I just ate two this morning so I'm guessing it's hyperbole. Or someone pulled a very elaborate unfunny prank on me.
Blockbuster calls it quits
- Thread starter Cyclones_R_GR8
- Start date
I just ate two this morning so I'm guessing it's hyperbole. Or someone pulled a very elaborate unfunny prank on me.
The only thing more surprising than finding out video rental stores are still open is finding out that porn rentals still exist.
Not true, digital downloads on PC almost always are cheaper then the physical copies.
My son sold Cub Scout popcorn in front of the Family Video in CR. They were getting a fair amount of traffic on Friday evening, and there are at least 3 stores in the metro area, so they must be doing something right. Seems like there were a lot of games being rented.
Interesting. There is a BlockBuster a few blocks from my house, and I drive by it frequently. They always seem to have traffic. For that matter, there are also a couple of independently owned video rental places around here and they are still seem to be doing OK as well.
I called it about 7 years ago or so when Netflix and Redbox came out that video stores wouldn't make it 10 more years. Instant streaming and downloading is the future as it is cheaper and more convenient. Redbox has been able to make it since there are still a lot of people who want a physical disk and costs only $1 (until the average person forgets to return it and that $1 movie just became $10). Family Video/Blockbuster just can't compete due to their overhead in having a brick and mortar location that needs staffing. Redbox is doing well but hear me out they will be on the decline soon too due to Netflix and other instant streaming. That is why Redbox is doing beta testing for instant streaming. They know they are ****ed if they don't go to instant streaming.
The bad thing about redbox/netflix is that they are always out of product or their selection bites. The stand alone stores almost always have ALL of the current movies out on dvd AND have several more copies then redbox. I think that is their niche and will keep them afloat for a while. If netflix were to start carrying all of the latest releases on release date that will spell doom for everything else.
Redbox won't last because they always have crap selection and just a bunch of B-list movies. Abraham Lincoln Werewolf Hunter? It is those movies that caused me to cancel my Hulu because while there are some good movies 90% are absolute garbage/knockoffs.
Netflix is still on my bad side due to removing the Stargate series 1/2 through my rewatching the series... but, I still have netflix so I can't complain there much. I don't waste my time with Redbox, especially with their gradually increasing the price. I think Family Video probably has a few more years in it now that Blockbuster is out of the way. The big benefit they have is you can rent system's on the cheap so if they sold out in that direction they could survive longer than expected.
That said, I was offered an interview for some manager position with them and I didn't actually even apply so they might be getting desperate.
There was an AMA on reddit from a blockbuster owner the day it was announced. I guess a lot of stores still do very well, but it's not worth it to just keep those few locations open. The guy was thinking about buying out the location he works at and reopening it as a independent retailer.
Its too bad. It was always fun going to blockbuster and grabbing a couple movies on a night where we stayed in. Its just so easy and convenient to get them elsewhere now, but I gotta say its not as fun as walking around the video store checking out all the flicks.
Going to need a lot of well placed tornadoes, eradicating trailer parks for that to happen.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
Interesting about Kindle books. I buy about 100 per year, and it's always cheaper than the paperback copy.
You know Elon? Cool
