One of Americas last VHS rental stores

[Dude111]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7FFMZUywt0

Its about one of the few remaining video rental stores,and not only that,a store which mainly rents VHS tapes.

I wonder how many renters he does have?


Another of the few left (Seattle WA): http://blog.scarecrow.com

[kf4rca]

I wonder if the guy has very much traffic. Sounds like a hobby business. How does he make the rent and business license fees?

[Electronic M]

Driving around the country I've seen a good number of Family Video stores still opperating . There's probably still a decent market in some places.

[Dude111]

Yes thankfully!!!!!

[pac.attack76]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

Driving around the country I've seen a good number of Family Video stores still opperating . There's probably still a decent market in some places.

I doubt it. Mostly DVD and Blu-ray rental now and most DVDs can be bought around$2. They're most likely feeling the hurt. Netflix and red box killed the video star. Last store here was Silver Screen Video and it folded.

[user181]

Originally Posted by pac.attack76

I doubt it. Mostly DVD and Blu-ray rental now and most DVDs can be bought around$2. They're most likely feeling the hurt. Netflix and red box killed the video star. Last store here was Silver Screen Video and it folded.

What's your basis for contradiction? I too have heard that Family Video does well for itself. Places that are geographically remote/sparsely-populated and/or without widespread reliable high speed internet access still need video stores.

[WCV82]

I agree that Family Video does well in smaller towns/lower socioeconomic areas that also don't have alot of high speed internet options. Many of the Family Video stores I see also pair their lease with a take out pizza chain like Hungry Howie's or Dominoes or something.

For instance there is one that is in a town about 30 minutes west of me. This town has a handful of Redboxes and not many high speed internet options, so Family Video is always busy. If they had one where I live they would not succeed as there are Red Boxes everywhere and 2 high speed internet options plus our local library has literally 3,000 unique DVDs that can be rented for free in their inventory.

To answer the $2 DVD comment, yes the low prices of DVDs (and digital options) are starting to hurt Redbox alot, high traffic locations that have them are maybe 1/4 as busy as they were 5 years ago. It used to be on a Friday night there was a line of 6 or 7 people to get a movie. Now they can get them from the library for free or stream them online for not much more than a Redbox rental plus no late fees. Redbox was the "next best thing" but I bet they don't last more than 3 or 4 years tops.