Goodbye Blockbuster Video

[mdd7000]

Redbox is in Foodland

[hawaiideborah]

quote:

---

Originally posted by mdd7000

Redbox is in Foodland

---

thanks mdd7000.

hawaiideborah

[garymatt]

From my point of view Blockbuster is working hard to drive customers away.
Up until last March, you could rent a "premium" movie for 2 days or a NON premium movie for a week. There was a 1 week grace period for either type where you were not penalized unless the movie was turned in after the grace period. Simply put the 2 day "premium" rental could be kept out for 1 week + 2 days.
Also note the "premium" movies used to get reclassified as non premium 3 or 4 weeks after they arrived, even they they stayed up against the new release walls for sometimes several months.
IF you paid $10 a year for a REWARDS card, you could get a non premium movie for free Monday - Wednesday when renting a premium or non premium movie.
So a movie that had come out on DVD just a few weeks ago could be my Free movie when using the REWARDS card.
Last March they changed the rules and for all intents drove me away.
The rule changes:
All movies can stay out for 5 days. No grace period.
All movies up against the New Release wall got REclassfied as PREMIUM.
Only older movies on the floor racks qualified as the FREE movie under the REWARDS card.

I used to get movies once or twice a week. Since last March, I have only been there 2 times.

Matt

[Orchidlandguy]

Redbox is great. Has movies before Netflix does. AND they are only $1.00

[TrevorKane]

I always thought BlockBuster was kind of in-your-face with their pricing and policies. If my recollection of rumor is correct it was owned and grown by Mr. Wayne Huizenga, of the South Florida Waste Management mafia clan. They recognized that video stores were viewed as "seedy" because of their adult sections, so they reversed that image by setting a cap on how raunchy the movies they stock could get (I think they've relaxed this in recent years, but not to outright porn levels), and making the stores bright, respectable and family friendly. Top end of market pricing was always a part of the equation, I'm surprised it lasted this long.

We subscribed to Netflix with the promotional flyer that came with our first DVD player, and have carried it continuously ever since. Occasionally we end up with a free Blockbuster gift card, and I'm always shocked at the movie theater pricing of the snacks, sometimes in the same shopping plaza with a grocery store.

I'd like to see someone put up serious competition for Netflix on their own turf, don't think that's going to happen any time soon.

[KeaauRich]

quote:

---

Originally posted by TrevorKane


I'd like to see someone put up serious competition for Netflix on their own turf, don't think that's going to happen any time soon.

---

If you're waiting for someone else to deliver DVDs through the mail,I think you're correct. But even Netflix sees the handwriting on the wall and is rushing towards delivery of content via the net. Once they can iron out the royalty and copyright issues, I expect we'll see them go full tilt in that direction (not good news for Puna dial-uppers, but I digress...). Meanwhile, Amazon and iTunes (and maybe even Verizon, from what I read) are ramping up their internet-based video-on-demand offerings as quickly as the can. It remains to be seen if competition will decrease prices or if the major players will settle in on similar pricing models, but I think it's safe to say that the red envelopes' days are numbered.

[Daniel]

iTunes is even better, more money but much better interface than netflix and you don't have to go anywhere or return anything.

Daniel R Diamond