Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Netflix May Already Be Killing Blockbuster?

Posted by Zonk on from the quick-knife-to-the-throat dept.

Mattintosh writes "A blogger at C|Net takes a moment to consider the impact Netflix has had on Blockbuster. Some notable highlights include heavy losses ($35 million), job cuts ($45 million worth), and store closings: 'Much like the print media and retail stores refusing to change, Blockbuster has been a victim on an online company finding new and inventive ways of bringing a product to a customer. And due to its size and outdated corporate culture, there really is no salvation for Blockbuster at this point. Try as it might, the future of Blockbuster is bleak, at best. Sure, the company still enjoys revenue that climb into the billions of dollars, but with an ever-increasing net loss and a public refusal to focus on Total Access--the area where Netflix continues to dominate--what is the impetus for us to jump on the Blockbuster bandwagon?'"

3 of 302 comments (clear)

  1. Blockbuster lost my business by philmack · · Score: 5, Informative

    Blockbuster lost me (and several of my friends' accounts) to netflix when they recently did away with their in store exchanges unless you opted to pay like 30% more for the exact same service. I have to imagine that a lot of people did the same.

  2. Total Access kicks Netflix's butt by llamalad · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Blockbuster's online offering is far superior to Netflix's.

    Netflix constantly sent me random movies from my queue instead of using anything remotely resembling the order I'd prioritized them in. IIRC, they were everntually sued for that.

    Blockbuster only seems to have tried that twice with me and a single email to their customer care address resolved that and got me an apology along with it.

    I can also drop my total access movies off at the local LackLuster and trade them for free in-store rentals. And they ship my next online rentals the next day.

    Not affiliated, just a happy customer.

  3. Amazingly... by whystopnow · · Score: 5, Insightful
    ...Netflix lowered monthly subscriptions a month or so ago. Sent me a letter saying "we're dropping your monthly subscription cost by a dollar and adding streaming movies."

    First time in my life a subscription service has gotten cheaper.