Davis-area video stores

[ron_newman]

I'm probably the last one on my block to buy a DVD player. But now that I have it, I'm interested in hearing people's opinions of local video rental stores.

It looks like we have three choices: Hollywood Express on Elm Street, West Coast Video across the street, and Blockbuster in Porter Square.
My first impressions:

Hollywood Express -- largest selection, best chance of finding something obscure

Blockbuster - very liberal rental terms: a '2 day' rental is really 9 days, a 7-day is really 14 days. A lot more foreign and independent films than I would have expected, though probably not in the same league as Hollywood Express

West Coast Video -- why is this store still in business? I don't see any obvious reason to go here.

Comments

[twe.livejournal.com]

I agree. Netflix is beats them all hands down for me. It's cheap, it's save me time & gas, and in a big city like this, I put a watched DVD in the mail on one morning, and I have a new one in my box 2 days later.

[ron_newman]

Yeah, but right now at least, Netflix doesn't fit my model of how I rent: wander around a store, say "hey! that's something I wanted to see but missed in the theatre", and take it to the counter.

Plus, I tend to like to spend my money locally if possible.

(It probably makes a difference that I'm a short walk to all three of these stores, so "save time and gas" isn't an issue for me.)

[kjc.livejournal.com]

Yep, same for me. I can (and do) walk to either store in 15 minutes.

Hollywood Express is an independent store. A small local chain that started with the Porter Square store. It's not an offshoot or substore of anything else.

And I prefer wandering around, looking for movies as well. Plus I need a deadline for returning flix or I never do.

[twe.livejournal.com]

Fair enough. I find the wandering around the store doesn't suit me so much, whereas being able to throw things on my Netflix queue as I think of them works quite well. Plus I'm lucky enough to be able to mail things from work with no more effort that it takes to reach up and put it in the mail slot, so the convenience factor is amazing.

I don't know if you have (digital) cable, but Comcast actually has a moderate selection of free somewhat older movies in their On Demand thingy (as well as some that cost ~$4), for those times when the video store is closed or the weather is bad.