Anybody Else See Blockbusters New DVD Compaign?

[Damian]

So Blockbusters latest marketing campaign for their 30 DVD's, 30 days promotion kinda defeats itself in my opinion.

All over the place I see advertisments that say "Why Own It, When You Can Rent It?"

Is this not the most rediculous thing you have ever scene? Why own it? Well first of all, so I don't have to go into your crappy stores only to find the movie that I wanted to see that is "GUARANTEED TO BE IN STOCK" not in, then have to deal with a rude snotty teenager at the front counter who is more busy talking to one of her six boyfriends that are standing to the side of the front counter while there is a line all the way to the back of the building.

Yeah...in my book those are all the best reasons to rent instead of own.

GOD I hate Blockbuster!

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"They're us....we're them!"
-Damian

[egman]

Funny that you mention this. I noticed this too awhile back. To tell you the truth, Its hard for me to fathom renting a DVD. They scratch so easily, and I swear there are plenty of people that go to BB who could give a damn about the condition of these materials. But these things do have an effect, and some poor sap is going short end of the stick.

And don't remind me of stupid mistakes. The main reason I stop renting was because of goofs by employess that cost me a late fee. Trust me when I say I have never returned a video late. If BB stores can't hire compent employees, then I'm definately not renting.

[OneofRyan]

I haven't been to a video store in ten years. Rental fees suck.

[1138]

Welcome to the forum OneofRyan!

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1138 - DVD File Forum Greeter
Odo: You'd shoot a man in the back?!
Garak: It's the safest way, isn't it?

[saraswati]

i rent dvd's for the same reason i used to rent videos. how do i know i want to pay $20+ to own it if i've never even seen the movie? i've seen a lot of bad movies that i had heard were good, or that had trailers that looked good, or that got a lot of great reviews. why would i want to shell out at least 20 bucks just to see if something is good or not?

and even if i could have caught it when it was in theaters, that's still a $10 investment for me. if i'm going to spend money in the double digits just to see a movie, it better be a damn good movie.

when i rent a DVD, i only spend $2 to find out whether it's any good or not. if it's one of those big special edition fully loaded with extras type discs, i might spend $3.50 to rent it at Hollywood Video, because there you get it for 5 days.

now, when i rent a movie and thouroughly enjoy it, i'll probably want to own it. but there is just no reason for me to own Battlefield Earth just to find out that it sucks. There is no reason for me to own Elizabeth just to find out it's boring. maybe this is why i still own only 20 or so discs. i missed the reel.com days when you could basically get all the free movies you wanted.

i agree that owning is better than renting, if you really love the movie. but to a lot of people who aren't really into movies, it's easier to pay your $2, see a movie, return it, and move on with your life.

i don't get the profitability of the 30 days for $30 promotion, because if you want to keep a movie for a month, you might as well own it. the type of people who would rather rent than own aren't going to go for that, because to make it profitable you have to watch a movie every day, or watch a ton of them on weekends. but if that's what BB wants to do, let 'em...

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"Crap, lousy ceiling!"

[egman]

I don't think there is any profitablity in the 30 days thing either. I really think it is more of a ploy to get people more interested in renting. The fact that DVD is still a sell through item is working against their business model. They're hoping that people who take this deal on will become more interested in renting than buying.

The main reason I hate renting is the questionable quality. Not everyone treats their equipment like a pot of gold. I've rented tapes that were warped, and have rented discs not realizing that the disc were scratched to the point of ruining the viewing.

Personally, I kind of like the idea of PPV. The choices are still kind of limited now to new releases, but overall it is still nice idea.

[saraswati]

i don't really see the sell through market ruining things for the rental market. to me, they're 2 different things. most people don't see movies in a theater, they wait for the video. and most people who've waited for video aren't going to run out and buy things they haven't seen. it's not like i'm going to not go see Driven in the theater, then at Christmas when it comes out on DVD i'm going to go to bestbuy and pay $20-$30 for it, without having seen it. nobody does that, especially now that reel.com and all the coupons are gone. whether you're talking VHS or DVD, people are going to rent movies they haven't seen before they decide to buy, regardless of how much they cost. i guess if the price of owning a dvd was the same as renting one it would be different, but i just don't get how non-rental pricing messes up their profit margin or prevents people from renting.

