Blockbuster Video Closing Stores: Some deals to be had

[Slava]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Silly Blockbuster. Why did the captain of that ship not see the iceberg coming? It wasn't night time on the Atlantic, it was the ought decade of the new millennium. Netflix, Video on Demand, downloading, etc. How come nobody in that organization ever foresaw the pending doom? As a fan of business, this baffles me.

I'm only half joking when I suggest this: maybe someone should call up Heather Reisman and ask her?

It is mind-boggling, I totally agree. I'm fairly sure that the last time I actually went in to rent a movie was right before the first time I ordered one off Shaw on Demand....no returns, no late fees, no extra stop and hope they have it in stock.

[Russic]

Reminds me of the music industry. The options are clear, your old business model is dying fast so you can either adapt or sit there waiting for people to start giving you money again for no reason whatsoever.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Russic

Reminds me of the music industry. The options are clear, your old business model is dying fast so you can either adapt or sit there waiting for people to start giving you money again for no reason whatsoever.

Exactly.

Somehow they managed to stay relevant when the movie industry moved from VHS to DVD. And then they started with BluRay... And then WTF? They just stopped thinking after that? With their brand power and the money they presumably USED to have, how come Blockbuster isn't Netflix? Blockbuster should have been the company that pioneered online movie rental and then slowly started closing store locations as leases ran out, or else started selling something else inside their stores.

It's kinda sad. I had a soft spot for Blockbuster because it used to be one of the things to look forward to as a kid. Renting a movie and a game was the shiz. Even into adult years is was fun to go with the woman to Blockbuster and get a couple movies. I guess what I'm saying is that if Blockbuster had become a legitimate competitor in online movie rentals, I'd probably use them because they've already established themselves positively in my brain. Oh well. I've got Netflix now and haven't been to Blockbuster since VOD became easy to use.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Exactly.

Somehow they managed to stay relevant when the movie industry moved from VHS to DVD. And then they started with BluRay... And then WTF? They just stopped thinking after that? With their brand power and the money they presumably USED to have, how come Blockbuster isn't Netflix? Blockbuster should have been the company that pioneered online movie rental and then slowly started closing store locations as leases ran out, or else started selling something else inside their stores.

It's kinda sad. I had a soft spot for Blockbuster because it used to be one of the things to look forward to as a kid. Renting a movie and a game was the shiz. Even into adult years is was fun to go with the woman to Blockbuster and get a couple movies. I guess what I'm saying is that if Blockbuster had become a legitimate competitor in online movie rentals, I'd probably use them because they've already established themselves positively in my brain. Oh well. I've got Netflix now and haven't been to Blockbuster since VOD became easy to use.

Netflix actually approached Blockbuster when it was just starting up to talk about a partnership of sorts. Blockbuster refused LOL. This is what happens when your management is entrenched in a 20 year old business model and don't realize that they are dinosaurs who will go extinct while others evolve around them. Blockbuster thought very highly of itself and they never had the forsight to understand how the internet would change the business forever.

Blockbuster was constantly chasing companies like Netflix, Zip, Redbox, etc. when it was already too late. When Red Box started making tons of money doing rentals out of vending machines in grocery stores, etc. Blockbuster tried to get into the game but failed miserably. When Blockbuster saw Netflix's success, they started their own online VOD service but it was horrible for both price and selection.

Blockbuster is like the old American car companies that never changed to adapt to the the modern world and was always playing catch-up until bankruptcy. Another way they were like the car companies is that they were fighting with their own franchises. Like how GM had so many brands that essentially competed with each other, Blockbuster Total Access (their online service) was competing with their own franchises who did not want to honor the program.

[username]

I personally cleaned up at the BB on 17th. I couldn't believe I walked out of there with Season 1 of Entourage for 4 bucks!

I also bought about 6 blu rays and in total everything came to 40 bucks.

I agree with everyone on this thread, it is kind of sad to see BB go. Like 4X4, also have fond memories of renting movies from this place.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

It is odd that the place that is right near where I live had the prices down by 50% whereas others seem to be 30% off. Makes no sense to me... that being said 90% of the store seems to be picked over and the only chance to get anything decent is to pay attention to when the other stores are closing and get there on the first couple of days.

The only really good deal that I saw was the Sergio Leone collection which was on sale for $7 although I already own all the movies so not much point in getting them again. I sort of want to buy a single dvd of all the tv shows that I want and hope that no one else would want to buy a season missing some episodes and then go back right near the end and pick up the rest... the cost per disk for the pacific was $10 after the discount.

[You Need a Thneed]

Blockbuster is closing all of its remaining stores in Canada.

[photon]

Good: More sales on games I don't play!

Bad: Now I won't have anywhere close to rent Blu-rays.

[Burninator]

When will the sales start? I live close to 2 Blockbusters and I wouldn't mind finding some deals.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by photon

Bad: Now I won't have anywhere close to rent Blu-rays.

On that note, I suppose those Red machines at Safeway would be the place to go now for Blu-Rays? I'm not sure as I've used Blockbuster for my rentals for a long time.

[Old Yeller]

I'm honestly surprised it took this long to close the rest of them.

[Hack&Lube]

"existing gift cards and rewards programs will no longer be accepted."

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by 4X4

It's kinda sad. I had a soft spot for Blockbuster because it used to be one of the things to look forward to as a kid. Renting a movie and a game was the shiz. Even into adult years is was fun to go with the woman to Blockbuster and get a couple movies. I guess what I'm saying is that if Blockbuster had become a legitimate competitor in online movie rentals, I'd probably use them because they've already established themselves positively in my brain. Oh well. I've got Netflix now and haven't been to Blockbuster since VOD became easy to use.

Agreed. I grew up in Deer Ridge and always went to the Rogers Video by Deer Valley Mall there. When they finally opened a Blockbuster nearby, it felt like the bigtime. I remember being jacked to even go in there for the first time because its the place you always heard referenced in movies/TV (even when you soon discovered prices there were actually worse). It had just built its own brand, it felt cool to even be in there when you're young.

I'm also surprised the unquestioned leader in video/game rentals managed to just fall by the wayside in the digital age, that's what happens when you don't plan ahead I guess..

[photon]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

On that note, I suppose those Red machines at Safeway would be the place to go now for Blu-Rays? I'm not sure as I've used Blockbuster for my rentals for a long time.

Do they have them now?

[likwid888]

Are services like GameFly the only way to rent video games now?

[Vinny01]

What Blockbusters are left in the city that are going to be having these blowout sales?

[MrMastodonFarm]

Ha! Take that late fees on Alan Wake

[Kipper is King]

I went by a Blockbuster and inquired. I was told things wouldn't be "truly official" until Tuesday. There was a clueless woman behind me in line, who happily renewed her membership. ::facepalm:: I tried to warn her, but apparently I know nothing!

[Jordan!]

I'll always remember going to Blockbuster in Westhills when it was like the first thing to open there

[Esoteric]

Can I rent a bunch of titles with no intention of returning them yet?