Entering your local Blockbuster-type rental store isn’t as easy as it looks. The hits are easy to spot – the store will have a dozen or so copies and you’ll know them by heart from their ad campaigns. But too often you’ll see some name actors in projects you’ve never heard of before.
I posted a simple primer for successfully navigating the local video store over at eHow.com. I spent about five years working for a Mom and Pop video store (we’re talking VHS), and I took pride in steering customers toward movies that matched their tastes. I suspect not every Blockbuster employee takes similar care.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
who goes to a video store any more?
Don’t we just netflix/download rent/hit PPV on the cable?
Plenty of people still do hit their local Blockbuster for the latest movies. Some habits die hard. But will Blockbuster-type stores even exist in five years? Likely not.
I always like to overhear the store staff giving knowledgeable advice to renters with good questions. Smart to go in with a list, it’s very easy to get distracted. Though I rent most online, it’s fun to go in the store. I think you’re right, their days are probably numbered.
Linda – The video store experience is one more thing that will be cast aside by the digital revolution. While it’s an imperfect process, I will miss it.
sorry – I have been working in the video store business for 12 years and I can tell you renting in a store is something you just can’t recreate – a fair amount of people just watch the “big stuff” but there are people who are very discriminating about what they want to watch. With the economy the way it is subscription renting will too suffer -as predicted, they got greedy the minute the big rental stores closed. Customer Service is where it’s going to be – a familiar face who knows what you like and actually watches what is on the shelves. Someone who appreciates your hard earned $$ – not just an account number.