Slashdot Mirror
How Blockbuster Could Have Owned Netflix
schnell writes "Your age probably determines whether you think of Blockbuster Video as a fond memory or a dinosaur predestined for extinction. While the last Blockbuster rental at the last remaining Blockbuster video store took place last week, Variety retells a now-classic story of how Blockbuster could have bought Netflix for a song, but didn't because it failed to take the new DVD-by-mail and video streaming markets seriously. Who is next to join Blockbuster, Polaroid, Borders and Best Buy on the ash heap of superseded retail business models?"
It's not dead yet.
http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2013/11/11/best-buy-sp-500s-best-performer-getting-still-more-praise/
They are not out of the woods, but things like price matching amazon have helped a lot. I've personally not bought from Best Buy in a long time, but recently after buying something on Amazon I checked how much it would of cost at Best Buy and realized for a little more I could of had it that day for about the same price.
Polaroid? Borders? That's old news.
They could have killed/bought redbox and netflix easily. But the Executives at Blockbuster are still too stupid to realize that they had to change models. I guarantee they still deny they did anything wrong.
If you are only looking at next quarter, then as an executive you are a complete and utter moron.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
...for me when they claimed they could not stop the computer from charging a fine to my credit card when I returned a movie 2 hours late. I cut my BB card in half in front of the cashier. Circa 2002.
As a slashdotter this may shock you: The malls are busy and very profitable. Department store space isn't going to be cheap anytime soon. Even in failing malls retailers like Target are happy to buy the big anchor store spaces.
People still buy their clothes at local stores, and the main reasons are probably:
1. Your computer still can't accurately represent colors, which are key to dressing.
2. Manufacturers still can't cut clothes correctly, so you have to try on things in your size in brands you know.
3. Manufacturers still don't know what an inch is, so no one actually follows a sizing standard.
4. The sort of people who pay 3 times what their clothes are worth like to make a day out of shopping.