A Blockbuster Shutdown

By Brad Tuttle | @bradrtuttle | September 16, 2009 | +

Brick and mortar are no matches for cheap kiosks and the Internet. If you hadn’t already gathered, it appears that Netflix and Redbox are taking control of the three-way battle for movie rental customers. The latest sign: Movie rental giant Blockbuster plans to shut down nearly 1,000 stores by the end of 2010.

News of the mass shuttering is reported by Reuters.

Netflix’s success in attracting customers has only increased during the recession, and even though Blockbuster has entered the $1 DVD rental market to confront Redbox—including free rental promotions from its new line of Blockbuster Express kiosks—the movie rental stalwart is clearly in jeopardy. Blockbuster stores are apparently going the way of Chrysler dealerships.

Related Topics: Blockbuster, freebies, movies, Netflix, Redbox, Saving & Spending

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[...] Your mall is a lot less likely to host a Blockbuster store. No need to worry, however: There's probably a Redbox kiosk renting $1 DVDs [...]
gbtate

It’s very sad about Blockbuster. We had one nearby, and I liked the people who ran it. However, with the cost of movies four times that of NetFlix, how can we continue to patronize them? Blockbuster even tried a NetFlix-like program to rent movies by mail or local store. The program still cost significantly more than NetFlix, and Blockbuster shedded the older movies we all like and want.

Along with so many Mom & Pop operations who complain about the unfair practices of the WalMarts of this world… companies need to take a look around and flow with the way America does business.

I am a very small company of two people, now 42 years in business. If I had not learned how to use a computer (at the age of 57) and new technology for my business, I too would be playing bridge with old men and complaining how the Evil Empire drove me out of business.

Just because life doen’t go the way we planned, that’s no excuse for dumping it overboard and putting the blame on others. My life isn’t up to them, it’s up to me.
xj26

For video game rentals, Blockbuster is still the a viable option. At most BB stores you can pay $20 a month for unlimited movie and game rentals (1 out at a time). Most single video game rentals start at $8 for ~5 days. If you have a BB nearby, clearly, this is great option for people that aren’t good at predicting what they’ll want to watch in 2-3 days when their movie arrives in the mail.
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[...] Blockbuster announces it is closing nearly 1,000 stores. Less expensive video-rental alternatives, meanwhile, experience enormous success in 2009: The [...]
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[...] Submit a Comment • Related Topics: Blockbuster, DVD, Netflix, Redbox, video Blockbuster has closed thousands of stores. It has offered DVDs by mail and free DVDs from new Redbox-style kiosks. Even so, it just can't [...]
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[...] has had a miserable integrate of years, closing thousands of film let stores, entering bankruptcy, and generally portion as one of a recession era’s biggest business wave [...]