sl62

Blockbuster Still Lacks a Digital Media Strategy, Ten Years Later

looks like your 1.25 late fee is now the price of BBI stock. Hmmm. Guess shareholders didn't have to wait all that long to be back over a buck..and, uh, which does not happen to be me. I just can see a crank agenda from a mile away and don't care for it. thank you and happy trading.


On Aug 19 02:20 PM Tomcat101 wrote:

> And BBI's customer service sucks too. Let's not forget that.
>
> At a time when they had HUGE signs all over every window on the store
> saying "NO LATE FEES", they hit me with a $1.25 late fee. They called
> it something like a "restocking fee".
>
> I asked the Asst. Mgr. for a refund. She said no. Asked the Store
> Mgr., she said no. Then I sent an email to the corp. office. Within
> a day or two the Regional Mgr. called me and refunded my money. All
> this over $1.25.
>
> If they go belly-up like Circuit City they have no one to blame but
> themselves.

Blockbuster Still Lacks a Digital Media Strategy, Ten Years Later

mr rayburn...

Again, nothing against you but I am unsure of your agenda. I have to wonder what makes someone write so many words on the perceived lack of development by this company in the digital media delivery space. Something irks you that much, yet you say you are neutral the company in every way? I'm perplexed by your empassioned motivation. Maybe you can enlighten me. And again, your company comparisons between BBI, iTunes (AAPL), Netflix, et al, also make me wonder. You never addressed my issue that BBI is postioned very differently than any of those other companies. Why? Because BBI is the one coming off and evolving from being completely dominant in the B&M video rental space as it once existed.

>>with more than 7,400 company-owned or franchised stores in more than 20 countries (about 60% are in the US). The chain rents more than 1 billion videos, DVDs, and video games at its Blockbuster Video outlets each year.<<

Why can't you just admit that their evolution into the digital media arena is much much much different than anyone else. Instead you vilify them for it. Did Netflix corner the VHS/then DVD video store rental market since 1985? Have they ammassed 7400 stores in more than 20 countries? iTunes? No they haven't. Netflix came along in 1999 with a new spin on the DVD delivery market (for lazy American consumers I might add) and it took hold. Good for them and I applaud their success. With no B&M from go, you're surprised they so easily transitioned into digital delivery and are successful at it? It's really a no-brainer. But again, apples and oranges to the BBI model that will take much longer for that same saturated transition (because of from where it is they are coming and who their comsumer base is). Knowing these issues of disparity that exist between the different companies in the space I am at least willing to let BBI continue to show me some new moves as they continue working into digital. Yes, they have work to do, but I just told you why my posts. Will they ever become the new leader in the new space..I doubt it. But because of their advantage when it comes to access to actuakl content, I won't say never. But they've been leading their space as it existed for MANY years. They're like a lot of companies coming from all B&M roots. They are reinventing themselves over time. Not in the snap of your fingers as you would like. I asked you in my last post. What would you do with all the stores? Close them all down at the same time and just proclaim we are now only about digital?? c'mon man...

Again, I'm not sure from where your uber passion eminates that BBI is not the current leader in digital delivery. But whatever. You say you don't own the stock. Are you a bondholder? For a guy with seemingly no connection to the company, your article wreaks of bitterness, and a sense of urgency for changes to be made. What gives?

Lastly with 2008 sales @ $5.3B, I think this company has more than just a chance at successfully completing their evolution into the brave new all-digital world.

Blockbuster Still Lacks a Digital Media Strategy, Ten Years Later

mr rayburn...

