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http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/09/blockbuster-more-than-doubles-planned-store-closures.html



I havent rented from blockbuster in 4 maybe 5 years. I do buy their used DVDs when they are 2 for twenty or 4 for twenty but thats it. I dont see how they can compete with netflix, redbox.... I rent from redbox and love it. 


Do you rent from blockbuster?

Nope. The Blockbuster we have here only has films from the past two years. They stock all that stuff on shelves on one side of the store, the rest is filled with racks of PS3 and XBox360 games. They have a bargain bin with some older films, but they're all Julia Roberts or Jet Li films (aarrgh!). We used to have "Jack Beanstalk" and "Channel 21" video stores run by cool stoner dudes, that had huge horror sections with all the great artistic VHS covers. I miss those days, especially as you could get hold of alot of films that are rareties now, or stumble upon trashy celluloid gems.

I don't rent stuff or watch stuff online either. I prefer to just buy films I like, buy on the basis of interest (generated mainly by a trailer on Youtube or on this site) and watch movies on a proper TV screen.

The two Blockbusters in our town closed several years ago.  I was only in there a few times, it was kind of nice for the new direct-to-video stuff.  I (almost) never rent movies these days, I buy everything used from the sellers on Amazon.  We rented from Red Box a few times, they just have the latest Hollywood releases and maybe one older DTV title.  I think I hated every movie we got from them  :teddyr:  I've never been interested in Netflix, I just hate any sort of monthly fee, even if it is a good deal.

I refuse to rent from Blockbuster. Years ago I rented from them and used their late night drop box to return a movie. Well next thing I know is I get this nasty letter about how I have yet to return the movie and owe them a lot of late fee charges. So I go to the store and asked them what was going on. They at first tried to claim that I did not turn in the movie. When I pointed out I dropped it in the after hours return box, they opened it up and it was full. Sure enough the movie I rented was in there along with a few others who just happen to not fall into a plastic box inside the container. The staff apparently had just left them laying in there if they didn't make it into the box. The manager said he would take care of it and clear it up. About a month later, I get another letter with a threat to file criminal charges for theft and a lawsuit from them. I end up having to threaten to sue them to get them to admit they had the movie the whole time and it was because of their employees laziness and not my failure to return the film which is why there was the film was late. If they had just picked up the movie that hadn't fell into the plastic box inside the drop box, it would of been in the store. After that I refuse to spend a dime with them. So I welcome seeing Blockbuster's demise myself.

Blockbuster has always been pretty crappy.  A few years back they started to expand some areas, like foreign and cult, but it was too little to late.  Their prices were ridiculous, their late fees were ridiculous, and somehow they managed to kill off most of the mom and pop video shops everywhere I've ever lived.  Good riddance.

I HATE Blockbusters selection and their policies, so I only rent from this local video store that has a way better selection.

I rent from them online and have been somewhat satisfied.  However, the home video rental market/red box rentals are killing their stores.  That and what they charge for movie rentals.  Last time I went to one of their stores it was around five bucks to rent one which I pretty much laughed at and walked out.  Might as well buy the DVD at that point.  It is sad however for people to potentially losing their jobs though. 

Meh, I'll  be there to buy all their cheap, clearance DVD's when they go out of business.

When I first walked into a Blockbuster around 1987-88, it was amazing.  They were huge and had a much larger selection than any of the mom-and-pop video stores; I was blown away.

Over the years they got worse and worse.  First there was the focus almost exclusively on new releases strategy; I understand that's all the majority of people want, but I'm in the minority.  Then came the flap where they refused to stock movies with an NC-17 rating (even though they would stock unrated movies with equally explicit content).  About that time I gave up on them and never went back.  Don't miss it a bit.

I think they will hang around, just with a smaller market share. 

Blockbuster's lack of real selection turned me off from them years ago.  I've never been back. 

Obviously, my tastes run far from the usual mainstream.  I remember years ago when you could go into a mom and pop store, or an independent chain, and they would have an astounding selection of weird stuff.  It was great!  I wish that I could remember the name of the independent chain that used to operate in the Washington, DC area.  They had a deal where you could rent most movies for some crazy cheap price - like 7 movies, 7$, 7 days. 

Perhaps the lack of porn has something to do with it. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fnk6mXfyovo

Oh, yeah.

I'm back !  :teddyr:

You were gone?

And who the fu-duck are you, anyway?


 :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle:

Yeah, sounds like the local place by me.  4 movies, for 4 days, for $4.  They also had rent 2 get 1 free on new releases.  Eventually a Blockbuster moved in literally a block down the road and somehow pushed them out - despite having an inferior selection (the only advantage they had were more copies of the same new releases) and WAAAAAAY higher prices.  

But I remember fondly biking down there and spending hours just looking at movies and renting tons of films.  That's how I saw about 12 of the Bond films in a couple of weeks.  The guy who ran the place was real cool once.  I remember one time I realized I'd forgot my money (this was when I was like 12 or 13) and I asked him if he could just debit it as a late fee on my account and let me check the movie I wanted out, and he did it.  

