Per CNNmoney (full article here):

 Blockbuster Inc. announced Tuesday it is abolishing late fees on all its video tapes, DVDs and video games as of Jan. 1.

This is another prime example of a brick and mortar store feeling pressure from similar internet based businesses; namely NetFlix.  Neither model really suits me (I'm a Blockbuster member (who isn't), and I was a NetFlix member for the first few months of their launch a few years back)...I like owning stuff.  I will only rent a DVD A) if it's something I haven't seen, and B) if there is a remote chance that it will suck.  When I was a member of NetFlix, I just didn't really use it as much as I thought I would, though I remember their selection being leaps and bounds above Blockbuster.

Why rent when you can own?  I take pride in my collection and am always looking to add new titles.  A model that I would consider is renting a new DVD (original/complete jacket, paper media, etc) for a nominal fee (say, 5 bucks)...if I like it, that fee is debited from the full price, and the DVD is mine.  Blockbuster used to do this with used DVD's, but I stopped buying used DVD's from Blockbuster when they started putting them in generic plastic jackets (though for a while, they were in packaging just as if new...sans the plastic wrap that takes 10 minutes to get off (could they make them any harder to get into?)).  So, while this may be good news for the procrastinators out there, it won't have much impact on me.

Side note:  The first DVD I ever purchased was Heat (back in '99).  Even now it's hard to find a flick with that many good actors, and the shootout halfway through the movie is still one of the best engineered scenes (sound, scenery, flow) I've seen...it's simply awesome in 5.1 surround.  Favorite title in my collection?  A toss-up between American Beauty and Magnolia.  The one title I bought and then took back immediately?  Bruce Almighty (what was I thinking).  Cheers.

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