SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic - With Netflix, why in the hell do video stores still exist?

Posted: Dec 29 2009 02:56 am

Okay, I may be brogasming about Netflix because I just got it on my Xbox 360. Seriously though, Netflix eliminates the need for video stores if not as effectively more effectively than the internet has eliminated the need for newspapers.

Lets look at the way Netflix has eliminated the need for video stores, and any possible needs for video stores.

1) You no longer even have to leave the house to get the DVDs you want. Hell, you could just download movies and shows onto your device!

2) Pay is only once a month, and not for every DVD you get. Why would I want to pay $3 a day for a new release then (or even a dollar for a favorite?)

I guess this is all common knowledge, but I just wonder how much places like Blockbuster or Family Video (don't know if that's a regional or national chain) are hurting because of this. If you don't have Netflix, and you love movies, you're doing yourself a big disservice not getting Netflix.

Posted: Dec 29 2009 03:53 am

Well, for a couple reasons.

1) Not all of us have 360s/PS3s. I do sometimes watch their instant movies on my computer, but I don't like that nearly as much. (I admit if I could watch them from TV like the consoles let you do, it'd be a lot more fun.)

2) Not all of their catalogue is instant watch. Some of the movies I want to see are, but certainly not all of them.

With that in mind, sometimes I just want a certain movie right now, and I don't feel like watching it on the comp/netflix doesn't have it available instantly. Ergo, Blockbuster. Plus I usually pick up movie munchies while I'm out too, which mitigates the inconvenience quite a bit.

I do wish I had a 360 or PS3 to I could watch instantly on TV though. Damn that'd be nice. (I know Netflix has the little box you can buy, but I don't feel like shilling out a hundred bucks for it.)

Joined: Oct 01 2009 Posts: 5316

I'm not 100% on how Netflix works...but don't you have to pay per month?

For me, I usually rent a movie like once every few months anymore, and I hate the hassle of going through the mail.

I believe it's the same price, as most movies cost a $1 per day or whatever it is, sometimes I'll watch that day then take it back.

Posted: Dec 29 2009 07:23 am

Receiving DVDs through the mail can be very slow, and not everyone has a PS3, 360, or a decent enough internet connection to make instant streaming an option.

Posted: Dec 29 2009 07:25 am

Yea you pay something like $9 a month to rent as many movies as you want with no due dates or late fees. And the service is available outside of Xbox or PS3, or streaming on PC. Those are all recent new perks. The core of the service is still via the mail.

You have a list of movies you want to watch and each time you send one back, they mail you the next DVD on your list. You can even rent video games. Driving back and forth to the video store and going through the checkout is much more of a hassle than just dropping the disc in your mailbox.

It's really simple and easy, and I'm with Dorn in that I don't see how video stores can continue to exist when a much cheaper and more convenient service exists.

Title: Not a people person Joined: Dec 20 2009 Posts: 19

There's still stores because not everyone wants to be a typical fat, lazy American that never leaves their home...

I guess a close second would be for people who want it NOW and don't want to worry about snail mail

Posted: Dec 29 2009 11:58 am

Nomack wrote:

There's still stores because not everyone wants to be a typical fat, lazy American that never leaves their home...

Yeah, because the ten steps you take before you sit your fat ass back down into the car seat is really keeping you in shape.

Title: Not a people person Joined: Dec 20 2009 Posts: 19

Pandajuice wrote:

Nomack wrote:

There's still stores because not everyone wants to be a typical fat, lazy American that never leaves their home...

Yeah, because the ten steps you take before you sit your fat ass back down into the car seat is really keeping you in shape.

Pwned

Joined: May 22 2008 Location: Goshen, VA Posts: 6544

There will always be video stores in our lifetime man. I don't see why it angers you that there is.

