Blockbuster Files For Bankruptcy

Dallas-based Blockbuster Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection yesterday, calling into question the futures of over 5,600 stores worldwide. The company will be evaluating each location on a case-by-case basis, and seeks to cut costs after reporting a $558 million net loss last year. Newsweek credits the company's slow adoption of new media distribution methods as a big reason for the company's decline. "... while Blockbuster discussed creating its own subscription service to rival Netflix, it wasn't until August 2004 that its online DVD rental program actually started in the US. And when, in 2004, Coinstar entered the market with its Redbox DVD kiosks, Blockbuster didn't begin installing similar devices until 2008." CNET suggests that "Leaders of pay TV services might be wise to start doing the business equivalent of digging foxholes and manning the battlements or the same thing could happen to them."

Comments

I'll miss them

[beschra]

Browsing in a browser just doesn't hold up to browsing the physical media. Guess I'm just a library kinda guy.

Re:I'll miss them

[dcblogs]

They just closed the Bockbuster in my DC neighborhood. So, I bought a blu ray DVD player that supports Netflix, Amazon. I wish Blockbuster had closed a year ago.

Re:I'll miss them

[E IS mC(Square)]

Browsing in a browser beats browsing physical media when it contains 100000 times more choices and not only crappy hollywood 'blockbusters'. Guess I am a picky kinda guy.

Re:I'll miss them

[MistrBlank]

And conveniently these days you can borrow movies from most local libraries.... free.

Re:I'll miss them

[kg8484]

Guess I'm just a library kinda guy.

Then go to the library. I haven't needed Netflix nor Blockbuster for a good long time. My library is part of a rather large network of libraries. I can go to the library itself and browse available titles and I can also put a hold online for pretty much any movie I want. Yes, I have to wait a bit longer for recent releases compared to a pay service, but I'm patient and there are plenty of older good movies that have zero wait that you can watch in the interim. Now, if you live somewhere where there aren't any good libraries, well, I guess you are SOL. I've never had this problem, but I guess if you live in the boonies it affects you.

Re:I'll miss them

[nizo]

Neither Netflix nor Amazon should even exist, but for the stupidity of Blockbuster and Barnes and Noble. I can see the clueless management of both companies now:

"Oh that intertooob thingy will never catch on!"

Re:I'll miss them

[rotide]

I know people see the past through rose colored glasses, but I most certainly won't miss going in and finding that all the good/new movies are out of stock and the hassle of dealing with late fees for things I definitely returned on time. Oh, look at that, they found the copy I had out. Thanks for making me come down and threaten to drop my membership, AGAIN.

Re:I'll miss them

[Myopic]

Totally agreed. "Why would anyone want a movie sent to you in the mail? You wouldn't even know what movie you are going to see next! Walking around aisles of thousands of bad movies for over an hour is clearly a superior customer experience, and we don't need to worry about this competition."

Maybe they will build their next brick-and-mortar store out of clue-by-fours.

Re:I'll miss them

[grumbel]

Having 100000 times the choice is worth very little when the user interface interface doesn't actually allow you to browse them. The Internet is really good at search, but at browsing it actually just plain out sucks, in a lot of cases it is even completly impossible.

Re:I'll miss them

[Abstrackt]

Now, if you live somewhere where there aren't any good libraries, well, I guess you are SOL. I've never had this problem, but I guess if you live in the boonies it affects you.

If you don't have easy access to a library here in Canada, like living in the boonies, there are programs in place for libraries to mail books to you. It's possible something similar exists in the US.

Re:I'll miss them

[mcgrew]

Before someone mods the parent "offtopic", the library is my favorite video "store" as well. They don't have the selection a video store has, but checking out a DVD or CD at the library is free. I go to the library first, if I can't find what I want then I'll go to a video store (Family Video; the insanely expensive Blockbuster here closed a year or two ago).

Re:I'll miss them

[Albanach]

It's an incredible strategy they're undertaking.

They don't have free streaming, so what separated their plans from Netflix was that you could exchange in store.

Here they closed all three local stores leaving over 100,000 people without a local Blockbuster. Overnight, their rent by post plans were more expensive than Netflix and more restrictive. They also appeared to be slowing down shipping movies, where they'd often be sent out the day after your return was received, rather than the same day.

Then they started rolling out kiosks, like RedBox. But if you have a mail in subscription, you can't use your free rental coupons in their kiosks and you can't do returns or exchanges to their kiosks.

They seem hell bent on destroying themselves, and that doesn't engender much sympathy.

Re:I'll miss them

[MBGMorden]

Not really. The browsing experience for movies isn't all that different between the net and brick and mortar. All you get in a video store is a picture of the front and back box cover. You see them small on the shelf and scan over them to see what looks nice. See one you like and you can pick it up and look at it more closely. In a browser you see small thumbnails of the same covers, and if you see one you like you can click on it and look at a larger version. It's pretty much the exact same thing for movies.

I can give the library arguement a little more weight when it comes to books because there you can actually pickup the book and flip through it, but for movies? Not so much.

Also, aside from plain old searching (which as you note, works VERY well on the net), there is also filtering. I might not know exactly what movie I want to check out, but I might want to watch a Japanese Horror film made in 1998 or later. With good filtering options, I can pretty quickly narrow the available choices to just that criteria. You just can't do that with boxes on a shelf

Re:I'll miss them

[jlf278]

>>Maybe they will build their next brick-and-mortar store out of clue-by-fours.

Hey moron, there's no such thing as clue-by-fours. They're called 2"x4's! What an f'in dumb@$$. Could you be anymore clueless?

Re:I'll miss them

[arivanov]

It is not the digital downloads or pirated content that killed Blockbuster (at least here).

It is the like of LoveFilm which have 100 times the catalogue of your local BlockBuster branch and can offer it to you for a bag of peanuts over mail order using a "no late fees" model.

Re:I'll miss them

[AnonymousClown]

And conveniently these days you can borrow movies from most local libraries.... free.

Libraries don't have a very large selection and the condition of their movies can be horrible. I borrowed a Harry Potter from my local library and the thing wouldn't play because it was so scratched up. I don't know WTF people do, let their kids play hockey with the things?! The clerks at the local Hollywood that closed said that theirs was the same way, but they would have a bunch of backup copies - the library doesn't.

People are so inconsiderate.

Re:I'll miss them

[ElectricTurtle]

Not to mention there are reviews immediately on hand that are a lot more useful and illuminating than the vapid praise bytes the film distributor puts on the media case.

"Absolutely awe-inspiring..." ~Some Newspaper

Uh huh, yeah, that's what she said.

Re:I'll miss them

[NoStrings]

That's one reason I call it "Lackluster" instead of "Blockbuster".

Re:I'll miss them

[DizTorDed]

Actually, you can rent games as well as movies for the same price.

Re:I'll miss them

[Anonymous Coward]

Growing up around libraries 10-15 years ago, the library only had pg or pg-13 movies at most. And the good ones were often checked out for 3-6 weeks.
I just torrent these days.

Re:I'll miss them

[mapkinase]

It's not stupidity. They were already making megabucks each year with obligatory bonuses independent on how the company they supposed to manage is doing. It's not a capitalism, it's a parody on it.

Re:I'll miss them

[FredFredrickson]

Don't forget their end of latefees-- which ended up the king of late fees. Apparently, if you kept the DVD, no late fees occurred, because they just charged your credit card for the purchase of the movie.. (I actually wrote about this in 2005.. End of Late Fees)

Or what about the "always in stock guarantee!" That was my favorite. Apparently, if the new release you were looking for wasn't in stock, they'd give you a little paper rain check that says "You can rent this dvd at a future date for exactly the same price it is today, no questions asked!" Which would be just awesome, except.. their prices didn't really change often.. It was the same as not getting a rain check at all. They didn't hold a copy for you or anything. It was a disingenuous marketing ploy.. each and every one of them.

Every time they changed something, it was an insult to their customers. My $17.99 3-dvd at a time account transformed one night to $24.99. I was a little peeved, but at the time, I was enjoying the number of discs I could rent. So then they upped it one more time (about a month later) to $34.99. I dropped it like it was hot. F-that. Netflix it is. They literally couldn't have done a worse job at customer retention. It was like they were chasing me off with a big stick.

Re:I'll miss them

[MMC Monster]

The other option is that if you don't have a good video complement at your local library, ask if they take donations.

Many will (baring porn), and maybe you can jumpstart the local library collection. I give many of my old movies to the library and encourage everyone else to do the same.

Re:I'll miss them

[ChinggisK]

Their prices were getting ridiculous too. Something like $9.95 to rent a video game for 4-5 days, $3 for a *one* night rental when Redbox has them for $0.99. That's why I stopped shopping there more than anything else.

Re:I'll miss them

[metamatic]

Quite. I was a BlockBuster customer, but when I got a DVD player, I quickly gave up on them. They couldn't see the juggernaut approaching, and took forever to start stocking DVDs. When they did finally stock them, they only had an anemic selection of cropped "pan and scan" versions of a few of the most popular movies. So it wasn't just a matter of thinking the Internet wouldn't catch on; they also thought DVD wouldn't catch on.

Re:I'll miss them

[tehcyder]

Would it be meta-ironic to give this a * whoosh* ?

Re:I'll miss them

[macwhizkid]

And conveniently these days you can borrow movies from most local libraries.... free.

Only if you're not paying your taxes. I read this morning that the average property owner in my town pays over $100/year for library services.

Don't get me wrong, I think libraries are a fantastic public service. But nothing in life is free.

Re:I'll miss them

[DriveDog]

Yes, it's not as simple as just not adopting new technologies. BB has long had very obnoxious policies. The day Family Video opened nearby was the same day I never ventured into a BB again. I don't understand how BB killed the old neighborhood family-run video store, unless it was just that BB had more copies of the latest movies, but I do understand why BB closed the store not long after FV opened a block away. I can't say about other BB stores, but the appearance and general manner of the employees of the one here were terrible (and I'm a pretty tolerant person, so I'm sure that had a greater negative influence on many others). One might say that if you pay poorly that's what you get, but that doesn't work here, either, as employees of other stores that pay poorly at least have good attitudes towards customers and don't appear to have dirt falling from their bodies. This just reflects poor management. Oh yeah, and FV apparently vacuums the floor occasionally, unlike BB. FV may be in trouble, too, I don't know, and I don't go there much since getting Netflix and Dish, but at least they do what they've always done well. The worst policy of BB? Late fees, charged automatically to your credit card. FV charges a late fee upon return, for which you can get credit toward your next rental. They still make some money on late returns, but in a more customer-friendly way, and their business model isn't built on it. Does your public library charge late fees automatically to your credit card immediately after the due date? People weren't used to that, and didn't like it at all. It wasn't the cost, but the idea of it. The only bad things about this are the now completely unemployed and the vacant stores left behind.

Re:I'll miss them

[tooyoung]

I love my Netflix account, but I do find it difficult to make sure that I don't miss movies when they make it out to video. I tend to try to keep an eye out on the New Releases section of Netflix, but even that doesn't seem to work. The other day my friend mentioned he had rented McGruber, and I swear I never saw that listed as a new release for Netflix.

Netflix's new release section has a problem that I've observed on all other sites that list new releases: the big movies get thrown in the same jumbled mess of a page as all of the latest direct-to-DVD crap, yoga videos, and children's cartoon collections. Sure, I like stumbling upon new movies I haven't heard of, but a lot of the time I just want to see what big releases are making it to DVD. I've yet to find a decent site that ranks new releases by popularity. Any recommendations?

As much as I will always hate Blockbuster for charging me $250 late fees on single movies back in the day, there was something nice about walking the store and browsing the new releases. You could use the number of copies of a movie to point out the popular releases, and even if you had missed that a movie had come out several months ago, it would probably still be on the wall.

Re:I'll miss them

[Anonymous Coward]

I can give the library arguement a little more weight when it comes to books because there you can actually pickup the book and flip through it, but for movies? Not so much.

many netflix movies even have the movie trailer on the detail page to view

Re:I'll miss them

[commodore64_love]

One reason Blockbuster (and most rental stores) didn't like DVDs is because they'd come back scratched and eventually become unplayable. They preferred the longer life of the VHS tape, and therefore avoided DVDs as long as possible.

Re:I'll miss them

[Bill, Shooter of Bul]

Why was Barnes and Noble stupid? I bought books from their website before I bought them from amazon.

Re:I'll miss them

[men0s]

Other people have mentioned libraries as a source to check out movies, and yes, if you live in a municipality that has a good library system, then it's a viable option.

But one option I haven't seen is the independent shops or the smaller chains. There's a place a few blocks from my parents house that has been in business as long as I can remember (I'm in my late 20s). How they stayed in business versus Blockbuster, I can take a few guesses. Hire high school kids and pay minimum wage, offer lots of games as the same price as BB but keep them for 5 nights instead of 2 or 3, stock lots of "fad" items in the showcase up front such as Pokemon, Magic, and other cards, stock lots of movie-night snacks but the same price as going to your favorite corner store.

Purely anecdotal in my case, but don't overlook the smaller shops.

Re:I'll miss them

[neolith]

Hey, I live in the boonies. Still have a quality library, that networks with other libraries, has online reserve and renewal, and all the other modern features that larger, metropolitan areas have. Just because one lives in the "sticks" doesn't mean one has to accept sub-standard services.

Re:I'll miss them

[elysiana]

Definitely agree with you. When they first started doing their own video-by-mail service I thought, "Great! Now there'll be some competition and maybe a different selection of movies." So I signed up for their free trial and prepared to be wow'ed. I was... but not in the good way.

I found out that yes, they had some anime, but only 3 out of 8 discs of a particular show I wanted to rent. Not only that, but they weren't even in order - it was something like discs 2, 3, and 7, so I couldn't even bother just getting started on it. Why even offer the series?

So I looked up my next selection. Good, they had 4 of 4 discs. I added them to my queue, and they arrived out of order. I received disc 4 along with two other movies that were much later in my queue, because supposedly nothing else in my queue was in stock at the time. I had to send the two movies back and hope that discs 1 and 2 would show up next. They didn't - I got 2 and 3. I went down to the actual Blockbuster store to see if they had disc 1, and of course they didn't have the series at all. I think I ended up ripping them so that when disc 1 finally came I could actually watch all of them, without having to play 3-card draw.

The last straw was when I rented Superman Returns. The disc came, I ordered some pizza, got ready for a nice night in... and took the disc out and it was The Pink Panther. The sleeve said Superman Returns, but the wrong movie had been put in. So I went to Blockbuster yet again and asked for an exchange, where they implied that I had actually queued up The Pink Panther and the *sleeve* was wrong. I asked them why I'd be down there trying to exchange it if I *wanted* to watch it, and that stumped them. Canceled the service the next day, and luckily it was still within the trial period so I never paid them a dime.

I still can't figure out why they half-assed it trying to compete with Netflix. Rarely have I heard anyone say they preferred Blockbuster's service, and those that did admitted that they only watch popular movies. A few even had the same experience I did where they received the wrong movie, but they "just went down and exchanged it, so it wasn't a big deal." Once you've heard 5 or 6 people say that, though, you realize it's a much bigger problem than what they're seeing.

Re:I'll miss them

[Anonymous Coward]

trolled

Re:I'll miss them

[Anonymous Coward]

Would it be meta-ironic to give this a * whoosh* ?

When you say "this", you're referring to your own post, right?

Re:I'll miss them

[yodleboy]

Unfortunatly, the Blockbuster library has gotten smaller and smaller over the years. To the point the average store is 50% games, 25% older movies and 25% multiple copies of the latest releases. It's that ever shrinking proportion of older movies that is driving people to Netflix.

Re:I'll miss them

[daem0n1x]

A few weeks ago I tried movie rental from my cable TV provider. I used to rent movies in a local shop, but now, bye bye. I can browse the titles with my remote, pick a movie, approve the charge and watch the movie comfortably on my couch. For the same price the video rental charges me. And I save two car trips (one for getting the film and the other to return it), scratched DVDs and late return fines. I, for one, welcome our new movie streaming overlords.

Re:I'll miss them

[telso]

Don't worry, the RIAA is trying to fix this.

Re:I'll miss them

[jedidiah]

Blockbuster never had anything worth browsing. They didn't have any selection to speak of except for multiple copies of new releases.

This is why a lot of us started using Netflix back in the day.

It's like how Amazon has a better selection than B&M stores because it can cast a wider net.

Re:I'll miss them

[Quiet_Desperation]

The Blockbusters near me always had the cashiers practically announce to the store what you were reanting. Not that they really had anything embarrassing to rent, but that always just ground my gears.

Re:I'll miss them

[ThatMegathronDude]

This makes less than no sense. Stop hurting my brain its Friday and I need to sleep.

Re:I'll miss them

[hairyfeet]

Not only that, but if you donate often you end up with a nice relationship with the local library and they'll go out of their way to be nice to you. For example my mom has been buying cheesy horror and sci-fi/ fantasy books since the early 50s (while other kids got "the cat in the hat" read to them I got read to from "the best sci-fi writers of" series, very cool) and she has gotten into the habit of giving the library a big box of older sci fi titles when she runs out of shelf space.

Well it turns out the old gals and college girls that run the local library loooove sci-fi/fantasy books, and many of the college kids are big on finding new horror to read. so now whenever my mom pops into the library and says she can't find a particular book by some author the librarians write down the author's name and buy the title she wants PLUS others by the author when they hit the book sales on their quarterly purchases.

So by donating to your local library you are not only helping others, you are building a relationship that will ultimately help you as well. The only downside is now when I come walking in behind mom with a cardboard box I practically get knocked down by excited librarians acting like it is Xmas morning.

as for TFA, one would have been blind to have not sen this one coming 5 years ago, just as I knew 5 years before it happened my local Circuit shitty didn't have a prayer. our local Buster never stocked enough of the popular titles, was slow to make the transition to DVD from VHS, their prices sucked, and their service was terrible. When our local walmart started carrying most 2 year old movies in the $7 or less bin combined with Redbox showing up everywhere I knew that goose was cooked. In this day of mega-malls and places like Amazon and Netflix one can't just keep going with subpar service and expect to survive.

Re:I'll miss them

[fussy_radical]

I said the same thing about MP3s when they first came out.

Instead of embracing them, the record companies just stamped their feet and complained about how easy they were to copy.

Re:I'll miss them

[AdamWeeden]

This post needs some perspective I think. Let me qualify my post by saying:

1) I am a former Blockbuster employee (5 years ago while I was in college).

2) I am a current Netflix subscriber and occasional Redbox user. I can not recall the last time I walked into a Blockbuster. I think their business model is archaic.
 

Don't forget their end of latefees-- which ended up the king of late fees. Apparently, if you kept the DVD, no late fees occurred, because they just charged your credit card for the purchase of the movie.

Which only occurred after you didn't return it for a week! Did you think they were just going to let you keep the movie forever?

Apparently, if the new release you were looking for wasn't in stock, they'd give you a little paper rain check that says "You can rent this dvd at a future date for exactly the same price it is today, no questions asked!" Which would be just awesome, except.. their prices didn't really change often.

Unless this changed since I worked there, this is out and out wrong. The rain check was for a FREE copy of that title on your next visit.

