Blockbuster UK entered administration today, casting doubt over the future of the last video (DVD and games) rental shop in Abingdon (at Peachcroft shops).
Back in the 1990s every row of shops seemed to have a video rental business.
Commentators say that business has been lost to online rentals. But, if our family is anything to go by, business has also been lost to a return to watching films at the cinema.
Nearby, outside Budgens, beside the big peas, I see that Abingdon Town Council could take over from the Vale of White Horse District Council as the main fund provider for the Abingdon Arts Festival from 2014 and save it from administration.
Below, I see that HMV have a big sale, as they too have just gone into administration. You can read on the Not Abingdon Blog how HMV Christmas gift cards have been declared worthless by the heartless administrator Deloitte.
Not sure it’s fair to call the administrators heartless; they’re there to try to salvage a business and clean up the mess. No point incurring more debt for an already insolvent business.
HMV had already incurred the debt when it sold the gift cards.
It seems unjust for the administrator to ban the exchange for merchandise that is presumably still available for cash purchase. At the very least the card holders should have a place in line with other creditors. Why is their claim “declared worthless”?
Blockbusters is another of those companies that make you wonder how they survived so long.
their glory day was the 80s home video rental boom – haven’t been in one for years.
I am devastated about Blockbuster. When there is nothing on the television I often go to Blockbuster at Peachcroft to get the odd film or two. I think we can see past the present Goverment’s propensity for bashing the unemployed in that thousands of hard working people are being made unemployed in this country through no fault of their own. Can we sustain the present levels of immigration in this country if we have these high levels of unemployment especially 20% youth unemployment?
Janet – I think you’re wrong to link the governments policies with the demise of blockbuster (and likewise hmv). These are businesses which, I’m afraid, have failed to adapt to the changing needs of consumers. Most people don’t rent videos (or DVDs these days) because its far easier to do the same thing online. I’m sorry for the staff involved as its not their fault, but have little sympathy for the business overall – let’s face it abingdon would be full of coopers, farriers and monks copying books if businesses didn’t respond to changing technology and consumer demand.
But there’s good news for you Janet – I noticed Dominoes pizza have started running a movie delivery service, so you can still get the odd film in Abingdon if there’s nothing on telly.
Had an email from Online Commercial of Blockbuster.
(Sales and Rental)
They will continue trading, and having latest releases available.
They used to have e-coupons for their Stores in addition to your rental DVDs you could have an additional rent one/rent an extra free…they also tried a system instead of posting dvd/Blu Rays back, drop them in store. didn’t work, the Warehouse in Milton Keynes is huge/suspect supplies the stores as well……
Blockbusters Online:
The DVDs/Blu-rays and games: online {rental and sales} has been running for years. Watch them, and post them back ‘no time limit’ (they send another in a day or two -in little blue envelopes sent 1st class.
I think this made it easier than using the Shops, get them directly from the Warehouse.
Similar to “Love Film” (owned by Amazon).
It’s not just the way we can rent films that has changed, the way we watch TV has changed too. We now have access to Freeview, loads of channels, with films, re-runs etc. Not good quality but beats going to the video shop on a dank night. Not to mention catch up tv for most channels. Films on demand too. Social media, including Youtube for a laugh, is for a lot of people a new way of passing time and you don’t have to get out of your armchair.
This leads to lots of new jobs in new sectors, post, tech support, installations, and especially gyms etc to get rid of the lard from watching too much telly. And all these sectors have to supplied too. Businesses should note what Deming once said ‘change isn’t mandatory as survival isn’t compulsory’. However those employees affected by change have a tough time and should be supported through the difficult times.
We used to be big customers of Blockbuster, using our Tesco Clubcard tokens, but we got so bad at taking dvds back on time that we were paying out a lot of cash too! So we moved to lovefilm!
My son took a job application form into them yesterday 🙁
Working in Blockbuster on Peachcroft was my first job and I have fond memories of working there – in fact I think some of my graffiti is still inside the return box by the front door! It is a shame to see it go but it has been on the cards for some time. Most Blockbuster stores look a little run-down these days and I am surprised that they have lasted this long.
Hi Alastair, Thanks for this interesting post. Also for squeezing our (Saturn Fitness and Wellness and Therapy Centre) sign into the top right hand corner of the shot of Blockbuster.
Do you have any other pics which capture more of our unit above Blockbuster please?
If people really cared about Blockbuster and HMV so much they should have spent more money there.
The reason these companies have collapsed is people have found cheaper and ultimately better alternatives such as Amazon and eBay.
1 in 6 shops are shut compared to 1 in 20 in 2009 actually 20 high street shops shut everyday .
Another nail in Blockbuster’s coffin was the charity shops that offer DVDs and videos to keep cheaper than BB were renting them. They might not be as recent, bit it is the fun of finding an unexpected gem, as well as helping good causes, that makes it so satisfying. I got a boxed set of 3 seasons of Royle Family, including specials, for a fiver at Helen House shop.
This one isn’t closing immediately. Will be continuing for a while longer, though I know some staff will be looking for other employment.