Last week Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy. This is big news, but hardly a shock. Netflix is king of DVD rentals now, & Redbox is moving up. I haven't been in a Blockbuster store in a year at least, & there's one a block from my house. It's just so much easier to go online, look through the lists, pick a movie or two & just wait for it to come in the mail.
There is also streaming. But that still isn't as good, mainly because Netflix still has only a small number of films available that way. Mostly older films, & by older, I mean 10 years at least. As for Redbox, again a small selection. Also, not much different than Blockbuster, in that you have to return the DVD to the kiosk the next day. So even though it's cheaper than Blockbuster, & depending on which Netflix subscription you have, cheaper than them, you still have to physically go to a location to return the DVD, unlike Netflix, where you just drop it in the mail, or watch on your computer, or on a special box.
I may not use Blockbuster any more, but I will be sad to see them go, which will eventually happen. It was convenient & somewhat fun to walk through a store looking at all the movies they have. One little complaint about Netflix is you don't get the DVD box. And not the special features if they're on a separate disc.
One interesting item is that Blockbuster is not facing the same difficulties in Australia. I'm guessing DVD's by mail is not available there. Not sure why, but even in Canada Netflix streams but doesn't mail discs. Could be a legal issue that will eventually be solved.
There is also streaming. But that still isn't as good, mainly because Netflix still has only a small number of films available that way. Mostly older films, & by older, I mean 10 years at least. As for Redbox, again a small selection. Also, not much different than Blockbuster, in that you have to return the DVD to the kiosk the next day. So even though it's cheaper than Blockbuster, & depending on which Netflix subscription you have, cheaper than them, you still have to physically go to a location to return the DVD, unlike Netflix, where you just drop it in the mail, or watch on your computer, or on a special box.
I may not use Blockbuster any more, but I will be sad to see them go, which will eventually happen. It was convenient & somewhat fun to walk through a store looking at all the movies they have. One little complaint about Netflix is you don't get the DVD box. And not the special features if they're on a separate disc.
One interesting item is that Blockbuster is not facing the same difficulties in Australia. I'm guessing DVD's by mail is not available there. Not sure why, but even in Canada Netflix streams but doesn't mail discs. Could be a legal issue that will eventually be solved.
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