Is it over for blockbuster?

[3mnkids]

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

Facing increasing pressure from Redbox and Netflix and its own debt problems, Blockbuster is planning to more than double the number of stores it will close by the end of next year, the company revealed in a regulatory filing today.

Struggling Blockbuster was previously looking to shutter 410 to 450 of its most unprofitable stores this year and next. A series of "accelerated closures" will bring that number to between 810 and 960, however.

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?

[Psycho Circus]

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.

[Jack]

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    I've never been interested in Netflix, I just hate any sort of monthly fee, even if it is a good deal.

[meQal]

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.

[Jim H]

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.

[SkullBat308]

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

[Mr. DS]

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. 

[Joe the Destroyer]

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

[Rev. Powell]

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. 

[Andrew]

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. 

[Mr. DS]

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

[Doggett]

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

Oh, yeah.

I'm back ! 

[Javakoala]

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

Oh, yeah.

I'm back ! 

You were gone?

And who the fu-duck are you, anyway?

[Jim H]

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. 

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.  

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!

[Andrew]

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.