The end of xtravision?

RobitTV

Do you think xtravision is still making a profit?

i went in there Today, i had a gift voucher of 10 euro and The selection was rubbish, They had nothing in their really, and everything seemed to be overpriced, and people dont even go in their anymore, I Remember i was at my cousins for the night while my parents were away this was about nearly 10 years ago, she went to xtravision rented a movie and the selection was great and everything was so cheap!

Do you think its the end of xtravision? they dont seem to be making the money anymore.

I Wouldnt be sad to see it go either!

Cook my sock

I have a lot of friends who work there. It does be busy. I myself rent alot of games and films. Not sure about everyone else, but I dont see them as failing.

mikemac

Was in there today

It was €5.25 or possibly €5.50 to rent a new release last summer

Now €4 is the max price they have.
Over 20% cut, that's big for any business

The place does be busy whenever I pass by.
I've spent hundreds there on ipods, mobiles and boxsets. Handy, a one stop shop almost

Agricola

Can you say which shop it was? I find it varies. I was in the one in Enniscorthy over Christmas and it was packed to the ceiling with stuff.

Creamy Goodness

one in Bray has doubled its floorspace in the last 2-3 months. Must be making some money but I somehow doubt it's from rentals. Say they make their money on televisions/blu-ray players/mp3 players etc.

I hope they don't close, I like to go to look at the new DVD releases section on the website to find out what to download.

Agricola

Sacramento wrote: »

I hope they don't close, I like to go to look at the new DVD releases section on the website to find out what to download.

You're not really helping the matter, are you!

mikemac

I remember back when we rented tapes every box threatened a 25p fine if you didn't rewind the tape ready for the next customer :eek:

My name is URL

I'd be sad to see them close but I don't see how they can survive in this climate. Many stores now sell electrical goods too.. I don't know anyone who has ever bought a tv or whatever in Xtra-Vision though, they're not exactly the most competitive of prices

bonerjams03

I work there, in a small enough store. Place gets mad busy at times and takes in a fair bit of money on weekends.

And people do buy tvs and DVD players.

And phones. Lots of phones.

I think it's more that they tend to be local, so if you're in an area that isn't near a shopping centre, electronics are still only a walk away.
Games retail, phones, ipods, hdmi cables, earphones. Things like that.

PogMoThoin

They'll be gone for good as soon as a Netflix or Vudu similar service appears over here to stream movies direct. They should launch this themselves if they want to stay around, the clock is ticking.

amacachi

It's nice when you wander in and are reminded of things to put in your basket on Amazon.

LighterGuy

Was in Xtravision in Ongar on friday night. Dont really go into Xtra-vision. But it was busy there. So maybe their business is mainly weekends (which makes sense)

In a side note, the dark haired girl working there has an amazing bum. lol.

Danbo!

Since Chartbusters went I'd say they've gained business. With money tight for most people it seems rather than going to the pub, a lot of people get dvds and drink at home at the weekend. My local Xtravision on a Friday or Saturday night always has a queue of about 8-10 people at the counter renting stuff. They're not too bad for pre-owned games either.

whoopdedoo

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

one in Bray has doubled its floorspace in the last 2-3 months. Must be making some money but I somehow doubt it's from rentals. Say they make their money on televisions/blu-ray players/mp3 players etc.

I have it on good authority the internet revolution still hasn't arrived to bray

honestly, my other half's mates up there spend most of their spare cash on buying DVDs etc in their local xtravision

don't ask me!?!?

Sofiztikated

RobitTV wrote: »

Do you think xtravision is still making a profit?

i went in there Today, i had a gift voucher of 10 euro and The selection was rubbish, They had nothing in their really, and everything seemed to be overpriced, and people dont even go in their anymore, I Remember i was at my cousins for the night while my parents were away this was about nearly 10 years ago, she went to xtravision rented a movie and the selection was great and everything was so cheap!

Do you think its the end of xtravision? they dont seem to be making the money anymore.

I Wouldnt be sad to see it go either!

Why do you think this?

