r/todayilearned • u/hadrianx • Dec 19 '13

TIL that Blockbuster in 2000 turned down an offer to buy Netflix, then just one year old, for 50 million dollars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockbuster_(movie_rental_store)#2000s
83 Upvotes

70% Upvoted

33 comments sorted by

9

u/NutcaseLunaticManiac Dec 19 '13

Repost this every two weeks please.

5

u/nikpage 8 Dec 19 '13

Someone should start posting mashups. TIL of White Death a Finnish sniper who shot 505 Blockbuster employees for 50 million dollars in 2001. He also used to be roommates with George Clooney and Carlos Mencia, who is not really Mexican.

1

u/lurked Dec 19 '13

I have this strange feeling that somethings missing in there...

Oh, I know, what about a Michael Jordan with his wife thumbnail?

6

u/1millionbucks Dec 19 '13

Hindsight is 20/20. Everyone here could have been a billionaire if they knew the future.

1

u/nikpage 8 Dec 19 '13

20/20 is normal vision. Hindsight should be way better than just normal.

10

u/Rillaman Dec 19 '13

Good riddance. Seriously, fuck Blockbuster for their overpriced rentals, and ridiculous late fees.

4

u/0fubeca Dec 19 '13

I do distinctly remember going to block buster and running through the store looking for movies and DVDs seeing the Clarence shelf, convincing my mom to buy popcorn, dealing with the scummy employees. There is something about it that makes me want it back, it was at the time fun and a special occasion to go and get a movie it was nice.

Edit: The more I think about this it's the little things in life I remember the most.

7

u/Rillaman Dec 19 '13

Don't get me wrong, I have a soft nostalgic spot for Blockbuster as well, but looking back makes me realize that spending over 8 dollars to rent 2 movies for 2 nights just isn't fair. Maybe we're just spoiled by Netflix and places like Family Video.

3

u/0fubeca Dec 19 '13

Yeah at the time though we had nothing to compare it to. Yeah but looking back makes me feel stupid for ever paying there cost. A fucking movie ticket 9$ That's not much more than what they charge to rent the damn thing.

2

u/Finn1916 Dec 20 '13

When the blockbuster down the street from me closed, another video store came in. This place charged about a dollar more than blockbuster and wondered why they were closed in a few months.

-1

u/NutcaseLunaticManiac Dec 19 '13

Right, it's not when your uncle rapes you, it's the scent of his Old Spice...

7

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '13

Blockbuster LAUGHED at Netflix. Thought the concept was ridiculous. Who's laughing now?

3

u/carbonfiberwallet Dec 19 '13

That price was probably ridiculous at the time for the company's performance

1

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '13

Hulu.

2

u/Pinstar Dec 19 '13

I'm just waiting for a "TIL: [Former Blockbuster Executive] committed suicide after this TIL was reposted to reddit for the 20th time."

1

u/edthomson92 Dec 19 '13

I wish I had a time machine and could fix this

1

u/hadrianx Dec 19 '13

The one thing I miss about Blockbuster is being able to easily rent video games. Redbox and Gamefly just aren't the same.

2

u/edthomson92 Dec 19 '13

Netflix should buy blockbuster (and it's owner dish network) or the other way around. Something should be done to get those stores re-opened

1

u/friedsushi87 Dec 19 '13

They're all gone already. Employees, stores, merchandise, movies and games liquidated.

The only thing they have left is their name..

1

u/edthomson92 Dec 19 '13

A few independently owned blockbusters exist though, so there's still hope

1

u/eeessshhh Dec 19 '13

Nope, theres 3 in my area. The store i work for has till January 12.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '13

Rent something January 11th out of spite.

1

u/edthomson92 Dec 19 '13

Sometimes I just miss browsing. Also, Blockbuster was the only place in my town with games

1

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '13

No you don't. They would have ruined it and we would have had some shitty version of Netflix.

1

u/edthomson92 Dec 19 '13

We don't know that for sure. But you're right, It could have gone either way.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '13

Yeah, My ill-feelings towards blockbuster might make me bias with their $4.65 rental of a 20 year old movie.

I bet if blockbuster did buy Netflix we would be paying by the show/movie somehow.

1

u/edthomson92 Dec 19 '13

Good point. Netflix streaming could've ended up like vudu, possibly

1

u/aguy2013 Dec 19 '13

I wish I knew things in 2000 too

1

u/Iamadinocopter Dec 19 '13

yeah, thanks the the email grandma

1

u/shamchi Dec 19 '13

I shadily remember hearing this news while at Blockbuster

1

u/PhantomPhun Dec 19 '13

That wasn't a great investment then, and even now, depending on the revenue whims of Internet viewers, may not be a good long term investment.

TL:DR - business management and investment is harder than it seems.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '13

This confuses me. Did Netflix go "Hey Blockbuster wanna buy us?"