Recently a Blockbuster store near my house closed down and another one up the road is about to. I guess with people being able to hire DVDs online and even download movies from their computers this was inevitable. I'm going to miss the ritual of walking around video shops in search of that hidden gem and just generally looking. Sure I can browse on my computer but it's not the same. For a film buff like me walking around a video shop is akin to walking around an art gallery. In fact, given a choice I'd choose a video store over an art gallery.

ah, i really hope that's not true, going to the video stores one of the best parts! i never would leave without a movie from there so when i found nothing i liked i went with something random and sometimes im introduced to a new favourite! it just really isn't the same over the net, hopefully they'll keep it classic and keep the video stores runnin'! and the gumball machines, i always have a quarter in hand when im going to Blockbuster!

I dunno what I'd do without a video store to go to.

Video stores aren't going to close anytime soon. Despite what the studios and Hollywood elite believe, the average person doesn't have the Internet connection to download movies in five minutes nor the time to sit around for days waiting for their movie download to finish on a regular connection. Also, I've heard nothing but good things about Blockbuster's online service. Some people say it's better than Netflix.

I think it's safe to say video stores are going to be sticking around for a while.

I don't know, Jimmy. There’re a few closing down around me. But I hope you're right. As for Blockbuster online, is that the same as going to a store?

Down here in Australia our online DVD stores are Netflix & Bigpondmovies, but the draw back with them is that you have to wait for them to send the movies rather than watching them when you want to. On the positive side there're no late fees as you return them when you're ready. I'm a member of Blockbuster and Bigpond. I tend to use Blockbuster when I want something straight away. But when my local Blockbuster shuts down, I'll have to rely on Bigpond. I've given up on the local Video Ezy because they don't have much of a range and their DVDs are frequently scratched.  

Another thing I'll miss about my Blockbuster is the bargain prices you can pick up
ex-rentals for. I’ve bought some beauties in the past for less than ten bucks; all in excellent condition.

However, my favourite video store of all time was a place called The Picture Showman. It was set up in a building that used to be a cinema. In, what was, the old foyer they had all the overnight and new to weekly releases. This area alone was as big as a standard video store, but then you walked into the old theatre area and it was this massive room full of weekly videos. I’m talking thousands of them.  The weekly section even had shelves dedicated to every actor of any note. For example, you’d have the Al Pacino shelf and it would have practically everything he ever did. I could spend hours in that place just looking. Sadly it’s no longer open. I think it was turned into a restaurant or something.  :-/    

The only video store in my neighborhood is Blockbuster; it's been this way for a couple of years.  

As part of my Blockbuster online plan, I can return the copies I get online at the store for free rentals.  I hate going to the store.  There's kids running around, screaming; rap music playing through out the store; and I rarely find movies I want to see.  Last night, my wife went to return to online films.  She came back with one freebie as she couldn't find a second one.

Online is the way to go.



Phil

I always loved going to Blockbuster back when I was a kid.  Today, it's still entertaining, I only go to purchase not rent though.  Recently the Hollywood videos near my street and past the Galleria closed down.  I'm thinking Hollywood video will go out of business long before Blockbuster does, but online and torrent are starting to take over.

Quoted from dogglebe Online is the way to go.

I won't argue with that. It's the truth.

Still, I think video stores, or at least Blockbuster, still have a while to go before they disappear. Despite the convenience of Netflix and no late fees, some people are still too impatient to wait for DVDs to come in the mail. So they'll go to the store and with Blockbuster's online program, they can have both.

Hollywood Video and the other chains, on the other hand, have a little more to worry about. Hollywood Video's been number two for some time now and they don't have an online program. They'll be the first to go, if any of them are going at all.

Quoted from James McClung I won't argue with that. It's the truth. Still, I think video stores, or at least Blockbuster, still have a while to go before they disappear. Despite the convenience of Netflix and no late fees, some people are still too impatient to wait for DVDs to come in the mail. So they'll go to the store and with Blockbuster's online program, they can have both. Hollywood Video and the other chains, on the other hand, have a little more to worry about. Hollywood Video's been number two for some time now and they don't have an online program. They'll be the first to go, if any of them are going at all.

I agree 100%.  Hollywood videos tried to keep up, and it's lasted for some time now, ever since I believe I was 15, but as you said, should one go down, small time chains and Hollywood video are going down.  I'm already seeing that in Roseville and in San Jose.

As someone who worked 6 years in the IT/Development department for a major video chain store, I can say that video stores still have a few years left in them yet.

BUT, what you will start to see is video chains turning from solely "video renting" into "a one-stop entertainment shop." Giving the customer a number of reasons to go to the video store (I'm talking about hardware, communications, special event purchasing, gaming). Almost to the point where the DVD's would be there as a convienence to the customers instead of the reason they are there in the first place.

On Demand video watching is the biggest threat to renting, but until everyone owns a digital box, there is nothing to worry about.

I would agree that Hollywood will be the first to go, due to the fact that they don't have an online program.

I have an accoutn with them since there's one pretty close to my house, and I use it for odds and ends here and there while I wait for some of the harder to find title to come through Netflix.  I've also been using Netflix's instant access, which gives me 17 hours a month right on my comp.

A few things that Hollywood/Movie Gallery has going for it.

The Game Crazy stores located inside some Hollywood Video franchises.

Some Movie Gallery stores rent adult videos (probably from the Video Update days)

Some Movie Gallery stores have tanning facilities, predominantly down south.

The also offer something called MovieBeam, which is a set top box that can deliver pay per view movies to people without cable, but at 4 bucks a pop, who really wants to get into that.

I'm waiting for the day when you can get a box like that from a store (or an online vendor) and pay a flat monthly fee for thousands of pre-loaded movies, not unlike some online programs.