News - Blockbuster reportedly prepares for September bankruptcy

Quote:

---

Film rental giant in last ditch attempt to survive but plans for bust.

---

Read more.

Well it's hardly supprising with things like love film around. I should imagine one thing that hit them pretty hard was when rental and retail versions on the films started coming out at the same time, whereas in the past they had 6 months of exclusitivity before the retail version were available.

Internet killed the video star...

I feel a number 1 hit coming along.

Last time I rented a video it was something like £4 IIRC, you can usually buy a brand new DVD for that price off Amazon or something provided it's not just out. That way you don't have the hassle of trying to clean all the crap off the disc to get it to play properly after the last person has been using it as a coaster. And you get to keep it. TBH I'm surprised they survived as long as they did...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by watercooled

Last time I rented a video it was something like £4 IIRC, you can usually buy a brand new DVD for that price off Amazon or something provided it's not just out. That way you don't have the hassle of trying to clean all the crap off the disc to get it to play properly after the last person has been using it as a coaster. And you get to keep it. TBH I'm surprised they survived as long as they did...

---

Exactly.

I used to rent a few of their xbox 360 games and the scratches on the discs made playing the games totally impossible. I took it back within 2 hours of renting it and explained to the staff member who just grunted at me as if I'd stolen his dinosaur and bashed his woman with a club.

I haven't used blockbuster now for at least 4 years as I download demo's over XBL and if I like them I buy them that way.

Meh, last time I used it was a month ago with the Tmobile night in, missed two cinemas in cinema and wanted to watch them, so decided to go for it :P

But yeah, £5.99 for all the rentals you want is great!

I think the more underlying problem with blockbusters is that the business has been built and expanded on debt. How can a company like this get into nearly $1 billion worth of debt.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brewster0101

I think the more underlying problem with blockbusters is that the business has been built and expanded on debt. How can a company like this get into nearly $1 billion worth of debt.

---

Typically with people's pension funds :(

Ouch, another company bites the dust

Is this a case of "if we talk about it enough, it will happen"?

I will miss Blockbuster if it goes under. Usually they have either 3 for £7.50 or 4 for £10 sales on, so I can go in and get films I want when I want, not when LoveFilm happen to have them avaiable.

I've had problems with scratched disks from Lovefilm too, at least with Blockbuster I can take them back and get them swapped immediately or refunded.