Another Nail in Blockbuster’s Coffin?


by on Oct 22nd, 2009

RedBox Locations in Sheepshead Bay

Blockbuster has some new competition in the neighborhood, but it’s nothing for the few remaining ma-and-pa video stores to cheer about. The ARM – automatic rental machine – known as RedBox is spreading like wildfire across the country, and is growing its presence in Sheepshead Bay. RedBox is an instant $1/day DVD rental kiosk containing approximately 200 of the latest DVD movie releases. While the company has had one machine operating at the Stop & Shop on East 17th for a number of years now, two new RedBox kiosks have popped up: one at the Knapp Street 7/11 (on Voorhies Avenue), and the other at the  Coney Island Avenue 7/11 (on Avenue Y).

According to the company’s corporate history, RedBox was originally owned by McDonalds but sold to Coinstar in 2007. If any more kiosks come to the neighborhood or it’s surrounding environs we can expect them to show up at other 7/11′s, and possibly McDonalds or Walgreens.

So, where does that leave Blockbuster, the last of which in the area is on Nostrand Ave between Y and X? Considering they’ve been reinstating late fees, it doesn’t leave them with much of a leg to stand on. And so the Blockbuster death clock ticks away…

(FYI: You can get a free RedBox rental for signing up for the service’s newsletter or SMS alerts)

Ed. Note – The original article listed the Nostrand Avenue 7/11 on Avenue Y as having a RedBox. It doesn’t.

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  • Alex

    The one of the biggest mysteries of life to me is how did Blockbuster manage to stay in business? They are beyond overpriced and the stores are always empty.

  • Alex

    The one of the biggest mysteries of life to me is how did Blockbuster manage to stay in business? They are beyond overpriced and the stores are always empty.

  • vbnv

    blockbuster should’ve introduced a porn section to save themselves.
    but then again the internet was invented for that.

  • vbnv

    blockbuster should’ve introduced a porn section to save themselves.
    but then again the internet was invented for that.

  • Big Brother

    i love the windows logo floating around on it…how hard do you think it would be to get a virus into this….

  • Big Brother

    i love the windows logo floating around on it…how hard do you think it would be to get a virus into this….

  • a good neighbor

    more like if you can hack into the system to give you free movie daily…hehe

  • a good neighbor

    more like if you can hack into the system to give you free movie daily…hehe

  • sdfgdf

    it is windows based…no need for virus…the system will eventually lock up on its own

  • sdfgdf

    it is windows based…no need for virus…the system will eventually lock up on its own

  • jo

    lol @ vbnv

    On days when I don’t feel like downloading movies, I use the redbox at Stop and Shop. It’s cheap and convenient. Just a matter of time till blockbuster goes away.

  • jo

    lol @ vbnv

    On days when I don’t feel like downloading movies, I use the redbox at Stop and Shop. It’s cheap and convenient. Just a matter of time till blockbuster goes away.

  • http://www.nedberke.com Ned Berke

    Downloading movies, jo?

    ::scribbling down IP address::

    Anything else we should know? Have you been smuggling Afghani hash across the border? Do you have hobo tied up in your basement? It’s okay, you can confess your sins here, no one’s going to tell.

    ::dialing the number of the MPAA::

  • http://www.NedBerke.com Ned Berke

    Downloading movies, jo?

    ::scribbling down IP address::

    Anything else we should know? Have you been smuggling Afghani hash across the border? Do you have hobo tied up in your basement? It’s okay, you can confess your sins here, no one’s going to tell.

    ::dialing the number of the MPAA::

  • Ray Johnson

    I’m pretty sure that the new Walgreen’s will have (if it’s not already in place) a redbox.

    A couple of weeks ago, someone asked me to get them a DVD from a box in Queens. There was a long line of people praising the box, but when I got up there, the coveted movies were all gone. Someone told me that if I enter my e-mail address that I would be sent an offer for a free movie rental. It’s hard to remember if there was even a choice to enter the e-mail address or if it was required. The e-mail offer for a strictly free rental never happened, but various other annoying offers did.

  • Ray Johnson

    I’m pretty sure that the new Walgreen’s will have (if it’s not already in place) a redbox.

    A couple of weeks ago, someone asked me to get them a DVD from a box in Queens. There was a long line of people praising the box, but when I got up there, the coveted movies were all gone. Someone told me that if I enter my e-mail address that I would be sent an offer for a free movie rental. It’s hard to remember if there was even a choice to enter the e-mail address or if it was required. The e-mail offer for a strictly free rental never happened, but various other annoying offers did.

  • Chuck

    Right in front of 7-11 if you guys are wondering, you can’t miss it.

  • Chuck

    Right in front of 7-11 if you guys are wondering, you can’t miss it.

  • David Z

    There are 2 Redbox machines at Stop and Shop. Also, there are dozens of sites online that give you codes for free movies, just google redbox codes.

    Here is just one site
    http://freeredboxcodes.com/free-redbox-promo-codes/

    Enjoy

  • David Z

    There are 2 Redbox machines at Stop and Shop. Also, there are dozens of sites online that give you codes for free movies, just google redbox codes.

    Here is just one site
    http://freeredboxcodes.com/free-redbox-promo-codes/

    Enjoy