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Does anyone else miss Blockbuster Video shop???

35 replies

MidiMitch · 28/12/2018 18:14

Just that really. I miss the ritual of going to choose a video. Netflix just isn't the same as the excitement of choosing a video in Blockbusters and then popping into the chippy for tea. Lots about our childhood was rubbish in comparison with our DCs but at least we had that Smile

OP posts:
EffYouSeeKaye · 28/12/2018 19:36

Too much choice definitely makes me unhappy. There’s far too many tv/dvd/download/catch-up/streaming options now. And the one thing I want is never bloody available.

We constantly have a back-log of things we want to watch. It makes me feel stressed. Ridiculous.

EffYouSeeKaye · 28/12/2018 19:38

Same thing with restaurant menus as well. I like a one page menu. Apart from the weariness of making a decision I also think that it can’t all be freshly prepared if there’s too much choice.

stabbybitch · 28/12/2018 19:52

Yes really miss it! Ours has been gone about 6 years now. DP and kids would take a walk up there on a Friday evening while I tidied the house & ordered takeaway. Family movie for all of us then horrors once the kids were in bed. Ooo & the pic n pix & popcorn was a highlight too.

stabbybitch · 28/12/2018 19:55

When I was a kid though we had a 'video man' who would come round every Thursday and rent out videos from the boot of his car. He had a catalog list & you would order it for the next week!

hmmwhatatodo · 28/12/2018 20:54

We had a video man who came round with his van and we also had an independent video rental shop a bit later on. I only seem to remember renting the Goonies and Labyrinth from them. Later, a shop like blockbusters opened though I’m convinced it had another name and finally my small boring town had a bit of glitz to it. I remember getting so excited about what new films would be out! Later I took my own children to blockbusters right up until they closed down. We had some sort of summer holiday deal where you could rent something like 3 films a day every day for not a lot of money. The only pain was having to return them (and ignoring the overpriced sweets). Scrolling through Netflix isn’t the same and is it just me or is the Amazon prime selection rubbish?!

rslsys · 28/12/2018 21:21

Bought our Blu-ray player from Blockbuster. Came with Blu-ray disks that were worth more than the player and a voucher (when you registered the warranty) that got you even more FOC Blu-ray disks - can't think why they went under . . .

Looks like we'll all be getting nostalgic for HMV soon :-(

FireUnderpants · 28/12/2018 21:41

We had a video rental shop in the village when growing up. My mum used to give us money to pick a film and some sweets. I've just realised she probably did it to have a break from the 3 of us in the school holidays! It was a long walk there and back, and we would take ages to all agree what to pick. We would watch it several times to get our money's worth and then need to walk back to return it the following day.

There used to be a blockbuster in town next to a chipshop. Saturday nights haven't been the same since it closed.

DeathyMcDeathStarFace · 28/12/2018 23:01

Like Todayillbebetter we used to buy the cream cheese frosted blueberry compote cake things from Safeway.

I also miss Blockbusters. When dh and I were first dating, and for many years afterwards, we'd go at least weekly, get at least two videos (later dvds, then blu-rays) and see what sweets etc were on special offer. We also bought our first Blu-ray player there, still have it. I was sad when they closed, but I suppose that one person hiring one or two films a week, even for many years, isn't enough to keep a business afloat!

I much prefer physical discs off our shelves to choose from than a digital download, but I also prefer a proper tv listing than something like Netflix. I find it easier to choose from Sky listings than Netflix at home, I think that is just how my brain is wired. Dh can't understand it, he's the opposite.

In one town we used to live in, after Blockbusters closed, a friend's dad opened a 'corner shop' at the end of our street. One side was sweets, bread, some other groceries etc and the other was dvds. We used to go there sometimes but there was nowhere near as much choice as Blockbusters had had and we weren't quite sure if he had the right licences or whatever he needed. He also started selling illegal tobacco products from overseas (his daughter told me) so we stopped going. He closed soon after, but he and his wife have a big holiday every year and I think he was using it to fund that one year.

I also miss Woolworth's sales. Up in The Metro Centre, near where we used to live, the was a big Woolworth's and we used to go there every time we went to The Metro Centre. Unfortunately they couldn't survive on one person buying everything from them at sale prices.

Todayillbebetter · 29/12/2018 19:41

OMG Deathly!! Really?? I have never met anyone else ever that had them. They were the food of the Gods.....

overitalready · 29/12/2018 19:44

Oh i miss it as well especially right now my DH is attempting to set up a fucking Amazon fire stick Angry

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