Its my first stop in this town when I'm picking up a new Xbox title. Can and do be cheaper then Gamestop many times, and other times have had titles when Gamestop don't carry them.

Their tradein allowance does tend to be higher than Gamestop as well.

Badgermonkey

I think the brand itself is their best asset and where they go with it will determine their fate.

I'd imagine they've acknowledged their core bricks and mortar business of the last 25+ years is disappearing fast and they're not in a position to compete with movie streaming providers either.

Alter-Ego

The often the cheapest around for new and pre-owned games. Thats all I go in there for though.

TeddyTedson

Ever go on a Saturday evening? It's packed with fu@kers who always rent all the new films.

Nolanger

feelingstressed wrote: »

I remember back when we rented tapes every box threatened a 25p fine if you didn't rewind the tape ready for the next customer :eek:

Used to hate that because some people like to read the end credits first to see which actors play which characters. XtraVision never sussed this!

obliviousgrudge

Sacramento wrote: »

I hope they don't close, I like to go to look at the new DVD releases section on the website to find out what to download.

I actually do this as well, LOL

goose2005

feelingstressed wrote: »

Was in there today

It was €5.25 or possibly €5.50 to rent a new release last summer

Now €4 is the max price they have.
Over 20% cut, that's big for any business

The place does be busy whenever I pass by.
I've spent hundreds there on ipods, mobiles and boxsets. Handy, a one stop shop almost

But the old DVDs are dearer - used to be 5 for €5, now 3 for €5. Also Chartbusters is dead, which must help them.

LighterGuy

I remember working in Zavvi in 2008 and the manager telling me they make 80% of their yearly sales at christmas. Other stores have to be the same.

But then again, Zavvi went under lol.
All I know is you dont see many Xtra-Visions closing. Weather they are doing great business or not can be debated. But they are making enough to stay open.

But ... !
look at chartbusters. They closed 17 of its stores in what seemed to be to stay afloat. They eventually went under. I knew a guy who worked in chartbusters. He said they made more money on tanning beds etc than rentals. But they still closed.

Krusader

Alter-Ego wrote: »

The often the cheapest around for new and pre-owned games. Thats all I go in there for though.

not a chance they are, tesco and hmv are the cheapest

I only use them for renting out games

Nolanger

LighterGuy wrote: »

All I know is you dont see many Xtra-Visions closing.

The one in Thomas Street, D8 closed a while back.

Creamy Goodness

PogMoThoin wrote: »

They'll be gone for good as soon as a Netflix or Vudu similar service appears over here to stream movies direct. They should launch this themselves if they want to stay around, the clock is ticking.

netflix and vudu won't take off here unless we can get decent broadband to reach outside of dublin (by decent i mean at least 20meg's).

whoopdedoo wrote: »

I have it on good authority the internet revolution still hasn't arrived to bray

honestly, my other half's mates up there spend most of their spare cash on buying DVDs etc in their local xtravision

don't ask me!?!?

I still buy blu-rays in fairness, something nice about having the real deal and not some file that's out there on the cloud etc. but you're right about bray there's a lack of decent broadband (again 20 meg's and up) in the town

String

I go to one in ballincollig or bishopstown in cork most fridays and it is fairly busy. Its not like 10years ago though when alot of new release rentals would be sold out if they were good movies. If netflix ever comes to Ireland I will never go to xtravision again!

Sanjuro

I know a guy who works for XtraVision. Not as a shop clerk or branch manager, but in the upper management of the company. I asked him last week if the company has a limited life-span, what with downloading and streaming becoming the most popular way of watching movies. He told me that XtraVision's profits are huge. Like, huge in a way you'd think 'well, that cant be right!' And they're about to introduce a new way of working that'll change the company. I wouldn't write them off yet. I'd say they'd doing quite all right.

LighterGuy

Nolanger wrote: »

The one in Thomas Street, D8 closed a while back.

One out of many xtra vision stores isnt too bad :P

just read this from wikipedia.org

In August 2009 Blockbuster (owner of xtra-vision) sold off its Irish operations to Birchhall Investments.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xtra-vision

Never knew they sold it off.

