If Blockbuster knew which way was up, they’d assemble an emergency task force of IT professionals, and rebuild their business model from the ground up, leveraging all that high speed digital technology has to offer, and throw in some new feature or twist that Netflix doesn’t have. A longshot but pretty much their only route to survival.
“Even the IBM computers are running the same floppy disks from the 1990s, she said, shocking the younger employees.
“No one can hack these computers, so that’s a good thing,” she said.”
LOL
Especially Sears. They were the Amazon of their day. Both didn't want to cannibalize in-store sales.
I would think that if customers wanted to park in front of your store you would be better off letting them do so. Rather than chasing them off so people can take pictures of your failing business.
I remember buying a DVD player sometime back in the very late 1990’s and there was a coupon for the new Netflix. I was a bit leery about it so I never joined but as Netflix grew I often wondered why Blockbuster didn’t try to do something about the competition. Redbox too.
They had enough corporate muscle and finances to move into those arenas yet didn’t make a move. I guess they didn’t learn from Sears.
I hope Starbucks will be next.
No luck. Customers flooded the store and called to ask if Harding's store had them in stock. Of course, Harding told them.
Gene Wilder died?
Once upon a time Blockbuster execs mocked Netflix as Netflix offered itself to BB for sale at a nominal price. Reminds me of the media mocking Trump back in 2015.
Polaroid is another example. Although never as big as Kodak, Polaroid was a large, well-established company. They were about the only significant player in the “instant photography” marketplace.
They developed instant movies in the 70s — just as Betamax and VHS came out.
They had little interest in digital photography when that was new.
Today, there is some “retro” interest in Polaroid, but the company is a shell of what it once was. It was a failure of vision.
Blockbuster and Hollywood video had a better selection than Netflix. You could also rent games from Netflix, which isn’t possible online. You either buy it or you don’t.
I always enjoyed going to Blockbuster and other video stores. Of course, I haven’t been to one in twenty years. Time marches on!
Our town has a Family Video/Marco’s Pizza that seems to be doing all right. I believe it is pretty much a Midwest operation.
How do they compete with my library that offers DVDs for free if I merely have the patience to wait till they're available to me?
All I have to do is wait till the library receives the DVD then reserve it and be placed on a waiting list. Once my reservation comes up, I receive an email telling me I can come in and pick it up.........
Blockbuster or Redbox can't even come close to that........
I hated their late fees.
The one in Charlevoix,Mi. is now an O’Reilly Auto Parts store.
I used to sell (place) pay telephones at $450 a pop.