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Blockbuster UK Collapses
- Thread starter joshc807
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IanB
TS Member
Does anyone else think that blaming a Tory Goverment, which is very pro business, when business go bust is a little funny?
I don't think it would of made any different who was in power. Blockbuster failed to move with the times when it came to a online presence. The sad thing is, had Blockbuster got a online presence first, with the brand name, they would have probably got more people signed up then LoveFilm or the other companies out there.
I just wonder if one of the online companies may look at buying blockbuster, because I am not sure who else would be interested.
I am also surprised at how many people work at Blockbuster, as I did not expect it to be nearly the same number as HMV.
Ian
I don't think it would of made any different who was in power. Blockbuster failed to move with the times when it came to a online presence. The sad thing is, had Blockbuster got a online presence first, with the brand name, they would have probably got more people signed up then LoveFilm or the other companies out there.
I just wonder if one of the online companies may look at buying blockbuster, because I am not sure who else would be interested.
I am also surprised at how many people work at Blockbuster, as I did not expect it to be nearly the same number as HMV.
Ian
BigAl
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BigT said:
I disagree. Everyday I'm hearing of another store closing in a nearby town's high street. Three have closed in the past few days in Macclesfield alone (coincidentally they were all next to each other
). Also, people from all over travel to shopping centres such as the Trafford Centre. People don't do that for your average high street.Sam said:Tom said:BigAl said:
This thread is ridiculous.
They didn't go out of business because of the death of the high street, or any of that crap. They were a DVD rental shop. This year is 2013. That is why they went out of business.
:
Mine was more of a light hearted comment, though my local high street has unfortunately become a ghost town. :/
TheMan
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BigT, we clearly aren't going to agree on the politics lol!!
I do agree Labour are profligate, that is true. I am not a supporter of theirs, I have no party affinity at all.
My dislike of the Tories is their abhorrent obsession with attacking people who cannot fight back, whilst letting their mates off scott free.
I thought Cam spoke some sense before the election, he is clearly a man not even remotely of his word, not only that, but he does the complete stark opposite to what he promises and blames all and sundry who cannot defend themselves for it!
The man, is an idiot, and a vile human being - and indicative of that entire yuppy snobbish Tory rubbish!
They are an outdated party, with outdated values - the antithesis of Labour - considering they were supposed to both now be "centre" parties.. ha-ha!! That is laughable!
Also, so many of the improvements I personally witnessed in areas I was involved, under labour, are being destroyed by this bunch of idiots undoing not only the work that went in, but actually making investments in our future generations worthless!
Labour are profligate, and at times, very ill advised. However the Tories are in-compassionate dinosaurs the likes of whom should never been found in government again!
They make me positively shudder with revulsion.
I do agree Labour are profligate, that is true. I am not a supporter of theirs, I have no party affinity at all.
My dislike of the Tories is their abhorrent obsession with attacking people who cannot fight back, whilst letting their mates off scott free.
I thought Cam spoke some sense before the election, he is clearly a man not even remotely of his word, not only that, but he does the complete stark opposite to what he promises and blames all and sundry who cannot defend themselves for it!
The man, is an idiot, and a vile human being - and indicative of that entire yuppy snobbish Tory rubbish!
They are an outdated party, with outdated values - the antithesis of Labour - considering they were supposed to both now be "centre" parties.. ha-ha!! That is laughable!
Also, so many of the improvements I personally witnessed in areas I was involved, under labour, are being destroyed by this bunch of idiots undoing not only the work that went in, but actually making investments in our future generations worthless!
Labour are profligate, and at times, very ill advised. However the Tories are in-compassionate dinosaurs the likes of whom should never been found in government again!
They make me positively shudder with revulsion.
BigT
TS Member
Nah TheMan were not that far of the same page, I agree with what you say about Cameron but you could say the same for most of the MP's currently in parliament.
I don't know where you live but most of the undoing as you call it is being done by Labour councils trying to be clever and supported in this quest by the BBC. (Is there a more out of date organisation in the UK)
Big Al that's because it's free to park at the big centres and councils/ncp take the p...
When they give free parking in December in my town the place is rammed.
I don't know where you live but most of the undoing as you call it is being done by Labour councils trying to be clever and supported in this quest by the BBC. (Is there a more out of date organisation in the UK)
Big Al that's because it's free to park at the big centres and councils/ncp take the p...
When they give free parking in December in my town the place is rammed.
Rowe
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It's sad to see Blockbuster go after so long but we're coming into a new digital revolution where DVDs will become obsolete just like VHS and Betamax. They'll still sell well but digital downloads are getting a higher demand and so it seems that being online ready to allow customers to rent from the comfort of their laptop, computer or tablet is the only point of Blockbuster existing now, even if it is just as a website.
