I'm not surprised that Blockbuster is in free fall

[bigdarryl]

I just purchased a Tivo DVR two weeks ago and ordered NETFLIX for 7.99 a month for UNLIMITED movie watching Blockbuster charges at least that to rent one movie so why should people rent movies from there when you can get free unlimited movies for 7.99 a month to watch on your I phone,TV or your computer http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/22/blockbuster-closures-dish-network_n_2523618.html

[physioex]

1. Not really very surprising....

Blockbuster was a traditional bricks and mortar chain with a supply chain to manufacture and distribute media on DVD or VCR. It simply would not be feasible to compete with an electronic based content provider....

[Auggie]

2. Retail video rental ... soon to be just a memory

[TeamPooka]

8. actually Redbox is growing. Some consumers can't afford subscription fees in their budget

But locally a Redbox in your supermarket or 7/11 will fill the market that a large store used to service.

[SoCalNative]

13. It's at least $1 per title (maybe more now)

to rent from Redbox. Rent 8 titles a month and there's your $7.99 monthly fee for Netflix.

[TeamPooka]

15. yes $1. this way if you have an uneven or unpredictable income flow you control your expenditures

as needed

[SoCalNative]

19. And you can do the same with Netflix

Just cancel for that month, then restart again later.

[xxxsdesdexxx]

24. If you rent DVD at Redbox it's $1, but Blu-ray is $1.50.

I prefer Redbox to Netflix because Netflix does not really have any new titles on its streaming service while Redbox has the newest titles available -- not sure about Redbox's new streaming service.

[Auggie]

14. Ah, but that's not really retail ...

it's vending.

[TeamPooka]

16. um, it's still retail even from a machine.

[Auggie]

18. It's a totally different concept from Blockbuster or Hollywood Video

[Travis_0004]

27. Which is why its successful, when blockbuster isn't.

[TeamPooka]

41. acually the concept (dvd rental) is the same, the means of distribution is slightly different

language counts.

[Buzz Clik]

3. Netflix is severly limited in the titles they can stream.

Streaming from Netflix will not replace a storeful of DVDs.

I have Netflix and I like it a lot, but it has limitations.

[SheilaT]

4. Limited, but I wouldn't say

severely limited.

I do both streaming and mail DVDs on Netflix, and I'm very happy.

I don't even own a TV, so I catch up on the various shows I missed on either Hulu or Netflix.

[ananda]

20. Well, Netflix is limited to a certain extent..

.. that's true. It could do better.

I've noticed that it's buying a lot of cheap crap lately.

There's still good shows, though.

[JI7]

5. i was surprised they still had some stores around

[no_hypocrisy]

6. I take out DVDs from the library for free.

Can't beat that.

[JI7]

7. what could Blockbuster have done to stay in business ?

maybe done what netflix did but keep the stores and sell movie related merchandise. and of course the usual candy, popcorn and other crap to eat when watching movies.

maybe like book stores holding dicussions they could have done the same for movies with small screenings and discussion afterwards.

they need to offer something to get people willing to pay a bit more to get out and buy something. this is why theaters still make money. and we see places like the apple stores where it's not just the product but the whole experience of being in that store.

[Initech]

9. There was a great episode of South Park recently where Stan's dad buys a Blockbuster franchise...

And the lack of customers slowly drives him insane. While Stan makes all kinds of jokes about how old DVD renting is.

[TlalocW]

10. Not only that

The people who came up with Netflix went to Blockbuster with their idea and were laughed out of the boardroom.

I guess they learned nothing from music stores in the 90s who had the opportunity to create kiosks where you could go in, choose what songs you wanted, and get a CD created with them. If they had done that, they probably would have had intellectual property rights and could have stopped Napster and everything that came after it, but no, the music industry didn't want to adapt.

TlalocW

[Nye Bevan]

11. I loved Blockbuster in 1996 (nt)

[Tommy_Carcetti]

12. I actually did like going to the video store back in the day.

Usually on a Friday night, after going out to eat, heading over to the video store and seeing what was in. It was a great way to kill 20 or so minutes by browsing the selection.

Now I have the Red Box at the grocery store, but I have to say it's no fun at all. You are either stuck in line behind someone, or someone is behind you, and you feel rushed to pick something out.