Re:I'll miss them

[dnahelicase]

Browsing in a browser just doesn't hold up to browsing the physical media. Guess I'm just a library kinda guy.

I won't. Besides the higher prices and late fees, I hate staring at shelves lined with a bunch of movies in alphabetical order, or 15 shelves of the same movie in the new releases section. In a browser I have genre sorting capabilities, suggestions, and reviews. I would have saved a lot of money when I used to frequent Blockbuster if they would have put user reviews with the movies on the shelves.

The Netflix/Redbox combo is nearly perfect. I do all the browsing and picking online. If I want it today I get it at Redbox or stream it through the Wii on Netflix. If it's a TV series I get the disc through Netflix and watch it at my leisure. If I start watching something and don't like it, I turn it off without feeling like I wasted money.

I'm a library kinda guy when I read books (though they have movies too!) but I don't miss anything when I have my digital media presented to me in a more convenient digital form. Even if you don't have Netflix, browsing on Redbox lets you know whats available and where to get it before you even go out.

Re:I'll miss them

[Schnapple]

Don't forget their end of latefees-- which ended up the king of late fees. Apparently, if you kept the DVD, no late fees occurred, because they just charged your credit card for the purchase of the movie.

Which only occurred after you didn't return it for a week! Did you think they were just going to let you keep the movie forever?

That's sort of what they were implying, yes. I mean, what did they expect from people by proclaiming the "end of late fees!" The entire concept and marketing of it was an abortion.

Re:I'll miss them

[dnahelicase]

It's not stupidity. They were already making megabucks each year with obligatory bonuses independent on how the company they supposed to manage is doing. It's not a capitalism, it's a parody on it.

Actually, it is stupid. They could have used those megabucks to wipe out any competition that started getting popular. They were lazy and stupid because they didn't understand or study their market or the way technology changes their market. If you don't adapt to changing market conditions and get ahead of the curve, you can't expect to stay on top.

Re:I'll miss them

[h4rr4r]

So go to family video, or any of the other smaller chains still open. There will always be some sort of market for this sort of thing.

Re:I'll miss them

[Anonymous Coward]

You must be tired because that actually made perfect sense.

Re:I'll miss them

[dnahelicase]

Why was Barnes and Noble stupid? I bought books from their website before I bought them from amazon.

You might have bought from B&N first, but it sounds like you bought from Amazon later on? B&N should have invested early to keep Amazon from getting huge. Back in 1997 Amazon.com was cheap! B&N was huge! Amazon started buying up other .com's, like CDNow, in order to grow their product lines to be more than just books. Amazon grew from nothing and became a giant while B&N was a giant and started struggling to survive, but they both were selling the same thing! B&N could have been the site we all go to, or Amazon could have been a subsidiary. They snatched defeat from the jaws of victory...

Re:I'll miss them

[Lumpy]

Sorry but a Clue by four does exist.

It's a 2"x4" with nails in the end you swing and hit people with.

Re:I'll miss them

[h4rr4r]

actually the free exchange in store thing became only 2 per month soon after they launched. I had Block Buster online just for that reason until they made their changes.

On top of this their website was broken, if your queue did not have an available movie in the top 15 nothing would be mailed to you. So even though I had 150 movies in the queue I would get nothing because I had placed the long wait movies at the top to ensure I would get them as soon as they were available. Any complaint about this just ended in me being told to move an available movie into the first 15.

Re:I'll miss them

[TheRaven64]

You mean the MPAA. Their local equivalent seems to have already fixed it in the UK - borrowing DVDs from libraries costs money (although you might be able to watch them on your laptop for free in the library), and it's not even that competitive with commercial rental places.

Re:I'll miss them

[Hatta]

Apparently, if you kept the DVD, no late fees occurred, because they just charged your credit card for the purchase of the movie..

Sounds pretty reasonable to me. Lots of places you could easily rack up late fees that amount to more than the DVD is worth.

I only stopped going to blockbuster because I saw everything they had worth watching. I pretty much only watch documentaries and farces, so that didn't take too long.

Re:I'll miss them

[TobinLathrop]

I won't. Their selection sucked when they were pretty much my only choice at the time. They sucked even worse about 6 years ago the last time I had a chance to check them out.
Happily I have lived near enough to Scarecrow video for rentals and they have damn near everything. At least there has not been anything unavailable yet that was to be had on media. Scarecrow is the reason I have not gone to netflix.
Screw em. I won't miss them.

Re:I'll miss them

[h4rr4r]

DVDlater.com

It will let you add movies that are in theaters to your netflix queue.

Re:I'll miss them

[gorzek]

The credit card requirement was why my parents never got a BB account. I remember when I was a kid, they walked into a BB with the intention of signing up to rent movies there, and walked out the second they were told a major credit card was required to be on the account.

They stuck with the local Mom & Pop video rental joint. I can't believe so many people happily handed over their CC info to Blockbuster. I'm not sorry to see them go under, though.

Re:I'll miss them

[h4rr4r]

If you spend more than $10 a month on that netflix is the way to go. Heck, I canceled my cable and moved to that.

Re:I'll miss them

[operagost]

I won't send Netflix a dime until they stop buying pop-under ads and send their CEO over to my house to personally apologize for wasting my time.

Re:I'll miss them

[Sancho]

When MP3s first came out, there wasn't a great way to distribute them. Lots and lots of people didn't have Internet access in their homes, and so the majority of people who had Internet access were poor students on fast networks conducive to file sharing. There weren't portable MP3 players, either, so practically the only use for the things was playing them on your computer. Storage was fairly limited, too. I think I had a 400MB drive when I first started seeing MP3s, and that was pretty average. MP3s were sitting at around 3MB at the time--each one was nearly 1% of my total drive capacity (certainly 1% of my available capacity once the OS and applications were installed.) That computer struggled to play the MP3s I had.

A forward-thinking CEO might have noted this and predicted devices like the iPod. I doubt it, though. This was before the tech bubble, and while a lot of stuff was already being made in China, we didn't have the vast glut of cheap electronics that we did even 5 years later.

Re:I'll miss them

[mapkinase]

I agree that it's stupid for a company to do that, but people who did that were not stimulated by the company actually to do that. They just sit on their salaries.

It's laziness rewarded in $M.

Re:I'll miss them

[hey!]

Miss them? Not me. I'll miss the neighborhood video store that kept a stockpile of unusual movies, not Blockbuster with its dozens of duplicate copies of movies that were in theaters last year. That store easily had twice the number of titles in 1/5 the space.

Re:I'll miss them

[Sancho]

Don't forget their end of latefees-- which ended up the king of late fees. Apparently, if you kept the DVD, no late fees occurred, because they just charged your credit card for the purchase of the movie.

Which only occurred after you didn't return it for a week! Did you think they were just going to let you keep the movie forever?

I think you're misremembering this bit.

Blockbuster charged you a $1.25 restocking fee after 7 days. It wasn't the traditional late fee, which was based upon the number of days you were late, but no reasonable person is going to believe that that $1.25 isn't, in reality, a late fee.

They charged you the full price of the movie after 30 days--way more reasonable than 7, but still a nasty surprise for some people.

Unless this changed since I worked there, this is out and out wrong. The rain check was for a FREE copy of that title on your next visit.

You are correct. The GP has his head up his behind, or just has a hate-on for Blockbuster.

Re:I'll miss them

[wvmarle]

They left Hong Kong a few years ago already. Couldn't compete.

One of the main reasons: price. I was renting my movies for HK$5 (VCD)-$10 (DVD) a day (USD1=HKD7.8) from local independent rental shops, they were charging something like HK$20-30 a day and you had to buy like ten, twenty rental tickets in advance.

Older movies I routinely bought HK$50 for three (I don't care if it's made 1 or 20 years ago; haven't watched it; movies usually don't get better or worse with time). Never movies cost typically $50-90 each. If you buy DVD it's a little more. Mainland import stalls (that's where you get the not-yet-in-cinema stuff, well not all imported from mainland as local production is safer) charge around $20 for a DVD.

So I never missed them. They were too expensive, and had a Western-only library of movies, not very up-to-date even. The local shops had Western and Asian movies, better prices, better overall selection. And the independent outlets are going strong to this day in this city; albeit I'm not renting any more since having a child due to time restraints.

Re:I'll miss them

[Anonymous Coward]

update - they're not actually 2 inches by 4 inches!!! oh the horror!

Re:I'll miss them

[wvmarle]

Here they closed all three local stores leaving over 100,000 people without a local Blockbuster.

You trying to say there are no competitors to them whatsoever? Or is having a local Blockbuster considered a normal fact of life or so?

Re:I'll miss them

[Sancho]

Early on, the Blockbuster thing was a really good deal. We lived down the block from a Blockbuster store, so we picked up one of the cheaper plans. Got a DVD in the mail, watched it, exchanged it at the B&M store. Allegedly, once they scan it, it's considered returned and Blockbuster would ship the next DVD the next day. Effectively, you were getting twice the number of DVDs as the plan stated.

Then they upped the price a bit.

Then they limited the number of exchanges you could make in a month.

Then they upped the price again.

I was watching Netflix through all of this. They increased their price $1 at one point. Then they dropped it down by $1 around the same time that Blockbuster raised theirs. That was when we switched. The reasons to stay with Blockbuster were dwindling, whereas Netflix had just gotten streaming.

Later on, I heard that the stores hated the in-store exchange, because it cannibalized their discs. We never rented from Blockbuster before, so we weren't exactly costing them money by getting the discs free--however the discs weren't available for paying customers to rent. I think that model was an interesting idea in theory, but in practice, each Blockbuster Online customer was doubly harming the B&M stores--by not renting (due to getting it online) and by taking their discs.

Re:I'll miss them

[Albanach]

I had those great conversations too.

And just try getting them to explain how the computer decides to allocate 'long wait' movies when they do become available. Eventually I was told that your priority moves up, even if it's further down the queue, then when the title becomes available you have to move it to the top of the queue. Of course the reason it's in 'long wait' status is because of high demand, so by the time you move it up your queue, it's already been shipped to someone else.

Their customer service are actually very good at replying quickly. They just don't have the knowledge base to actually answer your questions, nor do they have the power to do anything about it.

I listed a whole host of oscar winning movies which were unavailable or on long wait. I asked why they weren't stocking them. All were readily available to buy online. The stock reply was that sometimes the movie companies stop making the movies so they can't buy any more.

If you reply to a customer service rep with a followup question, the ticket will be handled by a different agent who invariably replies with the same boilerplate the first agent used.

It's incredibly frustrating.

Re:I'll miss them

[Anonymous Coward]

What's fantastic is I've held onto a netflix movie for two months now because I keep forgetting to watch it. 2 Months and you know what I've paid _NOTHING_. Man what a hard schema, I guess on the plus side they get an assured fee but 11dollars a month (far better then bb online) is better then 35!

Also, wtf is with slashdot I cannot sign in. Like I signed in went main->bb files for bankruptcy->ctrl+f find this post->reply->You are not logged in. You can log in now, Create an Account, or post as Anonymous Coward.

Even though I am signed in.

Re:I'll miss them

[daem0n1x]

Mmm, that may be hard in Lisbon, Portugal :-)
But nevermind, I rent 1 or 2 movies a month. They're only €2,50 a piece if you don't go for the freshly released blockbuster.

Re:I'll miss them

[Sancho]

For the data point, my wife and I loved Blockbuster Online at first. She got older movies from the online service, and I'd get newer ones in-store (our closest blockbuster had a terrible selection of films older than 10 years.) It worked out pretty well for a while. Then Blockbuster started raising prices and cutting services, while Netflix was adding services. So we switched, and have been really happy since.

Re:I'll miss them

[Monchanger]

Indeed. And when you connect your account to that of your family&friends' you can get even more trustworthy opinions.

Re:I'll miss them

[Dzimas]

Funding for municipal services has dried up over the last couple of years. It seems that the first thing libraries do in a cash crunch is reduce service hours, the second is to limit spending on A/V materials such as DVDs and CDs. Still, our local library costs each household about $50 per year. In return, we can order books and DVDs from several hundred libraries in our region. Makes me wonder why people buy books at all.

Re:I'll miss them

[Machtyn]

Not to mention the search capability of it as well. Sure, you can use the Dewey Decimal System, but a keyword search with msec result returns is easier in my book.

Re:I'll miss them

[Anonymous Coward]

So you paid $22 to keep the movie for two months. There's a lot of movies you can buy for less than that.

Re:I'll miss them

[mlts]

On the other hand, having brick and mortar stores meant they were spending money in the communities for rent, employing people, and so on, better that than just having everything offshored or at some large nondescript warehouse. Companies like Amazon and Netflix slurp money away from communities never to be seen again. At least BB would keep some locals employed and storefronts full.

Maybe it might be a good thing. I'd like to see a "big box" video rental place that doesn't just have a back wall of the same movie, but perhaps more esoteric stuff, such as films from local artists, documentaries, a good cheesy horror collection, a large anime collection, a decent Chinese kung-fu movie with funky subtitle collection, and so on. For security, get some of the newer Clear-Vu cases that require more than a youtube video to defeat the protection, and one could start a decent rental business, perhaps giving the customer a return envelope for the DVD so they don't have to come back to that location, just drop the envelope in any mailbox.

I'm sure something like this would sell. BB didn't change with the times, but I'm sure people still want to rent a movie somewhere physical, without having to wait for it to arrive in the mail or wait for an intermittent Net connection to try to stream it.

Re:I'll miss them

[naoursla]

I think the state laws where I am prevent them from raising my price. I'm grandfathered into 3-dics at a time with unlimited in store exchanges and a coupon each month for $20. I also get games. I am never going to cancel.

Re:I'll miss them

[Zalbik]

Or what about the "always in stock guarantee!"

Dunno if they had this in the US, but in Canada they had a brilliant "If one of our new releases isn't in, we'll let you rent it free when it is in!".

Brilliant idea. I went 6 months watching movies for free on that one.

Re:I'll miss them

[Anonymous Coward]

have to wait a bit longer for recent releases compared to a pay service

The library is a pay service. Think of taxes as a membership fee that you can't cancel. That is, of course, unless you're jobless and then you're just leeching off of others.

Re:I'll miss them

[pwizard2]

One small independent rental place place near where I used to live had one of those DVD restoration machines that polished the scratches off of the discs, but this one was much nicer than the ones you could buy. It even restored some of my damaged discs (sort of a side service they offered, but you had to ask for it since it wasn't advertised) so I doubt that damaged discs are much of a problem. If a small place has a commercial-grade disc polisher, then a Blockbuster probably has something similar.

Re:I'll miss them

[misexistentialist]

In my experience library disks are scratched enough that you will almost never be able to watch the full movie. Obsolete discs should be replaced by streaming...but it's really a waste of library resources when everything is out there on the internet already.

Re:I'll miss them

[Anonymous Coward]

What's really scary is that theres probably a lot of people who'd rather have that 100$/year (~8.25/mo) for themselves instead of having the service available to the community. Unless they're not in the US then they might actually not have that "all mine, get yer own" mentality.

Re:I'll miss them

[Anonymous Coward]

Lol. Your defense of Blockbuster leaves a lot to be desired.

Re:I'll miss them

[tixxit]

You think that's bad. I live in Canada, a market that is far behind the states in terms of movie rental options. Blockbuster Canada should have seen their U.S. counterparts continual failure as an opportunity to invest in the streaming market in Canada. Instead they focused on their brick-n-mortar stores. Now Netflix has finally moved into Canada. It was good knowing you Blockbuster Canada.

Re:I'll miss them

[Anonymous Coward]

Browsing in a browser just doesn't hold up to browsing the physical media.

Same for me; it's a totally different experience. The physical video store experience was, "Dammit, they're not alphabetized. I guess we'll do a linear search." 20 minutes later, go to the service people (or terminal): "Yep, they have one in stock, somewhere." After a while: "Honey, let's just go home. We'll type in the name, find it, and torrent it."

Physical media doesn't automatically come with indexing and sorting, doesn't have filename completion, etc. If there's one thing computers are damn good at, it's dealing with lists.

Re:I'll miss them

[Anonymous Coward]

Many will (baring porn)

That is the kind of porn I like...

Re:I'll miss them

[Anonymous Coward]

>> Browsing in a browser just doesn't hold up to browsing the physical media. Guess I'm just a library kinda guy.

> Browsing in a browser beats browsing physical media when it contains 100000 times more choices and not only crappy hollywood 'blockbusters'. Guess I am a picky kinda guy.

MPAA, DMCA, CSS, lawsuits, BlueRay, HDCP/HDMI -- there's no shortage of hassles a distributor must solve on a daily basis. On top of that, millions of options now render the culture of other countries as interesting as traditional American/European sources.

As for paid TV, an additional problem arises: bandwidth. Cable networks, it seems to me, practice high enough prices in HDTV to force users to cheaper conventional quality channels/packages. It has worked till now, but people start to see non-paid 1920x1080 air programming and see even HDTV cable content cannot come close (lower resolution, smaller image area, compression artifacts and, probably, less colors).

Interesting times are coming...

Re:I'll miss them

[keytoe]

Which only occurred after you didn't return it for a week! Did you think they were just going to let you keep the movie forever?

Yes! I've had Hurt Locker sitting on top of my DVD player for three months now (I'll watch it, I swear!) - Netflix hasn't charged me for it.

Considering the old late fees didn't kick in until after the 3-5 day rental period, you're not getting much grace if they ding you the purchase price after only 7 days. They didn't eliminate fees, they changed the way they charged for them. Instead of "$1 per day indefinitely", it's "$20-$30 after 7 days".

Re:I'll miss them

[thetoadwarrior]

My Blockbuster was freaking huge. Even old titles had duplicates. It was hard not to find a title and I never had an issue with late fees so it was awesome. I like online rental too but what I like the most is buying the movie and actually getting something for my money. DVDs aren't exactly expensive these days.

Re:I'll miss them

[mounthood]

And conveniently these days you can borrow movies from most local libraries.... free.

And when you pay late fees, the money helps a good cause, unlike blockbuster. It's donating the easy way!

Re:I'll miss them

[gEvil (beta)]

update - they're not actually 2 inches by 4 inches!!! oh the horror!

This is clearly just the lumberjack elite trying to rip us poor consumers off by selling us less than what we paid for. They call them 2-by-4s, but then they try to get out of delivering that by using technical terms like kiln, moisture, and shrinkage. We should launch a class action lawsuit against Big Lumber. Or at the very least they need to come clean and start calling them by what they're really selling us.

Re:I'll miss them

[Dahamma]

I don't know, that just seems to me kind of like saying "Ford or GM shouldn't exist, but for the stupidity of the railroads."

Amazon at the core is about "selling books" about as much as, say, Walgreens is about "selling drugs".

The innovation wasn't what they sell, it's the way they sell it. Amazon may have started out primarily in books, but they created the infrastructure to sell anything as easily as possible while minimizing their own physical inventory. Now books are less than 20% of their total revenue, and probably a lot less of their profit. Innovation just isn't that easy, otherwise there would be no new companies, only existing ones growing ever larger...

