to rent that's cheaper to buy than the rental cost.

RonG617

Another nail in the coffin.

Gizmo

Fuck this place.

Larry C.

Why someone would rent a BB is beyond me. I used to be the type that didn't like netflix type deals because I want the ability to have the impluse watch. But once I drank the kool-aid I'll never go back. BB is awful and way overpriced.