TheMan
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IanB said:
Er, pro business helps if you don't have high unemployment and creeping inflation.
You will find, being pro-business as a party, it kind of helps if you don't contribute to making swathing cuts that render ever increasing people unemployed, resulting in less people spending.
OK not the most rhetoric free website, but this is what I mean.
http://righttowork.org.uk/2012/12/figures-reveal-slowdown-in-new-jobs-and-continuing-long-term-unemployment/
BigT said:
I agree with this though too, the old Birmingham Labour government was an absolute nightmare a few years back! Labour councils can be awful, so too the Tories!
You either get tax and spend false economics and balance of Labour, putting crap right the Tories did, or the Tories claiming they are putting right the rubbish of Labour.
The fact remains though, research the figures, until the economic downturn and bailouts - Labour were actually doing well. The Tories created the disparity in banking and "The City". I am afraid these problems land firmly at the Tories door.
As I say, I was willing to give Cameron a chance, he spoke some sense - but now I find him to be an utter abject disgrace.
And I tell you something else, they are half as bad as they would be if it were not for the Lib Dems!! (Not a supported of theirs either incidentally)... They have unquestionably moderated what would have been clearly an absolutely horrific government.
When I had a head to head debate with Baroness Warsi, that is when I realised what their core value and attitudes were REALLY about this time around.
Don't fall for the "we are pro-business" rubbish Ian. They are pro fortunate people. Anyone who falls foul of unlucky circumstances are cast aside, or used as an excuse for vile policy making to fund more tax breaks for the elites.
Not even going to debate that further, I'm not remotely party centric I just researched long term facts. It's out there if you dare look with an open mind.
My point is, relevant to this topic, don't expect this to be the last as job losses on top of job losses and creeping inflation begin to really bite...
Rose Of Dawn
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Sam said:Tom said:BigAl said:
This thread is ridiculous.
They didn't go out of business because of the death of the high street, or any of that crap. They were a DVD rental shop. This year is 2013. That is why they went out of business.
:
This. This so goddamn hard.
DVD rental shops went out of fashion years ago. I've always used services like Lovefilm, where you pay a set amount a month for film and game rentals that you return in the post with no late fees. Streaming (Lovefilm Instant and Netflix) and online renting (iTunes store and Xbox video, for example) are quicker and easier, and with Internet speeds improving the services will only get better.
BigT
TS Member
TheMan - I'm no Tory supporter but the fact remains it was Brown and Blair that deregulateted the banks when they first came to power. They also followed Ken Clarkes spending plan for the first few years which is why they did ok to start with, but then the old ways started to get the better of them and they kept spending when everyone knows eventually it has to be payed back.
Incidentally that's exactly what both HMV and Blockbuster did, kept spending and not changing anything, they went bust, exactly what could have to the whole country had Labour of won the last election.
Incidentally that's exactly what both HMV and Blockbuster did, kept spending and not changing anything, they went bust, exactly what could have to the whole country had Labour of won the last election.
Glad BigT is on the same page as myself. People don't seemingly recall what happened to get into this mess, or even put in some light reading before just presuming.
So far, the big casulties are businesses that were too big, assumed too much debt, and didn't adapt to the change in how people consume their products.
Why would smiths go? Only reason would be too big and having debt - their products aren't likely to be consumed or bought online, only through supermarkets. Instead, smiths changed their strategy concentrating heavily on railway stations and being convenient. It works, they're sustainable.
As for the high street, I think if councils and businesses work better together, they'll become specialist centres. Stuff people can't consume easily and cheaply online, stuff which they feel better if they touch and feel, and wanting genuine advice. Eventually there'll become a point where too much is online, people will miss the personal touch (and the convenience of getting something there and then) and come back to shops. Depending on how the council works though (free parking etc).
If you wanna think what else will go, see if there's any other businesses with many many stores, huge debt, and not changing with the times. I would've thought dixons group, but they may survive longer now comet has buggered off.
So far, the big casulties are businesses that were too big, assumed too much debt, and didn't adapt to the change in how people consume their products.
Why would smiths go? Only reason would be too big and having debt - their products aren't likely to be consumed or bought online, only through supermarkets. Instead, smiths changed their strategy concentrating heavily on railway stations and being convenient. It works, they're sustainable.
As for the high street, I think if councils and businesses work better together, they'll become specialist centres. Stuff people can't consume easily and cheaply online, stuff which they feel better if they touch and feel, and wanting genuine advice. Eventually there'll become a point where too much is online, people will miss the personal touch (and the convenience of getting something there and then) and come back to shops. Depending on how the council works though (free parking etc).
