My Ridiculous Blockbuster Experience

[Jeremy1983]

So I was in my local blockbuster the other day. And, like most Blockbusters, there is a Blu-ray set-up with a Sony LCD and a PS3 to showcase the "Blu-ray Experience".

While checking out, I notice that they are playing Revenge of the Sith (obviously the DVD). So I ask the cashier why there aren't showcasing an actual Blu-ray, and he tells me that you can't notice the difference, upscaled DVD's are the same resolution!

It gets worse. When I politely disagree and explain the difference between upscaled 1080 and true 1080p, he proceeds to tell me that Blu-ray is ruining movies, stating that special effects look noticeably more fake with the increase in resolution.

Un-freakin-believable!

It's no wonder why there is confusion when it comes to consumer adoption of Blu, when there are idiots like this at places like Blockbuster that are misrepresenting the product.

[croller584]

There are idiots like that in any retail store. Guy at best buy asked why I was buying a blu ray movie since the DVD was much cheaper...and went onto say blu ray was just a fad.

[Secretagentnumber6]

People who work at video stores are often some of the least knowledgable people, and this has to be expected. They don't make much money and are typically students or non college grads looking to make it day to day. Typically they do not have informed opinions. Dont take it too personally, just know that you know you are right and that they just do not know what they are talking about. Not to say all employees are like this, but from having worked in a video store myself in a managerial capacity of sorts and seen the type of people who applied and were hired this is pretty typical.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Secretagentnumber6

People who work at video stores are often some of the least knowledgable people, and this has to be expected. They don't make much money and are typically students or non college grads looking to make it day to day. Typically they do not have informed opinions. Dont take it too personally, just know that you know you are right and that they just do not know what they are talking about. Not to say all employees are like this, but from having worked in a video store myself in a managerial capacity of sorts and seen the type of people who applied and were hired this is pretty typical.

Exactly

[TheZoof]

I am not surprised.

I have to pull out my DVD of Blade Runner and then my Blu-ray of Blade Runner to show them what Blu-ray actually does.

Works every time. I had 4 friends buy blu ray players in the past month.

[plowmanjoe]

it's all about the media. blu-ray needs the media support. that's how people are convinced in this country. it's not about the facts. at this point it seems like blu-ray gets more negative articles than possitive.

[Jeremy1983]

Originally Posted by Secretagentnumber6

People who work at video stores are often some of the least knowledgable people, and this has to be expected. They don't make much money and are typically students or non college grads looking to make it day to day. Typically they do not have informed opinions. Dont take it too personally, just know that you know you are right and that they just do not know what they are talking about. Not to say all employees are like this, but from having worked in a video store myself in a managerial capacity of sorts and seen the type of people who applied and were hired this is pretty typical.

I guess I understand the lack of knowledge, but showcasing a DVD presented as a Blu-ray is a travesty IMO, especially for potential consumers.

[thumber]

I work at Blockbuster video and when people ask me about blu-ray, i tell them its much better than normal dvd. I am very knowledgeable about blu-ray, compared to the others i work with. I have even convinced quite a few people to get a blu-ray player. they come back and tell me, "Thank You, this really is worth the money." I still can't believe that i have convinced so many people! BLU-RAY IS THE BEST!!!

[assydingo]

Originally Posted by Jeremy1983

I guess I understand the lack of knowledge, but showcasing a DVD presented as a Blu-ray is a travesty IMO, especially for potential consumers.

at walmart they are almost NEVER showing hd on the highdef tvs.

[tacoreed]

I've had bad experiences at Blockbuster myself, but for different reasons. Mostly late rental fees from back in the day. Netflix for me only.

[DeadDog]

This is interesting because just today I went in to see if they had Burn After Reading on blu-ray to rent. It wasn't on the shelf so I asked if any had been returned. While the associate looked he jokingly asked the store manager if they could just be an all blu-ray store already (obviously saying this because he's asked quite often for the blu-ray versions of movies).

The store manager said that eventually they will, but at which point it won't matter because digital downloads will have already taken over and replaced any disc based movies. I don't know about anyone else, but I think it will be quite a while still before we see any downloads that rival the experience that blu-ray offers (video, sound, features etc.). Plus, it won't matter to me cause I like to have my movies "in hand". It always make me chuckle

[Bravoxena]

Yeah... I don't see myself downloading 25GB movies.
I'll have the blu-ray copy please =)

[pacificvibes]

Originally Posted by Jeremy1983

So I was in my local blockbuster the other day. And, like most Blockbusters, there is a Blu-ray set-up with a Sony LCD and a PS3 to showcase the "Blu-ray Experience".

While checking out, I notice that they are playing Revenge of the Sith (obviously the DVD). So I ask the cashier why there aren't showcasing an actual Blu-ray, and he tells me that you can't notice the difference, upscaled DVD's are the same resolution!