[KansDem]

17. I've seen a Red Box at my local grocery store...

I've not used it, so I have to ask: How much of a selection is there?

I remember a Movies at Home near where I live. Like you, I used to go in and browse, and I'd usually pick out a movie for that evening. Classic movies, foreign movies, musicals, "off the wall"-type movies; a good selection.

But it closed years ago and now I use the public library...

[Jack from Charlotte]

21. Great selection of last several month's movies......

Go to their website and check their selection......

They don't have.... 2 year old nor classic films, however.

I love it. We rent 2-3 recent movies per month at $1.20 each. I check them Friday morning, select and pay online and p/u at the grocery store around the corner.

[KansDem]

23. Thanks!

I didn't realize there was a website. I'll check it out!

[Politicalboi]

34. I should have read your post first

I hate it when a business you are interested in doesn't have a website. I've never used Redbox, but maybe I will if it's that easy.

[RebelOne]

30. Redbox is in my local Kroger here in North Georgia.

It seems to be thriving.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

37. It's not bad

Cheap, it's great to see a new movie you really wanted to see but passed on in the theater, but beyond that it's not the be all and end all of movies because it's ONLY new stuff of which much of it is crap.

[Politicalboi]

32. You would think Redbox would have a

Website to go to and order your movie ahead of time and pay for it either at the box or online. Then go to the machine that has your movie and get it by using the same visa card as you did to register. That way you won't be rushed, and they could send e-mails telling you what's new.

[Nye Bevan]

35. They do. Redbox.com allows you to search for and reserve a movie online.

They also send me an email every week telling me what is new.

[Nye Bevan]

40. Me too. Going there was part of the fun.

Browsing the aisles, buying candy and popcorn, etc. One of those things never to be experienced again.

[Logical]

22. Redbox is a great deal! 1.20 a movie! We use it a lot!

[Liberal_in_LA]

25. we all loved blackbuster back in the day. driving home from work "I'll pick up a video"

before the internet ruined things for them.

RIP blockbuster

[upaloopa]

26. I have a Rocu and Amazon and can search and find just about

any movie I want.

[backscatter712]

28. They failed to adapt.

Between Netflix, Redbox, Comcast On-Demand, and Amazon, people had much cheaper or more convenient ways of getting movies.

[Nye Bevan]

39. See also.... Circuit City, Best Buy, Borders, Barnes & Noble (if they are not careful).... (nt)

[Politicalboi]

29. I have Netflix and Hulu Plus

And their movie selection for me is WTF? I never heard of these movies or the actors. I guess I need to spend more to get more. Thinking about canceling Hulu because I never watch it. But since I have been watching MSNBC for years instead of regular programming
a lot of the re-runs of Law and Order and CSI Miami are new to me. I also watch Dragnet, Hawaii Five-O and Mission Impossible. I get a lot of use out of old TV shows than movies.

Doesn't Netflix charge $7.99 per NEW movie? And then you have to mail it back whenever? Or is it $7.99 more a month and you don't have to do shit, and you can choose ANY or ALL the new movies for the $7.99 a month? Or would my total cost for Netflix would be $15.98 for unlimited NEW movies?

[Skittles]

31. in their heyday Blockbuster treated their customers very badly

so there was simply no loyalty when other options became available

[Spike89]

33. There was no path for Blockbuster

The entire concept of Blockbuster, from the large, brightly lit stores in 1000s of strip malls, to a somewhat sleek catalog (compared to "indy" stores) was built on beating every other video store. But even if the Blockbuster board had grabbed Netflix technology a decade ago--they'd have still just killed off their chain.

It costs lots of money to have actual stores with actual inventory and employees in those stores...that huge overhead couldn't be dropped, and it made them unable to compete with low-overhead options (Red-box) and even lower-overhead Netflix.

Record stores are pretty much gone now too, and there isn't a thing they could have done to keep a physical presence relevant.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

36. Wait, Blockbuster still exists?

Who knew....man i loved Blockbuster. I'd still go there if it was around, but now everyone only watches NEW movies, hence Redbox. That's why kids think "Spider-Man" with Toby McGuire is "sooooo old".

[The Second Stone]

38. I thought they went belly up years ago

is this for real?