Blockbuster, on the other hand, definitely had the potential to compete with Netflix. But again, there was more to it than just the product - or the model, in their case. I used to subscribe to Blockbuster's DVD my mail service - it was not quite as polished as Netflix, but it was a better deal in almost every way (price, free physical rentals, return DVD to store for instant credit, and generally faster mail delivery). I eventually switched to Netflix because Blockbuster screwed up not their original effort to compete, but the second one - streaming video. They took too long to offer an alternative, and then when they did they acquired one of the worst movie streaming services on the Internet (Movielink). And that was the final nail...

Re:I'll miss them

[Dahamma]

Which only occurred after you didn't return it for a week! Did you think they were just going to let you keep the movie forever?

I have had the same Netflix title for the last 3 months, and haven't been charged anything (I only really use Netflix for streaming TV shows or some old movies; Vudu is much better for most movies, especially new releases). Of course, if I ever cancel Netflix they'll ask for it back, I'm sure.

Not that I think their late policy is that bad. Back when I used Blockbuster AFAIK if you brought the movie back after a week they'd refund your money anyway. But if they want to compete, they have to come a lot closer to matching their competitors than that...

Re:I'll miss them

[Ken V.B. Liar]

All too true. I work at a well known independent bookstore & in the mid-'90's, three of us tried to convince the owner to sell books online. He passed because he didn't get it. Then Amazon happened and he got it, but it was too late.

Re:I'll miss them

[ukyoCE]

Which only occurred after you didn't return it for a week! Did you think they were just going to let you keep the movie forever?

Yes, when they had huge commercials about "no more late fees!!!!!", with no mention of "lol we're just gonna charge you full price for a used movie". Considering how few people return a movie late want to buy the movie, this was a nasty nasty trick.

A week also isn't very long considering Blockbuster continually increased their rental periods (and prices). The last time I went in one (several years ago) I'm not sure you even *could* rent a movie for less than 5 days. 2 more days and I'll get charged $15? As a customer, I'm supposed to be happy and excited about that?

Unless this changed since I worked there, this is out and out wrong. The rain check was for a FREE copy of that title on your next visit.

Thats what I remember as well.

Re:I'll miss them

[CronoCloud]

What are you smoking? DVD's are far more durable than VHS tapes that degrade with every viewing. I've never seen a scratched DVD rental.

Re:I'll miss them

[Bill, Shooter of Bul]

I always buy the book at the cheapest price. Is that wrong? Sometimes its amazon, sometimes barnes & noble.

I'll admit they obviously made some mistakes, but I don't think the actual mistakes they made are that obvious. They started selling on-line pretty early. In my opinion, they were one of the first big name companies that understood the early e-commerce potential of the internet.

Re:I'll miss them

[stdarg]

Is it really because of shrinkage and all that?

Anyway what really did surprise me was that 2x4 lengths are also not always as advertised, and vary quite a bit. I built a shed with my dad and we knew 2x4's were really only 3.5" wide, but assumed a 96" (or whatever) length was pretty much 96". Turns out some boards were up to 1/2" longer. We didn't learn that lesson until the plywood didn't fit properly. Sucked. The only ones that are reliable are the 93" lengths.

Re:I'll miss them

[torgis]

. They call them 2-by-4s, but then they try to get out of delivering that by using technical terms like kiln, moisture, and shrinkage. .

You didn't know about shrinkage? Do nerds know about shrinkage?

Re:I'll miss them

[stdarg]

Hopefully Redbox will force Netflix out of much of the DVD market. They are way more convenient and cheaper for most people.

That will allow Netflix to focus on what I would love to see the most -- a completely internet based tv service. I can't wait until I can subscribe to HBO via Netflix.

But it seems like they need a kick in the pants to realize that the DVD mail business is not the future.

Re:I'll miss them

[Actually, I do RTFA]

Neither Netflix nor Amazon should even exist, but for the stupidity of Blockbuster and Barnes and Noble. I can see the clueless management of both companies now:

"Oh that intertooob thingy will never catch on!"

Blockbuster tried in the late 90's. They even partnered with a well-financed company that had pioneered online derivatives trading. It was going to stream years before Netflix.

The problem turned out to be in the partner that they had gotten tangled up in. You may remember Enron.

Re:I'll miss them

[HaZardman27]

One might say that if you pay poorly that's what you get

Off topic, but I agree with you here; I absolutely hate that way of thinking. When I was working a crappy hourly-wage job, I still made sure that I could go home at the end of the day with the pride of doing a good job. The reason people get stuck in crappy low-paying jobs is because they believe the job they're doing is beneath them, and don't make an attempt to excel at it. If you can't take pride in what you do, the fault is not with the task at hand, but the person doing it.

Re:I'll miss them

[Anonymous Coward]

Browse what? Unless your blockbuster is a lot bigger than the ones around here, the only movies they have are new releases and a tiny amount of older films. Blockbuster is useless for anyone wanting to rent anything except new, popular releases.

Re:I'll miss them

[Roogna]

Which only occurred after you didn't return it for a week! Did you think they were just going to let you keep the movie forever?

Sure, I mean Netflix does. As long as you're paying your monthly fee you can hold on to it forever. This is a silly use of money for the customer, but can be quite convenient. For instance a couple years ago we bought a house and during the moving and everything else that comes with that we had a Netflix movie we didn't have time to watch for at least 3 months. Netflix didn't hassle us, charge us extra, or anything else. We simply just didn't receive the next item on our queue. This also happens regularly as a result of our young child. My wife and I will get movies from our queue that aren't child friendly, but that's okay, we can quite easily let it sit there on the shelf until we're able to arrange a night for Grandma to watch the tike. Without having to worry that we'll suddenly be charged EXTRA because we didn't schedule our entire life around some companies idea of when we should drop by for a visit.

Re:I'll miss them

[h4rr4r]

I believe that VPN works even there.

Re:I'll miss them

[sharkey]

I don't know WTF people do, let their kids play hockey with the things?!

It's just a new iteration of an old problem. Back in the 80's and 90's, the VHS rewinders used to break tapes on a regular basis. I imagine that the DVD rewinders being sold now can dish out some serious scratches.

Re:I'll miss them

[nizo]

Thus spake Wikipedia:

(Barnes and Noble) first began selling books online in the late 1980s, but the company’s website was not launched until May 1997.

In July 1995, the company (amazon) began service and sold its first book on amazon.com

Wow, it took B&N almost two years after Amazon to get their website going? Talk about missing the boat.

Re:I'll miss them

[nizo]

I'd bet money Netflix would love to be a streaming only company; dealing with dvds in the mail must be a nightmare. I can't wait until I can stream every movie ever made via Netflix.

Re:I'll miss them

[Voyager529]

Sorry but a Clue by four does exist.

It's a 2"x4" with nails in the end you swing and hit people with.

It was Colnel Mustard in the Study with the Clue-by-Four!

Re:I'll miss them

[BlackSnake112]

VHS tapes were often 'eaten' by customers VCRs. The end result being the same.

Re:I'll miss them

[centuren]

Neither Netflix nor Amazon should even exist, but for the stupidity of Blockbuster and Barnes and Noble. I can see the clueless management of both companies now:

"Oh that intertooob thingy will never catch on!"

Additionally, Blockbuster should have seen something of itself in Tower Records going out of business in 2006.

Re:I'll miss them

[centuren]

Thus spake Wikipedia:

(Barnes and Noble) first began selling books online in the late 1980s, but the company’s website was not launched until May 1997.

In July 1995, the company (amazon) began service and sold its first book on amazon.com

Wow, it took B&N almost two years after Amazon to get their website going? Talk about missing the boat.

One can say that, but in 1995, B&N was a bookstore franchise while Amazon was an online company that decided books was the best product to start off selling. It's easy to miss the boat when the other party helps build it.

Two years actually seems pretty quick for B&N to get online, especially if one considers the growth in Internet usage over that time period. 1995 didn't exactly present a huge market for a company that had no e-commerce division to invest in, but the smaller Internet company Amazon.com demonstrated over those two years of market growth that it was viable, reducing the risk to B&N.

I suggest that it was the next 13 years of business choices while both sites were active that determined which is more dominant today.

Re:I'll miss them

[centuren]

I'd bet money Netflix would love to be a streaming only company; dealing with dvds in the mail must be a nightmare. I can't wait until I can stream every movie ever made via Netflix.

I don't think the founder is shy about discussing exactly that. There's a reason he called it "Netflix" rather than something that indicates movies in the mail. Streaming just wasn't viable when Netflix started business, but it's clearly going entirely in that direction.

Re:I'll miss them

[centuren]

And conveniently these days you can borrow movies from most local libraries.... free.

Tax dollars at work.

Re:I'll miss them

[commodore64_love]

Not really. And even though I've rented a few damaged VHS tapes, they were still playable due to their analog nature. In fact one of my tapes is 25 years old and still works despite some damage.

Not so with a damaged DVD ("error - can not read"). I've even had some brand-new DVDs refuse to play.

Re:I'll miss them

[Dahamma]

Of course, Hastings has also categorically stated they are a subscription service and are not interested in per-movie VOD. That's why their streaming catalog of new releases blows, and they are even giving up on new releases on DVD for some studios.

The studios will never EVER go for that with their blockbuster new releases, unless Netflix is basically willing to pay the entire DVD/VOD future revenues of EACH major new release (which could be hundreds of millions) upfront (or I suppose track the movie downloads and pay a couple of dollars for each one).

Unless something fundamentally changes, it's always going to be a "pay per view" VOD model for major new releases (and some very popular library titles, like Disney, etc), and a subscription model for the older library titles and (most but not all) TV shows.

Re:I'll miss them

[eugene ts wong]

...what's a 2"x4's?

What...?

Re:I'll miss them

[eugene ts wong]

I totally agree with both of you. I think that mail order DVD rentals are totally underrated. I think that that should be the norm, and that small shops should only be there to fill in the remaining small niches.

Re:I'll miss them

[eugene ts wong]

That's absolutely right. 1 scratch could prevent the whole DVD from being played, while you could damage half a video cassette, and the remainder would still be fine.

When customers set aside an evening for movies, they don't want to be told that they can't watch a movie due to a scratch.

Re:I'll miss them

[Anonymous Coward]

To be fair, Netflix has moved into Canada with an extremely lackluster streaming service, and no physical mailing service. Have you seen the selection they're showing on their site?

Re:I'll miss them

[Pigskin-Referee]

Totally agreed. "Why would anyone want a movie sent to you in the mail? You wouldn't even know what movie you are going to see next! Walking around aisles of thousands of bad movies for over an hour is clearly a superior customer experience, and we don't need to worry about this competition."

You most certainly would know what movie(s) your were to receive next, You simply adjust your queue to the desired order your want your purchases delivered in. You apparently are not familiar with how the service operated. They even had a download on demand service that came pre-installed on on certain Samsung Bl-Ray players. It was also available on other models too I would suppose. In many ways, it was better than the Netflix implementation. However, it usually was more expensive.

Re:I'll miss them

[Pigskin-Referee]

Actually, it is stupid. They could have used those megabucks to wipe out any competition that started getting popular.

Let me get this straight:

Microsoft using its capital to stop competition = bad

Blockbuster doing the same thing = good

Would you care to explain that thesis to me in detail? By the way, I am a strong believer in Capitalism. The strong survive and the weak die. I just don't appreciate it when the theory is not applied uniformly.

Re:I'll miss them

[Myopic]

I was referring to Netflix, where sometimes the movie you receive isn't the first one in your queue. Thanks for the info, though, that's informative.

Blockbuster could have out-competed Netflix because they could have offered identical mail service combined with their physical stores, resulting in a slightly superior experience. But, they didn't "get it", and now they're slipping into history.

Re:I'll miss them

[hesaigo999ca]

This is the problem with most corporations out there, the biggest culprit being the oil companies, they could reinvest some of those billions they keep taking in each quarter as profit and establish a better more up to date infrastructure for the oil refineries, but guess what, they would rather allow a small hurricane to blow in and then overcharge because the mill in texas was closed down for a few weeks.....so if you do not change with the times, the times will change you. (and make you obsolete)

In this case, blockbuster had their chance eons ago to start changing, i remember when they had the vhs kiosk, and the dvd kiosk, so why not more of those and less employees, that is one way to cut back, and with less employees, you need less heat per square inch, so the heating bill goes down ( same as the electricity as not needing as much lighting) etc...

Ah well, i do like walking into a blockbuster once in awhile more so for nostalgia then anything else (i torrent my stuff) but my gf still likes to rent only because she does not know about netflix yet!

Re:I'll miss them

[FredFredrickson]

I just asked my local blockbuster employee. Apparently they were a franchise and didn't play by the same rules. I was going to say, the rain check didn't make any sense. Apparently corporate stores offered free rental rainchecks.

Re:I'll miss them

[pjp6259]

Netflix will let you add movies that are in theaters to your netflix queue (no third party anything required). Just search for the movie and click on the 'save' button. They end up in a 'waiting' section below your normal queue.

good fail!

[Anonymous Coward]

blockbusters main source of revenue was late fees. all I can say is, goodbye blockbuster don't let the door hit you in the butt.

Re:good fail!

[E IS mC(Square)]

Oh.. you mean to say "no late fees" late fees.

Re:good fail!

[CynicTheHedgehog]

Not sure what is meant by this, but at my local store they reintroduced late fees and they were harsh. Even for older releases you had 3 days to return the movie or it was automatically rented again ($5) and the cycle repeated until you paid the retail equivalent in rental fees at which point you owned the scratched, dented, smudged rental CD. The day the policy changed I started a Netflix account and never looked back.

Re:good fail!

[Myopic]

All of us dropped Blockbuster long before Blockbuster dropped late fees. In fact yesterday when I first read about this story was the first time I'd heard that they'd dropped late fees, an action that smacks of desperation.

Blockbuster finally tepidly had their own through-the-mail system which, when combined with their physical stores, could have easily beat Netflix, if not for Blockbuster's incredible inability to see the handwriting on the wall.

Also, there are lots of other reasons to hate Blockbuster besides their general business model. I certainly preferred local movie shops, back when I would deign to use any of the above.

Re:good fail!

[E IS mC(Square)]

To be clear, I was mentioning their desperate effort with the blatantly false "no late fee" campaign when they were still charging arms and legs for late fees - the only difference was one or two more days for your renting period.

I am just glad to see them going down. A happy netflix user for last 5 years.

Re:good fail!

[jhoegl]

I worked for Blockbuster for a few years.

It was funny to see people attempt to steal tapes (yeah, that long ago).
But seriously, I saw their business model back then and knew they were a crap company.
Apparently, to get new movies a few months in advance it cost $150/tape. At least that is what they charged people that never brought them back, on top of the late fees.
When I left the company it was $3.50 for 2 nights, I knew they were going nowhere. Bunch of price gouging bastards.

So sad, but it's time

[Pojut]

Goodbye, Blockbuster. With news of your bankruptcy (yes, I know they aren't technically closing all their stores...yet), a bit of my childhood is officially gone.

Tell me, fellow slashdotters: was there anything better when you were a kid than going to the video store on a friday night to rent a video game or movie? My brother and I rented COUNTLESS NES and SNES games from our local video store (Olney Video)...soooo many games. Good times, good times.

I recognize how convenient and better services like Netflix and Gamefly are, but there's just something about going into a dusty old video store and browsing the shelves that convenience will never replace.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[slim]

I recognize how convenient and better services like Netflix and Gamefly are, but there's just something about going into a dusty old video store and browsing the shelves that convenience will never replace.

If we're going on a nostalgia trip, I want to mention the properly dusty video rental shops that came before the glossy multinational chains stepped in. Thinking of those places gives me a Proustian rush into the 80s almost as much as retro arcade cabinets.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[Anonymous Coward]

Screw Blockbuster. In New York City, Champagne Video was the ticket.

You may remember it from Seinfeld; I remember it for having Sega Master System games when I was little.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[lowrydr310]

Wasn't it Blockbuster who ran the mom and pop video rental stores out of business with their corporate muscle?

Speaking of Mom and Pop video stores, when my favorite local video store was steamrolled out of business by Blockbuster, he fired back (literally) by using half of his store to manufacture illegal fireworks! Every year near the end of June, the video store was packed with customers, until one day a manufacturing accident created a big explosion and a big fire. My brother was nearby when it went down, and said there were rockets flying through the streets, and saw the owner get carried out on a stretcher with lots of charred skin! He eventually recovered, and still makes the fireworks but in a different location.

Sadly this guy had one of the biggest collections of NES and SNES games I've ever seen, as well as a massive collection of 80s and 90s VHS pr0n that I never got to see (but always peeked behind the curtain to get a glimpse of the box covers); all was destroyed in the fire.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[skgrey]

Absolutely. I can't count the amount of times I rented StarTropics and Mega Man for the NES and then Final Fantasy 3 for the SNES. My friends and I would have sleepovers and PRAY for that copy of FF3 to be in for that weekend so we could be up for 24 straight hours trying to play through it, as your save would never be there next time.

Oh yeah, and ARE YOU LISTENING MUSIC INDUSTRY? Innovate or die.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[Pojut]

I mentioned one in my post :-) Our local shop, Olney Video. It had it all: curtained-off "adult" section, the big clear plastic cases for the tapes, the whole deal. They even maintained a small betamax section!

Re:So sad, but it's time

[0111 1110]

We didn't have video rental when I was a kid you, insensitive clod. If it wasn't in the cinema or on television you couldn't watch it. Although some of my friends did have cable TV. And you couldn't rent computer games. You had to either buy one or give a 5 1/4" floppy to a friend and ask him to make you a copy from a game that he bought. Now get off my lawn!

Re:So sad, but it's time

[voss]

Blockbuster was the biggest meanest dinosaur you ever saw...then the asteroid hit. Suddenly being the biggest and meanest didnt matter anymore. All
the big stores that enabled them to triumph over their rental rivals suddenly became disadvantages over their newer smaller smarter competitors.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[Anonymous Coward]

I owned Worms on the Amiga. I doubt there could possibly have been anything better available to rent (although I admit that I never looked).

Re:So sad, but it's time

[mcgrew]

Tell me, fellow slashdotters: was there anything better when you were a kid than going to the video store on a friday night to rent a video game or movie?

There were no videogames or movie rentals when I was a kid, kid. I spent my Friday nights at the drive-in theater (in fact I worked at one when I was a teenager). I spent a lot of time at the public library, and in my room with a slide rule and soldering gun.

I recognize how convenient and better services like Netflix and Gamefly are, but there's just something about going into a dusty old video store and browsing the shelves that convenience will never replace.

Netflix didn't kill Blockbuster, stupidity did. Here in Springfield the Blockbuster store closed down a year or two ago. They were stupid enough to open right across the street from Family Video and rent new releases for four bucks a day while FV rented them for $3 a week. BB rented older movies for $3 for 2 days while FV rented them for a buck a week.

Guess what? Family Video is still there, and a lot of FV stores are in town. AFAIK that was the only Blockbuster here.

Only an idiot opens a store across the street from the competetion and tries to charge higher prices for the same goods. Blockbuster is going bankrupt because their business model is almost as stupid as the record labels.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[NotOverHere]

Their policies store to store also hastened their demise. Their prices were on the steeper side, but there used to be a store on a couple of blocks away on my way home from work. Convenience did balance out price.

