Blockbuster Looking Into Possible Bankruptcy Filing

Would You Be Bummed If Blockbuster Went Bankrupt?

March 4, 2009

Rumor has it that Blockbuster is looking into bankruptcy as a possibility, which doesn't come as a huge surprise given the many other movie-renting options out there (not to mention the withering state of consumer confidence). Still, the blue and gold movie house has been around for some time. Would you miss it?

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30 Comments

3 years 41 weeks

Subscribed to Netflix in late '03ish, a week or so before Blockbuster's Collection agency came after me for a $10. late-fee. Collection agency notified me my BlockBuster "rental privelidge" was suspended until I paid them. "Oh no !" I thought. Not that threat again ! Too funny. I cut my BlockBuster card into 1/2's sending one 1/2 to BlockBuster and the second 1/2 to the Collection agency with a "not-so-polite" letter to each about my recent subscription to Netflix's no late-fee guarantee. Now there is RedBox $1.00 DVD rental too. Even if BlockBuster offered me 1/2 of my lifetime late-fee money back, I would still boy-cott this company due to their fleecing their customer history. Over the years, Blockbuster made several claims the movie I returned was never returned. How do you prove that you returned the movie and should not be charged for the loss ? NetFlix and Redbox became an option at a perfect time I was desperate for a better product / rental company.

care0531 4 years 10 weeks

I had Netflix but I can't think that far in advance plus I have a bluray dvd player and they don't have bluray dvds. We usually only use our bluray now if we own the movie and we do payperview or ondemand.

care0531 4 years 10 weeks

LET ME TELL YOU! I liked when Blockbuster went to no late fees and I haven't rented from them in a while and when I renturned it a day too late I was charged for it. They have a new rental program too where you have to return it in 24 hours or you pay more to keep them longer and that was when I walked out that door and I said NEVER AGAIN RENT FROM BLOCKBUSTER! What a rip off and if they are struggling its because of their poor marketing and selling.

Ladytron7000 4 years 10 weeks

Goodbye VHS, goodbye blockbuster. Blockbuster should have seen it coming and adapted more quickly.

Symphonee 4 years 11 weeks

Gosh No. I haven't rented from Blockbuster since 199something. Now Rite-Aid, that's a totaly different story.

cheechee524 4 years 11 weeks

The one thing I will miss about blockbuster is buying the cheap used DVDs!

poissondujour 4 years 11 weeks

I can't bring myself to care about a company that feels the need to censor movies.

rocketgirl 4 years 11 weeks

I would hate to lose Blockbuster. I don't think far enough ahead for Netflix, and the college town's library doesn't have much of a selection.

dioraddict 4 years 11 weeks

Nope, Netflix is way more convenient. Plus, Blockbuster charges late fees and I would ALWAYS forget to turn the movies in on time.

leeluvfashion 4 years 11 weeks

No, I just rent films from either iTunes or Pay-Per-View/Video On Demand. I do feel slightly "bummed" because Blockbuster used to be all the rage and it has no gone the way of the dinosaur; I'll sort-of miss driving by the place since I have memories of going there as a child.

aimeeb 4 years 11 weeks

Nope.

crystalm07 4 years 11 weeks

Blockbuster is way too expensive atleast around here. Love my Netflix.

smartiez 4 years 11 weeks

Yes. Ever since the Hollywood Video near my house closed down, I go to Blockbuster. I really don't like netflix, so I wouldn't have any other way to get my movies.

Antioxidant 4 years 11 weeks

Maybe. My mom occasionally rents DVDs from Blockbuster and we watch them together. It would limit our movie watching time a bit since she's not very good at adapting to new stuff like Netflix...

lindssaurussss 4 years 11 weeks

i love blockbuster....i remember when they first opened and took all the other video store business out....aaawww memories. when will that happen to walmart....but seriously blockbuster.....where can i go to get movies where im in the moment...i might not want the same movie days later when i get it in the mail...and red-box is very limited. netflix is great to get tv dvd but not movies that i want RIGHT now....not very convenient.

Spectra 4 years 11 weeks

Nope, we get Netflix and go to the library. If we want to watch a movie right away, we watch the "instant" movies on Netflix. I'm surprised more video rental places aren't going bankrupt, actually. Netflix is such a good concept and such a better deal than renting from an actual store.

emalove 4 years 11 weeks

Do people still go here?? Everyone I know has Netflix or uses RedBox. All the Blockbuster stores (and other video stores, for that matter) near my house closed awhile ago.

dvdchris 4 years 11 weeks

A company filing for bankruptcy has no effect on the average consumer. I never understood the obsession some people have with the dealings of the upper management of companies. Companies sometimes file for bankruptcy. This usually protects them from creditors as they re-organize their business. As for Blockbuster, this was proven to be false yesterday by 4pm Eastern time. Yet this rumor still persists. The fact is, the type of customers that frequent Blockbuster are not the same people that comment on internet forums. There is a huge percentage of the population that is very slow to move to different consumer habits. There are people that will NEVER stream movies online, rent DVDs by mail, use PPV, etc. These people are comfortable with physical media, going into a store, having a clerk/customer interaction, and browsing physical aisles of product. NOTHING else will replace that in the foreseeable future for these people.

ktownpolarbear 4 years 11 weeks

Nope. I still have a membership, but last time I went, the movie I rented was scratched and wouldn't play. I had to argue with the manager for 20 minutes before they offered to give me a free replacement rental.

sandy82 4 years 11 weeks

My friend's husband works for Blockbuster so I would be sad for her.

Modus Vivendi 4 years 11 weeks

Nah. I use netflix or the library. If i really wanted something THAT NIGHT I would just download it.

ilanac13 4 years 11 weeks

i'm a netflix customer, so it wouldn't really affect me. to be honest, there's just an ease to getting things delivered rather than going to BB. the one time that my fiance and i went there a couple weeks ago, they didn't have ANYTHING that we wanted to see in stock so it was kind of a wasted trip.