Blockbuster files for bankrupcy - end of an era

[Soccerman06]

Well there goes my hopes for an app for my Evo (damn you droidx)! HURRY UP NETFLIX

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

There is a reason you no longer get certain releases on Day 1 via Netflix & I'm pretty sure Blockbuster has a lot to do with that.

So yes, I do feel that as a consumer, they have wronged me.

fair enough.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Under right management they could compete with NetFlix and GameFly.

And that competition is sorely needed. I enjoy Netflix, but what makes all the Netflix fans in here think that once BB is gone, anything will prevent Netflix from starting to raise prices?

 

[Farang]

There is still a gap to be filled between subscription service (Netflix) and instant availability (Redbox). Netflix instant streaming is not nearly at the point to fill that gap, I think that leaves a company like Blockbuster room to maneuver.

 

[JEDI]

So finally its over, I guess its filed for bankruptcy protection a few years back too. No more video rental stores you can go to... end of an era. (Redbox is stupid)



Last time I went there was probably 2 years back, wanted to watch "The Omen".

Please share your story/experience, I hope no ATOTer or immediate family was working there...

doh!
i still have a $5 gift card.

is it still valid?

 

[alkemyst]

Explain how their business model is "built to maximize late charges." They give you more than ample time to watch and return movies. What exactly are they doing to maximize their late charges?

I started with a local place that was $3 for a one night rental in the late 80s/early 90s. Every day after that was another rental fee. I always thought Blockbuster was crazy for giving people so long to return movies, because I knew from the owner of my local place that the first month after release was when he needed to recoup the cost of the movies. Blockbuster significantly reduced the number of times they could rent a movie in the first month by giving people no incentive to return the movies promptly.

All the late fees ever were was an incentive to return the movie promptly so it'd be on the shelf for someone else to rent it.

I think they have gone to a 7 day rental, on the 3 and 5 day plans the reason it maximized the chances are chances are you are not going to be in the same neck of the woods and/or may postpone it until you are ready to rent your next video.

If you have all the free time in the world then daily rentals make sense.

 

[DangerAardvark]

i used them. until i got netflix. where i don't have late "fees" that are insane. idiotic fees that are insane. no need to pay $5 to rent a movie.

i mean really they fucked over people for so long that they jumped at the chance to go someplace else.

Yeah, good riddance to having to take a movie for 3 days and paying $5-7 for a movie I only want to watch once and return.

 

[StageLeft]

Good. Fvck them, they grew way too big on that ridiculous business model. And sucked at changing with the environment.

 

[StageLeft]

BB didn't give you long rentals to be nice. They did it to pad their margin. If you cannot tell that Business A which rents movies for 2 days at $2 makes less than Business B which rents them for 5 days at $5, then you don't realize the time/effort spent with restocking, dealing with customers, etc. All BB ever did was essentially force you to rent the movie for more days than you wanted, they knew full well most customers wouldn't come close to using that 5-7 days but they'd charge you anyway.

The onion historic blockbuster

http://www.theonion.com/video/historic-blockbuster-store-offers-glimpse-of-how-m,14233/

 

[Soccerman06]

I used my full 5 days when I rented a videogame from Hollywood video or BB, I beat the game and everything. Movies on the other hand only needed a night or 2 to watch it and be done.

 

[Ruptga]

Once, before I discovered Redbox, I went to get a movie from them and they would not let me pay for it without filling out some detailed membership application form. I probably would have gone to them again, but that was just so asinine that I never came back. Later I discovered Redbox, and now Netflix gives me everything I want. I'm really surprised these inflexible fossils are still around.

 

[dawp]

Explain how their business model is "built to maximize late charges." They give you more than ample time to watch and return movies. What exactly are they doing to maximize their late charges?

I started with a local place that was $3 for a one night rental in the late 80s/early 90s. Every day after that was another rental fee. I always thought Blockbuster was crazy for giving people so long to return movies, because I knew from the owner of my local place that the first month after release was when he needed to recoup the cost of the movies. Blockbuster significantly reduced the number of times they could rent a movie in the first month by giving people no incentive to return the movies promptly.

All the late fees ever were was an incentive to return the movie promptly so it'd be on the shelf for someone else to rent it.

I've been charged late fees when I had return the movie on time. After a couple of those I stopped using blockbuster and went to Hollywood even tho they were much farther away.

 

[dainthomas]

Yeah, good riddance to having to take a movie for 3 days and paying $5-7 for a movie I only want to watch once and return.

You COULD do that. If you're stupid.

Or you could sign up for their $5/mo plan and get free in-store exchanges. I've had a copy of Date Night on bluray for a couple weeks from the store and haven't gotten around to watching it yet.

I can't tell if people are just ignorant, or purposely obtuse. I suppose it doesn't matter.

This thread gets two

 

[Wyndru]

doh!
i still have a $5 gift card.

is it still valid?

Yeah. Apparently their restructure cycle will allow them to operate without closing many stores. Just because they claimed bankruptcy doesn't mean they are out of business, I'm surprised so many think this is the case.

I haven't rented from them in a while, but I used to keep new releases for a week, and I never got a charge on my card, is this new?

An automated phone call would just tell me what I had out and if it was due.

 

[Deeko]

I still have a Blockbuster online subscription. It kicks ass. Its superior to Netflix, in my opinion.

A) In-store exchanges! This is my favorite feature. Sure, Netflix has streaming, but the streaming availability is craptastic, and the quality has nothing on the Blu Ray I pick up from the store.
B) Games! This is a newer feature, but its awesome. No need for something like Gamefly, game rentals are seemlessly integrated into the subscription
C) I dunno, call me nostalgic, but I grew up in the 90s - I loved Blockbuster growing up.