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FacebookDid Netflix and Redbox Kill the Video Store?
When I moved to Hastings, I was happy to discover that there wasn’t a large chain video store like Blockbuster. It brought me back to my college days in Pullman when we would go “save Video Quest.” Pullman, which was about the same size of Hastings when I lived there, boasted two Blockbusters and the locally owned Video Quest. I don’t think we were attempting to make any sort of “down with the man…support local businesses” statement. We just liked the size, prices, and atmosphere of Video Quest.
That’s how I feel about Movie Gallery and Applause Video. I was sad to hear that Movie Gallery was closing. It does comfort me to know that it didn’t close because Blockbuster came to town. I guess now is a good time to admit that I am a Netflix member, so I am just as guilty as the next Netflix user. But the boyfriend and I don’t have exactly the same taste in movies (how could he not want to watch Sex and the City2????). Since most of the movies in my queue are based on my taste and not his (one can only see Hot Rod-type movies so many times), we rent videos every once in awhile from Movie Gallery. It was super convenient, especially when the mall location was still open. Before the Burlington location closed, it was still close by and we could always find a movie we both agreed on.
The other night, I suggested we rent a movie, and he responded with “where?” I pointed out that Applause Video was still open and that I had an account, so we headed there and found two movies, Hot Tub Time Machine and When in Rome. I have to say that Hot Tub exceeded my expectations and was pretty funny. He went to bed before When in Rome started. I liked it. Again, how could he not want to see a romantic comedy? Don’t all men enjoy watching movies about love entanglements?
I’m hoping with the closing of Movie Gallery that Applause Video will get more customers, thus keeping them in business for many years to come. I don’t mind living in a town without Starbucks. I do mind living in a town without a video store. Maybe I need to start “saving Applause” more often.
Tags: Applause Video, Netflix, Redbox
About the author: Russanne Erickson
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Netflix and Redbox definitely did not kill movie gallery in this town, movie gallery did.
I was used to the great customer service at Applause but Movie Gallery went in and offered some good specials so we started going to movie gallery. The new soon wore off when you could not ask questions because they were on their cell phones or talking to their friends. Browsing was also hard because of the way they divided the store.
We do use netflix because we can get cable shows like extreme engineers and older movies. Netflix is great but it is limited if you are wanting new releases. Our rental status with Applause has stayed about the same. Applause needs to know the limitations of netflix and keep their niche, not everyone has interenet as hard as that is to believe and beyond that they don’t always have the equipment to make the movies family viewing.
Thanks for your articles, keep them comming!