RedBox pulling their rental machines out of Canada

[photon]

Wasn't sure if this was news, entertainment or tech...

Not totally surprising, the two redboxes near me didn't seem very busy.

But it sucks because that was it for me for bluray rentals, I have zero options now. Online doesn't cover everything and it's nice to have full quality sometimes to exercise the home theatre.

I'm sure it's similar for most as the video rental place doesn't really exist anymore.

[GreenLantern2814]

Seriously, does nobody remember how much fun it was to go rent movies? Spending 45 minutes wandering up and down the aisles, laughing at crap JCVD titles from the 80s, getting excited over crap Arnold titles from the 80s... It was a total social experience.

Now everything just sucks.

[JiriHrdina]

I miss video stores. Some of my favorite movies are ones I discovered wandering the aisles because the new release wall was picked clean. In an on demand world you lose the joy of the hunt and reward of discovery

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Seriously, does nobody remember how much fun it was to go rent movies? Spending 45 minutes wandering up and down the aisles, laughing at crap JCVD titles from the 80s, getting excited over crap Arnold titles from the 80s... It was a total social experience.

Now everything just sucks.

I do remember and it was fun, but it's way better now. Remember when you went to get a new release and it was all out? That sucked.

[Northendzone]

There is John lord's Casablanca video on Macleod trail and 90th right across from the cycle path.......

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I miss video stores. Some of my favorite movies are ones I discovered wandering the aisles because the new release wall was picked clean. In an on demand world you lose the joy of the hunt and reward of discovery

Nah I discover way more with Netflix and AppleTV. When I'd walk around Blockbuster I'd feel like I had seen everything. Then I'd settle for some crappy movie I didn't even want to watch. You guys are being too nostalgic...on demand is so much better, which is precisely why there aren't video stores anymore. Photon has a fair point about Blu-Ray, but that's about it.

[NSFL]

Originally Posted by photon

Wasn't sure if this was news, entertainment or tech...

Not totally surprising, the two redboxes near me didn't seem very busy.

But it sucks because that was it for me for bluray rentals, I have zero options now. Online doesn't cover everything and it's nice to have full quality sometimes to exercise the home theatre.

I'm sure it's similar for most as the video rental place doesn't really exist anymore.

Try the library. Huge blu ray selection.

[Sainters7]

I really enjoyed Netflix until i was in the States recently and saw what they have on theirs. Now mine seems like crap in comparison. So many good titles on the American one that we don't have, pretty much literally double our selection for the same fee.

For all the extra convenience we now have in the future, it feels like movies/games is an area where it was actually more convenient a decade ago...at least in terms of selection (and getting to test a game for a wknd first to see if you like it before committing, hate how that's gone now).


Posted from Calgarypuck.com App for Android

[photon]

Originally Posted by NSFL

Try the library. Huge blu ray selection.

I can't access the Calgary library system, so I have to put in requests to have stuff transferred to my library from around the province.

Not sure how quickly they get stuff in. Gone Girl has copies in the system, John Wick has 2 for the whole province and they're still on order.. Maze Runner there's nothing yet.

So maybe not great for new releases, but it's something at least, thanks for the suggestion!

[Ashasx]

I can rent pretty much any movie I can think of on Shaw now but the user interface is goddamn awful and it makes me angry to use.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I do remember and it was fun, but it's way better now. Remember when you went to get a new release and it was all out? That sucked.

I hated getting attitude whenever I rented Robot Hustle 4.

[Buzzard]

^ Oh you mean from the pale, artsy looking chick?

[Jacks]

Having to rewind the crappy quality tape ... don't miss it.
Having to have the VHS/DVD back before noon to avoid ridiculous late charges ... don't miss it.

[Draug]

I'm with Photon. I'm really disappointed. Streaming options have their place, but the picture and sound quality is really poor.

[Hemi-Cuda]

1080p mkv rips on a Plex media server has sold me on giving up on physical media all together. Only from legitimate sources of course

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Seriously, does nobody remember how much fun it was to go rent movies? Spending 45 minutes wandering up and down the aisles, laughing at crap JCVD titles from the 80s, getting excited over crap Arnold titles from the 80s... It was a total social experience.

Now everything just sucks.

I remember going to the video store. The new releases section was 2 movies you'd heard of, all rented out, and 50 direct to video pieces of crap you'd never heard of starring D list actors. I don't miss that at all.

[calumniate]

It seems the only thing left that's cool is on air Canada flights. Franco cinéma and foreign. Awesome

[Gundo]

I miss the saloon style swinging doors that separated the porn section from the rest of the movie store. It could be packed and as soo. As those squeaky swinging doors shut behind someone everyone stopped to just stare at the dirtball who walked out.

Back on topic though, can't be that suprised they are pulling out of Canada. VOD has all much made rentals obsolete.

[darklord700]

Video rental has gone the way record stores are. It is sad that everything is electronic now and you lack the connection with the hardware.

I'm not surprised Redbox going under. There are far too many options renting movies. Granted their blu ray has the best quality but people don't care about quality nowadays.

I counted a few times how many titles were rented out at the machines and I bet their daily revenue is less than $100 per machine and that's not enough to keep this business going.

[The Yen Man]

I just remember renting the SNES from the Blockbusters in Beddington. Many sleepless nights were had staying up with my brother, playing Street Fighter 2, TMNT Turtles in Time. and Final Fight 3. Man, those were sweet times.