Xtravision liquidation

A liquidator has been appointed to Xtravision according to the news at one on RTE Radio 1.

http://m.rte.ie/news/business/2016/0127/763350-xtra-vision/

seamus

Yeah, on rte.ie as well.

Unfortunate for the 580 people who are going to lose their jobs, but ultimately inevitable. Xtravision were always teetering on the edge - they were in trouble some years back after expanding too quickly and never really recovered from that. Then they "saved" HMV, which while laudable was basically consolidating two doomed business models into one.

Between online services like Netflix, and music and game downloads becoming the norm rather than the exception, their business model was destroyed from multiple flanks.

They made a good attempt to reinvent themselves to be fair, but unless they'd gone and become some kind of Irish Netflix and acquired streaming rights in Ireland to their libraries, they were always doomed.

smash

Even disregarding Netflix, Xtravision only moved to a DVD postal system around 9/10 years after others who operated in Ireland like Screenclick/DVD Bee etc. They were destined to doom well over a decade ago.

wil

Sad, but inevitable. How many times has it gone bust historically?
Had a look in some of the remaining stores recently and left again with a feeling it couldn't be long. Empty stores, poor pricing, just can't compete as it stands.
Will they be separated from the Hmv parent again?

wil

seamus wrote: »

They made a good attempt to reinvent themselves to be fair, but unless they'd gone and become some kind of Irish Netflix and acquired streaming rights in Ireland to their libraries, they were always doomed.

I didn't see much by the way of reinvention, little different, every other area they ventured in to seemed to just peter off. TVs, small personal electronics, games, phones. Store today looks much like 10 years ago, most of the store still consists of overpriced DVD rentals and high priced sale DVD, CDs and games.
They were good for the Friday night in but now superseded.
Will miss them, as a bygone institution and a regular customer, but it's pretty much the end of the video rental store.

road_high

They only opened a new flagship HMV store in Kilkenny about a year or two ago- 4 floors including an Xtra Vision. Are all the stores doomed so?
Didn't the one on Grafton st move also recently? Surely if the business was so precarious, why were they still expanding like this?

Hammer89

I feel bad about owing them £7.50 since 1998. Maybe had I paid up this could've been avoided.

warpdrive

Surprised it took this long when it's been possible to get BluRays and CDs cheaper online. To be fair though, they did have some great prices on new games.

TrustedApple

Like it was to be expacted as the price of the stuff was just nuts in the shop compare to online to begin with.

75 to 80 euros for a new video game is crazy in this day and age where i can just go to argos and get it for 55 or go online for less.

Blu rays 20 euro + new. 30 euros for the Marvel superhero films i can 4 or 5 films from amazon for the price they are charging for one.

With netflix and the likes there rental market was more or less gone as 5.50 for one night of a film ?. While i can stream 1000s for 8 euros a month ?.

Sad to see the staff loseing there jobs but as a bussiness its days where numbered years ago.

whiskeyman

I thought it was gone already.
Local store shut around a year ago and they put in a vending machine in the local supervalu. Never see anyone at it though.

Used to love popping in after college or work on a Friday night and getting out 2 DVDs for the weekend. Haven't done so near as much since getting Netflix over a year ago though.

the groutch

wil wrote: »

Will they be separated from the Hmv parent again?

HMV have done a deal to have concessions in Tesco stores
I'd say all Xtravision & HMV stores will be gone soon, with just the Tesco deal and an online presence remaining.

chrissb8

I haven't rented a dvd since 2006 just shocked they lasted all these years.

Penn

While obviously disappointed for the sake of all the staff's jobs and companies who provide services to Xtra-Vision, I have very little sympathy after the sh*te they pulled a few years ago with the XBox One release and how they very likely would have tried the same with the PS4 release if not for the backlash of the XB1.

One of the sh*ttiest moves I've seen such a large company pull, which hurt double as I was always a big fan of Xtra-Vision up to that point. Literally spent thousands in there over the years, between consoles, games, dvds, blu-rays, dvd players etc. Think the only time I bought something in there since was because I was badly stuck for a particular Xmas present.

Sad for the staff if they go under, but like I said, very little sympathy for the company. They never changed with the times and made some really poor decisions trying to play catchup (whose f*cking decision was it to start selling greeting cards?).

smash

wil wrote: »

I didn't see much by the way of reinvention, little different, every other area they ventured in to seemed to just peter off. TVs, small personal electronics, games, phones. Store today looks much like 10 years ago, most of the store still consists of overpriced DVD rentals and high priced sale DVD, CDs and games.