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"Crap, lousy ceiling!"

[ElCuCuy2000]

Saraswati--I'm one of 'those' people that doesn't go watch a movie when it first comes out in the theaters, because if I did, why would I want to buy it on DVD or VHS???

[roger thornhill]

I agree with Sara in terms of why I rent movies - to find out if I want to buy.

I'm one of 'those' people that doesn't go watch a movie when it first comes out in the theaters, because if I did, why would I want to buy it on DVD or VHS???

First, I have no idea why you'd want to buy it on vhs . As far as buying on dvd, I assume because it's a movie you saw in the theaters and liked enough to want to see it again, that it had repeatability for you. If you're saying that no movie you ever see in a theater, no matter how much you enjoy it, is anything you'd ever watch again, then I'm assuming you own zero dvds, since the purpose of buying is, IMO, to watch more than once. If you'll never watch a movie more than once, then renting makes more economic sense.

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dds #070

[Lucretia]

I just buy DVDs. I think so far I've only wound up with two that were so awful I've never watched them again, out of 440. That's not such a bad average. Of course, some of them I've enjoyed because they were really awful, but that still counts.

Anyway, I think that, for me, renting DVDs is silly unless it's something i KNOW I don't want to own ever, that I'm just renting for a specific night, like when the girls come over and we watch silly stuff or stupid movies or things. In that case, I rent DVDs, otherwise, I buy them.

My local Blockbuster I LOVE, if the manager is working... The last time I went in to buy discs he gave me 20% off all of the ones i bought, even my $14.98 ones. Woohoo! He's so nice.

Lucretia

[Lucretia]

Originally posted by saraswati:
most people don't see movies in a theater, they wait for the video. and most people who've waited for video aren't going to run out and buy things they haven't seen. it's not like i'm going to not go see Driven in the theater, then at Christmas when it comes out on DVD i'm going to go to bestbuy and pay $20-$30 for it

Actually, I go out and see some stuff in the theatre when I'm feeling well enough to, but I buy stuff without seeing it all the time. It doesn't make sense to me to pay $5 or $6 to rent something to see if i like it, then turn around and pay another $18 or $24 to buy it, that's like paying another 1/3 of the cost on top of whatever it costs in the first place. So I tend to just take a chance if I think it's something I'll be interested in and buy it.

Lucretia

[saraswati]

how can you guys afford to spend $20-$30 on movies you haven't even seen? i have seen a lot of shitty movies that i thought would be good. and i've found a lot of hidden gems through renting. it would be one thing to buy a classic like Casablanca or Taxi Driver having not seen it, but i would never take a chance on many of the movies i end up buying, things like Dazed and Confused, Boogie Nights, or When Harry Met Sally.

i guess my attitude toward renting is that i rarely see stores rent at more than $4. Most places (not including blockbuster and hollywood) rent them at $2 or $2.50 for a night, which, if i haven't seen the movie, is fine for me. i figure i'm willing to pay $10 to see the movie in a theater before buying, $2 isn't much for me. i only buy when it's a movie i know is rewatchable.

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"Crap, lousy ceiling!"

[Lucretia]

What's wrong with Dazed and Confused, Boogie Nights and When Harry Met Sally???

In the town I live in, a lot of movies never come here. We only have one tiny multiplex that only brings in the biggest movies, as a rule. Generally, the same follows with the video rental places. They don't carry as many DVDs, really only started in the last 6 months on any scale, and don't get in a lot of things I'm curious about. So that really only leaves the one option, buying the things I want to see.

Actually it's a lot of fun. You should try it.

Lucretia

[Chromy]

I did the Blockbuster 30 for 30 thing, in my 30 days, I rented and watched 29 movies (works out to 69 cents per movie, not bad!). Renting like this under normal prices would cost me around $120.. so do I see value in this, yes... would I rent anywhere near this many

I'll buy another 30 days as soon as I get these NetFlix movies watched and returned...

