Use it or lose it: Do you care if your local video rental store goes away?

They're fast disappearing in my neighborhood. The Blockbuster shuttered a while back and only two of the five independent shops are left, but their days are numbered. For me it's like deja vu all over again, I remember in the '80s and '90s when record stores were dropping like flies. The real death knell came last year when Tower Records slid into oblivion, and I really miss the two NYC stores.

(Credit: Blockbuster)

I think it's sad when local businesses whither and die, and we customers send our dollars and those lost jobs out of state. NYC is turning into a city of Starbucks, chain stores, fast food joints and lots and lots of banks. Sure, I Netflix most of my movies nowadays, but for me DVDs aren't precious the way music is. I have no idea why so many people regularly buy movies they rarely watch. Do they think having a copy of "Hitch" or "Ocean's Thirteen" on the coffee table will impress anybody?

As you can guess I'm no collector of DVDs (except for concert DVDs, which I watch on a regular basis), but I have thousands of CDs and thousands more LPs. I listen to them all the time--movies, even ones I really love aren't repeatable experiences. One viewing is pretty much all I need. When I buy a CD I like I might listen to it ten times in the first month, and still go back for more months and years later. I'm sure I've listened to my Beatles and 'Stones albums hundreds of times, and that's not going to stop. Same deal with certain jazz artists like Thelonious Monk and Charles Mingus, I can't get enough of their music. I regularly find gems lurking on my shelves and discover great music I bought years ago and forgot.

Here in New York City there are still lots of great independent record shops, so I'm pretty much set. For you video guys, well, it's Amazon and Netflix. That's kinda sad.

[bob.mcclenahan]

What's a video rental store?

I've been with Netflix for about ten years now. Love it! I went to a mom and pop store once. They didn't carry widescreen movies. 'nough said.

[ldburroughs]

Kids and Disney DVDs.

I tend to agree that I rarely watch a movie more than once. Even then, I can always rent it if I really want to watch it. So while this is the case for me, it is far from the case for my three daughters. They can watch a Disney movie the same way you listen to your CD/album collection. In fact, they may give you a run for your money.

That said, however, I have no problem running out to a Target for a new release or ordering a classic online through any number of the cyber-retailers. And to be quite honest, I can't remember the last time I listened to a CD or album. My music is all in one place, on a small portable device, waiting patiently to be played. My former collection of space-wasting jewel cases and scratched up CDs now collects dust in boxes, neatly tucked away in a closet under the stairs.

Maybe they'll go the way of the cassette tape. I can remember all too well the period of time between the album and the CD when the walkman reigned and the portable revolution began. My cassettes didn't even make it to a resting place beneath the stairs.

As for the local rental stores, I prefer Redbox for new releases. Call me impatient or impulsive, but Netflix doesn't do it for me when I want to be spontaneous. For everything else, online or mail order will work just fine. So long local rental stores. Hello convenient vending machines.

[acardes]

If that's sad, call me miserable...

We are visual creatures; day dwellers that are captivated by the invisible grasp of music and sound. For me, the impact of music and photos can be sudden and bold, or slowly maturing over time.

However, the combination of images and sound has brought me more laughter, anger, and everything in between than any other art.

To say one is superior to the other is ridiculous, and you are unfortunately probably either blind or deaf.

And hell, if I want to rewatch the movie I'll re-rent it.

[epitone]

Not a problem in L.A....

Though Netflix is king in terms of selection and convenience, we have plenty of independent vid stores (Vidiots, Rocket Video, etc.); and on the music side there's Amoeba, whose stock of LPs alone exceeds the entire inventory of most Towers.

[andrewbaggins]

Good riddance to expensive video stores!

Our local video store charges $3.99 + tax (total $4.28) to rent a new release DVD movie. Many of their new release titles have been out for over 18 months.
With Netflix, we watch about two movies a week which averages out to about $1.75 per DVD, plus they offer a HUGE selection.
Driving past our local video store over the weekend I noticed they are having a closing-down sale. Good riddance to high prices and small selection.

[dcrole]

Buying DVDs...

I know many folks like you who simply cannot watch a movie again, even one they really enjoyed. I am on the other side of this fence. I won't buy or even watch most movies, but when I find one I really like, I can watch it a number of times (with a reasonable break inbetween!). Usually I pick up many subtleties in the second viewing that I missed the first time.

Also, television tends to irk me with mostly weak programming, bombastic adverts, and frequent schedule changes. When enough is enough, I switch over to the trusty DVD player and pop in a favourite movie.