After moving to new location, for about a year, I tried to rent a game console so I could try before I bought an Xbox for Halo 2. I was told I had to put down a deposit that was more than the current selling price of the Xbox because I had only done 60 rentals with that store on a blockbuster account with nearly a thousand rentals (over many years). The associate acknowledged the prolific Blockbuster rentals, but that was store policy. I haven't been in a Blockbuster since.

I finally got them to stop trying to get me to come back when I explained that a local chain was always 3/4 to 1/2 Blockbuster's prices.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[forand]

I too have fond memories of renting video games and VHS tapes throughout my childhood. Unlike you, apparently, I hate Blockbuster. They ruined that. The rental places which used to have interesting titles and japanese import games were displaced by the behemoth that was Blockbuster. They brought nothing good to the equation other than brand recognition. Prices went up, selection went down, and rental policies became more complicated and anti-consumer. I welcome the end to the era dominated by Blockbuster. Now next to my house a new independent rental shop is doing great business and the Blockbuster down the street is closing its doors. Finally the people realized that what Blockbuster was selling wasn't worth buying.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[Pojut]

We had a local video store (Olney Video) that was amazingly awesome, but the guy moved out of town (when I lived in Olney, there was about 7,000 people within the city limits...now, it's closer to about 40-50,000)...about a year later is when Blockbuster showed up. Since they were the only store near us, that's what we went for. Still, they seemed to understand the small-town mentality, and they catered pretty well to our needs.

I'd gone to other Blockbuster stores before, and they sucked pretty bad. The one we had was awesome though.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[Jimmy King]

I'm with you. Blockbuster really doesn't have much nostalgia for me, it's the places the preceded shops like that. Blockbuster was cool at first in that it was new, shinier, larger, etc. Once the amazement at a large, clean, video store like that wore off it was just this new place that was more expensive than the place I used to rent videos that it drove out of business. All of my really good rental related childhood memories are from the pre-blockbuster days.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[rjch]

Oh yeah, and ARE YOU LISTENING MUSIC INDUSTRY? Innovate or die.

If it's all the same to you, I think I'd rather they skip the innovation and just die. Same goes for most of the major motion picture studios.

Luckily for me, they seem hellbent on this already.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[DerekLyons]

Wasn't it Blockbuster who ran the mom and pop video rental stores out of business with their corporate muscle?

Yes, it was Blockbuster who ran the mom and pop stores out of business - by actually having new releases available on the day of release (and in quantity, not just one or two), by actually having a deep backstock of movies (and in quantity and across a wide variety of genres), etc., etc..
 
I'm tired of hearing crocodile tears for the steam powered "mom 'n pop" stores. As Blockbuster is being taken down by services that better provide what the customer wants, so the "mom 'n pop" stores were taken down by Blockbuster.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[MBGMorden]

Wasn't it Blockbuster who ran the mom and pop video rental stores out of business with their corporate muscle?

Yep. I remember our local video store well (Video Movieland). Small little place over by the Piggly Wiggly. When a new release came out you had to be there QUICK. They didn't deal in selling old movies, so they ordered however many copies they figured they'd need for the foreseeable future. The biggest new release out they'd typically have no more than 4 or 5 copies. They had their little horror room decorated with fake spiderwebs (probably some real ones mixed in there too . . .) and Halloween stuff. If you went around the inconspicuous corner and through the saloon doors you hit the "adult" section (which I only wandered into by accident once as a kid - definitely a bit of a shock).

Blockbuster came to town and shut that place down fast. The odd thing was, Blockbuster won simply on selection (and more copies of new releases) and brighter signs. At the old rental store the rentals costed half as much and you got to keep them for nearly twice as long before they were due back, but they still lost out.

I have no sympathy for Blockbuster. To me it's akin to 20 years from now someone singing the lament of how poor Wal-mart is filing for bankruptcy and going out of business.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[Phreakiture]

I recognize how convenient and better services like Netflix and Gamefly are, but there's just something about going into a dusty old video store and browsing the shelves that convenience will never replace.

Well . . it was kind of fun, to be sure, but they don't much have what I want to watch, and Netflix does. I've have literally watched every Anime title that they have at the local Blockbuster.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[Phurge]

I'm tired of hearing crocodile tears for the steam powered "mom 'n pop" stores. As Blockbuster is being taken down by services that better provide what the customer wants, so the "mom 'n pop" stores were taken down by Blockbuster.

fair point - but there are no crocodile tears for a soulless corporate like blockbuster, in fact, there's more than a little Schadenfreude :-)

Re:So sad, but it's time

[ElectricTurtle]

Pfff. All independent video stores are but vain shadows compared to Scarecrow Video of Seattle. It even has it's own wikipedia page for chrissake. They have movies that are so rare that you have to put down hundreds of dollars in deposit before you can rent them (which is returned to you when you return the movie). However, if you an expert film geek and can converse with the film geeks who operate the store about how Tsui Hark's use of color was integral to his artistic vision and cultural context they may waive the deposit... at least they've done that for me... ;-)

Re:So sad, but it's time

[Anonymous Coward]

We didn't have video rental when I was a kid you, insensitive clod. If it wasn't in the cinema or on television you couldn't watch it. Although some of my friends did have cable TV. And you couldn't rent computer games. You had to either buy one or give a 5 1/4" floppy to a friend and ask him to make you a copy from a game that he bought. Now get off my lawn!

Hey, that's MY lawn. Although we did have film rentals. All you had to do is have some authority at a small community cinema. Then if you knew who to ask, you could get distributors to rent you older films fairly inexpensively, which you could then show in your small cinema. (My dad did this for a time, so that's HIS lawn)

Re:So sad, but it's time

[jedidiah]

I never really liked Blockbuster. Hollywood video quickly came along and seemed to do the "national franchise" thing much better.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[slim]

We didn't have video rental when I was a kid you, insensitive clod. If it wasn't in the cinema or on television you couldn't watch it. Although some of my friends did have cable TV. And you couldn't rent computer games. You had to either buy one or give a 5 1/4" floppy to a friend and ask him to make you a copy from a game that he bought. Now get off my lawn!

Your timeline is all wrong. I'm pretty sure video rentals predate widespread home use of floppies.

Games, you either bought on cassette, or copied by making a tape-to-tape copy of a friend's cassette. Or, put 10 pence in a cabinet in the arcade on the pier.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[stewbacca]

There were no video games for rent when I was a kid. I already had three kids of my own when the NES came out.

Now get off my lawn.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[VickiM]

My poor mother...if she'd only purchased a copy of Clue (The Movie), we wouldn't have to rent it every other week all summer. Then again, maybe she looked forward to that week off. I also remember renting Illusion of Gaia and desperately trying to finish the last area while my father waited to return everything to the store. I knew that if it went to the store, someone would erase my save! Those SNES games were so much fun to try out. Good times indeed.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[Anonymous Coward]

PIGGLY WIGGLY! Most ridiculous yet fun-to-say store name ever

Re:So sad, but it's time

[MysteriousPreacher]

I have fond memories of a place of a London video shop I used back in the 90s. Plenty of videos, and a decent selection of co-op games. They also had a pretty decent selection of pirated stuff - i.e. stuff that was in the movies, and banned videos. Unfortunately the place kind of went down the toilet when they decided to add bathroom fittings to their business. For some reason that area was prone to video shops with seemingly random sidelines. The other shop that, in addition to renting videos, sold furniture and carpet.

Penge was an odd place.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[operagost]

Huh huh, you're OLD.

You forgot, "now get off my lawn!"

Re:So sad, but it's time

[luis_a_espinal]

Wasn't it Blockbuster who ran the mom and pop video rental stores out of business with their corporate muscle?

Yep they were. That's why I don't feel that much of a nostalgia in seeing Blockbuster going the way of the trilobites. The mom and pop video rental stores? Those are the ones I truly, truly, truly miss. That was one part of Americana (and if I dare to say, part of the community fabric) that we will never see again.

Blockbuster? Won't be missed.

Mom and Pop video stores? Irreplaceable cultural icons. Sorely missing (even if from an impractical sense of nostalgia) even when confronted with the convenience and economic advantages of video streaming.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[Anonymous Coward]

Indeed.
They were one of the greediest companies I have ever come across. They would move in to a town, offer cheap movies until they drove the local mom and pops out of business, then jack up their prices. They were better though. Those mom and pops tended to be dark and dingy, and generally didn't have much selection, but Blockbuster was clean, bright, and didn't rent porn. The selection tended to be better as well. Hollywood Video did a good job of giving them competition and keeping them honest for awhile.

My aunt used to manage a blockbuster store around 2000. They saw the whole video on demand thing coming (though there still seems to be massive untapped potential there- why can't I get every new release and a huge catalog of classics streamed at any given moment?!). Here is the funny part though. My aunt proudly explained that yes of course they had a backup strategy if video on demand became a big problem- apparently on 24 hours notice, every Blockbuster video could be turned into a Blockbuster Music. I remember her saying they had retrofits for the shelves to put CD's on them and whatnot. Of course they didn't see ITunes coming... ouch.

This just goes to show you though, sometimes the world is your oyster and you just don't see it. Blockbuster saw itself as a dvd and vhs rental company, not a movie rental company that rented across media.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[afabbro]

Goodbye, Blockbuster. With news of your bankruptcy (yes, I know they aren't technically closing all their stores...yet), a bit of my childhood is officially gone.

Personally, Blockbuster is a bad part of my late-adolescence. When I was a kid, there were only local video stores. These were a combination of VHS and Betamax rental, with other sections for video game carts and a curtained-off adult section. Blockbuster came in and they were so...bland in comparison. The locals would have all kinds of obscure movies, while BB only had 50 copies of the top ten. Some of the locals specialized in certain things (e.g., anime when it was harder to find, or science fiction, or foreign, etc.) All BBs stocked the exact same thing.

BB drove the little locals out of business, so I don't have any fond memories of them.

Re:So sad, but it's time

[R3d M3rcury]

My brother and I rented COUNTLESS NES and SNES games from our local video store [...]

Years ago, I bought the GameStation software from Connectix. When Sony bought the software out and discontinued it, I was left with a couple of PlayStation games and nothing to play them on. Since this newfangled PS2 thingie was out, I figured I'd check it out.

A trip to my local Blockbuster video allowed me to rent a PlayStation 2 and some of the PlayStation 2 versions of the games that I had. But without the keyboard, I didn't do very well and ended up returning the whole kit-and-kaboodle.

Still, it was nice to be able to try out a PlayStation 2. Does GameStop, etc. let you do that?

Re:So sad, but it's time

[geminidomino]

I always preferred the "Saloon door" partition that our old store had...

Re:So sad, but it's time

[mcgrew]

You forgot, "now get off my lawn!"

I seem to have contracted CRS from my mother. I asked her what CRS was, she replied "Can't Remember Shit!"

Re:So sad, but it's time

[centuren]

Oh yeah, and ARE YOU LISTENING MUSIC INDUSTRY? Innovate or die.

You have it backwards; the music industry equivalent of Blockbuster already went out of business: Tower Records. It's Blockbuster who should have taken notice.

Damn Netflix!

[Aaron32]

Damn Netflix! Actually, I love the hell out of Netflix, especially since I have my Roku!!

Re:Damn Netflix!

[kdogg73]

Talk about ad placement. There was a Netflix ad underneath this post in the RSS feed.

Re:Damn Netflix!

[Anonymous Coward]

I felt a little better about Netflix before I heard their CEO making fun of "self-absorbed" Americans.

Re:Damn Netflix!

[E IS mC(Square)]

Well, to me it just proved that Netflix is an honest company

Re:Damn Netflix!

[jedidiah]

No. They're just a bunch of silly Angelinos.

Re:Damn Netflix!

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't know where you post from, but self-loathing sure is popular nowadays.

I Won't

[Anonymous Coward]

Browsing in a browser just doesn't hold up to browsing the physical media. Guess I'm just a library kinda guy.

Getting hit with late return fees just doesn't hold up to on demand streaming of tens of thousands of titles. Guess I'm just not a Luddite.

Re:I Won't

[beschra]

I'm not a Luddite either. Technology has been paying my bills all of my working life. When the bricks and mortar options go away, I'm sure I'll embrace streaming and wonder why I waited so long. But for now...

Re:I Won't

[Anonymous Coward]

Still, it has to suck for those unfortunate poor bastards that have crap-tastic or non-existent internet service. And no, not all libraries or library networks have a good selection of titles. (Netflix doesn't ever use mailed catalogs, do they?)

On the upside, in the more remote or rural areas - the Ma & Pa type video stores can get back into the game. It'll just take a while.

Re:I Won't

[LordKronos]

Getting hit with late return fees just doesn't hold up to on demand streaming of tens of thousands of titles. Guess I'm just not a Luddite.

You say this like the late fee is a required part of the rental experience. I've rented a lot of movies over the last 20 years, and never once have I had a late fee. How hard is it to return something on time? Apparently pretty hard, based one how many people get them, but I just don't understand it.

Re:I Won't

[localman57]

I'm not sure they every got out of the game. It's common in rural areas for Mom and Pop stores/gas stations/etc to have a rack of rental movies. Maybe only a hundred or so, but still. I don't think blockbuster ever pushed a lot of these people out, because they were never there to begin with.

Re:I Won't

[Hadlock]

There's no reason why small businesses won't spring up to fill the gap, likely with better selections suited for their area. Theres an asian video rental place in the last town I lived (pop. 350,000) and they're still kicking despite being katy-corner from one of the last brick and mortar blockbusters in the region.
 
Video stores don't require a huge amount of capital compared to other brick and mortar shops, and the recurring costs + staff training is pretty basic.

Re:I Won't

[stewbacca]

I pay more in Netflix subscriptions and not watching the two movies I have checked out for several weeks than I ever do in late fees. That's the ONE reason I still have a blockbuster account. For those rare nights that I know I can sit down for a 2 hour block, watch the movie, and return it on my way to work the next day.

I think late fees get a bad rap, especially if you are a modest movie watcher (i.e. have a job, family, life). The way I look at it is if I have one or two $5 late fees a quarter at Blockbuster, that's still less than the $12 a month that I have the same two Netflix movies checked out. I know it's my fault, but I think it's a pretty realistic scenario for most normal people.

Re:I Won't

[mlts]

If given a choice between late fees versus streaming and bandwidth overage charges, I'll take the late fees. Same with scratched media versus looking at a circle of 8 dots blinking during the high point of a movie while the thing rebuffers.

As bandwidth shrinks in the US, the real victor for Blockbuster leaving the arena will be cable companies and pay per view because broadcasting is cheap for them, as opposed to streaming which takes up bandwidth.

Re:I Won't

[h4rr4r]

Who charges overage fee? I have TWC and even those assholes don't stoop to that level.

Re:I Won't

[h4rr4r]

Lots of them now have the bigger redbox machines with two or three disc units hooked to the selection one.

Re:I Won't

[Panaflex]

Well in my experience some of the store managers would hold back a few and drop late fees on me. I call the manager and they tell me tough luck, buddy. Gotta make that monthly revenue target, after all...

I quite Blockbuster 10 years ago, and I've only graced their store a couple of times to buy cheap used titles since...

Re:I Won't

[Lumpy]

I dont, I fire up netflix on the TV and watch a movie from there. No need to leave the house. If I really want to I can rent a first run just released movie from the appleTV for $2.99 same price as the local rental places plus it's in HD and I dont have to go out and hope the movie is in.

Re:I Won't

[MightyMartian]

I tend to agree with this. Blockbuster's problem, or at least in my area, is that it's actually rather expensive compared to the mom-and-pop video store across town. The mom-and-pop has a huge selection of foreign films (I found that out when I started suffering my Kirosawa fetish), and its new regular releases are about a buck cheaper.

I go to the mom-and-pop store and there's always ten or fifteen people browsing, go to Blockbuster and maybe three or four. I just can't see how they can pay the rent with those low numbers.

At some point I'm sure hi-def streaming will become affordable, or even available, and even the mom-and-pops' will disappear, but for now, renting DVDs just makes more sense for me.

Re:I Won't

[Danieljury3]

The DVD rental store I use usually reduces the late fees for me to about $1 because I rent so much out

Re:I Won't

[Kjella]

Maybe for you. I bought most of my movies, if you do the occasional rental there's no connection between "I saw a movie last night" and "I must return the movie". I didn't remember it until the store called and asked how long I was going to keep it, would have cost me less to buy it. So of the options buy, rent or pirate then at least rent dropped to rock bottom. I'm sure you can be anal about it and never get a late fee, but I'd rather have not go through that effort just to watch a damn movie.

Re:I Won't

[Machtyn]

It really is nice to receive the rental that I want to watch, but not have to worry that I have to watch it tonight before driving out of my way (a bit) to return it the next morning. Quite often, I have received a netflix disk and hung on to it for a week. Sure, it increases my per disk charge on my $8.95/mo rental charge... it's still cheaper than renting that disk for $4.00 at the rental store. It's even cheaper per disk/movie now that I can stream through my Wii or computer. My kids thoroughly enjoy being able to choose their video themselves and watching it over and over and over and then put it away for a week and then watch it again later. I don't have to worry about scratched disks; and, perhaps, it might cost me more in the long run for that particular movie, I would not have the wide variety and collection if I had to buy the movies myself that I would have using Netflix.

Re:I Won't

[mcneely.mike]

I just can't see how they can pay the rent with those low numbers.

I guess they can't... that's why the chapter 11.

Re:I Won't

[LordKronos]

there's no connection between "I saw a movie last night" and "I must return the movie"

Wow, you can't even remember for 24 hours (or 2 days, or however long your rental is)? I don't know what to say. Perhaps I'd just suggest that, when you're done watching, instead of throwing the movie on top of your entertainment center or somewhere out of the way, perhaps you can set it with your car keys or something, so that it's very obvious to you. I expect your response will probably be "no thanks, I'd just prefer not to rent movies instead", but if you have that much trouble remembering things, then just take it as general advice.

I'm sure you can be anal about it and never get a late fee, but I'd rather have not go through that effort just to watch a damn movie.

Anal? WTF? You say that like I sit there all day saying "gotta return that movie, gotta return that movie", post notes all over the house reminding me, and have a daily checklist with an item labeled "returned rentals (if applicable)". Is it anal that I remember to put on pants before leaving the house, too?

Re:I Won't

[TheLink]

Apparently pretty hard, based one how many people get them, but I just don't understand it.

Seems Blockbuster didn't understand it either, judging from:
1) More than a few people here grumbling about their experiences
2) Blockbuster filing for bankruptcy.

Assuming you're not a monopoly, when your customers are complaining about what you are doing, if you want to keep them you should try to figure out how to do things better (avoid the problem), even if you think it's their fault.

Re:I Won't

[LordKronos]

Perhaps you misunderstood my post. I never said I couldn't understand why someone wouldn't want to rent from a video store. I can totally see all the reasons people would prefer netflix or something similar. But my point was, if you DO rent from a video store, I can't understand why returning it on time is such an issue.

