Blockbuster goes Blu-ray in the US and Canada

wee

only 1 of 5 BBusters have a few discs in my area, if they carry lots, and allow exchange in store for blu discs... then it might be time to switch back to blockbuster online.

yay!

[Post edited by kucoloco on Apr 10, 2008]

hey kucoloco,
I'm currently subscribed to blockbuster online with a blu-ray supporting store nearby. I use it all the time to exchange blu-rays for more blu-rays! So if your thinking about subscribing, I highly reccomend it! )

This news from Blockbuster is what I've been waiting for!

I live 2 mins from a Blockbuster and I like to rent my movies right away, not wait for them to come in the mail...so mail order movies aren't for me. Anyway, I think this news from Blockbuster is one of the BIGGEST steps towards the adoption of Blu Ray as the next movie format of choice.

Most people prefer to rent movies over buying them, and the fact that places like Blockbuster are going to promote Blu Ray is going to make a big difference IMO.

With all that said, we pay a fortune here in Canada to rent a Blu Ray flick from Blockbuster, so hopefully their prices come back in line.

Well Poster5 I may be the Master of the Obvious but there are dozens of people on here who will disagree with my take and say that they only order movies through the mail, that digital downloads are the way of the future, or that no one can afford Blu Ray...or another dozen arguments.

Glad to see you agree with my take but do me a favour and save me the condescending picture posts asshole.

....it was a cool picture though.
I'm at work right now and stressed to the nutz...so I'm a little on edge right now. I need a frickin beer.

Quote:
Most people prefer to rent movies over buying them, and the fact that places like Blockbuster are going to promote Blu Ray is going to make a big difference IMO.

Most people prefer renting? Who have you been talking to? In my circle of movie-loving friends, maybe 2 still rent. Some borrow within the network of friends more than buy, but we all realized long ago that, when you have several options for re-selling discs if you don't want to keep them, and that you can buy just about anything previously viewed within a few weeks of release, buying makes more sense. I rarely pay more than $10 for a movie, and I can re-sell the ones I don't want for anywhere from $5 to more than I paid. Renting makes no sense to me. If I end up liking the movie, now I would have to pay the rental cost as well as the purchase cost. Do you have some statistic to back up your claim?

As for Blu, who cares? The vast majority of people don't own a player, nor will they until prices drastically drop. And if you are desperate to rent Blu titles, the online rental sites are a better option anyway, and they already offer Blu. I don't think most people are upset to have to wait a few days for a title. I guess you're the exception.

[Post edited by interplanetaryspy on Apr 10, 2008]

Quote:
Most people prefer renting? Who have you been talking to?

Dude...people who primarily ONLY buy movies are in the minority. I am not arguing as to what is a better deal, or better for you...just that most people rent more movies than they buy, to say otherwise is foolish.

Go into your local Blockbuster and have a look at how many movies get rented on any given night...especially the new releases....that's who I've been talkin to.

Quote:
As for Blu, who cares? The vast majority of people don't own a player, nor will they until prices drastically drop.

Actually I would argue that the majority of people don't own a Blu player because of the cost of the decks AND just as importantly, they CAN'T RENT THE MOVIES ANYWHERE, AND DON'T WANT TO BUY EVERY FRICKIN MOVIE THEY WATCH.

Geez it's hard being an eagle when I fly with turkeys

[Post edited by Bosshog7 on Apr 10, 2008]

Have you actually looked at how many are rented, or are you assuming? (and you know what they say about assuming) Actually, and I frequent rental outlets regularly to buy PV movies, I have noticed a clear decrease in renting. I remember a time not long ago where even the newest releases with multiple copies would be all rented when you wanted them. When was the last time that happened to you recently? I never said a lot of people don't rent, but I wouldn't say most, unless you mean more than 50%, which statistically isn't "most". The only person I know who still goes to a video store to rent is my mom. Unless you have no interest in owning any movies, renting makes no sense. I think you will find that the number of people who rent has drastically decreased. As for Blu, the people who own Blu are also the people who love and collect movies, for the most part. I think, if you even take a poll on sites like this, you will find you are in the minority.

Well, I agree with Bosshog here... my local area Blockbuster (location closest to home) is often a 'mad-house' at night between 6:30 to 8:30, sometimes with a dozen or more people in line, movie(s) in hand, waiting to check out, and there are still more people browsing the aisles! Most Blockbuster stores still receive much of their profit from those regular walk-in, rent-it-now for $4.50-per-movie customers. Yeah, they could save by visiting a local RedBox-type kiosk, except that the selection is small, and often there's NOT enough copies of a hit movie for rental ('unavailable').

As for this recent news, I'm very happy, as (along with my Netflix membership), many here know I'm also a Blockbuster TOTAL ACCESS member, and can return my rental discs in-store, and pick up a free movie on the way out, with my next online movie being mailed and received within 1-2 days. NOW, I'll be able to swap locally for movies on Blu-ray as well!

TA members who have never changed their memberships (from Jan 2006), are allowed this local-return/free NEW rental option, as well as receiving their online rental discs too. And now in-store availability of Blu-ray Hi-Def!

Note: I wonder how long before Blockbuster drops HD-DVD from their online rental availability? Netflix has made the switch in parts of the country, as previously reported.



-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)