http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/ Engadget HD Comments for Blockbuster voices "substantial doubt" about ability to survive http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/Apr 7th 2009 11:50AMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/Apr 7th 2009 5:13PMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/
Watched them crush all the mom and pop video stores in may area til none were left.
Left working at one BB video store only to have the independent place I moved to get bought out by them; so I ended up being stuck working for those sorry bastards again until I could afford to leave.

And considering at one time 33% of their revenues were late fees it's not surprising people turn to online streaming and Netflix entertainment solutions.

I know all the underhanded deals and nasty business practices they used to do firsthand; not only to customers, but to vendors too, let me say they completely deserve their fate.

Die Blockbuster... Die. I'll be munching on some nice hot butter popcorn while you gasp out your last.]]>Apr 8th 2009 1:52AMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/
Instead of going into the independent store and talking with an associate that was passionate about movies and could recommend unique films, the Blockbuster stores came to town staffed with mostly kids that if the movie didn't gross over 70 million then most of the employees had never heard of it. That is not to say all Blockbusters were like that but the local independent movie store was a unique business to America.

Thankfully Netflix has brought a better selection and the ability for consumers to have better tools to research and choose movies base upon their unique tastes.

So long Blockbuster, you had a pretty good run. ]]>Apr 7th 2009 11:54AMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/Apr 7th 2009 11:54AMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/Competition is good and this would remove any serious contender to Netflix. I love Netflix but I don't want it to turn into a "Microsoft".]]>Apr 7th 2009 12:04PMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/
But there are plenty of other players in the market. One of the biggest is VOD. The Cable Company makes it easy for consumers to make a very easy POS purchase using their Box. For sure, Netflix is in the lead, but there are plenty of other ways to easily get movies to your television screen.]]>Apr 7th 2009 12:23PMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/Apr 7th 2009 3:49PMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/
There are some (but frequently less and less) other physical stores to go to but lets face it, most people who want to rent a movie or game go to Blockbuster. Plus, sometimes you don't wanna wait for a movie in the mail and PPV, as well as download options, is at least a $1 more expensive and have restrictions like a 24hour window.

I am saying this because it would be hard to believe that they could just go away...sad really...but I don't feel to sorry for the company, they have had their chances. ]]>Apr 7th 2009 12:54PMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/Apr 7th 2009 12:59PMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/Apr 7th 2009 1:22PMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/Apr 7th 2009 1:47PMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/]]>Apr 8th 2009 9:33AMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/
As for complaining about late fees, the big 2 switched from $1 a day 'late fee' to a re-rental policy/'late fee' (charged $4 to renew 5-7 rental period) about 10 years ago b/c people complained about the $1/day charges. Yet we've reverted back to the $1/day formula and no one thinks it's a big deal b/c 'there are no late fees, you just keep the title as long as you want'.

Not that I'm for Blockbuster or Hollywood, they did kill the independent after all... ]]>Apr 11th 2009 2:02AMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/Apr 7th 2009 1:35PMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/Apr 7th 2009 1:41PMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/Apr 7th 2009 1:47PMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/Apr 8th 2009 9:32AMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/
maybe they will get picked up by nextflix.

And to Think just a year ago they were talking about buying Circuit City.....LMAO!!!]]>Apr 7th 2009 4:25PMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/
Just last month, I was actually in my old store that BB bought out; the once shining new place has turned into a massive dump, full of useless crap and endless copies of the same horrible pop-culture tripe.]]>Apr 8th 2009 2:00AMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2009/04/07/blockbuster-voices-substantial-doubt-about-ability-to-survive/
Also, I'd still say BB is better than any other online rentals. With BB, the stores plus the online access equals less time waiting to watch movies in blu ray. I can go ahead and watch the new releases on tue instead of waiting for very long queues. As for their mail-in movies, I never had any problems with the discs, except for a couple of wrong discs.

I'd say BB's problems are internal, just like how our economy went wrong. ]]>Apr 8th 2009 2:16AM