Re:I Won't

[Anonymous Coward]

I know people that used them without paying fees for years. Good on them, but they're the exception.

Most people have lives. People have things come up, forget, just want to go home after work, etc. Blockbuster built their business around this. They maximized their fees as far as they could without totally preventing anyone from renting there. This was unsustainable. All Netflix and RedBox had to do was tell people, "no more absurd fees" and they'd already slain BB.

Most people I know hated Blockbuster. When the alternatives finally arrived, Blockbuster had one foot in the grave. They tried to fight back by reducing (and even removing) their historically brutal fee structure, and as the summary stated, tried to bring online dvd rental and streaming to the market (eventually)... but those were last, desperate gasps.

Personally, I hope they end up shut down, not restructured or the like. And may they burn in hell.

Re:I Won't

[FatAlb3rt]

As bandwidth shrinks in the US

Huh, didn't know that was happening. My connection speeds have been getting faster... for the last 15 years.

Re:I Won't

[Jim_Maryland]

I can't understand why returning it on time is such an issue.

Not sure that it was ever a huge issue to me. The few times the videos were late though were because my wife and I would decide to rent it, then the next morning, we'd both think the other would get a chance to return it after work. If you happened to get out of work a little late and rushed to get the kids off to whatever sport/school event/scouts/etc..., you can easily forget to return the rental on time.

Re:I Won't

[gmack]

In Canada and Spain I've noticed an increase of automated DVD rental kiosks. They are far cheaper than Blockbuster and usually located in much more convenient places.

Re:I Won't

[tool462]

Ditto. In the past 5 years, I've gone from 1.5Mbps to 20Mbps, and I pay less now than I did then. 40Mbps service is starting to roll out in my area too. Virtually all my TV and movie viewing is done online. We got rid of cable two years ago. The way I see it, this is the future, and I like it.

Re:I Won't

[Anonymous Coward]

Is it anal that I remember to put on pants before leaving the house, too?

If by "pants" you mean "assless chaps", then yes I'm sure anal is involved somewhere.

Re:I Won't

[lgw]

20 years ago now Blockbuster screwed me on a late fee, and I've never rented from them since, costing them many tens of thousands in lost business. Apparantly I'm not the only one who doesn't like them.

Netflix on the other hand I find perfect, and have no real desire to move to their streaming model, either.

Re:I Won't

[Thansal]

Lots of them now have the bigger redbox machines with two or three disc units hooked to the selection one.
This.

I don't think it was Netflix that killed BB, I think it was Redbox. The draw of a brick and mortar video store (to me) is that you go there, pick out a movie, and watch it that night. Netflix is that you set up a giant honking list of stuff you want to see at some point. Sure, with Netflix's, and others, streaming services you can get a similar effect at home. That I suspect there will be a place for Redbox, and regular video stores, for some time, probably until we actually have saturated, reliable, and appropriate bandwidth (Enough to properly stream a movie at the current HD level, whatever that is at the time).

Re:I Won't

[Anonymous Coward]

So when were people required to put on pants before leaving the house?

No thanks, too much hassle. I will just stick to not wearing them.

Re:I Won't

[Anonymous Coward]

Wow, you can't even remember for 24 hours (or 2 days, or however long your rental is)? I don't know what to say.

Might be better then to wait and figure out what to say?

I expect your response will probably be "no thanks, I'd just prefer not to rent movies instead"

The response from many Blockbuster customers was "no thanks, I'd just prefer to rent movies from someone else". And seems like they did.

Is it anal that I remember to put on pants before leaving the house, too?

You may think he's stupid/lazy. But there are lots of stupid/lazy people in the world, and many of them still have some money.

If you go out of business because you have problems legally parting a stupid/lazy person from his money AND having him happy about it, then perhaps you really deserve to go out of business.

Re:I Won't

[Anonymous Coward]

Heh, at two different locations in Columbia, SC, I could rent a movie at 8:00 PM one night, return it on the way to work (before 8:00 AM) the next morning, but the movies would always be later.

It was a pure scam, and I rejoice that the bastards are out of business.

Re:I Won't

[kaleth]

So when were people required to put on pants before leaving the house?

No thanks, too much hassle. I will just stick to not wearing them.

This is Slashdot - are you sure you didn't mean

"I'll stick to not leaving the house"?

Re:I Won't

[StikyPad]

Have you considered that you might have ADD? In my opinion, most memory problems are really symptoms of attention issues. In particular, attention difficulties compromise both the formation and timely retrieval of memories, which is what you describe. It's not that you don't possess the memory of renting a movie or the need to return it, but individuals with attention problems must deliberately shift their attention to reflect on past events, or the memory won't be recalled. For many people the process of recall is automatic -- their thoughts naturally and frequently cover the past, present and future, but people with attention disorders must make a deliberate effort to focus on these things. It doesn't mean they're stupid, and in fact, hyper-focused individuals are often excellent problem solvers. The catch is that without a more "normal" thought process that many people take for granted, certain other items get ignored.

While medication can help, it really requires lifestyle changes to cope with successfully. I've found that an effective solution is to give myself *one task* to perform habitually (like putting on pants, as the sibling poster so gently and subtly referenced), and that task is to deliberately review everything I need to bring, need to do, and *might* need to bring or do before leaving the house. It takes a lot longer to get out the door, but IMO it's a small price to pay for not being inundated with all of the various consequences for failing to remember things. It helps that I have a job that's not obsessive about people arriving precisely at the stroke of nine, though that too was a deliberate choice. I still overlook things of course -- pretty much everyone other than LordKronos does -- but overall things are much better than they used to be.

Though I still don't rent movies with deadlines for return. The risk/reward is just not worth it for me.

Re:I Won't

[irenaeous]

The draw of a brick and mortar video store (to me) is that you go there, pick out a movie, and watch it that night.

I agree that this is the best appeal of brick and mortar, but in my case If I want to see and rent something that night, I will get it from Amazon's VOD service and start streaming it within 30 minutes.

I have netflix. A lot of my favorite stuff is streamed from them (Mythbusters and Dr. Who for example). I only get one DVD per month, but when I get something, I rip it and send it back the next day.

I have TiVo and Playon -- Playon allows me to get Hulu and other shows (such as from TNT which has my wife's favorite show, The Closer) on my TV via our WII.

I find all of this more than enough to overcome that same night gratification.

No paying for cable this way, and no Blockbuster late fees.

Re:I Won't

[Anonymous Coward]

Blockbuster is well known for being a poorly run company. They nickel and dime their own employees while molesting it from the top. Most everyone I've ever met (well over a dozen) that has worked there has absolutely hated it. I'm talking in their headquarters, not at a local store.

Blockbuster has been extremely poorly run for well over a decade. They were successful contrary to their own efforts because they didn't really have competition once they were large enough to broker their own media distribution deals. Once they were forced to actually compete, despite having lower media costs, they simply couldn't because they don't understand the market.

Blockbuster mad a huge portion of their revenue from late fees - which they periodically increased over time. Once they had competition, late fees went away, along with a huge portion of their abused customers. That means they suddenly had to compete in a market where they didn't respect their customers, suddenly lost a huge part of their revenue stream, and with it, a lot of their customers.

When you can get a superior customer experience by not having to interact with anyone, you've identified a serious problem. Unfortunately for Blockbuster, they realized far, far too late after a lot of new competition had already been established.

Blockbuster's mantra is people are slaves for them to use and abuse. Psssttt...customers are people too.

Re:I Won't

[AK Marc]

Your lack of empathy doesn't make a valid argument. Rather than assuming they are wrong and looking to support your world view, perhaps you should accept that, for whatever reason, some people aren't like you. There's nothing wrong with it. And arguments from their point of view are just as valid as yours. I've noticed the problem is almost always with people who rent multiple movies. Often they don't return any until they've seen them all (when you'd probably assert it would make sense to rent the one you wanted that night, then pick up the next when returning the previous). Or they'll hold on to one they didn't see until they have time, not wanting to return an unseen movie, and end up paying purchase costs for a rental that they sometimes don't even watch. It's not logical. But it's no less valid than your way, and is a legitimate reason to generate late fees and shun rentals because of it.

Re:I Won't

[vertinox]

I hardly had late fees either because I have OCD about timeliness and being late, but I personally dislike the threat or having to worry about having to around and go like this: "Oh. This DVD is due back tomorrow, now I have to make an extra trip out of the home so I don't get hit with a late fee."

With Netflix I can go instead "Well... I would go down to the post office today but I don't have any errands to run so instead I'll wait til Friday when I was going to go out for groceries since I'm not constrained by any dead line".

See what happens here... People weren't exactly upset about the late fees themselves but rather the fact they often had to make that trip at an arbitrary time frame. Its one less stop you have to worry about. Good for saving gas as well.

Re:I Won't

[eugene ts wong]

Exactly. I actually just came back from returning DVDs to the library. I didn't even think about late fees once. It caused so much heart ache to have to make a special trip just to return the DVDs. I never really felt that way, when returning DVDs with Zip.ca. The truth is that if you have to go to the post office when you get your groceries, then you probably live further away from it, than I do from the public library. I could walk back and forth in about 8 minutes. Despite having weeks to watch the movies, I just dreaded returning the videos.

I bet if every organization offered a return envelop, for mailing, and somehow factored it into the price, then they'd have much happier customers, even if the total price is more expensive.

Re:I Won't

[KDR_11k]

I've never seen late fees when it comes to video rentals, in Germany we always pay when returning the video so they bill us for every day we had it, no matter how long that was. Maybe that has to do with better enforceability of collections though.

Re:I Won't

[gmanterry]

Not a single soul has mentioned what stopped me from using Block Buster. They initiated a corporate policy about 10 years ago where you were charged a late fee even if the movie was returned the same night. It was your word against theirs as most of us dropped the movie into s slot in the door either on the way to work or in the evening after watching it. It was just plain highway robbery. After about five of these "late fees" I told my family we would never use Block Buster again. And we haven't. I'm a conservative capitalist but I think greed had a big hand in killing Block Buster.

And nothing of value was lost.

[Anonymous Coward]

n/t

The Onion

[oldspewey]

Obligatory Onion reference

Re:The Onion

[IICV]

That's really how it feels to walk in to a Blockbuster nowadays - I was in one yesterday (I wanted to look at their used DS games, but they didn't have any) and all I could think was "how are you guys still in business? There's absolutely no reason for me to be here".

As soon as I saw my first Redbox, I knew they were screwed; when someone comes up with a way to put your entire store in a little box that can fit in the corner of the local market, your time's up.

Re:The Onion

[mapkinase]

RedBox is a horrible way to future: very limited collection. It's like Unterblockbuster.

I guess, higher class customers of Blockbuster will go to Netflix, and lower class will go to Redbox.

Re:The Onion

[IICV]

There's nothing keeping them from adding a "request a movie" function to RedBox; I seem to remember being able to do that before, but when I look at their site now it's not there. Still, it's only a matter of adding some Netflix-style infrastructure, except cheaper - instead of shipping a movie to a random house, they ship a movie to a local RedBox, and I'm sure that whoever takes care of the RedBoxen visits them at least four or five times a week and can load the requested movies in.

Re:The Onion

[mapkinase]

That will require significant reorganization and significant investments, I suspect.

Besides, netflix is moving away from physical media to instant loading - obvious improvement.

Physical media is dying - that's general trend. It's dying quickly physically in each particular instance and dying metaphorically.

The future is for instant play from the internet.

cue up "But I'm not dead yet" jokes

[Anonymous Coward]

The imminent demise of Blockbuster had been predicted by the pundits for the last 18 years or so. I think the reason they hung on so long is that people are creatures of habit, and browsing aisles and bins with friends, family or roommates still satisfies a need.

Good.

[XPeter]

Always detested Blockbuster, when id want to pick up a DVD after school they'd always make me leave my backpack in the front and follow me around the store. Much happier with Netflix.

Re:Good.

[Anonymous Coward]

And how, exactly, do you go to Netflix after school to pick up a DVD?

Farewell

[Gofyerself]

Farewell Blockbuster, I will not miss you!

Re:Farewell

[teaserX]

My thoughts exactly...6 years ago

Re:Farewell

[Anonymous Coward]

I agree, farewell and good riddance. I call it karma. One of the execs in this company was also responsible for a company that pioneered and promulgated drug testing. Drug testing is most discriminatory on users of cannabis, which stays in the system longer than coke and other drugs. Denying people the right to work simply because they use a basically harmless drug (no matter the idiots that screw up, if they didn't have drugs it would be alcohol or paint thinner or something) is a load of crap. I have used many illegal substances, didn't stop me from graduating with honors in IT, getting certificates, or my decent paying job, or my honorable service and discharge to this country. But it did bite me in the ass many years ago. A setback that I didn't need for smoking a little pot. Contrary to popular belief, some drug users do have their act together and are fine upstanding citizens except for the little fact that some people who want to tell you how to live your life think they know better than you on how to do it. Epic fail. I look forward to my retirement when I can consume all the drugs I want and the shadow of big brother no longer follows my steps. If you can't handle drugs, don't do it. Leave the people who can handle it alone, jerks.

below the belt?

[tootalltom]

Blockbusted!

Time for them to throw in the towel

[MikeRT]

At this point, Blockbuster is so far behind its competitors that the only responsible choice is to liquidate its inventory, cut some severance checks and pass on the remaining cash as a distribution to shareholders.

We're not used to thinking like that, but Blockbuster has probably not a hope in Hell of actually holding its own at this point. Therefore it should do whatever it can to pass along its remaining value directly back to its shareholders before it squanders it on a vain attempt to beat very entrenched competitors who already have mindshare high ground with the public.

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[tenaciousj]

By your logic Netflix should have never went into business.

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[Rogerborg]

That's what they'd do in a communist country like Belgium. In the Land of the Free Enterprise, the purpose of Chapter 11 is for consultants, lawyers and accountants (usually the brothers-in-law of the Board) to strip the carcase of any remaining flesh.

It seems harsh, but by encouraging them to feed on the weakest of the pack, it keeps them away from healthy companies.

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[dunezone]

By your logic Netflix should have never went into business.

Netflix, Redbox, and Blockbuster all offer the same product. The only thing that is different is cost and how they deliver the product to you. Netflix entered the market with a new delivery method (straight to home) at a low cost and it worked. Redbox entered the market with a low cost and instead of stores they have kiosks positioned strategically through out towns and cities.

For Blockbuster to convert to those two models probably wouldn't cost much. The real cost is regaining lost customers. At this point they're so far behind in a customer base that it might be impossible to regain customers unless they can offer something that no competitor can, and I don't think lowering the price of the product will help.

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[Maxo-Texas]

There also has to be a reason Netflix can get buy on $8.95 or $15.95 a month.

Lower salaries? Corporate offices in an inexpensive location? No corporate headquarters?

Older companies build up fixed costs over time. If they get big enough, they get the law changed to protect them. If they don't make that size, the die off.

I finally bit the bullet and signed up for netflix last night.

AMAZING.

Took under 10 minutes and I was watching "Pushing up Daisies" and then browse parts of several movies.

With my new blu ray player (still in the box) I should be able to watch these on my TV too.. .and on my iPhone.. and at my friend's house on their computer.

Amazing. Incentives for pirating drop waaaaay down when you get "all you can eat" for $8.95. Some stuff I'll have to wait to come in the mail.

Seems too good to last-- to good to be true.
At some point the people supplying netflix will raise their rates as they did on the cable tv providers.

But for now- nice.

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[Anonymous Coward]

Well the obvious thing they could offer is integration between mail delivery and kiosks. "don't want to wait two days to get your next movie? Drop you disk off in one of our convinient kisoks and take your next selection home today! when you're done with it you can return it to the kiosk or drop it in the mail."

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[elrous0]

I would offer to provide a good home to the remaining inventory of my local store, but what am I going to do with 100 copies of every Michael Bay crapfest made in the last decade?

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[mapkinase]

Good reminder from digg:

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

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[LordKronos]

...it should do whatever it can to pass along its remaining value directly back to its shareholders before it squanders it...

If the shareholders really want that, all they need to do is sell their shares. It's really not that difficult. The simply fact they they haven't, and instead still have their money invested in Blockbuster, that's a clear indication that the stockholders do NOT want that to happen. Clearly they believe that the rewards of holding onto their investment will be worth the risk of losing it all.

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[Curunir_wolf]

Well hopefully their online / mailbox service will continue. I haven't been in a rental store for years, but I've had the Blockbuster mail service for a long time, and I've been much more satisfied with it than Netflix. It's cheaper, and I've never had my rentals "throttled". Besides, if it dies there will be no competition for Netflix, and monopolies are never cheap or kind to their customers.

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[jimicus]

I would imagine the main difference in costs is that Netflix don't need to pay rent and upkeep on thousands of stores and all the staff that implies.

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[CrankyFool]

Just a quick note -- Netflix does have a Corporate Headquarters. I know. I work there. It's very nice. And the salaries are well-known to be noticeably above-average. It's a kick-ass place to work.

I'm not spilling any corporate secrets when I note that analysts have acknowledged for a while that the lower Netflix drives its subscription plans, the harder it will be to compete with it. We started with a, what, $15.95 plan, I think? (I was a subscriber back in 2002). The lowest plan which offers unlimited streaming is $8.99/month now. Pretty sure you'll never see it go up.

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[Scared Rabbit]

Actually, once during my current subscription they lowered the price. I got a nice letter saying that my price per month went down some amount (like a dollar or two or something). They may raise their prices in the future (it would make sense with the fact that inflation does happen) but it will probably be some time before they do.

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[Anonymous Coward]

Bingo. Netlix has something going for it in that everyone who sees just how easy it is instantly wants it, and clearly sees the advantage over a boxed store. My mom, who is essentially a luddite, was hooked when she saw it in my apartment. She signed herself up, upgraded to the bluray disks, and went out and bought a networked bluray player, all by herself. She loves it, and I am impressed with how quickly she has figured the system out.

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[Maxo-Texas]

My mom, who can't figure out computers to save her life- goes through some very arcane technical stuff with my satellite dish.

What I need is a way to give her a computer that she can't change.

Just for email and facebook and she'd be happy. Heck- maybe just for facebook. Lock everything else down.

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[stewbacca]

I think one of the reasons Netflix is so cheap is because of all the people like me who pay for it, but don't use it enough to get our money's worth. There's lots of stuff like this, such as the GI Bill. Soldiers pay $100 a month for 12 months and earn something like $50,000 for college. Most of them never use it, so their $1200 goes towards paying for the very few who do use it.

I seriously watch maybe 1 movie a month, which I could get at Blockbuster for $1.99. Instead, I pay $10 or something a month, $120 a year and watch maybe 10 movies. Once EVERYTHING is available on-demand, I'll use it more. As it stands now, most stuff I want to watch at that moment is mail-only, so I end up not watching it.

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[caluml]

I finally bit the bullet and signed up for netflix last night.

Meh. We're not sure you will be able to sign up for Netflix from your area. You will need a valid U.S. mailing address to sign up for Netflix. Also, you will only be able to watch instantly if you are in the 50 United States or Washington, D.C. It looks like you are outside the United States. If this is incorrect, please contact your Internet provider for help. We are sorry for any inconvenience.

