Here's where your money goes....

[callofthewild]

...when you use Netflix. This is a direct quote from the CFO of Net-Flix, Barry McCarthy

“We want to get bigger because the bigger we get the more video stores we put out of business.”

[Brent Eubanks]

Yep. I'm afraid that video rental stores are a business model on their way out. Some will survive by specializing in various ways, but mostly, they're history (over a 5-10 year timescale).

On the other hand, they're mostly Hollywood/Blockbuster stores, anyway.

...when you use Netflix. This is a direct quote from the CFO of Net-Flix, Barry McCarthy

“We want to get bigger because the bigger we get the more video stores we put out of business.”

[gandalf]

Even netflix is on the way out. On demand will soon leave it a viable service only in rural areas and satalite will probably take care of that. Soon movies over the internet will be the latest rage. Perhaps netflix can move it's customer base over to that when it's here.

I owned a video store.

Yep. I'm afraid that video rental stores are a business model on their way out. Some will survive by specializing in various ways, but mostly, they're history (over a 5-10 year timescale).

On the other hand, they're mostly Hollywood/Blockbuster stores, anyway.

[Dawn_Pillsbury]

As much as I love our local movie stores (esp. the Droid and Box Office), we've recently switched over to Netflix. My main problem with video stores is that you could never be sure the movie you were renting would play. I'm not sure why movie renters feel the need to abuse the discs (or let wild ferrets chew on them, from all appearances). I always had to make a nuisance of myself at the check-out by inspecting the discs, which the clerks almost never appreciate. We've never gotten a Netflix disc that looked like a rugby team used it to play frisbee.

I talked with many clerks about the wild ferret problem. Most said they try to look them over but the volume of discs is just too great. Most were happy to look through the stock to find one that was only minorly damaged, but for older films (the ones that tend to be damaged), there's usually only one in stock. And try renting a kids' movie that doesn't look like it was put through a meat grinder. Despite the fact that Box Office had three copies of HP and the SS, not one was playable.

Tech-based businesses have a limited lifespan. Coal oil killed whale oil businesses. Electricity killed coal oil businesses. The car put buggy whip manufacturers out of business (though I've heard there are more whip manufacturers in San Francisco now than in 1900).

The best we can do as customers and fellow community members is help those with obsolete businesses transfer to a new one. Or a sustainable one. Food never goes out of style, and I have a feeling small, local farming is going to get more and more viable as the cost of oil rises.

Blessings,
Dawn

[wildflower]

Check out https://www.spiritualcinemacircle.com/
They specialize in films on DVD that don't make it into the mainstream mix. Their movies have improved greatly and I have seen some real gems that I never would have had access to in video stores or Netflix.
Their movies are violence/exploitation free. They send you a DVD every month with at least one feature film and several shorts on it. And you don't return the films. You can share them with friends, family and neighbors and start your own film club!
Nothing's perfect, but I enjoy this service very much!
wildflower

[gandalf]

I have heard a lot about cracked movies coming from netflix. They seem to be very good about letting you return them, but if you get to many they cancel the account. It's not something you have direct control over either as it's mostly the postal route in between.

Myself I'm retireing with my 2000+ anime collection. I might share them some with close friends. And now I'll get to watch them.

As much as I love our local movie stores (esp. the Droid and Box Office), we've recently switched over to Netflix. My main problem with video stores is that you could never be sure the movie you were renting would play. I'm not sure why movie renters feel the need to abuse the discs (or let wild ferrets chew on them, from all appearances). I always had to make a nuisance of myself at the check-out by inspecting the discs, which the clerks almost never appreciate. We've never gotten a Netflix disc that looked like a rugby team used it to play frisbee.

I talked with many clerks about the wild ferret problem. Most said they try to look them over but the volume of discs is just too great. Most were happy to look through the stock to find one that was only minorly damaged, but for older films (the ones that tend to be damaged), there's usually only one in stock. And try renting a kids' movie that doesn't look like it was put through a meat grinder. Despite the fact that Box Office had three copies of HP and the SS, not one was playable.

Tech-based businesses have a limited lifespan. Coal oil killed whale oil businesses. Electricity killed coal oil businesses. The car put buggy whip manufacturers out of business (though I've heard there are more whip manufacturers in San Francisco now than in 1900).

The best we can do as customers and fellow community members is help those with obsolete businesses transfer to a new one. Or a sustainable one. Food never goes out of style, and I have a feeling small, local farming is going to get more and more viable as the cost of oil rises.

Blessings,
Dawn