On a note about the guaranteed in stock thing though, it’s always bugged me a bit how nonchalant they are when it’s not in stock and it *IS* guaranteed to be there. Sure, they give you the free pass, but it’s like it’s no big deal. “So what, we got you in the store.” I know they can’t do anything else about it, but when it consistently happens to week to week, they really could either drop the promo or order more so it really is there.

…and all titles will be guarenteed “in stock”

I’m hoping that Netflix comes to Canada soon because I’ve heard really good things about them and it seems like a great idea. Zip.ca seems to offer the same service as Netflix, but I haven’t given them a try yet.

Hollywood Video = Circuit City

nuff said.

I suspect another concept that you didn’t point out to the clerk: That movies to be guaranteed in stock are the ones they know, in advance, that demand will not exceed supply. John Tucker Must Die was a favorite in the 14-18 female demographic, a range that undoubtedly spends very little money renting movies at Blockbuster. An Inconvenient Truth on the other hand, perfectly nails the profile of a regular renter. Why they would do this is entirely counterintuitive to good business sense, but then again, remember… they box all these up and sell them as used DVDs when the rush is through.

Who knows.

My digital cable package (though they don’t offer the NFL Network**) does do a good job of offering the On Demand movies, and the all the On Demand movie channels. So, we save the gas and the hassle and just use our remote, and they ususally have a large selection of new and older releases … some even free.

I say it’s worked for the family b/c we can order movies anytime, and it’s especially been helpful with babysitters. We don’t have to spend the time going out to the local video store (or risk the babysitter taking the kids to the store – that happened to me when I was a wee lad). We just tell her to order a movie from the kids’ section, or even a single episode from Cartoon Network.

I don’t know if that would work for anyone else, but it’s done us well.

** NFL Network – after suffering through the Bryant Gumble edition of play-by-play during the Chiefs/Broncos game, I’m not so worried about not having the NFL Network. Maybe I’ll just mute the TV and turn up the radio broadcast.

Bryant, football games are not scripted news broadcasts. And, it’s “near-side” and “far-side” NOT “this-side” and “that-side.”

OK, rant over.