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[Anonymous Coward]

Did anyone else noticed that the ads for this page are exclusively netflix? I refreshed a half dozen times and it came up with a different ad but all for netflix.

I'm highly amused.

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[thoromyr]

Just be careful that you don't watch too many movies. What they'll do for the streaming remains to be seen, but the reason I am not a netflix customer any longer is their "smoothing" policy. This policy, which they don't advertise and carefully talk around the meaning of, came about due to losing a law suit for the practice. Now it is official policy.

The gist of it is that if you watch too many movies that are too popular in too short of a time period they will one or both of the following:

  - delay sending your next movie
  - send a movie from your queue that is not the top available movie

Because they are so secretive about the policy I do not believe it is intended to be an object lesson for the customer. At first you think, "well, the post office must've been slow" or "strange, [the top movie in queue] must've become unavailable since I last saw the queue." But it keeps happening and, in my case, I started googling and found out about the lawsuit.

Naively, I thought I was a "good customer" because I would return a movie the next day (or on unusual occasions the same day) which meant that it was quickly available to be sent to the next customer. I assumed that having a high turnover meant lower inventory and thus lower cost. I'm not so sure any more. Maybe the postal costs eat them up and it costs them too much to actually honor the contract which they advertise as "unlimited". (My wife and I would easily watch 5-7 movies a week back then.) Who knows, netflix isn't saying. (Wikipedia states it is the marginal cost of the mailing, but I've not seen any statement from netflix stating that, nor any indicator of what the real limits are for an "unlimited" account so as to avoid them.)

Akira Kurosawa was a brilliant director and made many movies, despite which they are apparently in low demand. At first I loved netflix because I could watch these older, harder to find movies. But after ~9 months I apparently started hitting higher demand movies, or the number watched in that period crossed a threshold or something because even though our rate had dropped to no more than two movies a week it went to hell in a handbasket very quickly.

The person who originally turned me on to netflix wouldn't believe netflix really practices throttling (despite this being documented, easy citation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netflix, but really, google for netflix and smoothing should give plenty of results). Until it started happening to him.

If the issue resulting in "smoothing" is the cost of mailing a disk expect a similar experience with streaming: there is in effect a cost for X bandwidth over Y time and as you approach that marginal cost with an "unlimited" account they would find you to be a bad customer and take corrective action. And even though the cost of streaming is less than post it is easier to saturate with on-demand than a limit of X at a time and the latency of the postal service.

So, enjoy netflix while you can. They have an incredible selection of movies (if they deign to mail them to you) and streaming is convenient (though without any where near the selection). Maybe they'll treat you well, I hope so. As for me, I killed my account. Once flagged for "smoothing" apparently it doesn't matter how few movies you watch or how unpopular they might be -- they will persist in sending series out of order, not sending some movies regardless of availability and generally pissing on the customer and the concept of a queue.

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[Richthofen80]

The reason that Netflix can get buy on $9 a month is because they have low debt, and low overhead. Larger margins.

Companies like Blockbuster loaded up on debt and rapidly expanded during the good times. Of course, debt is easy to carry during the good times.

If Blockbuster had kept its leverage low it could have used this time where corporate valuations are lower to get out of leases, buy a subsidiary that could compete w/ Netflix in the streaming space, or kept fees low. But because it has close to 1 Billion dollars in debt to service, and tons of long-term leases to pay for, they are inflexible.

Sure, Netflix saw that DVDs by mail and DVD streaming was the way to go, but it was only a part of it that lead to Blockbuster's demise. Most of it can be traced back to poor business decisions unrelated to technology. Plenty of companies are smart enough to make a transition between dying business models and thriving ones. Blockbuster couldn't because they tied their hands with financial obligations.

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[lgw]

From what I've seen, Netflix only has a problem if you return movies on the same day you get them. Get them in the morning, rip them, and get them out in the same day's mail. Back when the Netflix flap was big on /., I was returning every moving I got on the next day, for months, and never saw the problem. The posters who were complaining were all people who thought they were being clever with the "rip and return the same day" strategy.

Personally, I keep copies of all the movies I like on a very elegant storage system: I just give them back to Netflix. They send em back to me the next time I want to watch them. No space, no ripping time, it's great. Hoarders, meh.

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[Schnapple]

What I need is a way to give her a computer that she can't change.

Just for email and facebook and she'd be happy. Heck- maybe just for facebook. Lock everything else down.

So... an iPad basically? Maybe with the keyboard attachment?

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[Pandrake]

As someone who just fairly recently subscribed to Netflix in defiance to all video stores, redboxes, cable and satellite plans, I just wanna say....

THANK YOU!!!

Re:Time for them to throw in the towel

[Anonymous Coward]

BB still has shareholders? Who would still be stupid enough to still have shares in that thing?

This is what happens, when...

[Bill_the_Engineer]

You spend all your time focusing on the mom-n-pop's you're putting out of business, and don't look in the rearview mirror to see RedBox or Netflix.

Seriously, Blockbuster lost its karma when it used its size to ink deals with movie studios to stock their shelves on consignment with a percentage of the rental fee going to the studios. This allow BB to stock more movies, while the small local movie rental shops still had to purchase their DVDs at the ridiculously high rental shop price.

Re:This is what happens, when...

[Thelasko]

You spend all your time focusing on the mom-n-pop's you're putting out of business, and don't look in the rearview mirror to see RedBox or Netflix.

Perhaps the mom-n-pop's will make a slight comeback. There are still a few of them out there, and there is still the nitch of spontaneously renting an old movie that Netflix and RedBox can't fill.

Re:This is what happens, when...

[Anonymous Coward]

That's what DVD rental vending machines are for...

Re:This is what happens, when...

[TheNumberless]

There are still a few of them out there, and there is still the nitch [sic] of spontaneously renting an old movie that Netflix and RedBox can't fill.

Netflix really can fill that niche, though, via instant watch. I really believe (or at least, hope) that the library of movies, especially older movies, available for instant watch will grow to the point that it's competitive with the older titles available in any local store.

Re:This is what happens, when...

[interkin3tic]

You spend all your time focusing on the mom-n-pop's you're putting out of business, and don't look in the rearview mirror to see RedBox or Netflix.

Next on the chopping block: gamestop. They did the same thing. They also still have more stores than any reasonable person would think they would need, the result of merging with EB games and closing few redundant stores.

They've managed to hold their own in the face of competing with walmart etc, mostly through the used console game market. Many of their customers don't bat an eye at selling a game for $5 that someone else would buy for $25. Game developers are already moving in to try to block used game sales with one time use codes and digital content. I'd expect that next generation, most of the big titles will not be transferrable easily and gamestop will really take a hit.

Re:This is what happens, when...

[ThatMegathronDude]

niche, not nitch

Re:This is what happens, when...

[Hatta]

I hope so. Gamestop, with their practices of reselling opened games as new, and destroying trade-ins to drive up prices can go rot in hell. There's a Gamerz here, one block away from a Gamestop. Gamerz is always packed, Gamestop is always empty. It'll be a great day when they close once and for all.

Re:This is what happens, when...

[interkin3tic]

and destroying trade-ins to drive up prices

To be fair, I worked at a gamestop, and that was undoubtedly mostly old madden copies which really SHOULD have been recycled or trashed. It comes out every year, sells a huge number of copies, and then automatically every year about 90% of those people have a disc that has fallen in value about 90%. While I was there, a 2 year old copy of Madden would get you about a dollar. They're essentially agreeing to take people's trash and put it on the shelves. One copy of madden 2005 per store is too many, it's a waste of shelf space and will never sell even at a dollar.

I never heard of them destroying games people actually wanted to drive prices up. They have a monopoly, that would be dumb even for them. If they wanted to raise the price of a rare game, they could just raise the price.

Not World Wide!

[Anonymous Coward]

Blockbuster Canada unaffected. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/blockbuster-files-for-protection/article1719915/

Re:Not World Wide!

[Halifax Samuels]

I have seen reports that Blobkbuster UK expects that since the parent US company filed for Chapter 11 it could heavily impact their ability to get product. They're even thinking it might be a bad X-Mas for sales in UK BBs.

What really happened

[Iamthecheese]

It was profitable but not as profitable as they wanted so they moved their money into offshore accounts so they wouldn't have to pay back their debts.

Tomorrow's stories: Company X buys blockbuster assets for 20 cents on the dollar, fires half the employees. Former blockbuster executive gives millions to charity!
Happening tomorrow but not in the news: Company X hires former Blockbuster executives; major stakeholders suddenly and unaccountably rich. Major wheeling and dealing between politicians, the IRS, and former Blockbuster executives. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in freezers all over the country.

Re:What really happened

[Halifax Samuels]

I don't know about John Antioco, but none of the BB execs are that smart.

In completely unrelated news

[andy1307]

Netflix Nabs NBC Deal

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Netflix(NFLX) announced on Friday that it will expand its licensing agreement with NBC, allowing users to stream prior televisions series from its cable and broadcast networks.

Netflix subscribers will be able to watch series like Saturday Night Live, Friday Night Lights, Monk and Battlestar Galactica, the company said.

Netflix has been working over the last several months to expand its streaming content, first through a partnership with EPIX, a joint venture between Viacom(VIA), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Lions Gate Entertainment(LFG) that could add up to 20,000 new titles to Netflix's streaming content.

Oh well!

[wombat1966]

Or perhaps the fact the fact they have changed the rental overdue agreement substantially several times has played a part. They went from no overdue fees to "Gee, it's a week late? It's yours!" with virtually no fanfare. I may be exaggerating slightly, but not much!!! Pam http://www.talksocialnews.com/

Re:Oh well!

[Colonel Korn]

Or perhaps the fact the fact they have changed the rental overdue agreement substantially several times has played a part. They went from no overdue fees to "Gee, it's a week late? It's yours!" with virtually no fanfare. I may be exaggerating slightly, but not much!!!

Pam
http://www.talksocialnews.com/

In 1999 or 2000 they changed the policy while I had a dvd rented and sitting in my college dorm. The result was that I had a fraction of a day less to return the rental. Of course, since they changed the rules after I had checked out the disk, I didn't know this. When I brought it back and was told I owed a late fee, I still had my receipt with the return deadline listed, which the manager agreed showed clearly that my return was, in fact, on time. But he said there was nothing he could do (which was nonsense, I'd seen them selectively remove late fees before). I didn't pay the fee despite years of letters from BB and never did business with them again.

I also got about a dozen BB customers to switch to Netflix. I like to think that I contributed, in a very small way, to this bankruptcy.

Evolve or Die

[whisper_jeff]

It's really simple - the media landscape has changed and is continuing to change. The internet, literally, changed everything. Companies that think they can get by on the same old, same old are doomed to fail. It might take a couple years or more but, if you fail to evolve when the world around you changes, you will eventually die out. This is true in life and it's equally true in business.

I have zero sympathy for the companies that are failing due to lack of innovation and evolution. Rest on your laurels and you're a footnote in history. Bye bye. Please make room for the companies that are actually _actively_ trying to earn my business.

Re:Evolve or Die

[stewbacca]

I don't think the necessarily need to die...just have a smaller market share. There's still a need to service people who don't stream movies and who don't want to use Netflix.

If companies would just accept that you can't show growth every year for the next 100 years, this wouldn't be that big of a story.

Good

[Dan667]

A lesson to all businesses that treat their Customers like crap. They screwed me 15 years ago losing a movie I returned, refused to give me the benefit of the doubt, then found the movie and still charged me a huge late fee. I never set foot in another one of their stores. I hope all the blockbuster execs lose their golden parachutes.

Re:Good

[Anonymous Coward]

I worked there. The whole system requires that people return things on-time so we wouldn't always be out of everything. Yes, there were frequent blow-ups with customers, but at the same time customers were always trying to cheat the system and get out of the fees. Often the kids would return something late and not tell their parents, then we had to argue with the parents for a half-hour. Overall, I found the job rather stressful.

Re:Good

[cerberusss]

They screwed me 15 years ago losing a movie I returned [...] I hope all the blockbuster execs lose their golden parachutes.

15 years ago and now you wish for random people to not get money.

I'm giving you serious advice here. It is not healthy to stock up on anger like that. Take yoga classes. Really, I'm fucking serious.

Re:Good

[russotto]

I'm giving you serious advice here. It is not healthy to stock up on anger like that. Take yoga classes. Really, I'm fucking serious.

Yoga? Yoga's not going to help. It gives you way too much time to put your body in uncomfortable positions and _think_ about all the ways various bastards wronged you. Like that damned yoga teacher who suckered you into dislocating your own hip.

Re:Good

[E IS mC(Square)]

Whom do we have here? Maharshi Yogi? I am with the GP and let me say that I would be as delighted if each and every exec asshole from BB loses all his/her money.

Re:Good

[Anonymous Coward]

I tried to rent a movie from them 15 years ago with an account that I had had for 6+ years at least. They wanted an updated phone number. When I told them I had no phone, they refused to rent me a movie and stated a phone was requried. The manager on staff said they did not need my business. I guess he was wrong. I have not been back into a blockbuster since.

Re:Good

[stewbacca]

I think the lesson here is, if you are going to go into the service/merchandising business, be prepared to deal with a lot of stupid customers.

Re:Good

[Reilaos]

I think the parent was talking about a movie that the STORE lost, and charged for, not the parent. Which seems stupid/unfair to me.

Re:Good

[adolf]

Stupid policies are not exclusive to Blockbuster.

I once tried to open an account at Movie Gallery. When they asked for my home phone number, I gladly gave it to them. They then, with me standing right there, called my house to verify the number. The conversation went something like this:

Them: Nobody answers the number you gave me.
Me: Of course nobody answered. I'm here in your store, not at home.
Them: We need someone to answer, so we can verify that it's your number, or we can't let you rent anything.
Me: How am I supposed to do that?
Them: ???
Me: !!!

Not surprisingly, that place also went out of business a couple of years after that.

Re:Good

[cerberusss]

Hmm yes, it's better you guys don't go to yoga. After all, there are only ugly girls there. Really! I'll go instead.

Meh, dinosaurs died out too

[sizzzzlerz]

One more greedy corporation who muscled out the small, neighborhood stores and when they finally became the big kid on the block, squeezed their customers for everything they could. Now, in the light of new technology they're unable to control, they become unable to compete. So be it.

In the words of airline stewardesses everywhere: B'bye!

Re:Meh, dinosaurs died out too

[Anonymous Coward]

One more greedy corporation who muscled out the small, neighborhood stores and when they finally became the big kid on the block, squeezed their customers for everything they could. Now, in the light of new technology they're unable to control, they become unable to compete. So be it.

In the words of airline stewardesses everywhere: B'bye!

Who'd those "small, neighborhood stores" put out of business when they opened?

Your romantic idealization of the past is touching.

Re:Meh, dinosaurs died out too

[careysub]

One more greedy corporation who muscled out the small, neighborhood stores and when they finally became the big kid on the block, squeezed their customers for everything they could. Now, in the light of new technology they're unable to control, they become unable to compete. So be it.

In the words of airline stewardesses everywhere: B'bye!

Indeed. My "venal Blockbuster" story are the sheets of prepaid rental coupons that were suitable for "gift giving". My wife bought some sheets of these to give me as a birthday gift - which I used a few times, and then discovered that they had "expired"! These were not some sort of promotional freebies, not even some sort of discount deal, they were full price pre-paid rentals! And in tiny print on the back of the coupons (not evident in any of their gift promotions) I discovered that they were only good for six months. Having advance use of our money for free, and the bonus possibility that I might lose or forget about them and thus never redeem all of them (common with gift cards) was not good enough for their profit margins - they had to convert a sale into a theft. I didn't use Blockbuster much after that - a great strategy for building your consumer loyalty.

Re:Meh, dinosaurs died out too

[nedlohs]

They likely put a small dent in the TV station audience and in the movie attending audience.

But the complaint had nothing to do with the "put out of business" part - it had to do with the "once the competition is gone squeeze the customer" part. That you are too stupid to notice that makes me even more stupid for bothering to reply comprehending anything beyond "Run, Dog, Run" is clearly beyond you.

Re:Meh, dinosaurs died out too

[MMC Monster]

I have no idea? Really. Before local rental shops, videos just didn't exist.

Re:Meh, dinosaurs died out too

[Anonymous Coward]

Blockbuster didn't "muscle them out", they out competed them. This is the same thing that is now happening to Blockbuster themselves, and will eventually happen to Netflix.

Re:Meh, dinosaurs died out too

[Anonymous Coward]

(posting anon so I don't revert my mods)

In some states like Washington, it is illegal for gift certificates to expire.

Of course, I presume even here in Washington, if the company went bankrupt or just plain tits up, you'd still be SOL.

Re:Meh, dinosaurs died out too

[Anonymous Coward]

In the words of airline stewardesses everywhere: B'bye!

... you had an entire planet full of professions, culture, and celebrities, each with their own witty, quotable one-liners for telling people off to choose from, and you went with THAT?

Re:Meh, dinosaurs died out too

[stewbacca]

Let's not jump to conclusions. Bankruptcy proceedings don't mean Blockbuster is out of business (yet).

Re:Meh, dinosaurs died out too

[stewbacca]

I think this whole (stupid) argument you guys are having brings to light the real issue...whenever there's a demand for something, the market will take care of it.

Re:Meh, dinosaurs died out too

[citylivin]

I only learned this recently, but the reason that gift cards expire from a companies perspective, is that every sold giftcard needs to be carried on their books. Thats why they make them expire, it has to do with accounting practices. I am sure a real accountant could explain better than I, but its something about not carrying the debt for possibly years. The company doesnt know if you lost that giftcard you purchased in 2002 or simply havent used it yet. So it is treated like a cash debt which is still outstanding.

They cant count it as profit until its used - or something. IANAAccountant

I did think it was criminal for gift certificates to expire. I still do, but now I atleast know a legitamte business reason why they do. I am not saying they arent hoping you dont redeem it, just that there is another business case for having them expire.

Re:Meh, dinosaurs died out too

[MozeeToby]

It's pretty simple really, imagine you wrote out a check to pay off your house (say something large, like $60k) and got your title free and clear but the check was never cashed. Can you imagine how much of a pain in the ass it is to balance your checkbook and keep track of your finances? How long would you leave the money sit in your checking account (just waiting for someone to steal your bank information)? Now imagine that instead of a single $60k check it was thousands of $5-$10 checks that you were trying to keep track of. And then imagine that an estimated 20% never get cashed at all, in a few years you could have hundreds of thousands of dollars in liabilities with no way of knowing the actual risk of them being cashed out. I absolutely don't blame companies for putting reasonable expiration dates on gift cards, and I think that perhaps they should be required to extend the date at the customer's request. It's really no different that putting 'Void after 60 days' on a payroll check.

Re:Meh, dinosaurs died out too

[stdarg]

How long would you leave the money sit in your checking account (just waiting for someone to steal your bank information)? Now imagine that instead of a single $60k check it was thousands of $5-$10 checks that you were trying to keep track of.