If you wanna think what else will go, see if there's any other businesses with many many stores, huge debt, and not changing with the times. I would've thought dixons group, but they may survive longer now comet has buggered off.
TheMan
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It goes back to City deregulation before that though Big. I'm not saying they helped, or their ideas were sensible.
Here is a perfect example. A social project I was involved in, (that I didn't get paid for by the way), was given £300k to help aspiring musicians make a success of themselves.
It had the expected red tape, and good people in charge also by the way. However, it was not allowed to develop itself in anyway that can become self sustaining. That to me was madness. You could never launch enough enterprise in that industry, and expect that to repaid.
It was run well, did much good, and was fantastic for inner city communities that I was helping - something you wont see this bunch of idiots do. Where they fell down was it was never going to create something meaningful long term, and it could have!
They also had to spend the money within 3 years.
(SORRY, I KNOW THIS HAS GONE OFF TOPIC).
I was involved in other projects, health, social re-integration, school improvements all sorts and bugger all of which you will hear on the news! I have seen this, in depth, at grass roots level and I have to applaud Labour for doing a heck of a lot of good, and correcting years and Tory underinvestment and determination to increase a class system.
They are doing it again, and you will see how much damage they are doing in ten years when it has to be fixed again!
The deregs from the previous Tory lot were worse than Labour ever did also. And you cannot blame Labour deregulation, for the USA banks going under - that is the fault of a ruinous capitalist system, that both Conservatives and Republicans champion.
Yes, I have worked in the City, and I have also worked in social projects - both sides of the coin, I left a very lucrative career and shunned a high level position (in something I actually did enjoy! - Fund Management for anyone who is interested) as I was beginning to understand how the chase for that wealth works, and I did not like it, so I went into community and creative work.
I have seen both. First hand and extremely personal.
If you haven't worked in it, you don't even know the half of it.
Here is a perfect example. A social project I was involved in, (that I didn't get paid for by the way), was given £300k to help aspiring musicians make a success of themselves.
It had the expected red tape, and good people in charge also by the way. However, it was not allowed to develop itself in anyway that can become self sustaining. That to me was madness. You could never launch enough enterprise in that industry, and expect that to repaid.
It was run well, did much good, and was fantastic for inner city communities that I was helping - something you wont see this bunch of idiots do. Where they fell down was it was never going to create something meaningful long term, and it could have!
They also had to spend the money within 3 years.
(SORRY, I KNOW THIS HAS GONE OFF TOPIC).
I was involved in other projects, health, social re-integration, school improvements all sorts and bugger all of which you will hear on the news! I have seen this, in depth, at grass roots level and I have to applaud Labour for doing a heck of a lot of good, and correcting years and Tory underinvestment and determination to increase a class system.
They are doing it again, and you will see how much damage they are doing in ten years when it has to be fixed again!
The deregs from the previous Tory lot were worse than Labour ever did also. And you cannot blame Labour deregulation, for the USA banks going under - that is the fault of a ruinous capitalist system, that both Conservatives and Republicans champion.
Yes, I have worked in the City, and I have also worked in social projects - both sides of the coin, I left a very lucrative career and shunned a high level position (in something I actually did enjoy! - Fund Management for anyone who is interested) as I was beginning to understand how the chase for that wealth works, and I did not like it, so I went into community and creative work.
I have seen both. First hand and extremely personal.
If you haven't worked in it, you don't even know the half of it.
Alexsutton
TS Member
Just been into Blockbuster today to use up a gift card I got for Christmas whilst they're still accepting them. Chatting with one of the members of staff there who has been there a while, he tells me that this isn't the first time the company has gone into administration, they got bought again last time so it's not necessarily the end. He also said that he reckons the next place to go will be Argos which came as a surprise to me as I spent my Christmas working at my local Argos and they didn't seem to give me the impression that things weren't going so well.
Joel
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Errrr quite the opposite, it's been known for some time that Argos is struggling quite a lot, and is looking to save money and transform into a more internet business to survive.
HRG continues to support it massively, but as a latest article shows Argos has the biggest percentage of share capital borrowed at around 20% rather than the average of 1.3%.
I personally don't think Argos will survive this year unless they radical transform to be honest.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/news ... hares.html
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
HRG continues to support it massively, but as a latest article shows Argos has the biggest percentage of share capital borrowed at around 20% rather than the average of 1.3%.
I personally don't think Argos will survive this year unless they radical transform to be honest.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/news ... hares.html
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
djtruefitt
TS Team
I could see Argos being sold off, maybe not into administration, but sold to some kind of banking group or something. Its a bit like Woolworths, they stock a bit of everything, but most of it you could buy it cheaper in another store or online.