Borders filing for chapter 11

Personally I prefer books-a-million to them all. Although if I had a good local bookseller I'd certainly go there. I miss the real bookstores.

 

I'd miss 'em too, Jeff - if we HAD any in Canada, aside from a sprinkling of small, often-specialized and necessarily pricy independents. Here, we have one (cheesy) company that controls the entire chain operation, under various store-rubrics, such as Coles, Indigo, Chapters and Smith's. It's impossible to deal with the stores. A book that costs $27 from their internet site can cost as much as $47 if you want to order it from the store and pick it up when it's in.

None of the stone-faced bafflegabbers at the store or their head office have been able to explain to me why it can cost such a hefty premium to order a book and pick it up at the store, instead of buying it from the same company's internet site.

I think they are trying to squeeze as much dough as possible from the walk-in customers before the store operation goes bust and closes -- as it richly deserves, the way I see it.

Johann

 

Blockbuster had been in its downward spiral way before competitor Netflix, e.g., Waste Management’s Wayne Huizenga (1987), (May 1989) Bear Sterns analyst issuance of a report condemning the company's accounting practices, calling it "inaccurate and grossly misleading"; its largest shareholder, United Artists Entertainment, announced it would divest its 12% stake and sell its 28 franchised stores; Viacom’s eventual purchase of Blockbuster for $8.4 million during its bidding war with CVC for Paramount Communications; and beginning in 1999, the internet’s launch at killing of the retail video store industry (e.g. Amazon and at the time … small firm Netflix). Blockbuster’s late internet market entry (i.e., formed a partnership with AOL) and late adopting of the DVD: It wasn't until August 2004 that its online DVD rental program actually started in the U.S. And when, in 2004, Coinstar entered the market with its Redbox DVD kiosks, Blockbuster didn't begin installing similar devices until 2008. Add to this, Blockbuster’s failed hostile takeover bid in Dec. 2004 of its biggest retail competitor, now non-operational Hollywood Video via its largest stockholder Billionaire investor Carl Icahn; Hollywood Video was instead to be bought out by Movie Gallery in January 2005. Since 2001, Chapter 11 Blockbuster Inc. has sustained more than $4 billion in losses.

Re Newsweek (Sept. 2010) The Rise and Fall of Blockbuster - Newsweek

 

OKOK! All that may be true. WHO CARES?!? All I know is that if I want to watch a movie I either have to drive for an hour to the "local" cinemagigantoplex and spend $20 or I have to go through Netflix. Gee, let me think for a minute, do you think that maybe the Netflix prices may go up in the near future? If I want to buy a book I have to go to Amazon, I have no real choice. If I want to watch a movie I have to go to Netflix, I have no real choice. THISSUX!

 

I wouldn't cede too much to Netflix too quickly. Redbox is ratcheting up the pressure on Netflix with its plan to offer a streaming service like Netflix does.

 

Blockbuster has the same boxes just like redbox, they have been popping up all over town. They also have a big online offering as well.

 

Very late entry (4-years) after the Redbox DVD kiosks launch … But who knows what the final outcome (?).

 

What are the consumer demand /potential, what price structure the marketplace will bear, and the competitive landscape…? :dunno:

 

Personally, I still make the trip to the local corner store and rent a movie there - I like to support the little guy as much as I can; just like I do the 100mile food shopping radius - I hit the local farmers and farmers market to support my local guy - I am not a fan of the big stores and their pesticide ridden foods, but.. I digress... so, for the 10 minutes it takes me to run to the store and pick up a movie, I'll do it and support the small business owner who is trying to make a living by competing with giants.

 

Actually, you have a lot of choices. CinemaNow, Zune, iTunes, Comcast, FiOS, Amazon OnDemand, and those are just the legal ones....