I've been enjoying Netflix for a good few years now and could honestly care less what Blockbuster is up to. Part of me misses that childhood thing of going to the video store, but even that doesn't have very much to do with Blockbuster.
Blockbuster brings back the late fees...!
- Thread starter Professor Zoom
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Amaris
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It's not unfair. Blockbuster has a mailing service, and it has failed utterly. Their level of service is far inferior to Netflix's level of customer service. Their prices are higher, and their selection is nowhere near as large as Netflix. What happened is that Blockbuster got lazy and complacent, and Netflix came in and turned over their applecart.
While I hate to see businesses fold, particularly in a climate like this one, I have to agree there is no love lost between me and Blockbuster. They have caused me great amounts of frustration over the years, and I am glad to see that kind of business practice get punished.
Blockbuster is digging their own grave and sending their clients to Netflix, RedBox, on-line, whatever in droves.
I haven't given them my business in a long time, since they sent me a very threatening collection letter for $1.17 in nickles, dimes and pennies. I went in and calmly paid it and then demanded a manger and told her what I thought of their practice and made her cancel my membership right then and there. The smug little bitch told me that my information would remain in the computer for a year, because I would most certainly be back.
It was soon after that I heard about a new little company named Netflix. I haven't looked back.
I haven't given them my business in a long time, since they sent me a very threatening collection letter for $1.17 in nickles, dimes and pennies. I went in and calmly paid it and then demanded a manger and told her what I thought of their practice and made her cancel my membership right then and there. The smug little bitch told me that my information would remain in the computer for a year, because I would most certainly be back.
It was soon after that I heard about a new little company named Netflix. I haven't looked back.
I've personally never had a problem with Blockbuster; being at university, I've found myself renting a few from them over the last year (after several years of limited interest in film).
See, directly comparing BBonline and netflix is fair, but comparing BB on the whole with netflix isn't.
I live right around the corner from an awesome independent video rental place (complete with a BBC\UK rental section and tons of TV shows), so I really don't give a damn about Blockbuster anymore.
I also tried Zip.ca for a while (the Canadian version of Netflix), but I didn't like it very much. I always felt obligated to watch what they sent, regardless of whether or not I was in the mood for it, and so I canceled it after a few months.
I also tried Zip.ca for a while (the Canadian version of Netflix), but I didn't like it very much. I always felt obligated to watch what they sent, regardless of whether or not I was in the mood for it, and so I canceled it after a few months.
They screwed me too many times on late fees. The worst was the rush to return the damn thing and getting there a few minutes too late. I love Netflix!
Indeed. The local video store with which such memories are associated for me folded many moons ago.
Indeed. The local video store with which such memories are associated for me folded many moons ago.
Yeah, mine is some weird exotic meat store now.
Indeed. The local video store with which such memories are associated for me folded many moons ago.
Be kind rewind.
I do have to agree that Blockbuster's day in the sun is long past faded. I mean, last time I went into a Blockbuster they didn't have the movie I really wanted, which wasn't a big deal, but they just aren't that cheap anymore. Back in the day - the late 80s early 90s they were a great option, they had a ton of movies, video games and such. But that was back when an average video game was like $50-60 bucks (for NES) and VHS tapes were pretty expensive, so Blockbuster's fees weren't too horrible. BUT with RedBox, Netflix and other movie services online, BB is just... about as dead as Showbiz Pizza Place, Atari and Knight Rider - fun back in the day but not relevant as it once was.
VOD is really turning into the way of the future, but also discs by mail too... I'd rather pay $10 a month, get a movie whenever I want it, and then stream a movie or tv show when I want on my PC and my TV. If Netflix could convert most of their library to Instant Watch... wow, then they'd be the killer App and disk based media would be closer to death. Although I think the majority of people would still prefer to buy a movie that's theirs when you're seeing even BluRay disks selling for less than $20 - same thing that happened with DVD, people that did nothing but rent could amass a huge library of their own for not a whole lot.
Times are a changing... time for BB to fade I think.
VOD is really turning into the way of the future, but also discs by mail too... I'd rather pay $10 a month, get a movie whenever I want it, and then stream a movie or tv show when I want on my PC and my TV. If Netflix could convert most of their library to Instant Watch... wow, then they'd be the killer App and disk based media would be closer to death. Although I think the majority of people would still prefer to buy a movie that's theirs when you're seeing even BluRay disks selling for less than $20 - same thing that happened with DVD, people that did nothing but rent could amass a huge library of their own for not a whole lot.