JONJO THE MISER

TeddyTedson wrote: »

rent all the new films.

How quaint.

PogMoThoin

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

netflix and vudu won't take off here unless we can get decent broadband to reach outside of dublin (by decent i mean at least 20meg's).

Although You may think its more, the average speed in the USA is under 4mbits

JONJO THE MISER

They have a great offer at the moment 2 dvd's 2 cans of pop and a bag of popcorn all for €10:rolleyes:
No thanks xtravision i will watch the 2 movies on the net got my popcorn for 89c in Lidl and will get my 2 cans of pop for 66c at buylo, total cost €1.55.

hsi

Rent all my movies on itunes. xtravision is so last decade. Apple TV is great.

But.. you need a good internet connection atleast 3mb.

I suppose if you don't have internet then old fashion DVD is ok, but with the internet today you can rent hi-dev movies easily on itunes.

(not to talk about all the pirate downloads)

abouttobebanned

Hold on a second..."does be busy?" WTF

Spunge

Can you rent blu-ray movies nowadays ?
Surely that would be good for them because i assume they are a bastard to download.

Run_to_da_hills

LighterGuy wrote: »

look at chartbusters. They closed 17 of its stores in what seemed to be to stay afloat. .

The 18th of its stores was closed last friday night.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0122/fire_stillorgan.html

Creamy Goodness

PogMoThoin wrote: »

Although You may think its more, the average speed in the USA is under 4mbits

that is true, but i'm sure that average is a little skewed with huge metropolitan areas having 100meg + where as vast amount of areas having none. 310~ million people too compared to our 4.5 million.

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

The 18th of its stores was closed last friday night.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0122/fire_stillorgan.html

was already closed before the fire http://www.thejournal.ie/three-firemen-treated-after-major-stillorgan-fire-2011-01/

off topice, rte are getting really shoddy with their stories such a lack of information compared to other sites.

mikom

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

off topice, rte are getting really shoddy with their stories such a lack of information compared to other sites.

QFT..... like a bloody twitter update.

Yakult

Personally I think they are over-priced along with a poor selection throughout the shop.

I've also gone in their to buy a ps3/xbox/wii/ds (Over past few years) but for some reason they are always missing something so they cant sell them to me?!

Advertising deals that "staff" dont even know about..

The only reason they are surviving in my town is due to the fact theirs no competition to go against them. If their was, Im pretty sure they would have closed a long time ago.

For Forks Sake

Sanjuro wrote: »

And they're about to introduce a new way of working that'll change the company.

Like these guys ? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steorn

meathgal2010

I think their days are numbered. You have Apple TV, Google TV on the way and also the new Samsung TV'S with a movie App built into the software. You connect it to the wifi in your house and download the movie from your couch. They are all released the same day they are released for renting. 4.00e to rent and you can even buy movies and store them on your TV. You get a week to watch it aswell so no late fines! ........... Cant wait for the new TV to arrive!

Mikeyt086

I think ALOT of people are underestimating the technology gap, here, its not Tokyo where everyone is mad into electronics and internet use, for every one person who downloads or streams movie online, there are countless people who would think your talking about rivers and lakes if you suggested a stream.

I work in an Xtravision (not in the new Bray store), the place is packed on weekends, and someone said earlier about movies not selling out, not true, I was working today and all 55 copies of The Town were gone, all 30 copies of Buried were gone and Takers was out too. During the week people rent alot aswell, as parents rent kids movies by the bucket-full to keep the little ones quiet.

But people are saying Netflix will be the end on rental stores, and I agree that it will be a big competitor, but with the majority of the nation either on a shocking eircom broadband connection (myself included) without the bandwidth to download, and hundreds of thousands of people who would have no clue how to watch movies online, the simplicty of taking 5mins to pop down and rent a DVD for €4 will be a much more viable option.

gcgirl

Mikeyt086 wrote: »

I think ALOT of people are underestimating the technology gap, here, its not Tokyo where everyone is mad into electronics and internet use, for every one person who downloads or streams movie online, there are countless people who would think your talking about rivers and lakes if you suggested a stream.