I'm big on renting... I don't buy a movie even if I think that I'll watch it more than once... I'll buy it if I think that I'll re-watch it 5 or more times... my average NetFlix Marque program works out to cost me around $2 per movie per month... so if I watch a movie 3 times it's only costing me about $6.

Don't get me wrong, if there wasn't NetFlix I would own many more movies, and would probably have "buyers remorse" on some of them. Renting at Blockbuster,Hollywood video, or other rental chains just isn't that feasable, and they usually don't have many titles that I'd want to see.

For reference, I've been into DVD since it's nationwide release, and have around 65 DVD's.

As I get more DVD's I seem to be getting pickier... then again, my hobby is more home theater hardware than home theater software (I'm a tinkerer) Dumping $25 into a DVD requires the same turmoil (mentally, not financially) as dropping a few thousand into a new component for the hardware side

Chromy

[saraswati]

there's nothing wrong with any of those movies -- i happen to own and love all three! however, they're movies that aren't obvious choices. i wouldn't have risked $30 on When Harry Met Sally before i saw it, because i assumed it would be another chickflick of the Sleepless in Seattle variety, and i'd like it ok and move on with my life. Same goes for Boogie Nights, i figured it would be one of those annoyingly moralistic Reefer Madness kind of films, but when forced to sit down and watch it, i fell in love. i never would have risked a week's groceries to buy those movies without seeing them, because basically they're a gamble. they might be good, but they could just as easily suck.

i come from a one-theater town too, i know what it's like. that's part of the reason i'm against rental pricing. it makes it in video stores' interest to carry more DVD. i know of at least 5 video stores in small towns that specialize in DVD and offer a lot more than Blockbuster, because it's their only way of competing. Besides, now most blockbusters (and the other big chains) are stocking most of the mainstream and quasi-mainstream dvd's that are available. sure, you might not find Even Dwarfs Started Small or the Criterion Rushmore, but there is a decent enough selection in most mainstream video stores. unless you only enjoy obscure art films, you can probably find something to watch. and many really hard to find titles and forgotten gems aren't even available.

[Lucretia]

There's three other video stores in my town. Two of them are the same store, and have about 15 discs each. The other one has a bit more variety and probably clocks in around 200 titles. The blockbuster has around the same. None of them have anything nearly so exotic as a Criterion Collection title. I've bought the only two that have ever been shipped into a public establishment in this town, hehe.

If I lived somewhere there was more selection for rental, I might rent more. But then there'd be more stuff to buy, too, and I'd probably buy more as well.

I guess part of what makes DVDs so addictive is that it makes it easy and quick to not only get all the ones you miss in the theatre, and all your favorite classics, but it's relatively cheap too! I paid less for my DVD of one of my faves, Das Boot, than I did for the VHS.

Everyone is going to be different I guess. I mean, I would never view going to the theatre to see a movie as 'seeing the movie in a theater before buying'. Going to see a movie in a theatre is an event, not a preview, imo. But it's the little things that make us unique. For the record, I viewed Boogie Nights, Dazed and Confused and When Harry Met Sally the first times in the theatre.



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Lucretia
setsuna@sk.sympatico.ca
My Collection
It shakes me! It quakes me! It makes me feel goose-pimply all over!

[Lucretia]

As to Blockbuster's selection, they didn't even have Python on the last 'complete and utter crap' night my friends and I had. *cry* I was so sad!!! I couldn't wait to see the extras on it, and my copy still hasn't been shipped. *sniffles*



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Lucretia
setsuna@sk.sympatico.ca
My Collection
It shakes me! It quakes me! It makes me feel goose-pimply all over!

[movienut]

At the Blockbuster I work at (at least for 2 more weeks), DVDs are 4.30 with tax to rent. With the DVD pass (I'm trying to stay on topic here) you only have to rent 5 of those 30 to get your money back. In other words, if you rent more than 5 DVDs per month, you should do it - it's finacial common sense. Or, if you don't ever look past THIS VERY SECOND, and see your spending $20 for one DVD...it's a completely sucky deal. But, that is why rich people invest instead of living pay check to pay check. On another note...Blockbuster is getting ready to start a new program (I know your excited already) that for $30 dollars you can rent up to 4 rents a day of anything (dvd, vhs, game) for 30 days...if you ask me, thats a better deal than cable!