Let's look at it this way. The average person certainly does not rent a movie every single night because they can't afford it. My situation is below average because I work and don't have time to watch a movie every night or even multiple times a week. So in my situation I may rent a movie once a week or once every two weeks. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of the country does not own a 360/PS3/Wii/Commodore 64/etc so your method of purchase is still at an early stage and used by a small percentage of the population.

Posted: Dec 29 2009 12:46 pm

joshwoodzell wrote:

the majority of the country does not own a 360/PS3/Wii/Commodore 64/etc so your method of purchase is still at an early stage and used by a small percentage of the population.

Damn.... I wish I could stream movies to my Commodore 64...

Joined: May 22 2008 Location: Goshen, VA Posts: 6544

You can't? You just need to jailbreak it.

Posted: Dec 29 2009 02:35 pm

my internet connection sucks, so downloading stuff thru my comp or my 360 would take forever.

and like josh said, i work and my commute takes up a crapload of my time, so i dont have time to watch movies. im still trying to catch up on movies i have on my DVR from weeks ago.

Posted: Dec 29 2009 03:18 pm

Guys, Netflix is not ONLY on PS3 or Xbox. They are the original "rent movies through the mail" company and have only recently expanded to internet streaming. If you rent more than 3 movies a month, Netflix (or similar companies) will save you time and money. Trust me, I use one called LoveFilm here in England to rent video games and it's retardly cheap and easy.

Joined: May 22 2009 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 353

I just got my Netflix instant streaming disk for the PS3 in the mail today. I still like going to Blockbuster & Family Video though. I like having the option of just going to video store and picking what I want opposed to waiting for it 2-3 days.

Joined: May 22 2008 Location: Goshen, VA Posts: 6544

Agreed. Theres something pleasing about going to a video store, browsing a physical selection and taking it home to watch. It certainly takes less time. Now the people that compulsively watch multiple movies nightly and never leave the couch/computer will most likely benefit better from NetDicks, but I really don't think that those people are in the majority.

Posted: Dec 29 2009 04:58 pm

my brother would benefit from netflix, but he's too dumb to realize it.

and if you get videogames and movies, gameznflix was the way to go, but they went bankrupt i think

Posted: Dec 29 2009 06:49 pm

Personally I don't rent movies enough to warrant a subscription, but if you feel the urge to rent a movie, like a movie night with the girlfriend for example, chances are you didn't plan it days in advance, plus its much more fun going through a physical selection and seeing some of the straight to dvd movies or maybe a classic movie. It beats sitting at the computer looking at a selection, its a more intimate experience. Now if you know what you want to see that's a different story.

Posted: Dec 29 2009 07:03 pm

Wait since when does Netflix rent video games now?

Posted: Dec 29 2009 07:21 pm

SoldierHawk wrote:

Wait since when does Netflix rent video games now?

it doesnt, as far as i know.

gamefly does.

Wizard Joined: Jun 12 2009 Posts: 4209

They do video games now? Why haven't I gotten this service before?! -slaps forehead-

Posted: Dec 29 2009 08:11 pm

username wrote:

SoldierHawk wrote:

Wait since when does Netflix rent video games now?

it doesnt, as far as i know.

gamefly does.

See that's what I thought. I'm not insane. Good.

Joined: May 22 2008 Location: Goshen, VA Posts: 6544

You are still most assuredly insane, just not pertaining to the topic at hand.

Posted: Dec 29 2009 08:43 pm

You can also get the up to two movies a month package for $5, great for those who have little freetime. Serious, stop acting like the target is fat shut-ins.

Title: Titlating Joined: Dec 17 2007 Posts: 5042

Well I think red box is nice too for those times when you just feel like a movie and don't want a video store, unfortunately not everyone has a redbox.

Posted: Dec 29 2009 11:39 pm

Optimist With Doubts wrote:

Well I think red box is nice too for those times when you just feel like a movie and don't want a video store, unfortunately not everyone has a redbox.

they're everywhere out here in az. Circle k, walgreens, bashas, safeway etc etc.