I work in an Xtravision (not in the new Bray store), the place is packed on weekends, and someone said earlier about movies not selling out, not true, I was working today and all 55 copies of The Town were gone, all 30 copies of Buried were gone and Takers was out too. During the week people rent alot aswell, as parents rent kids movies by the bucket-full to keep the little ones quiet.

But people are saying Netflix will be the end on rental stores, and I agree that it will be a big competitor, but with the majority of the nation either on a shocking eircom broadband connection (myself included) without the bandwidth to download, and hundreds of thousands of people who would have no clue how to watch movies online, the simplicty of taking 5mins to pop down and rent a DVD for €4 will be a much more viable option.

Spot on my parents don't even own a computer

Badgermonkey

Sofiztikated wrote: »

Why do you think this?

Its my first stop in this town when I'm picking up a new Xbox title. Can and do be cheaper then Gamestop many times, and other times have had titles when Gamestop don't carry them.

Their tradein allowance does tend to be higher than Gamestop as well.

The industry seems to be thinking beyond the console, to cloud gaming without hardware where the game is delivered to your living room.

It's a mirror of the way movies are/will be viewed. Gamestop will have to adjust or fail also.

LighterGuy

Badgermonkey wrote: »

The industry seems to be thinking beyond the console, to cloud gaming without hardware where the game is delivered to your living room.

It's a mirror of the way movies are/will be viewed. Gamestop will have to adjust or fail also.

100% right.
"Digital Distribution" is what companies (both games and movie companies) want and have been pushing for the last few years.

Cut out "the middle man" (the shops) and get more revenue. No packaging costs and sell the same product at the same retail value. So instead of selling a game at what, say 20 euro (?) per copy to a store such as xtra vision. Companies can cut them out and still charge the full whack for them. 49.99 etc.

If my memory serves me correct, Valve's "Steam" service was one of the first to offer so. When Half Life 2 came out in 2004.

whats this for?

What's the advantage of Apple and Google TV over the likes of Sky? How does it work? Here's a link for anyone wondering how Xtra Vision are doing http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2010/1023/1224281820323.html

El_Dangeroso

Boring fact: Xtravision are owned by Blockbuster, who are in turn owned by Viacom, the same company the owns MTV.

Used to work for them back in college, one of the best jobs ever, day shift was dead, popped my feet up on the desk and watched movies. I'm pretty sure I've seen every film made between 2002 and 2004.

El Horseboxo

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

Boring fact: Xtravision are owned by Blockbuster, who are in turn owned by Viacom, the same company the owns MTV.

Used to work for them back in college, one of the best jobs ever, day shift was dead, popped my feet up on the desk and watched movies. I'm pretty sure I've seen every film made between 2002 and 2004.

It was a boring fact. They ain't got nothing to do with Blockbuster anymore. Birchhall investments own them now.

My local one looks a hell of a lot quieter on weekends compared to how busy it was when i worked there years ago. They even close 2 hours earlier than they used to as the shop would be empty.

RobitTV

El Horseboxo wrote: »

It was a boring fact. They ain't got nothing to do with Blockbuster anymore. Birchhall investments own them now.

My local one looks a hell of a lot quieter on weekends compared to how busy it was when i worked there years ago. They even close 2 hours earlier than they used to as the shop would be empty.

Same with my store. they used to be open much later, then close earlier now, and less people go in aswell.

Tayla

Gamestop had massive losses in Ireland last year but they blamed that on the fact that there was no big release console out in 2010, I know Xtravision sell phones and electrical items that Gamestop don't sell but i'm sure the same applies to them.

Pace2008

Cook my sock wrote: »

It does be busy. I myself rent alot of games and films.

feelingstressed wrote: »

The place does be busy whenever I pass by.

Sofiztikated wrote: »

Can and do be cheaper then Gamestop many times,

Begorrah.