My response is a response to your rambling, redundant article. I have nothing against you, but that's what your article does. It rambles about how BBI's digital strategy progress doesn't conform to your standards to-date. Whether or not you even present facts in this case is irrelevant because that is strictly your opinion. The truth is, just by the Samsung deal alone, it is proven they have a digital strategy. But again, not far advanced enough for your liking. Ok. I can accept your opinion but not over and over and over. Your article should have been half as long and I don't feel like you proved your case, because your case was weak to begin with. Again. THE FACTS are that BBI has proven they have "some" strategy in place RIGHT NOW and are developing it. Facts about current deals that you yourself present, that I reiterated, and which are common knowledge to anyone familiar with this company. Finally, the fact that you ended with pure conjecture bothers me. Again, it's your opinion, but nowhere near necessarily accurate. And..you yourself admitted the online delivery industry is still in its infancy. I don't know what kind of businessman you are but my experience supports that being a leader in anything that is still in its infancy, means very little and doesn't ensure longevity nor long-term profitablity. Did you ever stop to think it IS BBI's strategy to be a little late to a party that is no where near ramped up? What you are doing is not allowing for how the company is currently gauging their own consumer base. Did you ever also think that their current loyal base which now dates back to 1985, are of certain demographics that don't even freaking know what the word digital means? The transition they are making is tricky because of the heavy legacy they still must successfully manage...retaining current loyal muscle-memory consumers used to the B&M space, while at the same time showing both that contingent AND new and future contingents the new directions in which they are heading. You think this is easy??? They have little choice but to transition slower from their heavy B&M legacy. Or would you say I'm just dreaming this?? But you can only make apples to oranges comparisons to their newer age start-up model competitors who have no connection whatsoever to B&M nor what it means to have to navigate and ween away from such a model. All you can say is "look at how cool Netflix is..they don't use any B&M..they leave BBI in the dust!" Apples and oranges my friend.

For you to just rant on about how they are not digital enough for your taste is not much of an argument. Sorry. In my humble opinion, BBI is still a viable player in the space and will continue to be so for many years to come as they change with the industry. Not at the pace you want them to change, but at the pace that makes sense for the business as a whole. As said, come back in another year and I want to hear what you have to say then as to how the company is doing. Thank you.

Blockbuster Still Lacks a Digital Media Strategy, Ten Years Later

Man...you're a bitter dude. And thanks for telling us why up front:

>>Globix never did get Blockbuster's delivery business <<

Still hurting from not getting their business my friend? I think so. Get over it and move on. Writing incessant crap like l this over and over and over "where is your digital strategy" "and "boo hoo..mommy, mommy, they're not compatible with my precious mac" does not an informative article make.

And this:

>>Sadly, I don't think Blockbuster will ever be a leader in the digital media arena. While I don't think it's too late in the market, they simply don't have the mentality or the foresight that they showed ten years ago. And while the online video movie industry is still in its infancy, if and when Blockbuster gets its act together, I think the opportunity will have already passed them by.<<

is a completely nutty swirling sucking eddy of conjecture and contradiction. So..let's see. According to you, the online video industry is still in its infancy (which you are correct, it is and still years away from being de rigeur)...yet you're betting your house, wife and kids that BBI has already missed the boat? Missed the boat of an emerging industry still in its infancy? How do you make that correlation? When they are announcing deals like with Samsung this week and the deal with TiVo earlier? Just because you're not happy with how those moves fit into YOUR life, or maybe they are a little later than others who never came from all B&M and freaking VHS, it doesn't mean they're not good moves or that the company is not thinking about the future of their own industry. Making the transition from 100% B&M, coming from the simplicity of VHS, et al, into digital and online delivery is not as immediate as you flippantly make it out to be. They can't just implement a brand new model on a dime while they still have all the legacy B&M out there still. What do you suggest? They just close all their stores down and become Netflix? And to that, Netflix has their own issues with DVD headed for extinction. Doesn't work that way my man. And so what 'if' they are experimenting with things like kiosks, that favor the concept that people actually LIKE GOING OUT WHERE OTHER PEOPLE ARE and not sitting in front of a boring computer. So what?...if they haven't yet decided to totally abandon the social consumer experience model. They're trying it to see if a hybrid shows any strength (while they still have the capability). If not, they'll keep moving on. Fact is, they have more than enough time to experiment a little to assess the future mix of B&M (while they continue to tighten that up by downsizing the number of stores) and while also putting the new digital model in place. They are a behemoth brand that has many more issues to deal with than you give them credit for. But they clearly show, they are making the moves they should be making on the digital side of the equation to eventually arrive at the right mix of delivery strategy.. but please.. Never forget my friend, that BBI holds pocket aces over their competition when it comes to CONTENT (which as we know is king!). And in this case meaning they get new movie content before any competitor, who have to wait for the PPV release market. What will you write about when they fully complete their model mix transition AND they are the first-in supplier of content. Hmmm. I'll look for your next article about a year from now. Can't wait to see what dirty socks you'll have in your mouth then!

Take a breath, grab a beer and reboot your take on the world. My advice to you: please stop thinking about how BBI "screwed you" back in 1999 and go follow another company. Thank you.