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Author Topic: Old video stores vs. new video stores
cindymancini
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Alright, I don't know about you guys but I really don't enjoy going to video stores like Blockbuster anymore. They totally suck if you ask me [Frown] . It seems like the shelves are stocked with tons of movies that no one has heard of, or didn't even make to the theaters. Beyond that, their selection of 80's movies is less than desirable. I mean, they have some of the standards like Vacation and Ferris Bueller but otherwise, it's slim pickins' [Roll Eyes] .
So, in an attempt to get that good ol' feeling, I've been patronizing older, smaller video stores. I love it! It's nostalgic, cheaper and they usually have videos you would NEVER find in Blockbuster. Does anyone agree?

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eightiesdude
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You are so right blockbusters selection plus i dont know if you know this but the edit there films for content and nudity. Apart from what the rating are. Reason? They are a family oriented store. There used to be in my area more mom and pop video stores but the coporates have slowly done away with them along with there alternative selection.

In my area there is a small chain or maybe not such a small chain called Hollywood video. They have a way better selection on 80s and 70s films.

Blockbuster is a waste of time. Except once I found the movie "THe last american virgin" but I figure either someone had a soft spot for it or they forgot it is there. Either way a fluke. No other blockbuster in my area for miles and miles had that movie. A big fluke.

The other choice is just go and buy what you want from ebay or half.com i have had a lot of luck there. You are doing the right thing look for other places to find these films.

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eightiesdude
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You are so right blockbusters selection plus i dont know if you know this but the edit there films for content and nudity. Apart from what the rating are. Reason? They are a family oriented store. There used to be in my area more mom and pop video stores but the coporates have slowly done away with them along with there alternative selection.

In my area there is a small chain or maybe not such a small chain called Hollywood video. They have a way better selection on 80s and 70s films.

Blockbuster is a waste of time. Except once I found the movie "THe last american virgin" but I figure either someone had a soft spot for it or they forgot it is there. Either way a fluke. No other blockbuster in my area for miles and miles had that movie. A big fluke.

The other choice is just go and buy what you want from ebay or half.com i have had a lot of luck there. You are doing the right thing look for other places to find these films.

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The Wizard
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My DVD & VHS collection has grown so big I had to make a list of what I got so I can remember not to buy the same thing twice, my brother has a copy of the list and call the link "Better than Blockbuster" [Big Grin]
I tend to treat car boot sales like I would Blockbuster (if it were any good), in the context of paying cheaper than rental prices for VHS's and getting to keep them, I usually look out for 80s films not available on DVD because how else am I going to see them, tv is useless for a decent range of films.
The downside to buying so many VHS's is where to store them, I have a cupboard with two shelves full of videos, each shelf can hold 300... making searching for a particular film a bodybuilding excersize as I might have to move a couple of hundred vids to get the one I want [Big Grin]
But I do have one wall with shelves on for my DVD collection and selected VHS's - most of the classic 80s films like D.A.R.Y.L., Short Circuit, Howard The Duck, BMX Bandits, Dune, My Science Project, Explorers, The Go-Kids (aka Frog Dreaming), Frog Dreaming (aka The Go-Kids [Wink] I own both the UK & Aus versions now), The Wizard, Weird Science etc. etc., my only problem at the moment is I need a new VCR

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Eddie Wilson
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I get frustrated with Blockbuster too. Not only did they turn down my job application last summer, they also never have the VHS' that I want. Why oh Why?
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Mid_KnightFD
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I agree totally. Theres a place called Captain video here, its a little out of the way but you can find all sorts of movies that you would never find in blockbuster.
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StevenHW
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Everyone:

For anyone who cannot stand Blockbuster Video (and I guess, that would be all of you! [Smile] ), you might be interested in reading the opinions on this bulletin board weblink:

http://www.thecomplaintstation.com/b/blockbustervid_toc.htm

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StevenHW
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Well, I hate to say it, but I have to make a confession: Last week, I started up a Blockbuster Video account! [Eek!]