In my locality there are 2 Xtravision's and neither are stores. They are self service kiosks. One is outside a shop on the footpath and one is in a supermarket.

the groutch

Penn wrote: »

While obviously disappointed for the sake of all the staff's jobs and companies who provide services to Xtra-Vision, I have very little sympathy after the sh*te they pulled a few years ago with the XBox One release and how they very likely would have tried the same with the PS4 release if not for the backlash of the XB1.

I remember that well, and although I wasn't one of those effected, I haven't been in an Xtravision since.

warpdrive

Penn wrote: »

While obviously disappointed for the sake of all the staff's jobs and companies who provide services to Xtra-Vision, I have very little sympathy after the sh*te they pulled a few years ago with the XBox One release and how they very likely would have tried the same with the PS4 release if not for the backlash of the XB1.

One of the sh*ttiest moves I've seen such a large company pull, which hurt double as I was always a big fan of Xtra-Vision up to that point. Literally spent thousands in there over the years, between consoles, games, dvds, blu-rays, dvd players etc. Think the only time I bought something in there since was because I was badly stuck for a particular Xmas present.

Sad for the staff if they go under, but like I said, very little sympathy for the company. They never changed with the times and made some really poor decisions trying to play catchup (whose f*cking decision was it to start selling greeting cards?).

What happened?

Penn

Penn wrote: »

While obviously disappointed for the sake of all the staff's jobs and companies who provide services to Xtra-Vision, I have very little sympathy after the sh*te they pulled a few years ago with the XBox One release...

Which was...

fleet_admiral

They would have been saved if they had installed private boots and started renting blueys

LDN_Irish

To echo everyone else's sentiments, they've been on death's door for a long time. I used to work beside one and was friendly with the staff in there. None of them had a good word to say about the place. I always found the service in there shocking and I'm guessing that's due to how the staff were treated. Their attempts to diversify didn't seem to come with any additional training for the staff and made the electronics they sold (for the same price or more than everyone else in my experience) an unviable purchase if you wanted any actual info on it. I went in to buy a Nexus 7 tablet for 250 euro and the guy couldn't tell me a thing about it, "how long is the warranty for?" "Dunno." No attempts to check or anything. That might be alright when someone is handing over a fiver to rent something but not when you're spending 250 quid.

lertsnim

They closed here a few years ago and put a kiosk in supervalu instead. Only ever see teenagers browsing on it.

The stunt they tried with the Xbox One launch left a sour taste with a lot of gamers. It was run by idiots.

the groutch

warpdrive wrote: »

What happened?

People who had pre-ordered the console were told they couldn't buy the console unless they bought (an) extra game(s) with it at Xtravision's extortionate prices. This was at a time when the € was very strong, so buying games from Amazon etc could be easily €20 cheaper.

5rtytry56

the groutch wrote: »

People who had pre-ordered the console were told they couldn't buy the console unless they bought (an) extra game(s) with it at Xtravision's extortionate prices. This was at a time when the € was very strong, so
buying games from Amazon etc could be easily €20 cheaper.

Ultimately, Xtravision were legally compelled to sell the console to customer without having to fork out for the quite average run of the mill game.

TrustedApple

I am still pissing myself over Xtravision makeing you buy another game with your xbox one ?. What where you going to be playing on them anyway if our not going to buy a game with it .

Just a fancy paper wight ha ha

the groutch

TrustedApple wrote: »

I am still pissing myself over Xtravision makeing you buy another game with your xbox one ?. What where you going to be playing on them anyway if our not going to buy a game with it .

Just a fancy paper wight ha ha

Games bought in places other than Xtravision for cheaper?
Or games bought on PSN?

TrustedApple

the groutch wrote: »

Games bought in places other than Xtravision for cheaper?
Or games bought on PSN?

PSN on Xbox the joys of having a Sony Box One 4 .

The fact is i would have just bought a game there and then myself as you will more then likely be like f it give me fifa as well.

smash

TrustedApple wrote: »

PSN on Xbox the joys of having a Sony Box One 4 .

The fact is i would have just bought a game there and then myself as you will more then likely be like f it give me fifa as well.

You would have been willing to pay €70 for a game you could have bought for €45 or €50 down the road?

von Smallhausen

Being reported that all stores are to close with immediate effect.

B.A._Baracus

Gone bust again?
It would suck if you were one of the original staff who got rehired when it got bought. But then only to face this again.

TrustedApple

smash wrote: »

You would have been willing to pay €70 for a game you could have bought for €45 or €50 down the road?

Tell me on the day the xbox one and PS4 came out games where 50 euros ha ha. They where 70 + everywhere. I just looked at my orders on my amazon account i paid 63 euros for black Flag for my PS4 from them when it came out :rolleyes:

Only place that you could have got the games for 50 euros was from Chandra when the new consoles came out.