I would say you have a duty to move it to a separate account where it's not "in the way" and monitor it, collecting interest, until you're tired of it. At that point, then you keep part of it as a nominal fee and return the rest to the original owner. And if you can't find them, you declare it as lost property. You don't get to just keep it! (I mean, clearly you do get to, as we see, but it's not right.)

In reality, gift cards aren't like your house check example, because most people don't make it their *business* to give/take loans and set up an infrastructure to deal with them. But if you give out gift cards, you obviously do. Why is it harder to keep track of 100000 little checks for 10 years than it is to keep track of 100000 little checks for 1 year? They're not doing it by hand anyway.

It's not like people bartered live chickens for their gift cards and the company is paying to maintain the chickens until the gift cards are cashed in. There's really no excuse.

It's really no different that putting 'Void after 60 days' on a payroll check.

I don't know, that doesn't absolve them of owing you the money, right? It just means that that particular check is void.

Re:Yesterday's News. Stuff That Mattered.

[DoofusOfDeath]

This news broke yesterday, what's with the delay? I submitted it yesterday and it was passed on; why is it news now that it is 25 hours older?

Well, at least from my own perspective, the delay is reasonable because this just isn't very interesting. With Netflix, iTMS, and pay-per-view movies, Blockbuster because irrelevant to me years ago.

Great!

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm glad bastards are finished. How many customers they have gouged with false "lost" tapes/dvd/games or "late" fees. Twice they have tried to screw me over and it took months to correct "computer" errors.

Quote

[Anonymous Coward]

start doing the business equivalent of digging foxholes and manning the battlements

Patents. Billions upon billions of patents.

@slashdot #newsweek #lol

[Anonymous Coward]

#newsweek = #blockbuster = #fail!

They had it coming.

[Aspen]

Yes, I loved in-person browsing and I miss that with Netflix.

But no, I don't miss coming up to the register and finding that I had $7.90 in late fees. The final straw was when I didn't go for a month, and they sent $10 in late fees to a collection agency.

This is what it looks like when business models die.

Re:They had it coming.

[Quiet_Desperation]

Not that I liked Blockbuster, but in 10 years I never had a late fee. Was it that hard for people to avoid late fees? You know when the thing is due back, and they had 24 hour drop slots.

Re:They had it coming.

[stdarg]

A lot of people get late fees because the store didn't scan the return properly. It happened to me several times and I always had to waste time contesting it. They'd say "Okay let me check the shelf. Oh. Yeah it's here."

At some point they changed the definition of "two night rental" to be more like "2nd night rental." In other words you didn't get 2 full nights, you got about 1/2 of the first night and 1/2 of the second night for a total of 1 night. So I get a movie at 11pm on Friday, it's due back Saturday before midnight. That's supposed to be two nights. Rather than, you know, actually having it for two nights and returning it Sunday, which is how it used to be. Same thing happened with a week rental. You rent it Friday at 11pm, when is a 1 week rental due back? Thursday night! Because you had it for some portion of each day of a 1 week period. But in common parlance, 1 week from Friday night is next Friday night, not next Thursday night. I believe they got sued over that at some point.

Another issue that came up was returning the movie to a store other than the one where you rented it. You're allowed to do it, but maybe 20% of the time the original store charges you a late fee, and even when they get the movie or credit or however they do it from the other store, don't revert the charges. (Unless you bring it up.)

I rented a lot of movies, and paid very few late fees.. a handful which were actually legitimate. But in high school I had all the time in the world to talk to the manager, repeatedly, until they saw things my way. I can definitely see how easy it would be for someone else to be seriously ripped off by Blockbuster.

Digging foxholes?

[Andy Dodd]

I view that as trying to protect your existing way of business rather than adapting.

Digging foxholes is the last thing a country struggling to adapt to new realities should do. It only works if you're large enough to get legislation passed to protect the old ways. (MPAA/RIAA)

Re:Digging foxholes?

[stewbacca]

It only works if you're large enough to get legislation passed to protect the old ways. (MPAA/RIAA)

Large enough like the handful of cable companies that control the entire United States?

technology, media, business models change

[circletimessquare]

and companies should adapt to the changes, or die. unfortunately, we have established players from dying media industries still trying to uphold laws that don't work in the internet age

such media companies should, for anyone who believes in capitalism, adapt, or die. blockbuster is a perfect example of this natural capitalist death

instead, large entrenched media companies warp the marketplace by influencing the government and our laws to preserve a status quo that should be dying. they'd rather not change. they'd rather corporatize our culture, to change us, to fit their defunct business model. well fuck them, time to die assholes

CEO and Investors

[dunezone]

The downfall of Blockbuster was not Netflix or Redbox. It was the operating CEO(s) and investors.

Re:CEO and Investors

[RevWaldo]

"This is all your fault!" cried the CEO at the press conference, pointing his finger at the crowd. "We asked you, begged you to rewind, but you wouldn't, you just wouldn't, I... " His voice trailed off, then his eyes rolled back as he collapsed onto the podium, then into a heap on the stage, the toppled-over mics blasting everyone's ears with feedback, then falling silent.

.

I wonder how much of this is MPAA greed?

[erroneus]

I don't pretend to know all there is to know about the video rental business, but I do know the MPAA has a lot to do with making that business difficult. For example, when buying media for rental purposes, they have to spend a LOT more for each copy -- they can't just go to Best Buy to buy their rental copies. And as for being able to move on into newer business models; it's not like they didn't want to or didn't try. I get the feeling that various conditions and restrictions were applied to the deal that just make it unworkable.

On the other hand, perhaps they are the "American Airlines" of the video rental industry? You know, at American Airlines, they are encumbered by over-paid, union-backed, 50+-year-old sky-waitresses, union-backed pilots, union-backed everyone else, and over-paid senior executives. No one wants to take a cut in pay to remain competitive and so newer, younger competitors like Southwest Airlines without all those encumberances have posted profits while the older, bigger airlines were posting losses.

So I have to wonder if it is either or both in the case of Blockbuster. My guess is that there is a bit of both. After all, since the 80's, success is measured in "growth" instead of other numbers like RoI or other margins. (I still find it unfathomable that "growth" is used as *the* measure of success. It completely ignores the possibility of market saturation and depends on destroying the competition rather than competing with them. It truly brings out the worst in humanity while at the same time completely ignores that they are operating in a finite world.)

Re:I wonder how much of this is MPAA greed?

[MemoryDragon]

The myth of growth has been hammered into the brains of literally all western business people politicians and to some degree as well into the general public, it is hard to relearn, there is no such thing as unlimited growth and to the worse if you try to enforce it you basically just enforce an only the strongest survive and not even those approach, there is a reason why evolution first followed this approach but at the turning point of introducing the mammals changed to a common goal and group helps eath other approach in species, because it works better. Problem is our business point of view is still in the area of the dinosaurse of the strongest survive, the dinosaurs did not (at least not in the predatory form) the mammals did...

Re:I wonder how much of this is MPAA greed?

[Maxo-Texas]

Yea.. because if you are 50+, you should really not be hirable any more. It'd be best if you just go and starve in the wilderness so as not to be a burden on society unless you are successful at carousel and get renewal.

Re:I wonder how much of this is MPAA greed?

[erroneus]

The role/job/position of air-waitress was never intended to be a life-time career. In the same way that most people do not usually flip burgers or wait tables for their whole lives, the same should be true of flight attendants.

We are talking about hospitality workers. These people should be friendly and pleasant. The aged and unionized workers are anything but hospitable. They are privileged, job-secured, prison guards of the sky. Something has gone VERY wrong with that aspect of the industry.

Re:I wonder how much of this is MPAA greed?

[erroneus]

The reality of this situation really hit home when I saw a friend lose his job of over 10 years of experience. What happened?

Well, Village Voice Media had at the time, a policy (they still might, I don't know) of requiring that sales people must bring in "X" number of new clients each $timePeriod. Well this guy had such a huge number of current clients to maintain that he could not maintain or sustain a policy of growth. He literally spent all business day contacting his existing clients with no time for dealing with new ones. He made the company LOTS and LOTS of money with just his existing clients too. But they didn't care about that. Eventually, this person who was next in line to become sales director for the Dallas Observer's classified sales department, was fired for not making his numbers. They cared nothing of the fact that given the number of business hours in a day and the number of present clients to maintain can reach limits... human limits. They fired him, split up all of his clients among the new people and that was that... after 10 years of service and experience. Meanwhile, the sales director who fired him was immune from such rules and requirements.

Companies that operate like this should be considered "temporary jobs" even for people with 10+ years there. They don't care about you or the time and experience you put into the company. IF they did, those sorts of things would never happen.

Re:I wonder how much of this is MPAA greed?

[Hatta]

For example, when buying media for rental purposes, they have to spend a LOT more for each copy -- they can't just go to Best Buy to buy their rental copies.

Sure they can. This is what RedBox does. Blockbuster just pays extra to get their rental copies before they're available in Best Buy.

Re:I wonder how much of this is MPAA greed?

[Maxo-Texas]

I found the over 50's hosts and hostesses on the "new" airline Southwest Airlines to be funny and friendly.
What exactly is the advancement path for a skyhost?

Like many jobs, it seems to be an end-node service job.

Before fast food, there were plenty of 50 year old cooks and burger flippers at restaurants.

Seriously- it is getting harder and harder to get jobs for 50 year olds- yet our own diversity training taught us Gen Y types are likely to leave in under 2 years. Why the hell are we turning down 50 year olds for jobs when that's true?

I'm not there yet- but it is just up ahead on the road. I see a 64 year old working the 20 and 30 year old developers into the dirt and on top of that he brings 25 years of design experience to the job.

Re:I wonder how much of this is MPAA greed?

[h4rr4r]

Sure you can rent out regular DVDs, redbox did this to get started so did netflix.

Re:I wonder how much of this is MPAA greed?

[Anonymous Coward]

I think the point is that by that age, if it weren't for the union, those jobs would no longer appear so great and they'd have moved on to something someone of that maturity would enjoy more. But they don't move on because there's no incentive (wage wise or job enjoyment wise). Stagnation isn't good.

Re:I wonder how much of this is MPAA greed?

[brentrad]

Meanwhile, the hero of airline pilots Captain "Sully" Sullenberger testified before Congress that he doesn't get paid enough as a pilot to make a living and had to get a side job to pay the rent. I'd say that the union workers are the lucky ones, and I don't begrudge people that want to get honest pay for honest work. The unions are not the problem here. Over-paid executives I have a problem with - over-paid pilots I have no problem with, since my life is in their hands every time I fly and I'd rather they're happy and well-paid rather than poor and worrying about how they're going to pay their bills when they should be concentrating on flying the plane.

I absolutely agree with you though, about growth being the only important metric in business today. There's another name for uncontrolled growth: cancer.

"Hero pilot Capt. "Sully" Sullenberger, who landed the US Airways airbus on the Hudson, has a tough message for Congress: Pilots are getting so shafted by their employers that the good ones are leaving to do something else."

"Sully, for one, is paid 40% less than he was a few years ago and is maintaining a middle-class existence only because he started a consulting company on the side. Folks on the Hudson flight are no doubt glad he didn't decide to start consulting full time."

http://www.businessinsider.com/capt-sullenberger-stop-cutting-pilot-pay-or-next-time-plane-will-crash-in-river-2009-2

Re:I wonder how much of this is MPAA greed?

[stdarg]

For a job like software development you've got a point.

I know it's not PC to talk about looks for some reason, but what's wrong with having expectations like "stewardesses should be young and pretty" and "waitresses should be pretty and flirt a little bit?" It's human nature. People enjoy beauty. If I'm going to be cooped up somewhere for 7 hours, with people I'll never see in my life, I would rather have my coffee served by someone cute than not. And for the record, if they were really funny and friendly that would be fine too, but in reality they're neither, at least on the few flights I've been on in the last few years. They're just doing their job and can't wait to be done.

But even if they were secretly funny and friendly, for the sake of argument, that just shows one of the strengths of beauty. If you hire someone pretty, they're *always* pretty, because that's a passive attribute. If you hire someone funny, eh, they don't actually show off their funniness to most passengers, just the few they interact with for some reason.

Re:I wonder how much of this is MPAA greed?

[Maxo-Texas]

Well apparently that was considered but the airlines lost (unlike hooters).

Airlines are not strip clubs. Air hosts are the equivalent of butlers and maids who are not fired at 29 for not being young and pretty any more.

If you are hooters- it's central to your job to have young bimbo types. Airlines failed to make that case once they went mass market and stopped carrying only the top tier of people. As a mass market transportation, they can't arbitrarily fire the people and they can't arbitrarily hire only females any more. Those were incredibly sexist and are now illegal.

I don't even think you can make the argument that anyone flies on non luxury airlines because the airline has young pretty stewardesses. It's all about price. When you select a $115 ticket over a $107 ticket-it's not the pretty young thing, it's because of free bags, or a slightly better time of day, or your miles program.

At denny's I tip the young hot thing the same 10 to 20% that I type the 40 year old guy. I want good service- I want my glass full. the only place where it might make a difference is the bar. But that's more about the stiff drinks than the girls looks.

Re:I wonder how much of this is MPAA greed?

[Maxo-Texas]

Not everyone grows up to be an astronaut.
Most people get one job they are good at and hold on to it.

ESPECIALLY if they are over 50- because of attitudes like this. People over 50 are unemployed for over a year. You know-- 17 YEARS before retirement age?

You have a good job over 50, you hold on to it as tight as you can- because when you lose it that could be it regardless of your skill set. 17 years is a frikkin lifetime.

Re:I wonder how much of this is MPAA greed?

[bigato]

Remembering that happening, you may bet that all remaining sales people will do whatever it takes for obeying the rules. Depending on the size of the organization, the increase in sales coming from this will justify firing your friend. For the organization to survive, it can not care much for individuals. This is why I can't be boss.

The kiosks will live on?

[Anonymous Coward]

Oddly, NCR has decided to push forward and continue with the Blockbuster Express kiosks

http://investor.ncr.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=83840&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1474128&highlight=

like GM?...

[Anonymous Coward]

or even craftier, where the lower 'investors' get nothing at all, again, & the 'company' resurrects itself unscathed. cruelty to US monkeys by any measure.

as far as we can tell, there has been no (0) public minded political representation here (US) in more than 20 years, which is as long as we've been watching 'it' (the process). so, in order to to maintain taxation without representation..... they must falsify the already phony #s over&over. phewww. that's how we feel. that's US. many/most of us anyway. it's quite doubtful any invisible/imaginary 'enemy' could out do our own fauxking murder & mayhem system, both at home & around the (now under reported) shaking globe.

they treat us as though we came from monkeys, & they ?didn't?, as evidenced by their tendency to encourage us to do/use less, while they continue to suck DOWn/waste/destroy immeasurable amounts of stuff, & feast on nubile virgins (of both sexes) in their palatial conclaves, surrounded by armies of (infinitely corrupted) hired goons. paid for by.... there we (?monkeys?) go again.

the search (for one honest/selfless person) continues;
google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=weather+manipulation

google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=bush+cheney+wolfowitz+oil+rumsfeld+wmd+blair+obama+weather+authors

modifying this search makes it even more interesting/scary. it's likely just a coincidence that the same names turn up together in 1000's of documents re: murder, mayhem & just generalized felonious underhandedness.

meanwhile (as it may take a while longer to finish wrecking this place); the corepirate nazi illuminati is always hunting that patch of red on almost everyones' neck. if they cannot find yours (greed, fear ego etc...) then you can go starve. that's their (slippery/slimy) 'platform' now. see also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisocial_personality_disorder

never a better time to consult with/trust in our ?creators?, who may not be what we were forced to (not) believe in. why would descendants of monkeys need to worship anything (except maybe the 400 lb/megaton 'gorilla')? the lights are coming up rapidly all over now. see you there? cup of primordial ooze we are/anyone?

Pay TV isn't Blockbuster

[Anonymous Coward]

Sure you can drop your TV subscription but you're still going to be paying them for using their network to watch all the streaming video

Someone lost their copy of the memo

[broKenfoLd]

The journalist, MPAA, and RIAA model indicate that when a business model becomes outdated, you solve that not by evolving to compete in a new landscape, but instead litigation and lobbying. Duh!

Blockbuster exclusive dvds.

[compwizrd]

The evil part was Blockbuster versions of DVD's... which had the special features removed.

The REALLY evil part was that they considered subtitles and captions to be special features.. Rented quite a few dvd's to find out that despite what the box said, there was no captions.

At least they generally refunded any rental fees.

They need to change their name

[mandark1967]

to "Bankrupster" now

who can forget accenture.con's previous name

[Anonymous Coward]

can't remember. look it up. more of the same, with additional fraud/larceny features. everything's like it never happened now. NOBODY was charged, or answered for their larcenous behaviors. same guys still stealing at a breakneck speed, while sponsoring sports events, using who's money? more monkey 'business'.

Re:who can forget accenture.con's previous name

[UnknowingFool]

Do you mean Andersen Consulting? Also are you referring to the Enron scandal? That was Arthur Andersen. Both Andersen Consulting and Arthur Andersen started from the same company. Arthur Andersen had a long past as an accounting firm whereas Andersen Consulting started as the consulting branch of Arthur Anderson. In 1989, the parent company split Andersen Consulting into a separate unit with many clients coming from Arthur Andersen accounting in exchange for referral payments. Andersen Consulting was highly profitable in the 1990s but grew resentful of the payments they had to make to Arthur Andersen. Also Arthur Andersen started their own consulting branch (Arthur Andersen Business Consulting) which competed directly with Andersen Consulting. As a result after arbitration, Andersen Consulting gained full independence in exchange for $1.2 billion in past payments and agreed to stop using the "Andersen" name. Andersen Consulting switched to Accenture on January 1, 2001.

Arthur Andersen however kept their consulting branch. This would lead them into the Enron scandal as the Enron used Arthur Andersen for both consulting and accounting. These two conflicted with each other as consulting advised Enron to pursue the shady accounting practices that led to its downfall. In the course of the investigation, it was uncovered that at least one manager from the accounting branch objected to the plan but was overruled and transferred off the account because the fees the consulting branch was making far exceeded the accounting branch billings.

Only Blockbuster US...

[Anonymous Coward]

This doesn't apply for most of Blockbuster globally (UK arm is still wor, as they are separate entities. They aren't quite out of the picture yet...

Rentals..

[Andrewkov]

So does this mean I have to return my outstanding movies or what?

Why?

[yoshi_mon]

Look Blockbuster was evil and all that, I get that. I got hit by their stupid late fees more than once. Hell I actually got attacked by their late fee credit report hound dogs for like 3 dollars and change at one point.

But why is there such a cartoonishly level of evil in the corporate world these days? Could they not have seen that there was a move to digital media and start to shut down some stores, move their capital, do something that would have provided them a real path to future growth?

Re:Why?

[russotto]

But why is there such a cartoonishly level of evil in the corporate world these days? Could they not have seen that there was a move to digital media and start to shut down some stores, move their capital, do something that would have provided them a real path to future growth?

They did, but too little, too late. Think of it as capitalism in action.

Does this mean they will remove their bloatware?

[cartercole]

i got the new droid x and the stupid blockbuster app is firmly installed and without rooting the phone i cant remove it... i hate stupid useless apps... :(

High prices, poor service, what's not to love?

