Blockbuster Canada in receivership

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Is everything really available in the online world now? What if you want to rent something older or more obscure? Is it easily rentable online? Itunes seems to mainly feature newer movies as rentals, with older movies available for purchase. Not sure about Netflix. And as other people have said, how are you going to rent blu rays without a video store?

Most movies are available in the online world. In fact, they are pretty readily available. If there is an obscure movie out there you can bet that there will be an obscure group of fans who have digitized the movie and made it easily available.

Not to mention all the obscure stuff can still be found on Amazon and Ebay.

I think another thing that killed video stores is the plumetting price of DVDs and Blu-Rays. Why rent when you can buy for a few dollars more.

[Bertuzzied]

Video and Sound. Best video store in Calgary by far.

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Anyone know if Casablanca video is struggling? Or is it for a real niche audience?

Casablanca in Mission seems to be doing alright, although it's never super busy when I walk in. They have a good niche with the independent movies and such which would never be available on NetFlix.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

I will personally only use torrents when there is a movie that I can't find at the video store - such as Armadillo, a Danish movie about troops in the Helmand province in Afghanistan. I looked and I couldn't find it - I don't have a netflix account so I can't use that so I downloaded it off a torrent site. Not saying it is right but what other options do I have?

MOD EDIT: Off topic

[Aeneas]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Anyone know if Casablanca video is struggling? Or is it for a real niche audience?

They downsized the Marda Loop store.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

I will personally only use torrents when there is a movie that I can't find at the video store - such as Armadillo, a Danish movie about troops in the Helmand province in Afghanistan. I looked and I couldn't find it - I don't have a netflix account so I can't use that so I downloaded it off a torrent site. Not saying it is right but what other options do I have?

This movie?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=190524555950

http://www.amazon.com/Armadillo-Regi...4697351&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Armadillo-Blu-...4697351&sr=1-2

[darklord700]

BB charges $7 for a new release Blu Ray and new releases are Blu Ray released in the the last 12 months. It is just too expensive.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Thor

Jumbo Video, free popcorn and porn section! Wasn't there one called video showcase or something like that, Deer Valley mall not far from the gas station and McDonalds today.

Video Update!! Best store ever! They used to have 2 movies for $0.99 and videogames rentals for $0.99 every tuesday. They also had a prawno section at the back of the store. I used to go there with my friends after school on tuesdays and rent! There was a big snowfall in 97 or 98 I remember and school got cancelled that tuesday. Me and my friend walked in the waist high snow and rented 10 games that day. God I miss that place.

[The Yen Man]

It's a little sad seeing video stores go the way of the dodo bird, as I've had many fond memories of trips to the video store renting movies and video games when I was a kid. But I guess with every business, unless you evolve with the times, you're eventually going to be left behind.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Video Update!! Best store ever! They used to have 2 movies for $0.99 and videogames rentals for $0.99 every tuesday. They also had a prawno section at the back of the store. I used to go there with my friends after school on tuesdays and rent! There was a big snowfall in 97 or 98 I remember and school got cancelled that tuesday. Me and my friend walked in the waist high snow and rented 10 games that day. God I miss that place.

Renting video and games? How archaic this will be for kids nowadays? Those were the good times, forever gone. It will all be instant download and gratification from now on. My kid will never understand the fun and appeal of skipping school lining up outside of record stores to get a new vinyl on the first day. They may even laugh at my Blu Ray collection down the road. But that's OK, it is through these memories that prove, I have lived.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by darklord700

Renting video and games? How archaic this will be for kids nowadays? Those were the good times, forever gone. It will all be instant download and gratification from now on. My kid will never understand the fun and appeal of skipping school lining up outside of record stores to get a new vinyl on the first day. They may even laugh at my Blu Ray collection down the road. But that's OK, it is through these memories that prove, I have lived.

As with anything, when something comes to us easily, it usually cheapens the overall experience. A big part of the enjoyment in something is the anticpation beforehand.

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

My in-store credit better still be in tact! I still have $15 in credits from video game trade-ins.

On a similar note, another reason they're likely going under: I traded in NHL 10 back in September for $30. Got Dragon Age Origins for $15, and they still owe me $15

[burn_baby_burn]

DVD's are going the way of the dodo as well. Who wants to take the time to put in a DVD and wait for all the commercials and coming attractions, when you can just flip through your PVR or Netflix? That is where the future is, everything will be on demand.

[Russic]

I feel real bad for anybody losing their job. On the other hand though, ever since BB charged me $65 for Guitar Hero: 80's Edition (that I returned and they "lost") I've hoped for this day. Yes I'm a little, little man.

[blankall]

I stilll have over $200 in store credit on my gifcard...do i spen it now or wait for the inevitable closing sales where I'll be able to buy everythign for next to nothing?

[ma-skis.com]

I remember part of the edge video stores had was that new movies were available to rent before you could actually buy them, so if you wanted to watch it right away you had to rent, and then to own, you just bought it later.

Now people can just buy immediately. I think that started with the push for DVD so people had to wait to buy it on VHS, but could own it right away on DVD.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by ma-skis.com

I remember part of the edge video stores had was that new movies were available to rent before you could actually buy them, so if you wanted to watch it right away you had to rent, and then to own, you just bought it later.

Now people can just buy immediately. I think that started with the push for DVD so people had to wait to buy it on VHS, but could own it right away on DVD.

The process for making tapes was more expensive as well. Not only were the blank tapes more expensive but they had to be individually recorded, which took a lot longer and required more labour.

DVDs and Blu-Rays can be pressed in an automated machine, and the disc is much cheaper to begin with. It literraly takes fractions of a second to make once you produce the initial master.

So back in the day you would pay $4 to rent a brand new VHS and anywhere from $25-40 to buy the new release.

Now you pay $7 to rent and you can buy decent movies for $5 or less.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

I used to be an assitant manager there at BBV when I was 20. I loved that job. I loved the people, the customers were fine for the most part and I talked movies a lot of the day. I got fired for giving away 2 free rentals to a friend(who used to work at BBV) and the stupid broad didn't put them in the drop slot, nope, she handed them to my boss and when they were scanned in, my name pops up.

Anyways, at that time in my life, I never had any intention on going back to school or anything, so if I didn't get fired, I still may be working for Blockbuster. Up the ladder, maybe a District Manager or something like that. After the firing, I picked up a crap job for a year and then went back to school and eventually landed the job that I currently have and love.

Getting fired from Blockbuster for something so stupid and needless probably turned out to be one of the better and more important things in my life so far.

[Prototype]

It's eerie reading your post VAN, cause other than the method of why you got fired, and the crap job... it sounds very similar to my situation.

[Meelapo]

Originally Posted by Teh_Bandwagoner

My in-store credit better still be in tact! I still have $15 in credits from video game trade-ins.

On a similar note, another reason they're likely going under: I traded in NHL 10 back in September for $30. Got Dragon Age Origins for $15, and they still owe me $15

This could be one of the reasons. There are some games that other stores offer $15 for and Blockbuster, for whatever reason, is paying a premium for them (around the $30-$35 mark). The only trouble with them is that their prices are really high so I guess it evens out.