But get back to me if you see a new release game in a retail store in Ireland for 45 50 euros for the xbox one or the PS4 not a hope in hell. Anything that has a funny name is 80 euros now in gamestop ha ha.

Maximus Alexander

TrustedApple wrote: »

PSN on Xbox the joys of having a Sony Box One 4 .

The fact is i would have just bought a game there and then myself as you will more then likely be like f it give me fifa as well.

Ah well if that's what you'd have done then sure we'll just make a rule and apply it to everyone.

Maximus Alexander

TrustedApple wrote: »

Tell me on the day the xbox one and PS4 came out games where 50 euros ha ha. They where 70 + everywhere. I just looked at my orders on my amazon account i paid 63 euros for black Flag for my PS4 from them when it came out :rolleyes:

Where'd you get the PS4?

road_high

So annoying for anyone with Gift vouchers (possibly loads after Christmas) and anyone with something to exchange. I got two of the same DVD for Christmas and exchanged it just last weekend- just in time it seems :eek:

PucaMama

Danny_B wrote: »

Being reported that all stores are to close with immediate effect.

Will they sell off the stock

thomasm

Rented my first Blueray in years last weekend. Got sick of low picture quality from downloads and the difference in picture/sound was unreal. Had decided to start renting more.

Penn

5rtytry56 wrote: »

Ultimately, Xtravision were legally compelled to sell the console to customer without having to fork out for the quite average run of the mill game.

That's how they tried to get around it though, they'd still sell you your console, but you'd go to the back of the queue in terms of stock. They'd give priority to and only release consoles to those who were buying an additional game/controller. So they were still fulfilling their obligation, you'd just have to wait a few weeks, which considering this was mid-November and stock was sold out pretty much everywhere, meant you pretty much had no other choice but to do it, or possibly not get your console in time for Xmas.

They also tried to blame it on Microsoft, saying it was them who said people had to buy an extra game/controller. Much like their business model, they forgot it was the 21st Century and people could contact MS to ask. XV quickly had to backtrack and admit MS never gave that order.

TrustedApple wrote: »

I am still pissing myself over Xtravision makeing you buy another game with your xbox one ?. What where you going to be playing on them anyway if our not going to buy a game with it .

Just a fancy paper wight ha ha

That's the thing, even someone who had two games pre-ordered and already paid for, they were still being told they had to buy an extra game. Let's say 15 games are available at launch, you only want two of them or can only afford two of them, so you preorder and pay for them. You were then forced into buying another game, a game you did not want, in order to get your console. Even besides that, people might have been getting games from elsewhere or whatever, but XV were still saying they had to buy an extra game or extra controller, or they'd go to the back of the list and stock would be given out to others who were as a priority.

It came back to bite them in the arse though. Not only did many people stop going to XtraVision completely, but they also had to take back any games people were forced into buying, and considering many of them had probably been opened by that point, meant XV couldn't sell them for full price again. Plus when the PS4 was being released a week or two later, I had already paid off the console, but not the games. So I did in fact buy my PS4 without any games in XV and just got the games across the road in Argos.

road_high

http://entertainment.ie/cinema/news/XtraVision-to-cease-trading-from-today-all-80-stores-closed-across-Ireland/375806.htm

Says HMV not affected by this? WTF? I know in Kilkenny they are in the same shop, not much differentiation at all.

Atlantic Dawn

With them gone and Screenclick gone is that the end of video/DVD rental in Ireland? I would have thought there would be a market, a smallish one for post based rentals like what Screenclick had, there's plenty areas of the country with brutal broadband that this might appeal to.

seamus

road_high wrote: »

So annoying for anyone with Gift vouchers (possibly loads after Christmas) and anyone with something to exchange. I got two of the same DVD for Christmas and exchanged it just last weekend- just in time it seems :eek:

Gift vouchers will be honoured.

In fact, in a liquidation sale you'll get stuff cut price, so your vouchers will go even further.

You'll have to use them though, once the shops are gone, your vouchers are worthless.

Captain Flaps

TrustedApple wrote: »

Tell me on the day the xbox one and PS4 came out games where 50 euros ha ha. They where 70 + everywhere. I just looked at my orders on my amazon account i paid 63 euros for black Flag for my PS4 from them when it came out :rolleyes:

Let's say you wanted an xbox one. Let's say you picked the local xtravision to preorder it because it's handy for you. You submit your preorder and put the cash aside, and on the day you excitedly rock up to the store to collect it.

Then the lad behind the counter says he won't give you your preorder unless you give him another €75 for a game (also, wasn't it from a selection of games? Could be wrong there).

Are you saying you'd have absolutely no problem with that? What if you'd bought a console with a bundled game and you weren't planning on getting something else until next month's payday?

What if you're a kid who's saved up the birthday/communion money and you just have the cash for your preorder?

