Independent video stores struggle in the face of Netflix
From the Arizona Daily Star:
Well, duh.
I honestly can't remember the last time I was in an independent video store. Austin has its fair share (I Luv Video and Vulcan Video are the two most prominent) but they're not located conveniently for me and all of my video needs are currently covered by Netflix, Amazon, and other specialty internet sources.
Anyone out there supporting their local mom and pop stores? Leave a comment and let me know.
After years of struggling to compete against chains like Blockbuster, Hollywood Video and Movie Gallery, independent video stores throughout the country are finding it even more difficult to survive in the age of online video rentals.
Well, duh.
I honestly can't remember the last time I was in an independent video store. Austin has its fair share (I Luv Video and Vulcan Video are the two most prominent) but they're not located conveniently for me and all of my video needs are currently covered by Netflix, Amazon, and other specialty internet sources.
Anyone out there supporting their local mom and pop stores? Leave a comment and let me know.
7 Comments:
Sadly, out here in Southern Orange County, Blockbuster is the Mom and Pop store.
I don't, and I don't even use an online rental service at the moment. There's a mom-and-pop just up the street, only one block further than the Blockbuster, and the reason I don't go is they require a valid ID, a credit card impression, and utility bill or phone bill verifying the address on the ID. No thanks.
I go to the mom & pops, but not to rent, only for the clearance sale bins.
I hardly ever rent anything because my pile of unwatched clearance-sale crap is so high. Once I get caught up on that I will join either Netfux or Ballbuster Total Abcess, not sure which.
Rain City Video is a three store chain here in Seattle. We rent most of our movies there. I like wandering around the isles looking at what's available. Can't do that online.
Unfortunately the closest we have to Mom & Pop around here is Family Video. They don't seem to be as ubiquitous as Blockbuster, but they're still a fixture in the Midwest. Ironically, Family Video is the only place in town that stocks porn videos, making it popular with a subset of the local populace.
We rent from our local video store. We are also the same people who didn't have a cell phone until 4 months ago.
mkb
i own a mom & pop video store. visiting our shop is a way to get out of the house and get some fresh air. we have all the top releases, almost always enough to go around, and many times, we have what is hard to get on netflix etc.
the thing about a a mom & pop, when done right, it adds character to your town and acts as a meeting place for adults and children.
in my opinion, netflix is creating a ton of pollution and has never donated a dime to my childs school, my local charities or helped to find a real way to make my town a better place.
visit your local shops, whatever they may be, take a deep breath, all those movies will be on sale on amazon tommorrow.
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