Pajiba

(shooting star followed by rainbow)

I’ve been a subscriber to Netflix for over 5 years now, and I remember commenting on the uselessness of the new Blockbuster going up a couple of blocks from me. This new location was in addition to the 3 other stores, all located within 10 minutes of each other. Now they are all closed. It's just another example of the industry inability to change with the times.

Blockbuster needs to apply some Darwin to their business strategy.

My parents love Blockbuster. They go there at least once a week and rent maybe three movies at a time. However, they almost always only end up watching one or two and then not watching the other.

They used Netflix and thought it was an unnecessary expense when things got tight wallet wise. And I've shown them the joys of On Demand movies (you watch one movie at a time, no waste), but still, they'll go to Blockbuster all the time.

I think they just like going and looking. My parents are perpetual browsers, despite the fact that my dad hates shopping, they'll both go window-shopping for pretty much anything. My parents after almost 25 years together just like hanging out together so they'll go to places like Blockbuster and spend time just looking and enjoying each other's company. I think it's less about the fact that they don't want to adopt new technologies and more about enjoying the little things.

Eh, but whatever, if Blockbuster goes they'll just go loiter at Starbucks.

I still go to Blockbuster on occasion -- when the movie I want to watch right now isn't on Netflix Instant and I don't want to wait 4 days (this is usually on Friday night), and I don't want to buy it. But, yeah, there doesn't need to be 5 stores in a 10 mile radius in order for me to do that. Because if it isn't at the one nearest me, and I'm not already driving around, I'm not going to the next one. I'll just do without.

And the Blockbuster mail service is a pale imitation of Netflix. The only viable reason to have that is for the in-store freebies you can get. If there aren't any stores to get those freebies, why bother? They don't even have an Instant option.

(Former Blockbuster store assistant manager.)

Kayanne, are you my secret sister? Seriously, that description of your parents' renting habits and desire to browse/hang out, perfectly describes mine, too. Creeeeeeeeeepy.

I know a hot club_______Mixed friends.c o m_______ which is a hot community for whites and blacks to find their interracial love. there has been thousands of single members online and many black and white single girls or guys waitting for you maybe you will like it.

Who really watches a full film on an iPod? The people who star on half the TLC shows?

I stopped going to Blockbuster years ago for movies. I will still go occasionally to rent a video game that I know I don't want to buy as I could never justify the Netflix-style for games subscriptions like GameFly.

I tried using the streaming Playstation mode, and it was a pain in the ass, plus I couldn't get it to work. Oh well. But I've had my TV hooked up to my video card for years. Still, why they gotta hold the HD stream of "The Right Stuff" hostage like that? I think they made the regular stream worse, just to attack me. Bastards.

That's what Hollywood Video did, so be on the lookout for cheap discs.

I rocked the free game coupon at Blockbuster, branded. I'll miss that part.
And they charge a membership fee in Canada, Admin? I think you hosers are getting hosed.

I was all for the Blockbuster online service until they changed the rules. You used to be able to get a 1-DVD at a time plan, watch the DVD, drop it off at Blockbuster for a free trade-in, then get your next DVD in the mail. Now you have to return the store's DVD before you receive the next mail-in DVD. Sure, assholes like me were abusing it, never paying for in store rentals and burning through an inordinate amount of DVDs in a month, but that doesn't mean you punish everyone else, too. Just impose the monthly limits that kick in without notice when you burn through too many Netflix DVDs and make people like me wait.

I never fulfilled my dream of watching all the crappy straight to DVD horror films at Blockbuster because of it. Dream killers.

No Blockbuster? But where or where will I go to openly mock stranger's renting decisions? Or how can a gentlemanfriend and I feel smug about ourselves and our superior social skills if we can't watch couples dissolve into bitch fights over which movie to rent? I hate the privatization of everything. It's ruining my people watching fun.