Times are a changing... time for BB to fade I think.
My locally owned video store has a vastly better catalog than any Blockbuster location in a fraction of the space and at lower prices. Their trick? Rather than have 25 facings of new releases to create an appearance of plenty, they stack them behind one or two facings. They also shelve their catalog titles spine out, thereby using a tenth the shelf space.
They make a killing, and you can get pretty much ANYTHING there. All the Trek films? Check. More than Blockbuster can manage. Complete works of Kurosawa? Not a problem.
The chains are for people whose taste in movies only extends as far back as 2006.
They make a killing, and you can get pretty much ANYTHING there. All the Trek films? Check. More than Blockbuster can manage. Complete works of Kurosawa? Not a problem.
The chains are for people whose taste in movies only extends as far back as 2006.
Colonel Green;3886649 They make a killing said:
I used to think it was funny when Viacom owned Blockuster and Paramount Pictures and the local Blockbusters only carried the latest 2 Star Trek movies. Not enough synergy I guess.
Blockbuster has issues with only thinking about new. They totally dismissed older movie rentals as a major component of the market, and still do to a major extent.
Most Blockbusters in my area have closed down.
My whole family gave up on Blockbluster long ago. First they made up late fees for movies my sister-in-law never even rented and insisted she pay them before she could rent anything else. Then a few of us had gift cards at Blockbuster, but if you don't use them fast enough, they expire. WHAT!?!?!? Now whenever I buy a gift card, I make sure it doesn't expire.
We started with Netflix over a year ago and never looked back. We've gotten movies and seasons of TV we missed and wanted to see. I've stopped buying DVDs almost completely at this point (I still have tons I've bought and never watched). If we want to watch something, we add it to our Netflix queue. Done.
My whole family gave up on Blockbluster long ago. First they made up late fees for movies my sister-in-law never even rented and insisted she pay them before she could rent anything else. Then a few of us had gift cards at Blockbuster, but if you don't use them fast enough, they expire. WHAT!?!?!? Now whenever I buy a gift card, I make sure it doesn't expire.
We started with Netflix over a year ago and never looked back. We've gotten movies and seasons of TV we missed and wanted to see. I've stopped buying DVDs almost completely at this point (I still have tons I've bought and never watched). If we want to watch something, we add it to our Netflix queue. Done.
I have an analog television, no satellite connection, can't get cable, and have no desire to get a digital converter box (long explanation). 100% of my viewing comes from Netflix, which I've had since June, 2009. I've caught up on many programs (ie. nuBSG viewed Sept - Oct 2009) and movies. My queue currently has 40(?) items in-line. I love it.
Indeed. The local video store with which such memories are associated for me folded many moons ago.
I really miss the attention they would give you at the neighborhood video stores. When I was out of college in the early 90s I worked in a high rise office building and there was this independant video store in the building. The guy did a booming business with just the people in the building. If you forgot to bring it back one day he'd be cool with it and wouldn't charge extra. One time I asked him if he had Rancho Deluxe, an old Jeff Bridges movie from the 70's. He said that he didn't but he remembered that movie and he really liked it. We chatted briefly about a few other things too and I didn't think much about it after that, but a few weeks later he grabbed me when I came in and said "I got Rancho Deluxe!"
I'd like to see Blockbuster give that kind of service. Not only did he go out of his way to order a movie that one of hundreds of customers mentioned in passing, but he seemed to remember everyone that came in.
Indeed. The local video store with which such memories are associated for me folded many moons ago.
I really miss the attention they would give you at the neighborhood video stores. When I was out of college in the early 90s I worked in a high rise office building and there was this independant video store in the building. The guy did a booming business with just the people in the building. If you forgot to bring it back one day he'd be cool with it and wouldn't charge extra. One time I asked him if he had Rancho Deluxe, an old Jeff Bridges movie from the 70's. He said that he didn't but he remembered that movie and he really liked it. We chatted briefly about a few other things too and I didn't think much about it after that, but a few weeks later he grabbed me when I came in and said "I got Rancho Deluxe!"
I'd like to see Blockbuster give that kind of service. Not only did he go out of his way to order a movie that one of hundreds of customers mentioned in passing, but he seemed to remember everyone that came in.
There was a video store with service just like that inside my local shopping mall while I was in high school. It's long gone now, of course.