It gets worse. When I politely disagree and explain the difference between upscaled 1080 and true 1080p, he proceeds to tell me that Blu-ray is ruining movies, stating that special effects look noticeably more fake with the increase in resolution.

Un-freakin-believable!

It's no wonder why there is confusion when it comes to consumer adoption of Blu, when there are idiots like this at places like Blockbuster that are misrepresenting the product.

[andyman1970]

Originally Posted by plowmanjoe

it's all about the media. blu-ray needs the media support. that's how people are convinced in this country. it's not about the facts. at this point it seems like blu-ray gets more negative articles than possitive.

You are right. It is all about the media and unfortunately the media loves to promote the negative because that is what people, for some reason want to hear. As far as the general population and the media is concerned "There's no news like BAD news."

[DeeChizzle]

This reminds of the time I saw a Blu-Ray setup at a retail store where instead of using an HDMI cable they used a standard audio/video cable to connect the BDP to the HDTV.

[DealsR4theDevil]

Originally Posted by Jeremy1983

So I was in my local blockbuster the other day. And, like most Blockbusters, there is a Blu-ray set-up with a Sony LCD and a PS3 to showcase the "Blu-ray Experience".

While checking out, I notice that they are playing Revenge of the Sith (obviously the DVD). So I ask the cashier why there aren't showcasing an actual Blu-ray, and he tells me that you can't notice the difference, upscaled DVD's are the same resolution!

It gets worse. When I politely disagree and explain the difference between upscaled 1080 and true 1080p, he proceeds to tell me that Blu-ray is ruining movies, stating that special effects look noticeably more fake with the increase in resolution.

Un-freakin-believable!

It's no wonder why there is confusion when it comes to consumer adoption of Blu, when there are idiots like this at places like Blockbuster that are misrepresenting the product.

You should call/email corporate and tell them how upset you are over the arrogance and overall attitude of the employee. That coupled with the fact that he is clearly spreading lies about something they are trying to promote should be enough to shut him up in the future.

Honestly man, calling corporate is like 5 min of your time and you can stop a lot of FUD from spreading. I wouldn't tolerate any employee spreading lies and misinformation about the products they are supposed to be selling. Think about all the people who walk into that Blockbuster and decide to continue investing in a dead format.

Originally Posted by Secretagentnumber6

People who work at video stores are often some of the least knowledgable people

I so agree. I used to work at Hollywood Video for about 3 years (5 different locations) and I have to say the type of people who work in rental stores are some of the least informed and most opinionated idiots that I have ever met. And the arrogance is just overwhelming.

Honestly, if you want false information and opinions presented as facts I cannot think of a better place to go than a rental store. These things need to die already. As much as I like being able to rent a movie whenever I feel like it (as opposed to waiting with netflix), I havent even set foot in a rental store in months. They have become nothing more then a breeding ground for FUD.

Obviously there are intelligent people who work at rental stores to (myself included) but they are not the majority.

[Trioxin]

Something about blockbuster. I remember when DVD's where still new they would put the "please rewind" stickers on the disks. When asked, the manager told me that they needed to be rewound the same as VHS. There was absolutely no convincing him otherwise.

[DealsR4theDevil]

Originally Posted by Trioxin

Something about blockbuster. I remember when DVD's where still new they would put the "please rewind" stickers on the disks. When asked, the manager told me that they needed to be rewound the same as VHS. There was absolutely no convincing him otherwise.

Now that is powerful stupid.


I remember joking with my friends back when DVDs just came out. When we finished watching the disc one of us would say, "dont forget to rewind," and we would all laugh.

[Iceberg]

Originally Posted by Secretagentnumber6

People who work at video stores are often some of the least knowledgable people, and this has to be expected. They don't make much money and are typically students or non college grads looking to make it day to day. Typically they do not have informed opinions. Dont take it too personally, just know that you know you are right and that they just do not know what they are talking about. Not to say all employees are like this, but from having worked in a video store myself in a managerial capacity of sorts and seen the type of people who applied and were hired this is pretty typical.

I agree with you on this

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by Secretagentnumber6

People who work at video stores are often some of the least knowledgable people, and this has to be expected. They don't make much money and are typically students or non college grads looking to make it day to day. Typically they do not have informed opinions. Dont take it too personally, just know that you know you are right and that they just do not know what they are talking about. Not to say all employees are like this, but from having worked in a video store myself in a managerial capacity of sorts and seen the type of people who applied and were hired this is pretty typical.

Whoa whoa whoa, although I have to agree with you ( ), I must emphasize the in-depth movie knowledge and format expertise of all the workers at my local blockbuster. But all other Blockbuster locations have yet to match my, their, or your typical knowledge of a movie collector. But some employees of the other locations I'm not familiar with will have certain strengths, like I've noticed a complete anime fanatic one time. Overall, makes me appreciate my local blockbuster a bit more.