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

[nowalmart.livejournal.com]

I tend to watch a lot of movies, and I rely on both NetFlix and Hollywood Express.

NetFlix is good for the casual movie watching (get it in the mail, watch it when I get a chance, mail it back when I get a chance), and Hollywood Express is good for the spontaneous "Hey, I want to watch THIS tonight" (or, as someone else mentioned, the "Wander around until I find something good")

I worked in an independent video chain for two years, and try to keep going back to them. I feel like going to Blockbuster in Davis is as good as limiting yourself to the Starbucks and McDonalds because they are chains.

One of the big things I love about Davis is the high number of independent stores. Going to Hollywood Express fits into that perfectly.

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

Ditto on using both. Especially since, if I'm hit with the desire to see something in particular that very night, my cheapo 1-out-at-a-time Netflix program isn't very conducive to that.

If that late fee policy somebody mentions above is true though, that really is stupid. What a customer-unfriendly policy -- there's no reason on earth you should be charged more in late fees than you would for simply renting the movie again. (Admittedly, Netflix has spoiled me there, just as Amazon.com has convinced me that I should never have to pay shipping charges again.)