Blockbuster Files Bankruptcy

Don't worry, guys, Blockbuster will shut down. And so will all the other big-chain movie rental stores. However, movie renting will be alive and well.
Think of record stores ... and I do mean real vinyl records, LPs if you will. They didn't die out. They were just reduced in numbers and became more of a destination for afficionados ... with all kinds of band gear and that sort of stuff. Much like horses did not become obsolete after the car was invented. They became a recreational activity. And although there aren't as many horses or horse stables now as there were in the past, now it's become a destination to go to a farm with horses and horse-riding classes so the industry just changed the perspective on its products.
 
Just remembered that a friend of mine bought me a Blockbuster gift card a few years ago for my birthday, that I had planned to blow on candy but squirreled away in my desk drawer. Is it too late to redeem it? :D
 
Nope; they're in chapter 11, which is restructuring, not chapter 7, which is liquidation, and which is what Circuit City went through. You still have some time.
 
My Local video shop is Blockbusters too, but haven't been there in yonks. I remember the days when I even rented SNES games from there.
 
Nope; they're in chapter 11, which is restructuring, not chapter 7, which is liquidation, and which is what Circuit City went through. You still have some time.

Seeing as the one in my town closed down and is now a family medical practice, it may not be worth the bother of $10 worth of Twizzlers.
 
Seeing as the one in my town closed down and is now a family medical practice, it may not be worth the bother of $10 worth of Twizzlers.

Go into the medical practice and demand twizzlers.
 
Chapter 11 give them the right to not redeem your gift card however.
 
They won't die completely. There are still a lot of rural areas in the States, where people can't "buy Internets". Their only option is DVD...and sometimes VHS, believe it or not.

However there is a social problem as well, especially with younger generations. A lot of people would rather go to Walmart and buy a DVD with the movie for $10-20, instead of renting it. Most of the time, their reasoning is flawed. When you buy a movie - how many times do you think you are going to watch it? Four times? Maybe five times? It would still be cheaper to rent it. But for some reason, people spend the extra money for that shiny plastic case that will soon sit forgotten at their desk.
 
They won't die completely. There are still a lot of rural areas in the States, where people can't "buy Internets". Their only option is DVD...and sometimes VHS, believe it or not.

However there is a social problem as well, especially with younger generations. A lot of people would rather go to Walmart and buy a DVD with the movie for $10-20, instead of renting it. Most of the time, their reasoning is flawed. When you buy a movie - how many times do you think you are going to watch it? Four times? Maybe five times? It would still be cheaper to rent it. But for some reason, people spend the extra money for that shiny plastic case that will soon sit forgotten at their desk.
And those areas have gas stations with movies in the corner.

The rural area I'm originally from is getting positively eclectic in their gas station film selection, actually. There's a bigger foreign film section there than in, well, Blockbuster.
 
And those areas have gas stations with movies in the corner.

The rural area I'm originally from is getting positively eclectic in their gas station film selection, actually. There's a bigger foreign film section there than in, well, Blockbuster.

Those rural areas have Walmarts with RedBox DVD rental kiosks in them, too. And since they're already going to Walmart anyway....

On the other hand, keep an eye out for Blockbuster locations closing (even if they don't go Chapter 7) - you might be able to score some little-used xBox360s, Wiis, or PS3's for cheap at the location liquidation sale.
 
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Those rural areas have Walmarts with RedBox DVD rental kiosks in them, too. And since they're already going to Walmart anyway....

On the other hand, keep an eye out for Blockbuster locations closing (even if they don't go Chapter 7) - you might be able to score some little-used xBox360s, Wiis, or PS3's for cheap at the location liquidation sale.

I'm from an area so rural it doesn't even have Wal Mart.
 
Those rural areas have Walmarts with RedBox DVD rental kiosks in them, too. And since they're already going to Walmart anyway....

On the other hand, keep an eye out for Blockbuster locations closing (even if they don't go Chapter 7) - you might be able to score some little-used xBox360s, Wiis, or PS3's for cheap at the location liquidation sale.

They weren't selling systems at the one near me- I tried to get a 360, but no luck.
 
So long as there's vudu and pirate bay.... I mean LEGITIMATE MOVIE AND GAME ACQUISITION ZONE

there's no room for a blockbuster.


Unless blockbuster goes solely into the porno business. It'll prolly bounce back.
 
So long as there's vudu and pirate bay.... I mean LEGITIMATE MOVIE AND GAME ACQUISITION ZONE

there's no room for a blockbuster.


Unless blockbuster goes solely into the porno business. It'll prolly bounce back.
People... pay for porn?
 
They have porn that isn't in VHS!
 
It's my fault. I stopped going to them a while back. It was the late fees they were getting from me that was keeping them afloat. I just can't return things on time.
 
I honestly thought this happened ages ago...wait no, that was the other big video chain. Which got Capter 7ed...
 
See the trend now ... slowly change the business model. Don?t wait until it?s too late. The market is changing ... adpat! A lot of people wait to long to change their business model and then get thrown under the Bus ...
... you have got to be kidding me ... There are still 4 walk-in rentals in my town (plus some machines) ... and none of them offer any VHS, I don?t think I?ve seen a VHS in one of those for 4 or 5 years now. Or is the Area we?re talking about here very rural? That would indeed mean you have some time left.

There's a really awesome video store in Portland, OR that has old rare movies (and new ones too) that you are very unlikely to or won't find at a normal video store or even websites like netflix. They also have a huge collection of movie memorabilia and actual movie props. I think it will definitely stick around because of both the huge collection of videos as well as the awesome atmosphere. Sure places like blockbuster that rely mostly on new releases won't last much longer, but I think stores like this one will be around for a long time.

Don't worry, guys, Blockbuster will shut down. And so will all the other big-chain movie rental stores. However, movie renting will be alive and well.
Think of record stores ... and I do mean real vinyl records, LPs if you will. They didn't die out. They were just reduced in numbers and became more of a destination for afficionados ... with all kinds of band gear and that sort of stuff. Much like horses did not become obsolete after the car was invented. They became a recreational activity. And although there aren't as many horses or horse stables now as there were in the past, now it's become a destination to go to a farm with horses and horse-riding classes so the industry just changed the perspective on its products.


There is a small rental place about 15 miles from me that still does a booming business. The were the first place in the area that had flexible return times, and multi-day rentals. They also carry a lot of old formats including Beta, VHS, Laser-Disc, HD-DVD and the current formats. They also rent games from old systems. I went there quite a bit before I had a DVD player because they were the best way to buy and rent LD. There will always be room for a specialty store like that.

But that is not what blockbuster was doing. The added 3 stores near me in the last 5 years or so. They tried to beat Netflix/Gamefly(same co.) and maintain their expansion of retail outlets. It would of been different if they would of slowed down the expansion, or maybe contracted just a bit. And then you throw in itunes, hulu etc., and they went the expensive route and had higher prices because of that. And unless it was a 3 year old movie, the staff had no clue. It all adds up to them shooting themselves in the foot and then not going to the hospital.
 
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