alexbakertech

Blockbuster's Online Focus is Killing its Competitive Advantage

I think you present a very interesting analysis. However, I think that it must be noted that Blockbuster's brick and cement disadvantage is not going away. If they sold every store today they would be left with a lot of cash but not a strong enough customer base to follow them into the internet world. Blockbuster NEEDS to use its stores to offer an alternative to the, already well-crafted, structure of Netflix.

Also, your suggestion about wireless in Blockbusters cracks me up. Do you really see Blockbuster being the place to hang out and check your e-mail?? Starbucks...okay. Airports....okay. But who is goign to bring their laptop into a blockbuster?? Or, furthermore, who carries their laptop around and finds themselves in a blockbuster?


If blockbuster can deliver their promised doubling of online customers by the end of the year we may see a difference in the Netflix dominated online retailers. I think Blockbuster is losing focus of what really seperates itself from Netflix——VIDEO GAMES. Obviously a smaller market, the Nintendo Wii focuses on small easy games that really lose their excitment after a week. Blockbuster could make a killing on the new systems if they offered games online, which Netflix does not and Blockbuster is slowly realizing they need to do.