What if you're a stressed parent just trying to make sure you get the bloody thing so there aren't ructions on Christmas day.

They knew this was illegal, they just chanced their arm to try and make a quick quid off people who thought it was pay up or go home empty handed (with no chance of getting one elsewhere for weeks).

haha yeah, that's grand :rolleyes:

seamus

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

With them gone and Screenclick gone is that the end of video/DVD rental in Ireland? I would have thought there would be a market, a smallish one for post based rentals like what Screenclick had, there's plenty areas of the country with brutal broadband that this might appeal to.

This would actually be an ideal time for the government to step in and hoover up the bulk of this stuff for stocking up public libraries.

Yes, if you're a library member you can borrow DVDs and having a comprehensive movie collection would actually be a valuable public service. Even Netflix somewhat doesn't bother maintaining an enormous library - unpopular movies will be quietly dropped from availability.

MilesMorales1

What happens to HMV then?

Captain Flaps

'unaffected', apparently. Presume they'll close the dedicated xtravision stores and keep a few of the bigger HMVs

MilesMorales1

Presumably there won't be some big sale of xtravision stock then, it'll just go to HMV stores. Dang.

yes I'm a vulture. Shoot me.

TrustedApple

If you dont have the money to buy another game with the console maybe you should think twice do you really have the money to buy your new fancy 500 euros game console ?. As i would only buy something if i had double of it in my bank account as i would never wont to see my bank in red ever as i valve every euro i had as i have had some very very hard times.

You must be some rich kid to have had 500 euros to buy a games console and proves that kids today take everything for granted with getting stuff and wont thinks yesterday and wont wait for them. The way it was in my house if i wonted something i had to work for it as he mother and father wont hand me a penny unless i worked in my fathers business.

How is it illegal its like your out for a meal and there is 8 of you and you have to pay a service charge ?. If its in black and white you have to pay as its management rules. If they tell you in a nightclub your to drunk to go on and you have no drink in you ?. management rules. Same as going into another shop and see something that has a price of 50 euros but scans at 100 up to the management to give it to you for 50 as they dont have to at all.

gramar

I was driving through a town other day and saw one and wondered out loud how Xtravision could still be around in this day and age and today I see it's gone out of business. A harbinger of doom I am.

Captain Flaps

TrustedApple wrote: »

If you dont have the money to buy another game with the console maybe you should think twice do you really have the money to buy your new fancy 500 euros game console ?. As i would only buy something if i had double of it in my bank account as i would never wont to see my bank in red ever as i valve every euro i had as i have had some very very hard times.

You must be some rich kid to have had 500 euros to buy a games console and proves that kids today take everything for granted with getting stuff and wont thinks yesterday and wont wait for them. The way it was in my house if i wonted something i had to work for it as he mother and father wont hand me a penny unless i worked in my fathers business.

How is it illegal its like your out for a meal and there is 8 of you and you have to pay a service charge ?. If its in black and white you have to pay as its management rules. If they tell you in a nightclub your to drunk to go on and you have no drink in you ?. management rules. Same as going into another shop and see something that has a price of 50 euros but scans at 100 up to the management to give it to you for 50 as they dont have to at all.

I can't tell if you're being difficult on purpose or just stupid.

It was illegal. A preorder is basically a contract of sale. You can cancel it at any time but the terms can't just be changed midway through the process. THe high court agreed and xtravision were forced to refund the cost of the ransom games to anyone who wanted to return them. The other situations you mention are not even remotely the same thing.

All other sob stories aside, what if I ordered the xbox and a game and I just don't want to buy anything else? They can't force you to at the till.

The Backwards Man

The last DVD I rented was a tape!. It was The Last Boy Scout, when was that, early 90s?

Even then, you could see the writing on the wall. The internet might have killed video rentals, but multichannel cable and satellite TV loaded the gun.

Sierra 117

I'm sad to see it go, if only because I would rent a Blu-Ray from there every now and then.

Their game prices were atrocious though. €70-75 for one game was taking the piss.

Captain Flaps

Sierra 117 wrote: »

I'm sad to see it go, if only because I would rent a Blu-Ray from there every now and then.

Their game prices were atrocious though. €70-75 for one game was taking the piss.

They had the cheapest second hand section before CEX got involved though. Got many an xbox 360 game for a fiver!

gimmick

A flawed and out dated business model. Richard Branson was about the only one who saw the writing on the wall and collapsed Virgin in double quick time.

The Xtra Vision on Douglas has very snarky signs all round the shop about how they are being replaced by vending machine/kiosks or something. No loss aside from those who are working there.

allibastor

I went into Xtra vision in Naas, didnt see anything mad during the closing down sale!

Like some DVD and games which were pre-owned were a bit cheaper, but nothing major