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I'm fortunate enough to have a local video store with close to 20k titles. The owners are friends, and I was just talking to them today. With the closing of two Blockbusters in the area, they have had huge numbers of new customers, and business is up 30% over last October!
They don't kid themselves. They know that eventually internet/streaming will be taking over, but for now business is good and they have a huge loyal customer base. It's a fun place to hang out and talk films, and the employees are all knowlegeable.
Not sure where I'm going with this, but when the inevitable happens the store will be missed. Anyone else have a great video store near them?
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have zero interest in those films and aren't streaming many classic foreign films.
They carry just enough mainstream titles to keep up with demand, then sell them off keeping one copy when the demand delines....to make more room for the wide range of foreign and other specialty titles.
If a film is available and noteworthy in some way (and not priced ridiculously high), they will actually buy it if I request it.
They are also involved in some other interesting thing. Twice this year they sponsored a local amateur short film festival. When the videos are submitted they screen them for the community at a local theater, then make a DVD which is a free rental at the store.
d
This year both a Hollywood Video and a Blockbuster have folded in the same area in my neighborhood. The original independent shop was gone shortly after the two chains moved in.
The new player for physical media is Red Box kiosks.
Instant mainstream movies.
I can see why they are popular and may stick around awhile.
Phil
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Phil
For the exterior locations, I'm a little paranoid about the security of their CC reader.
Right next to the Blockbuster store I mentioned, a year ago they discovered a compromised gas pump at a 7-11. The store is 24-7 and lit like a TV studio.
you got me thinking and a bit concerned, but, so far it is OK...
Phil
First, when 2 Armenian street thugs electronically jack the local gas station in *your neighborhood (plus many others in the state), it's alarming. There's some sophisticated engineering in these devices.
Secondly, Misha Glenny, author of "DarkMarket: Cyberthieves, Cybercops and You" was recently on Charlie Rose. He stated that our latest fighter jets have 30M lines of code in their systems, and that the predator drone system has already been compromised at least once. It's now all about cybercrime, cyberwarfare and cyberindustrial espionage.
I have since forgone the use of the debit card, and do only cash or credit.
Apologies for drifting the original topic.
I have been with Blockbuster mail service for a while now and love the fact that I can walk in at the local store on any day and swap out a mail in movie for any movie I want right there. No mail service can beat that. I quit Netflix many moons ago when they started throttling mailed DVDs, and I never even copied a single DVD in my life! I said goodbye and never looked back.
I've never done mail order through Blockbuster, so my experience with them was just the local stores. Didn't do much though, because their prices were almost double and selection of titles about 1/4 of the local independent store.
My video store was caught flat-footed by Netflix when it first happened. They downsized to a smaller store to save rent, then streamlined their return process, then attempted their own mail-out return service, then the doors slammed shut. Locally owned and it was a sad drama to witness.
I personally continue to use Netflix for the convenience but I understand the allure of a local video store for movie enthusiasts. Like record stores (when you can find a good one) browsing often reveals treasures one would not have thought of.
For one LA Times writer's opinion on video stores check out Steve Lopez's article at the link below. BTW, Steve is the author of The Soloist, about homeless street musician Nathaniel Ayers, which was made into a movie and is probably available on DVD at your local video store.
Yes, my local store has the DVD, and in fact, I saw it about a year ago!
is now a smattering of people. Two or three wandering around the store.
I stopped going there when gas prices rose and I started with Netflix. I was there recently to look for some obscure foreign titles and witnessed the difference.
Kind of sad as I had been going there for almost twenty years. Another local business that will close soon I am sure.
Phil
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