[Anonymous Coward]

That phrase sums up my experiences at both Blockbuster and Hollywood video. With viable competition, how could they NOT go bankrupt? I can still get DVDs at my local grocery if need to watch something and I'm between Netflix movies.

Re:High prices, poor service, what's not to love?

[stewbacca]

Just curious...what kind of "service" are you looking for from the equivalent of a convenience store? You go in, you pick your movie, you check out. If you are like me, you maybe say three or four words to the clerk and then you are on your way.

And pray tell, how hard up are you if you have to rent movies in between Netflix deliveries? I get my next Netflix video the day after I drop the last one off.

Witness a rare defense of Blockbuster

[elrous0]

I know it's hip to romanticize Mom & Pop stores over the big evil corporation, but I would like to offer an alternative viewpoint on this one. Does Blockbuster stock mostly crap (i.e. the latest CGI-fests/the latest Adam Sandler movies/etc.)? You bet. But, you know what, all my Mom & Pop's shelved crap almost *exclusively* before Blockbuster came along in the 90's. Blockbuster was actually a godsend to my neighborhood because they stocked a pretty decent selection of indie and lesser-known movies. They may not have had 100 copies of "Ghost Dog," or "Memento" or "Sling Blade," but at least they had a FEW copies. My local Mom & Pop's didn't have ANY of these movies (before Blockbuster and Netflix, there was no way for me to see these movies without buying them). Blockbuster ran my local rental stores out of business for one very good reason, because they were a lot BETTER (no bullying necessary).

Now, when Netflix came along I went over to them (because they offered an even better selection and didn't censor NC-17's like Blockbuster). But for a long time in the 90's, Blockbuster was the best store out there for film fans in a LOT of neighborhoods and even whole cities. Blockbuster was the only place to go for smaller films, unless you were one of the fortunate few to have a nearby Mom & Pop that catered to indie fans (and those were pretty rare in the cities I lived in, and usually only found near big college campuses and in artier neighborhoods).

So I'll actually miss them. And I also worry that Netflix might now leverage this to jack up their prices and introduce other heavy-handed customer treatment (since they pretty much have a monopoly now on physical rentals).

Re:Witness a rare defense of Blockbuster

[jrumney]

That's some alternate universe you live in there. My local Mom and Pop's had loads of titles, popular and obscure, old and new. What they didn't have was a complete wall full of the latest 5 hit movies to come out on rental DVD. Blockbuster had that, another wall full of the last couple of months hits and a few all time favorites, and a section in the centre of older titles they were selling off.

Re:Witness a rare defense of Blockbuster

[decipher_saint]

Well here's a counter-anecdote I guess...

It sounds like the selection of video stores where you lived sucked. Where I lived we had a half a dozen that stocked all kinds of goodies and could only afford to put all the shitty new releases on one shelf (instead of the 15 at Blockbuster).

When Blockbuster moved into town they put the squeeze on the local guys because you could go there and get a copy of new release without having to be first in line, this put the hurt on stores that banked on new releases giving them a cash injection every week. Soon there were only a couple of stores left one really decent mom n' pop holdout (thank god) and one national chain. But time wore on and then the mom n' pop store closed and you couldn't rent chopsocky kung fu flicks or notoriously bad b-movies without driving into the neighboring city.

By that point Blockbuster was only stocking the bland essentials and had dedicated more than half their store space to new releases / video games. It was about that time that DVDs started rolling in and I had a job so, I bought more than I rented because I wanted to start a collection. I don't think I've been to a video store in about 8-9 years now and the convenience of the net or VoD services for renting movies is just too sweet to avoid.

Re:Witness a rare defense of Blockbuster

[elrous0]

Well, I can only speak for the three cities I lived in during the 90's. But only one of these had a Mom & Pop near me that stocked a good selection of indies, and that was this one hole-in-the-wall store near a local university. Unfortunately, it was an arty shithole kind of store where the customer "service" consisted of a goth poseur working behind the counter who treated you like shit if you walked into the store not wearing a nose-ring. There might have been some other indie stores in other parts of these cities that I missed, but I wasn't going to drive 30 minutes in traffic to search every Mom & Pop in a 50-mile radius for a decent one, just to show up the evil corporation that was right down the street.

It's like Kevin Smith said in the "Clerks" commentary. He wanted his local video store to carry more indies, but when every customer comes into the store wanting to rent "Navy Seals," it's hard to make your case. That pretty much sums up my Mom & Pop experience too.

Re:Witness a rare defense of Blockbuster

[dswensen]

In my town the Blockbuster had the worst selection of anyone. Even the mom & pop store on the bad side of town with the dirty floors and drunks operating the cash register had a more interesting selection. I remember when I got a gift certificate for Blockbuster one year and I literally couldn't find anything to spend it on. They had nothing I wanted. It was that bad. (Not surprisingly, they shuttered years ago.)

Also, I doubt anyone is trying to be "hip" on Slashdot with their thrilling stories of renting movies decades ago. It is possible to present an alternative opinion without trying to discredit others.

Amen Brother!

[fuzznutz]

When Blockbuster screwed me over with late fees one night when I was actually on time, I swore I would never give them another penny. That was before Netflix existed. I never stepped foot into another store. I rented everywhere else.

I have been licking my chops waiting for this day a long time...

Hurray! Down with BB

[FredMastro]

Good! I never liked Blockbuster anyway and their ridiculous late fees and policies. Netflix for the win.

Re:Does this mean they will remove their bloatware

[Anonymous Coward]

Android is open. Phones that use it are largely not.

From Hell's Heart I spit at thee!

[DarthVain]

Blockbuster as a company was always pretty much an idiot douchebag. I hated them with a passion. The really did suck, and I am not sad nor surprised that they are gone.

Feel a bit bad for all the high school kids that now have no jobs however...

Re:From Hell's Heart I spit at thee!

[stewbacca]

They are not "gone". They filed for bankruptcy which is something totally different.

Re:From Hell's Heart I spit at thee!

[DarthVain]

TRUE. But I bet a lot will be "gone" and many people will get laid off.

Give me the small, indie rental place any day

[Valacosa]

Blockbuster's selection sucked. If you only rented the most popular of movies, you'd probably never notice. But they'd have an entire wall of DVD-release-of-the-week, while completely lacking titles which were only a little out of the mainstream.

Have you ever found Mystery Science Theatre 3000 in a Blockbuster? I haven't, and people looked at me funny when I asked. But it's available at this little local rental place with shelves, stuffed floor to ceiling, with movies. They also have a basement full of obscure anime. That's the rental place which is going to stick around. Places like Blockbuster which trade only in common content will have their lunch eaten by NetFlix and download services. But the stores run by actual local movie nerds offering every obscure title under the sun will still have a reason to exist.

Buh-bye Blockbuster. I won't miss you.

not to be missed

[Anonymous Coward]

Good riddance, you and your DNA sample, quadruple screening application process and forced watered down PG13 versions of everything can rot in hell.

Cable not going anywhere w/o viable alternative

[stewbacca]

I don't agree with the last part of the summary saying the cable companies are going the same way as Blockbuster.

The cable companies MIGHT go the same was as Blockbuster if the cable companies had a serious competitor like RedBox or Netflix. As far as I can tell, there is no alternative (especially for niche interests like mine...soccer, racing, BBC). Sure you can get tv content from online sources, but can I watch Texas vs. UCLA this weekend without a cable subscription? How about Oregon vs. Arizona State? What about the Singapore Grand Prix? How about some English Premiere League soccer or the CONCACAF matches?

And even if I could get this content that I want on-demand, cheaply and easily, how do I get it to my TV with surround sound? So far none of the alternatives has solved this issue for me.

self appointed film editors

[cthubik]

Blockbuster censors a lot their videos. Even Criterion Collection films have huge chunks taken right out of them; that to me is just wrong. You can compare pretty much anything by Cronenberg. I stopped renting at Blockbuster when I discovered that a couple decades ago.

Re:self appointed film editors

[cthubik]

Correcting myself, apparently they themselves censor flicks, but they did have a policy where they wouldn't accept unrated or nc-17 films. Cronenberg had to do R rated edits of his movies for Blockbuster otherwise they just wouldn't carry them.

Re:self appointed film editors

[cthubik]

Correcting myself again: apparently they themselves DIDN'T censor.. damn this mind-numbing cold.

Re:Bailout!

[stewbacca]

Don't let facts get in your way. The $700 billion bailout was a Bush policy.

http://articles.cnn.com/2008-09-24/politics/bush.bailout_1_bailout-proposal-rescue-plan-mortgage-related-securities?_s=PM:POLITICS

A little math for you

[Anonymous Coward]

RedBox + Netflix = Blockbuster * 0.

I will miss buying used movies for cheap from them though.

Blockbuster Late Fees

[stewbacca]

After reading this thread, it seems people are unhappy about Blockbuster late fees. However, I have a Blockbuster account, and there are NO late fees. Is this a typical case of slashdot over-reaction, or was there something in the past were Blockbuster was bilking people with late fees, then they dropped late fees as a PR move? I ask seriously because I've only been back in the United States for a couple of years, and they've always had a no late fee policy.

Re:Blockbuster Late Fees

[DinDaddy]

Individual Blockbuster locations were free to not adopt the policy.

Re:Blockbuster Late Fees

[stewbacca]

That's what I figured. Franchises suck.

Sounds like another candidate for a bailout

[SengirV]

First I have to check the political donations of Blockbuster ...

... Nope, no bailout for you.

Who can provide the movies I want to watch?

[readin]

My local blockbuster kept getting smaller. I was having a harder and harder time finding the movies I wanted to rent. After years of waiting for prices to drop, I finally bought a high-def TV and was looking forward to seeing movies on it. I went to BlockBuster and couldn't find anything. I had bought an internet enabled TV, expecting that Netflix et al. would be the wave of the future. As they were online and didn't need physical media, I figured Netflix would have a HUGE selection. But they hardly had anything! Blockbusters internet pickings were pretty slim too! I couldn't find "The Quiet Man" (which I have wanted to see in high def for ages). I couldn't find Abbott and Costello films for the kids to watch. They had very few movies that were less than 10 years old. There are 80+ years of talking movies! Even if I had seen everything made since I was born I would have seen less than half of the best movies. My kids have seen even less. Why does Netflix think we only want to see the recent stuff - it's not like we've already seen everything else.

Anyway, while I would love to watch movies on my new TV, I hardly watch anything because I just can't find anything to watch. Maybe once or twice a year a new movie comes out that's worth seeing, but I can't justify a subscription service based on that.

Blockbuster should have made their whole library available on streaming video.

my library cut new purchases to the bone

[peter303]

Outside of a few hit books and DvDs they cant afford to buy much anymore in this recession. Ironically poor citizen replace their broadband and Netflix with the library, heating up demand for limited resources even more.

Oh well

[cheekyjohnson]

Not only did I receive poor service whenever I went to their stores, but I don't rent videos anymore. I don't even watch movies anymore, actually.

I feel old

[GodfatherofSoul]

I actually visit Blockbuster *more* in the last year. Netflix just isn't appealing at all to me. A friend once made the sage observation that you could own a used DVD for just a couple bucks more than you could rent one. I want to look for and get a movie when I'm in the mood to watch one and I've been slowly building up a library of DVDs by buying used copies rather than renting. Blockbuster sometimes had a great 4 for $20 deal and I probably have about 150 DVDs now. The only thing I think competes with going into Blockbuster for me is the Netflix app my dad has (DirecTV?) that allows you to rent and watch movies right there. But, I'd still rather have the physical media.

oh well...

[Anonymous Coward]

Here in Portugal, Blockbuster was very expensive.. a movie would be the double as your small rent place, the only good thing was that indeed while the small rent place had a couple of copies of the new movie, Blockbuster had like 50.

when they closed recently, they started selling the used movies disc's at very high prices, I remember GI Joe was like 24€.. for a used rent edition ... most stores had the same movie, on a 2 disc edition, new and sealed for 21.99€...

Re:Bailout!

[Rod Beauvex]

Mod parent up please.

Re:Cable not going anywhere w/o viable alternative

[blurryrunner]

Coming soon: Google TV, Apple TV, Boxee...

br/

NCR worked quickly to distance Blockbuster Express

[lathos42]

I received an email yesterday from Blockbuster Express within hours of this getting announced. They were very quick to try to control the fallout since they are fully owned by NCR. Here's the text of the email that they sent me.

Dear BLOCKBUSTER Express® Customer,
I hope that you're enjoying our combination of convenience, value and choice in helping you to make any night YOUR movie night. You may have heard today that the company, Blockbuster, Inc. has announced plans to enter into bankruptcy protection to restructure their finances. We wish them great success in that process. You should know, however, that the BLOCKBUSTER Express business is 100% owned and operated by NCR Corporation, a rock-solid public company that has pioneered breakthrough consumer experiences for more than 125 years. We look forward to serving up those great experiences for another 125 years and more.

Meanwhile, I want to assure you that we are working hard every day to make your movie-rental experience with BLOCKBUSTER Express even better in a number of ways, including:

* Opening new locations nearby that make it more convenient to rent and return movies
* Adding more copies of more movies to rent at your local BLOCKBUSTER Express kiosks
* Preserving value, with most titles available to rent for only $1 per night

In addition, to thank you for being a great customer, we are starting our weekend promotion today, 1 day early. Rent any two movies and get the third one on us, just use code THXBBX. So, go ahead make tonight a movie night, and enjoy!

In the meantime, if you have any questions, comments or suggestions for how we can continue to improve your experience, please let us know by e-mailing service@blockbusterexpress.com.

Sincerely,
Signature
Justin Hotard
Vice President & General Manager
NCR Entertainment

Netflix ad?

[mu51c10rd]

Oddly enough, when I pulled up this article, Google Ads served up a Netflix ad right next to it. Go figure.

A little history...

[js_sebastian]

This post needs some perspective I think. Let me qualify my post by saying:

1) I am a former Blockbuster employee (5 years ago while I was in college).

2) I am a current Netflix subscriber and occasional Redbox user. I can not recall the last time I walked into a Blockbuster. I think their business model is archaic

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

Paying for Convenience

[helix2301]

Blockbuster is just like the mom and pop video stores they did not adapt with the time people will pay for convenience. Netflix does as well as it does because of streaming and door to door delivery of DVD'S. On demand is the same way I watch the movie and never have to return it in 24 it returns it self pretty much. Plus with the rising cost of fuel I will pay the extra dollar for on demand so I don't have to spend the 10 dollars in gas drive to just blockbuster. I can watch movies in all weather and not have to compete with driving in bad weather. These are a lot of the reasons why blockbuster is failing.

Rentals are stupid!

[Anonymous Coward]

These media renters and the producers are insane! For what they charge to rent a disk, they could sell them outright, packed in a cheap paper sleeve. Their business would a-splode if they did this.

Anime too!

[BigSes]

You mentioning Blockbuster carrying smaller indie films and some hard to find stock got me thinking about how they were the only place in town to rent anime. For years and years, until Ghost in the Shell was released (which was a bit more mainstream than the average anime), that was the only game in town if you wanted to rent Akira, Ninja Scroll, Black Magic M-66, Vampire Hunter D, Bubblegum Crisis, etc. That, or you had to go to Suncoast Video and buy them for $30 each (or more). It was nice while it lasted, but Netflix is the new king of the castle.

Missed the point

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't think anyone else said it, so I will (as AC anyway)...

Newsweek credits the company's slow adoption of new media distribution methods as a big reason for the company's decline.

Sound like the RIAA to anyone?

Re:NCR worked quickly to distance Blockbuster Expr

[BigSes]

Interesting and informative. Mod up!

Re:Cable not going anywhere w/o viable alternative

[BrianRoach]

I can comment on the Singapore GP.

The problem is that F1 sells the exclusive US rights to FOX/Speed and we get stuck with shitty coverage. Same for MotoGP/SBK. They of course do this because US broadcasters aren't willing to pay for rights unless they don't have to compete on merit with anyone else.

I get the British Eurosport broadcasts via torrents. Yes, I know, I'm violating copyright ... but I'd happily NOT do so if I had the option to pay for it. I can not legally acquire these broadcasts in the US, period - they even prevent you from buying the streaming based on IP-Geo.

I can't buy the better product at any price. I'm not watching the local broadcast - something that is, for sake of argument, free provided I have basic cable or access to a local sports bar. Instead I am violating copyright. There's something very wrong with that.

The future?

[Anonymous Coward]

I hope after this is all over, we might see a return of the small time mom and pop video stores.

VHS not DVD?

[Anonymous Coward]

How come no one has mentioned their reluctance to move from VHS to DVD, thereby allowing the movie studios to retail directly to the customers at a cheap rate?

Re:Cable not going anywhere w/o viable alternative

[brentrad]

http://collegefootballlivestream.com/

Took me 5 minutes to find this. Googled "oregon vs arizona streaming"

Yes, you need a PC hooked up to your TV. Which I think every geek should do, it's not that hard. My wife and I are canceling our cable TV, landline, and internet package from Comcast, and getting 25/25 FIOS from Frontier (formerly Verizon) hooked up tomorrow. It's going to be all streaming for us - if you do a web search like the one I performed above (i.e. "[show you want to watch] streaming") you can find just about every show these days available somewhere for streaming. We also have a Netflix subscription, and watch streaming shows and movies all the time. We also have an antenna on our roof that looks like it's 30 years old, and I get 26 crystal clear digital channels for free, most of them HD. I just hooked it up directly to my HDTV - and once I get an ATSC tuner for my Media Center, we'll be able to record HD live TV shows for free. See ya overpriced cable TV!

Re:Cable not going anywhere w/o viable alternative

[stewbacca]

There's already an Apple TV. You have to buy content, not subscribe to content. I prefer subscription to ownership, as most things I'll watch are live sporting/music events that I don't need to own. You can rent content on the Apple store, but I haven't seen any sporting events on there.

Re:Cable not going anywhere w/o viable alternative

[stewbacca]

I find the Speed coverage to be pretty good. It's no worse than the Eurosport coverage. I thought all the TV coverage for F1 races were bound by the host nation cameras anyways?

Re:Bailout!

[Anonymous Coward]

Is Bush coming back to bail out Blockbuster? Quick ... new rumor.

Re:Cable not going anywhere w/o viable alternative

[BrianRoach]

To be fair, the F1 coverage isn't terrible with the exception of the 4 races that are shown on Fox with no pre-race. And the formula 1 debrief show is well done.

MotoGP/SBK is another story - no practice, no qualifying, no post-race, and they don't even broadcast SBK in HD. On top of that the commentary is just poor, with the announcers having little knowledge of the sport (often struggling to wven pronounce the rider's names never mind knowing anything about their racing history). The eurosport coverage is leaps and bounds beyond this, and includes all the thing listed above that speed can't be bothered to show.

many more lose their jobs then ...

[jimnorcal]

Another sad story of countless of employees losing their jobs when their home blockbuster store shuts down. That's only going to mean more trouble for everyone. The loss of the movie business is bad in itself but now we're putting thousands and thousands of more people onto the streets looking for work. Not good. Not good at all.