Combo thread. Searching google news for when Netflix is gonna start shipping video games, I came across this article. Thought you guys would like to know. I think it’s another example of studios shooting themselves in the foot.
As for the 2nd subject, my metro area has lost 7 Blockbusters(4 last year, 3 in the next month). We’re down to 2, both on the other side of town. I know I’m part of the problem with my Netflix streaming but damn; I didn’t know it was that bad. I also have Blockbuster Online for games but got tired of seeing very long wait for games I wanted. That’s how I found out about the new store closures when I called to see if my account was still open.
There are zero video rental stores anywhere near here that I know of. A few years ago I could’ve rattled off at least three within 5 minutes away. The last one to fold (a Blockbuster) went about 6 months ago, now a bank. One of the Hollywood videos was turned into a Mountain Mike’s pizza and a pet store. I’m not sure what became of the other Hollywood. They even took the RedBox out of our local grocery store - I guess that wasn’t making much money either?
I think part of the problem is that DVDs are so cheap to BUY now. Especially at Target - I see a lot of good (and not that old) movies going for $5. Lord, I remember in the 80’s having to buy the Pet Shop Boys movie from an “art film” catalog and it was exorbitant! On VHS no less. It was well over $100. (And mom was not too pleased about some of the content in the “art [wink, wink] film” catalog, lol.)
I don’t really see a problem with the buying vs renting of DVD’s and the waiting period.
Sure, fans of certain films will want to buy them rather than wait to rent them - but most likely they would have bought the film anyway as they are already fans of the film.
Most people who have not seen the film will gladly wait to spend just a buck and rent a film - even if it is two months later - not knowing if they will even like the film. There are many films that come out “free” on premium cable channels that I don’t think would have been worth even the one dollar rental fee, so my guess is many are like me and will wait to rent rather than just plunk down the $10-15 or more that most new DVD’s cost.
There is a Blockbuster near me, but haven’t driven by it lately and have no idea if it is still open and don’t care. Back in the days they were the only place to rent in the area, customer service sucked and they really, really pissed me off once by claiming I had not returned a DVD (100% not true) and charged me full price. Plus, I didn’t like that they felt they could edit scenes from films and strong-armed studios with their demands to do so. If ever a company deserved to go belly-up, it was Blockbuster. Good riddance.
I have no idea where the nearest Blockbuster is these days, not counting the kiosks. I tried looking on Google maps but it was showing locations I know closed down.
We do have Family Video stores throughout the area. One is just a block away. They’re extremely pleasant there, helpful and community minded with promotions like free video/game rentals for good report cards. They also occasionally forgive late fees and basically act like they want your business. When Netflix went through its pricing fiasco, we dropped the disc option and decided if we wanted to rent a disc, we’d rather just go to the Family Video store and get it that night.
The last Blockbuster anywhere near me is shutting down in around 20 days. There was a Hollywood Video in town, they died 2 years ago or so. My public library has a decent selection, and I’ve got at least 3 Redboxes in short distance.
I actually saw a couple of open Blockbusters driving back from my grandparents place on Christmas Eve. Not close enough that I’d ever drive out to one. The ones that were close enough all closed in the last year or two. There is a Blockbuster kiosk fairly close, but that’s it.
Still have a Family Video, though. And they at least don’t go alone with this crap Redbox sometimes does where you can’t rent certain movies right away when they come out because someone else has them “exclusively” for a few weeks or whatever it is.
It is 5 1/2 miles to a Blockbuster, but I haven’t been in a video rental store since I joined Netflix several years ago. I have a Redbox within walking distance of my house. The biggest drawback is that it is in from of a 7-11 which sells bear claws.
I used to use Blockbuster Online, but switched to Netflix when BB started cutting services multiple times. The branch I usually returned to is still open it seems. I know of one or two more that closed.
I don’t see what the big deal with the 56 day waiting period is. If it’s a movie I absolutely have to see right this instant, I’ll see it in theaters. If not, I’ve already waited 6 months for it to come out on DVD. What’s another two?
There are two Blockbusters near me that I know of. Both of them are going out of business and have started their liquidation sales a couple weeks ago. I went in there when it first started, and they were trying to sell DVDs that they have probably rented out hundreds of times for $13. Maybe in a couple months the prices will actually be reasonable.
Other than the numerous redboxes around here, the only other place around here I know of where you can rent a DVD is Safeway. I wonder how they’re affected by this 56 day thing.
I bought a bunch of blu-ray movies at really low prices when Blockbuster went out of business. There is a local video store but the selection is limited to new releases and the prices are pretty steep. There is supposed to be a couple of good video stores in downtown Toronto but I haven’t found them yet.
Two near where I live back home. Friendly people in the stores, low cost rentals on older stuff. Don’t know why they seem to be expanding when everything else is shrinking.
There is a Blockbuster not too far from me. Haven’t been in it in several years. It’s across the street from my yoga studio and I think I saw a “we’re closing” sign out front when I was driving by yesterday. Good. Shitty company.
All of both the Hollywood Videos and the Blockbusters around here have all closed in the last 18 months. The only video store I can think of anywhere close by is an “adult” video rental place – and frankly I’m surprised they’re surviving since porn is even easier to get online than recent blockbusters.
There is a Blockbuster within walking distance from my house, which is nice because I still have a Blockbuster Online account. It’s the only store in a pretty big area. There are always people in it, but I don’t know how well they’re actually doing. I believe there are fewer than 3000 stores in the country now.
We lost a few Blockbusters in the last wave of closings but there are still several left in my area. The closest one to me (about fifteen miles away) stayed open.
There were two video stores in my town when I moved here a few years back. One - the Movie Gallery - has closed. The other - Family Video - is still open. Both were local chains. Family Video is still going but Movie Gallery and another local chain, Home Video, have gone under.
There are also still a few independent video stores in my area: Hyatt Video and Video Barn in Rochester; Movies in Motion in Batavia; Video Station in Albion; Downtown Video in Medina; Box Office Video in Newfane; and the video store whose name I don’t remember in Warsaw.
I don’t think that there are any Blockbusters left around us. The nearest location closed about a year ago…and then re-opened, a couple of months ago, as a Family Video. I wish 'em luck.