Blockbuster Is Going Bankrupt.

Discussion in 'User Submitted News' started by Vidboy10, Aug 27, 2010.

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  1. Vidboy10
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    Vidboy10 Tsardom

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    [​IMG]​
    Beleaguered rental chain Blockbuster's financial woes have gone from bad to really bad, with the LA Times reporting that the company will next month file for bankruptcy.

    According to "people who have been briefed on the matter", Blockbuster has already begun meeting with Hollywood's big movie studios to discuss the move, which its hoped will help them restructure $1 billion in debt and allow the company to get out of leases on around 500 of its stores.

    In total, between 500-800 stores (of a total of 3,425) will be shuttered as part of the move, to go with the 1000 closed last year.

    It's hoped that filing for bankruptcy will allow the company to continue to expand into new markets like automated kiosks and online streaming, but even if just under 3000 stores survive this mess, it sounds like the days of the bricks-and-mortar Blockbuster store could soon be coming to an end.[/p]
    [​IMG]Source
     
    #1 Aug 27, 2010
  2. Mantis41

    Mantis41 GBAtemp Advanced Maniac

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    Another victim of piracy.

    Now.... Why does Karate Kid keep saying can't render file........ Hmmmm.....
     
    #2 Aug 27, 2010
  3. Bladexdsl

    Bladexdsl ZOMG my posts...it's over 9000!!!

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    video rental stores are pretty much going obsolete anyway
     
    #3 Aug 27, 2010
  4. Mantis41

    Mantis41 GBAtemp Advanced Maniac

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    Quite true, with on demand services on the increase I would have thought they were a thing of the past.

    You know they will blame piracy for the demise no matter what.
     
    #4 Aug 27, 2010
  5. Fluto

    Fluto A potato in disguise

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    Block Buster went away very quickly in Aus lasted 3 months then Video Ezy came in

    in my town it was
    blockbuster - villagevideos - video ezy
    one after another they kept on buying the land
     
    #5 Aug 27, 2010
  6. Depravo

    Depravo KALSARIKÄNNIT

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    I only ever use Blockbuster for cheap used PS2 games and even then it's rare to find anything decent among the thousands of old Fifa's and Pro Evo's.
     
    #6 Aug 27, 2010
  7. smash_brew

    smash_brew I may or may not have fallen

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    I worked for blockbuster for 10 years. 5 as a general manager. I left a little over a year ago. To be honest im surprised that they have not completely folded yet. The store i was running was barely breaking even and that was only because we kept renegotiating the rent with the landlord. Glad i got out when i did.
     
    #7 Aug 27, 2010
  8. Guild McCommunist

    Guild McCommunist (not on boat)

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    Thing is, you only really want to go inside one when it says "Out of business sale!" and everything is dirt cheap.

    But with Netflix and on-demand services, no one goes out and rents movies any more. Plus movie piracy is just as easy as music piracy, so you may as well just pirate a movie and watch it.
     
    #8 Aug 27, 2010
  9. FAST6191

    FAST6191 Techromancer

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    I can not say I will shed a tear for this one. Every time I walk into the place I get the same feeling that I used to get when I walked into PC world (for the USians in the audience think the worst best buy you ever went into/heard about/imagined and then imagine that on a bad day).

    I reckon if they went the pile it high, sell/rent it cheap route rather than the cavernous open plan nonsense they have now and stopped trying to rip people off on hardware and snacks it might help- when I am considering walking into a co-op or spar to not get ripped off you know you are doing something wrong.
     
    #9 Aug 27, 2010
  10. injected11

    injected11 Crescent Fresh™

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    I doubt the problem was piracy. They got rocked by vending machines (Red Box, etc) and the internet (Netflix, Gamefly, etc).

    It's hard to compete with things that are newer, more convenient, cheaper, and still advertised. I'm amazed Blockbuster has lasted as long as it has, but it's time to pack up shop.
     
    #10 Aug 27, 2010
  11. gokujr1000

    gokujr1000 GBAtemp Advanced Maniac

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    I'm not to suprised about this in the city I live in we have 3 main Video Rental Stores here is the order on how big they are:

    Video Ezy ( Giant)

    Network Video (Bound to go bankrupt)

    Blockbuster( An old crappy store which no-one visits seeing everything they have availible is bad or already been played or seen 1 million times before therefore destroying every piece of nostalgia you once had)

    And then theres simple things like Netflix and Bigpond which allow you to order your games, dvds etc. online via the push of a button.
     
    #11 Aug 27, 2010
  12. Revolution [9]

    Revolution [9] GBAtemp Regular

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    I'm actually surprised it has took this long. The Blockbuster's around my area have gone out of business for at least half a year now. Things like Netflix and Red Box (for the average, law abiding citizen) must have taken its place.
     
    #12 Aug 27, 2010
  13. Bladexdsl

    Bladexdsl ZOMG my posts...it's over 9000!!!

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    there's still a BB here but i don't go to it cos they don't have many BRD or fail to get the new releases. that's the only time i go to a rental store now to rent BRD.
     
    #13 Aug 27, 2010
  14. Lilith Valentine

    Lilith Valentine GBATemp's Wolf-husky™ Melodramatic fool

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    I would feel bad, but I haven't had a Blockbuster in my area for years [​IMG] Hell thinking back I can barely remember where it was.
     
    #14 Aug 27, 2010
  15. DJPlace

    DJPlace P!ssed OFF Pyscho of GBA!!

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    i'm surpised my blockbuster is still around where i am living.
     
    #15 Aug 27, 2010
  16. Scott-105

    Scott-105 Bow to me. Please?

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    I already knew this was happening. It kind of sucks though.
     
    #16 Aug 27, 2010
  17. gov78

    gov78 Ha made you Look

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    blockbuster lol i aint been to one of them in about 7 years... rental is basically dead i havent ever rented a video game or movie from anyware in almost 10 years
     
    #17 Aug 27, 2010
  18. monkat

    monkat I'd like to see you TRY to ban me. (Should I try?.

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    Old news...I mean from piracy to netflix/redbox, blockbuster has a lot of competition....competition that is a lot cheaper.
     
    #18 Aug 27, 2010
  19. OSW

    OSW Wii King

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    Have to say I agree with you there FAST. Even here in melbourne, I always got the same feeling walking into blockbuster.
    Not that other stores don't try to capitalize on snacks and all, but the feeling from BB is just.. uncomfortable. And the prices were way steep!!!

    Also, last time I checked there was still a blockbuster about 5 minutes away from me. Pretty big one at that.
     
    #19 Aug 27, 2010
  20. Jakob95

    Jakob95 I am the Avatar

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    Now where will I go and rent games and then burn them into DVDs for myself to keep now?
     
    #20 Aug 27, 2010
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