>>>Blockbuster has filed for bankruptcy
>>>
>>>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11397020
>>
>>You knew that was coming. Video rental stores are a dying business.
>
>For what they were doing, they deserve it. The most sleazy practices designed to take out as much money out of you, counting on your habits. I guess the percentage of their income that came from punishing their customers wasn't small.
>
>And they had a very limited assortment of titles. I once imagined these video stores would be like libraries, where you would find titles you can't find in a store, or the ones you wanted to see but were out of town. None of that. Or, what there was, was limited to maybe 2% of what they had.
>
>Hollywood chain was a bit better, but not much different. They blew their only chance to do me wrong fairly early. Are they still in the game?


Their stores where often in good locations.
I don't see why they didn't install cafes, hold film nights/discussions etc.
Have better staff who knew about and where interested in film.
Make the places a celebration of the film industry.

But as you say a trip there was usually dismal and uninspiring. I think there is a place for going and hiring a film but it has to make it a bit of a social event and not leave you feeling ripped off.