I can't say that I really like Blockbuster either, but I did it because my particular neighborhood has no nearby independent "Mom & Pop" store to counter them.

It's nothing but Blockbuster within every two-mile radius of each other, or Hollywood Video (a competitor, but still a franchise chain operation), or Tower Video (more on that later).

There's also an Albertson's supermarket grocery store that also rents out videos, but their selection is limited, and do not have many older titles. They also seem to have a lot of DVD's from made-for-TV movies.

Back in the 80's, I remember renting out lots of movies on VHS, and mostly through the family-owned local stores. But now, they are being gradually squeezed out of business by Blockbuster.

Blockbuster is OK if you want a currently popular or new movie to rent.

But if I want to rent an 80's (or earlier) movie, there is Tower Video, which is part of the Tower Records chain. They have a nice selection of stuff from the 80's, as well as the more obscure "midnight movie" cult classics, independent art-house flicks, documentaries, etc. I go there on occasion.

Unfortunately, Tower Video is about six miles away from my house, and to make matters worse, the Tower company recently filed for bankruptcy, so I really don't know how long they're going to last. [Frown]

Therefore, I have little choice but to start up an account with Shlockbuster, oops, I mean Blockbuster. Well, I guess it's a matter of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!" [Frown]

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LISA LISA
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I never rented movies from Blockbusters - before this summer- then they had that deal where you made a donation to the Boys/Girls Clubs of America- and for $2, you could get a free movie -each day, out of the vhs family section. Which they had a few older ones, so that was cool- we got: Born Free, Bad News Bears, Benji the Hunted,
Where the Lillies Bloom, The Pagemaster, The Neverending Story-all of them, 2000 Leaugues Under the Sea, and a bunch of others that were pretty decent-only cause they were older- and the sad part was the reason they did it, was they said no one ever rents those ones. I thought- those are your best movies. They have a million copies of crap, so you'd think that would be the best place to buy a used movie cheap, and it is more expense to buy a used movie that to buy it brand new somewhere else.

I keep thinking of renting Identity- can someone tell me if it is worth it? I have only rented a few movies this year,and they sucked- One Hour Photo and Insomnia, and The Panic Room- yuck. I have seen 1 movie previewed for the movies, that actually looks like if they do it right- it could be good- that's Cold Creek Manor. But, the other ones I tried to watch, sounded like they could be good plots, but man were they dumb.

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MONSOON
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Count me as another that hates to go to Blockbuster. I really dont want to turn this into some promotional plug for rentals but if you guys hate to frequent places like that and hate even worse to pay late charges, you really ought to try Netflix. Theyve got a decent selection and better still no late fees. Ive been using it for a while now and must say Im totally happy with it.
Now with that said Blockbuster for years has had the clout to force Film distributors to edit movies even further for content. Who pays the penalty? You and I thats who! My wife still goes there on occassion and I wont try to stop her. It doesnt mean I have to go though.  -

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Ronnie
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sheesh, i worked for blcokbuster for 4 years. they USED to carry a good selection of older tiltes there. that place is only into making money. they force you to suggest/sell their latest deals or else... suffer the consequences. about the late fees, it's terrible. after all this time, they finally decided to put the due date on the printed receipt. [Roll Eyes] i could go on and on.. they are just terrible. BUT, working there has it's perks if you are a movie lover, which i am [Wink]
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Devolution
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Devolution here,

As the history of the city goes, I knew of the time when all of those "Mom and Pop" video stores existed, and most of them were around for a short time. Enter the concept that we didn't have here until 1987, our friend cable.

Cable TV was the straw that broke the camels back, parents figured that they would rather put their money towards cable rather than join some little store, I know that some of you in the hills always had cable, because that was really what cable was created for, people that couldn't get TV reception.

When cable and HBO hit the homes, they had their movies they had their kids shows even when there was only one HBO to go by.