This is unsurprising but...I'm still waiting for the Netflix bubble to burst. Yeah, I get it, it's like an insurance company, the vast majority of subscribers are subsidizing the heavy users but still...I just don't feel like my $10 a month for an avalanche of streaming titles is going to cut it, what with more and more people getting on the tech savvy boat each day. And the Wii thing? Fuck that, that made it that much easier for my parents, former subsidizers, to be able to join the ranks of abusers. I'm worried, yawl.

Love Netflix, love the instant watch ability, etc. However, I do occasionally visit the local Blockbuster because I love the ability to browse around and find movies I haven't thought about in years or something I would never think to search of on Netflix. I normally avoid the new release wall and just wander around the old releases, usually the horror movie section. And I love the used movies they have for purchase. 5 for $20? Yes please.

I understand its inevitable and I do love me some Netflix, but I'll kind of miss the ability to visit an actual physical standing video store.

I see no reason to still go to Blockbuster, except for, you know, I kind of work there.

But not for long! Mwahaha.

Still not sold on Netflix.
e.g. the next 3 films on my "to-watch" list are:
The Purchase Price - Barbara Stanwyck, George Brent
Doctor X - Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray
Pack Up Your Troubles - Laurel & Hardy

As far as I can tell, Netflix only has 1 of those 3. Sticking to my collection until Netflix (or somebody) does a better job of carrying what I want to watch.

The complete and utter disdain and utter lack of sympathy for those Blockbuster employees who have now lost their jobs is repulsive and sickening, especially with the economy in the shitter, but that's par for the course from the vile scum that post here.

As for Netflix being so great, what about those of us who don't have a mailing address? Huh? What the fuck are we supposed to do? And don;t even get me started on the endless sereis of DVD's from netflix that refuse to play because some shitbag, probably from Pajiba has let their pwecius ittle cat shit and scratch the fuck out of the thing for 6 months before returning it.

I used to hate going to Blockbuster. I always felt that people there were judging me (for what, I have no idea). Besides that, I hated having to take the movie back the next day. Sometimes I just didn't feel like it. So, mostly I borrowed from our library and then . . . along came Netflix!! Greatest invention EVER!!

Oh, but I do feel for those Blockbuster employees who will lose their jobs but, most of them were only parttime college students anyway and they will fine something better to do with their time, I'm sure.

I went to Blockbuster to rent 2012. Not sure why I rented that movie or why I went to Blockbuster...but there is still one near us. We use to have 2 near us but (the closer) one closed.

Red Box however! And Blockbuster has a "Red Box" as well...so perhaps that's what Blockbuster will be in the future. Just a box to rent a $1 DVD.

The Lackluster video in my town is now an auto parts store.. I never even noticed it was closing, till it was all the way closed.
We have like 86 Redboxes though.

You know what would make me buy an iPad? Cheap comics available for Digital download for anything from X-Men to The Boys. Actually, if the indies want to get a niche in, most likely that would do it for me.

But while Netflix is awesome in all other respects, can't say that small screens really do it for me. Glad to see that AMC finally went HD however, so I no longer need to be chastised for ignoring Mad Men and Breaking Bad. I saw the first seasons before I got my 60 inch but stopped watching anything not HD because it gives me headaches. I only never mentioned it before because it seems small of me to get all uppity about what I do that you're not doing.

Yep, still seems small.

When will everybody realize this, I have consistently believed this to be the solution for the future. Great blog, keep up the decent work and I look to reading more about this subject, I think you have one of the leading blogs covering this area.

I prefer to look on the brighter side of things which I'm sure you can appreciate.

I can't think any reason why I would want anything in between.

There's nothing much to see on television nowadays. I admire the minds behind Star Wars, Star Trek, District 9, and a few others. Wish the existing generation are more inventive than making vampire stories or making reality shows with cussing morons.

Hullo.

I think it may be a problematical period to purchase a house.

The banking companies wouldnt lend money.

I hope it soon will change to the better as soon as the recession is finally finished.

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