Blockbuster Closing 282 Stores

Maddens Raiders6906d ago (Edited 6906d ago )

BB was really silly to ignore the online advances of NFlix.

The Total Access plan will help but honestly, 280 +/- store closings compared to the nearly 5,400 stores in operation in N.A. is little more than a blip on the radar to this corporate hog.

cuco336906d ago

being that the ones that are open probably downsized in manpower as well

i don't mind the store but it isn't what it used to be. i used to LOVE going to it years ago but now... there are so many means to rent a game or movie i see no point, especially with their late fees which cost as much as a rental sometimes

btw, for the BD vs HD DVD camp that shouldn't be on n4g, here's one for ya... if BB was the end all be all and reason why HD DVD were dead, then why downsize if they are doing so great? doesn't make sense now does it

toughNAME6906d ago

wow...the timing...thats ironic

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ENNO6906d ago

lol blockbuster is sinking and it can take Blu-ray with it

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Marceles6906d ago

It's probably closing the HD DVD stores :P

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ITR6906d ago (Edited 6906d ago )

Actually BB has been closing stores in the SE due to crazy competition between it and MG(Movie Gallery new owners of Hollywood Video).
Hell MG will take any BB coupon. BB closed two big stores last yr.
We have one small one left but they plan on closing soon too.

BB will not be missed here since everyone goes to MG.
edu discounts and gov discounts keep me at MG..well the porn helps too.

If you disagree please state why?

MG/HV have over 4,700 stores. MG added 200 stores in 06'. Not sure how many they added this yr.

the_round_peg6906d ago (Edited 6906d ago )

that's killing Blockbuster.

I haven't rented anything from Blockbuster ever since I started renting from Netflix, Gamefly and then other online stores a few years ago.

Diselage6906d ago

While online has been hurting BB the most probably i know what IRT is saying, around here BB loses a lot of business to Movie Gallery and Mr. Movies because of the promotions they run.

amerz6906d ago

Stores closed included every last store that initially stocked HD-DVD. HD-DVDEAD is reported to be the cause of closure, and is no longer carried by any Blockbuster store.

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ITR6906d ago

You do realize the stores that carry HD DVD also carried BD as well.

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xbox360migs6906d ago

Now that they have decided to not carry hd dvd! I'll have to get it elsewhere.

The Real Joker6906d ago

Blockbuster is full of communists. I have proof.

the_round_peg6904d ago

all your bubbles will be gone

Odion6906d ago

In Canada BB is getting Rock by Rogers Video, cause rogers give you like baseball tickets when you rent 3 movies and their like 100 times nicer

PS360WII6906d ago

ummm should we care?

kewlkat0076905d ago

probably since 1997, when we used to rent movies. I started downloading movies around 2000, and haven't rented since. Seems like everybody does the NetFlix thing, I was thinking of trying it, but I'll wait when I have an HD player, and my new Samsung 1080p LCD.

I knew something was wrong with BB. They are feeling the pressure from competition, similar to how Sony has downsized, as well. then again, I don't rent movies, and I have no HD player, and have not gotten my Samsung 1080p LCD, so I don't care as much.

I wonder if it is them HD-DVD stores that are closing.

Wasn't it KODAK that did not invest in research and development, when Digital cameras were coming out and they almost went down?

ArduousAndy6905d ago

they said that they choose to go for blu-ray cause of demand.

I smell its a lack of money to have both. So they went with the one that had the most rentals.

Now they are closing stores?

Come on guys the writing is on the wall.

the_round_peg6904d ago

...

Covenant6905d ago

I have Netflix. Works great for me, and I get between 15-20 DVDs per month for my $15.00 (got a price break through work). Blockbuster's online library has a good array of titles, but their in-store selection is so wretched that I wouldn't have anything to trade my online rentals for...unless I want the Current Over-hyped New Release, which is all they seem to carry in store.

Now, if only Netflix would start doing game rentals...

BIadestarX6905d ago

The Betamax Curse.... That's what happens for supporting blu-ray.... hehe... just kidding.. relax lemmings.

amerz6905d ago

Of course the HD-DVD stores carried BR, but the BR stores by and large didn't carry HD-DVD.
Blu-ray is the one pulling HD out of obscurity. HD-DVD kind of just sits there motionless in its grave. There's no doubt BR is contributing to sales, so they wouldn't be losing money on it.

ArduousAndy6904d ago

but not in the way you think.

They choose one format over the other because of lack of money. Why are you going to alienate 30% of your customer base?

I think they had to choose one or the other because they are loosing cash. So they choose the biggest customer base.

Now it seems they are closing stores.

Again its on the wall.

amerz6904d ago

HD-DVDEAD's exclusion would have changed nothing. HD discs make up so little of the actual physical media market, and HD-DVD makes up so little of the HD disc market, that its exclusion could have only HELPED Blockbuster to improve profitability (i.e. not lose money because they bought too many dead discs).

In fact I'm willing to bet that choosing Blu-ray was a step towards their goals, and the exclusion of HD-DVD was actually the first publicised step of this closure.

They wouldn't have been able to see Blu-ray profitability or losses as a choice within the few days - however buying for BR went up, so maybe rentals did too. It did however certainly not decrease, meaning they could only see it as beneficial.

Writing's on the wall.

cdzie16902d ago

This just goes to show what terrible management they have! Choosing Blu-ray over HD DVD, before a clear winner has even been established, is just another stupid move by them!