Posted on 08/14/2010 10:11:11 AM PDT by Zakeet
re: “Compared to Netflix, Blockbuster was anti-consumer.”
I agree. Netflix found a niche by offering a quick and easy way to get movies without having to go to the local video store. They took advantage of the internet and continue to stay “on top” by offering movies through streaming - either through your blu ray or with Wii.
In other words, Netflixs looked for the opportunities that Blockbuster ignored or just didn’t see and now they are paying for it. There has been a paradigm shift and Blockbuster may not be able to catch up. I hope they can because I don’t like seeing all their employees losing their jobs.
To those defending the “mom and pop” video stores and blame Blockbuster, come on! - Blockbuster didn’t drag customers into their stores against their will. They provided a nicer facility, larger inventory, and competative price. The “mom and pop” stores either didn’t adjust or couldn’t adjust, but that’s business. You have to make your business competative and worthwhile to the customer if you want customers to come back.
Blockbuster took advantage of the opportunities they saw, Netflix did the same. If Netflix doesn’t keep doing that they will someday be in the same situation as Blockbuster is now.
Again, I find this pretty sad: I've been a blockbuster customer since the early 1980s, when VCR prices were still pretty high, and I could rent a VCR for parties, and get a couple of movies for the weekend.
Mark
Even if I had a coupon for 10 free movie rentals, I doubt that I could find more than two that I would be interested in.
The nice thing about the Blockbusters around here is that they have a pretty good selection of older movies... In fact, I was able to find a copy of the mini-series of Steven King's "The Stand," which is (IMHO) one of the best movie adaptations of King's books ever made. I had to hunt it down, only 1 store had a copy, but the long drive was worth it. They've also got a terrific selection of Kurasawa movies. Unfortunately, most of the Blockbusters around here have begun getting rid of their older movies in order to make room for Blue Ray and games.
I love being able to walk down the aisles, browsing for what looks interesting, and coming up with "interesting" double features... One of my favorites of all time was pairing Kurasawa's "Ran" with the concert video by the Talking Heads, "Stop Making Sense." Believe it or not, it really worked!
Mark
Well that guy sold his interest a long time ago.
The stores around here don’t seem to have too large a collection of older movies. The thing is though, I love those older movies, I’ve seen them countless times, and I can see most of them on non-premium satelite channels.
I definitely agree on The Stand though, and I even had the opportunity to read the unabridged version of that story. I believe that mini series was just recently run on the Chiller channel, or perhaps it was Syfy channel.
A movie you might like is “The Boondock Saints”.
The sequel was really good too, I love Julie Benz. I’m thinking most guys on here would call her definitely “not guilty”. And for the women, I think both the brothers are hot.
It’sa great movie. The premise is that these 2 Irish Catholic brothers become vigilantes. It’s really good, lots of action, and some funny lines. Uses ALOT of profanity though, but seriously it’s really great.
A little bit of sorrow for me. My first movie card was with Blockbuster, and we used to have Dad take us their on New Years Eve to get movies for us all to watch.
But I haven’t been to one in over a year.
They want a bunch of dollars to rent a video you can now get a for a buck out of a machine.
Death of the horse and buggy type of situation IMO.
When BB got rid of their stock DVDs ($1 and $2 per) and priced every DVD (BD or otherwise) at $5, I walked. Too rich.
I miss the days of $1 rentals at the local markets which abandoned rentals two years ago.
Since I started streaming to my TVs on Netflix ($11 per month with unlimited streaming to all my TVs for no additional charge for a huge selection of movies and TV shows), I have not rented any DVDs. In fact, I canceled DirecTV, because I like what I can get from Netflix better.
Even those who do not have high speed internet should begin to realize that they will save money by getting it and canceling their Cable/satellite TV connection, not to mention saving the cost of a land line telephone.
Blockbuster should have seen the technology handwriting on the wall years ago, sold the company and started a new company in a completely different market, something like a chain of no-haggle higher end used car dealerships.
We cancelled DirecTv for Netflix $11/mo streaming and movie rental plan 18 months ago. Have a tivo connected to an antenna for shows and supplement with Hulu.
Tried to rent from Blockbuster a couple times in the past year but couldn’t pull the trigger on $5 for a night. And now we have $1 redboxes in the grocery stores.
Blockbuster has been killed from 10 directions at once. There’s no bringing it back.
Next is cable and satellite tv.
The profit margins just are not there.
Netflix is cleaning their clocks. This isn’t even about the depression were are in. Business could be booming and Netflix and the little red $1 rental boxes in stores have made having to go to a specific store to pay for movies at $4 a pop with exorbitant late fees, obsolete.
Blockbuster and Hollywood, etc, are obsolete. Their business model no longer works. People want movies to go to them - Netflix. Cheap/poor people are getting movies for $1 a pop in the red vendor machines at stores.
Blockbuster is screwed because they failed to coopt the Netflix business model. With their name recognition, they could have been a direct competitor with Netflix in set fee, by mail DVD distribution. Instead, they are going bankrupt.
Idiots.
I have Netflix.
I have been renting the TV series “Moonlighting”. I visit my mom every weekend or so and the whole family sits down to watch the Moonlighting DVD. They haven’t enjoyed TV so much in over a decade. I swear to you.
There is so much content to be had with Netflix, if you can’t find new or old content you would enjoy, you aren’t looking.
I’m not saying you should subscribe, I am just saying the limited content at Blockbuster, and their huge late fees, and the fact you had to go to the store to return movies, made them obsolete.
Netflix is not having any problem making money during this depression.
But the main reason I use BB instead of Netflix is because right after Obama was elected the idiot CEO of Netflix grandly announced he thought everyone should be paying higher taxes. I sent him the website where he could donate all the money he wished to the Feds and refuse to do business with his company no matter what they offer.
Freepers: be advised
I used to be a fan of Moonlighting when it was on TV. It made Willis into a star, Shepard...not so much.
But generally, I am looking for movies as opposed to television shows.
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