[Lucretia]

Hey, I'm not rich. Far from it. It's not like I make mega cash or anything, (especially now that I quit my last job and am currently on UI). It's just for me, it makes more sense to buy a lot of the stuff I want.



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Lucretia
setsuna@sk.sympatico.ca
My Collection
It shakes me! It quakes me! It makes me feel goose-pimply all over!

[Damian]

Originally posted by movienut:
At the Blockbuster I work at (at least for 2 more weeks), DVDs are 4.30 with tax to rent. With the DVD pass (I'm trying to stay on topic here) you only have to rent 5 of those 30 to get your money back. In other words, if you rent more than 5 DVDs per month, you should do it - it's finacial common sense. Or, if you don't ever look past THIS VERY SECOND, and see your spending $20 for one DVD...it's a completely sucky deal. But, that is why rich people invest instead of living pay check to pay check. On another note...Blockbuster is getting ready to start a new program (I know your excited already) that for $30 dollars you can rent up to 4 rents a day of anything (dvd, vhs, game) for 30 days...if you ask me, thats a better deal than cable!

That does sound like a decent deal, however with cable, you don't have to return anything, you don't get late charges (unless you don't pay your bill of course ) and you don't have to deal with snot nosed teenagers that find it more important to talk to their boyfriends or friends, then help the customer (I'm sure your not one of them, right?)
Oh...and with cable you don't at least have to put up with that lie campaign that says "guarenteed to be in stock" which of course, is NEVER the case at any of my local Blockbusters. All the guarentees are NEVER in stock when I want to rent them. Then of course, I'm offered a coupon for a free rental which I usually throw away because that would mean I would have to go back, look for the movie I want which probably isn't it, stand in a long line of two people for fifteen minutes because the sixteen year old girl behind the counter is talking on the phone with her boyfriend, and never even looks up to say THANK YOU as she rings your movie out.

Ahh...the wonders of new millenium customer serice.
It's so great! (Can you tell I'm a bit bitter?)
Please don't take any of this personal as a Blockbuster employee. I'm sure you do a great job and are not the type of employee I just described. However it's just been the comman experiance both my wife and I have when we go into one of these places.




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"They're us....we're them!"
-Damian

[movienut]

[stand in a long line of two people for fifteen minutes because the sixteen year old girl behind the counter is talking on the phone with her boyfriend, and never even looks up to say THANK YOU as she rings your movie out.

Ahh...the wonders of new millenium customer serice.
It's so great! (Can you tell I'm a bit bitter?)
Please don't take any of this personal as a Blockbuster employee. I'm sure you do a great job and are not the type of employee I just described. However it's just been the comman experiance both my wife and I have when we go into one of these places.


[/b][/quote]

I am in complete agreement about the lack of customer service. I, myself, strive to give the customer a good experience when they enter the store. On the other hand, those snotty nose teenagers are the kids living next door to you - not just Blockbuster employees. They are trained to take care of the customer properly...But, just like a kid who's asked to clean his room...it seldom happens.

[saraswati]

actually, when i worked in a video store, and maybe i'm biased here, i found the opposite to be true. there were so many terrible customers. true story: i once had a customer threaten to sue the store over a $3 late fee.


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"Crap, lousy ceiling!"

[Damian]

Originally posted by saraswati:
actually, when i worked in a video store, and maybe i'm biased here, i found the opposite to be true. there were so many terrible customers. true story: i once had a customer threaten to sue the store over a $3 late fee.

Agreed...there are customers that can be just complete a$$holes. However, it's your duty as an employee to take it and smile. Pass it off to the manager. I've worked in the customer service industry for many many years and I've seen all sorts of "bad customers". But it was always my job to please the customer, no matter how wrong they were. If I couldn't then I'd get the manager.
I would NEVER ignore a customer by talking on the phone or with my friends who were hanging out. That's just bad customer servivce.




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"They're us....we're them!"
-Damian