Blockbuster came around my way in 1991, it was intimitating and enormous. Within a couple of years from that, mom and pop had to call it quits.

Blockbuster had a great formula for getting started. I don't like the store, I think they carry terrible movies. Too many people in the place, and too many movies that are miserable.

They sell the movies you want to rent for movies that need to be put on the shelves.

I have an account. It just because sometimes I don't feel like buying the movie.

We are DEVO

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spyke65
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I rent my movies (DVDs) online: www.netflix.com. You pay only about $20 a month and they send you 3 movies at a time, no late fees (keep them as long as you want - altho not forever!) and the shipping is free to send them back. They have a pretty good selection too! I stopped going to Blockbuster completely once I signed up!
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massiveretaliation
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I am finding that ALL of the rental stores are getting rid of their old movies. They are getting some '80s flicks on DVD but are abandoning most classics, and jewels waiting to be discovered, to make room for crap nobody wants to see ever again.
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thebazman
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I have to admit, i dont find Blockbuster all that bad in the UK, pretty decent selection depending on the size of the store and thy also have a rental by post thing, i think u get the movie for 5 days. i remember the days of the old small video stores, even some ice cream vans used to carry videos, lol oh the good old days

Baz

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NottoocoolJulie
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I looaatthhhe freakin' Blockbuster..ugh. Really, I can't ever find anything worth a flip. And they only carry the version they want to carry (ie, if there is a movie that is was a questionable R, they will carry a nicey nice version with edits!) At least here anyway. Censorship! Blargh!
Also, we have a place here called Hollywood Video..for some reason every single one of those I've ever been in gives me the creeps! The employees have to wear black tie, similar to the old days of actual theaters. You would think I would find this amusing considering Valley Girl and Fast Times, but instead I just find it corny and sad. I dunno..I just end up buying everything, then if I don't like it, I sell it on e-Bay. [Roll Eyes]
(Warning political rant here: PLUS, I heard Blockbuster gives money to certain extreme religious organizations, which I can not support AT ALL [Mad] )
We do have some good Mom n Pop video stores here though, that I fully support and frequent when given the opportunity.

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mamamiasweetpeaches
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my best friend has a Blockbuster account,and I have a West Coast Video account,and all I can say in praise of them is if you want a NEW RELEASE,thats the way to go. However,I have to agree that if you want something like Last American Virgin or Night Of the Demons no friggin way will you find it!!! The old Mom and Pop video stores always had the hard to find treats,especially horror nuggets like Silent Night Deadly Night,Black Christmas,Pieces,Sleepaway Camp.....okay:so I like B quality Slasher flicks,but where can ya find em nowadays???? I BUY em at half.com and eBay!!!! And it just about costs the same as what the Big Name video stores charge for a rental. sheeeesh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Ronnie
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(and all I can say in praise of them is if you want a NEW RELEASE,thats the way to go.)

exactly. they do the 3 day thing on the new releases to keep them in the store. places like hollywood video, everything is 5 days. good luck on getting a hold of anything. i simply love the little privately owned vid stores. they carry lots of older titles. sadly, there aren't any of those around my parts anymore. they don't get enough busniess, i guess. too bad.

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Jones4Rio
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I hate Blockbuster for three reasons.

1. Their selection is limited.

2. Overpriced. Extremely. Oh yeah, I love the bill collectors they send your way when you don't pay a $4 late fee.

3. They don't carry unrated films or NC-17 rated films.

If I have to choose between Hollywood Video or Blockbuster - it's Hollywood Video simply because of the better selection and old titles are $1.99 to rent.

One of the good things about living in a smaller town is that there is a mom and pop video shop here. Once upon a time there were three, but Blockbuster came into town and knocked 2 of them right out of business. One of them was amazing. An amazing collection. So sad. I miss it still.

In Houston, there is a awe-inspiring video store with tens of thousands of titles. Anything! Anything you're looking for. They haven't failed me yet, once! I'll die if it ever closes.

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