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Bankrupt Blockbuster
The video game rental store is…wait, they rent DVDs too?
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By the end of next month, Blockbuster may declare bankruptcy, and yes, I’m surprised it hasn’t already happened, too.
According to Maria Halkias of the Dallas News, “A ‘pre-planned’ bankruptcy filing in mid-September is now considered the most likely scenario for Blockbuster. That would require agreement from the company’s biggest creditors and suppliers, among others.” Later, “So far this year, it has closed 507 U.S. stores and renegotiated leases on 673 locations.”
In Manhattan, only seven storefronts exist, which is about the number of Dunkin Donuts you’ll find in Times Square alone. Also, Blockbuster has 7,770 Twitter followers; Netflix, 27,384. I’m not picking on Blockbuster just because it’s easy (well, maybe slightly), but also because when I had Blockbuster Online instead of Netflix, I got frustrated at the availability of new DVDs. Or lack there of. Their supply was extremely limited and the overall selection was subpar. Hence the switch to Netflix. When I want to watch Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas, I don’t want to wait.
The one person lamenting the fate of Blockbuster (y’know, besides all the people who work there and depend on it for their income…now I’m depressed) is Dave Brockie of Gwar who once, um, sang, “Get me the hell out of Dodge/I’ll turn in my card at the Moose Lodge/But first let me settle my account at Blockbuster/And bid fond adieu to my friend General Custer.”
Soon, like Gwar, we’ll all be turning in our cards. If we had one in the first place.