That was how I saw the Black Scorpion.   :thumbup:

There's still one independent shop that's pretty good here in St. Louis.  It's called Movies Unlimited, and they have a TON of very obscure films, mostly on VHS actually.  Many are obviously bootlegs, but they're the type of films that are long out of print.  They had Rapeman 1 and 2, something I NEVER expected to find in a US local video store.  Also had a number of kung fu films not even on the IMDB, like a Chinese Zatoichi ripoff with a blind swordswoman.

Only problem is the place is like 15 or 20 miles away, so I have to rent like 6 movies for it to be worth the trip.  

Thread derailment GO!

I do not think it is that severe of a side topic.  Blockbuster helped to kill off a large number of independent stores and chains that had wide selections.  These days it seems that Netflix is eating it alive, and Netflix has a wide selection of titles.  Another change is that I think many people buy the movie rather than renting it.  Most online retailers have wide selections.  Years ago, Amazon.com did not stock all of the cult and limited release DVDs.  To get them I had to use some other retailers, like Movies Unlimited.  Now, Amazon's selection is much, much more comprehensive.

All the talk of the independently owned video stores of the day brings back fond memories.  I recall the first one that opened up in our town and how a trip there was magical.  Wall to wall of movies waiting for your viewing.  The kids of today will never appreciate the early days of home video rental.    :bluesad:

It is and its about time. They killed the independent cinema by only stocking Top 100. Now Netflix is killing them, but is about to be killed by Redbox who in turn will be killed by the VOD platforms on the Internet. And so it goes, there will be nothing left then Hollywood hits, TV re runs and Porn.

I've always hated Blockbuster for their once longstanding Puritanical stance on not carrying unrated versions of movies as well as NC-17 films. I know they reversed this stance at least on unrated versions a little while back but it was too little too late.

Redbox is not killing Net Flix (the selection on Redbox is way too weak for that).  Last I checked, Net Flix is doing fine.  Their profits were up the last time I read.

I might also add Net Flix has VOD. 

I rent from Blockbuster now and then when I am looking for a movie that came out recently or when I am looking for something anime wise (The Blockbuster in my town strangely has the best anime collection, while others have none or just VHS tapes that they won't sell).  I also buy some used video games or movies as well.  I don't really go to Blockbuster much since they don't have any real old films though.  However, I do not use Netflicks or any other services similiar to that since I don't want to have to deal with returning DVDs through the mail and somehow losing them.

For most movies I see, I either order them onDemand, watch them when they come on TV, or buy them from PawnAmerica (All movie DVDs start at a nice price of 7 bucks).

Wait, what?  If they get lost in the mail, you tell Net Flix and they believe you.  They have an automated account thing to do it.  It's never happened to me though.

On another note, I went to the local mom and pop video store I mentioned earlier.  It's changed a lot in the year or two since I was last there.  For the worse, unfortunately.  They've cleared out an enormous number of their old VHS bootlegs (they still have some, just not as many).  And basically, they didn't replace them.  They did the same thing with their horror, scifi, and kung fu VHS selections.

So, the only real reason I liked going there is now much, much reduced.  They still have a few old titles, and some pretty obscure things here and there, but WAY less.  They don't even have Rapeman or the Porno Holocaust anymore!

I still managed to pick up five titles, and I watched three of them.  I'll post it elsewhere though.

The only thing I'll miss about Blockbuster is the over-priced goofy looking candy at the checkout!

Well, I don't disagree with anything anybody has said, so far, but if Blockbuster does go bankrupt and shutters all its stores, it's bad news--at least on a short term basis--for my area. For a number of reasons. To whit.

1. The laid off employees most likely will go on state unemployment, which will stress a fund, that is already under stress.

2. Like most laid off employees, they'll probably buy less, which means less state sales taxes being collected, and the state is already having trouble meeting its financial obligations.

3. If the stores close, that means no more property tax, until something else goes in there. Which means the city will be collecting less revenue, and it has already cut back  what it spends, two years in a row.

4. The school district also collects a property tax, so that means less money for the schools.

I could care less about Blockbuster, I haven't rented from them since 2003. I use Netflix & love it.  :thumbup:

Need to look beyond the company statements:

online.wsj.com/article/SB125630839216703953.html

 :thumbup:

This stupid board does not allow me to post links  :thumbdown: so just type h.t.t.p://  without the dots of course( or cut and paste) in front of my article. Ir does not even alow editing posts WTF?? :thumbdown: :thumbdown:

New users may not post links, nor edit their posts.  This is due to the activities of spammers, and is in no way a malfunction of the forum.  However, please keep your posts polite in the future.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiUgJklnmhE

Hmmmmmmm... There is a lesson to learn here... :)

We have a South African Blockbuster chain but I don't know if its' related to the overseas chain or not. :smile: