Customer profile
What was the name of your video store?
Video Update
Where was the store located?
Albert Lea, Minnesota (United States)
When did you start shopping at this store?
1984
Describe your video store - what did it look like? What were its distinguishing
features?
Pretty standard - rows and rows of videos (only VHS back then). I don't remember all of the extra stuff that they have now - food, games, etc.
What were the employees and/or owners like, and what kinds of interactions
did you have with them? What particularly memorable exchanges or events
do you remember?
None that I can remember.
What other services/products did the store offer besides the rental or sale
of videos? Did this change over time?
None when i started renting there. Now they have videos for sale, satellite TV subscriptions, food, games, etc.
What video formats did the store offer (i.e. VHS, Beta, Laserdisc)? Where were
different formats kept in the store?
VHS. I guess they had laserdisc when they were big, but since I didn't have one I don't remember.
In addition to mainstream Hollywood movies, what other kinds of videotapes
(for example children's, exercise, or X-rated) did the store rent/sell? Where were these
videos found in the store, and how often did you rent or purchase them?
Children's and exercise videos. I rented kids videos (cartoons etc.) when I was younger.
Did you tend to rent or buy videos? Why?
Rent. I didn't have money for buying videos, and I tend not to see things more than once unless it is an absolute favorite.
During the period that you shopped at this store, what changes did you see?
change of location, nicer building, more stuff offered.
Is this store still open? If not, when did it close?
Yes.
In your own words, tell the story of your first VCR/video player. Where
and when did you buy it, and why did you decide to make the purchase?
My dad bought it for our family after he and my mom got divorced. It cost a ridiculous amount of money. We had it for years. I think he wanted us to have something to do when we went to his house. I bought my first VCR when I moved into my own apartment two years ago. I bought it because I didn't have one, and my roommate was keeping hers.
Did you ever rent a VCR or other hardware (a camera, for instance)? If so,
how often and why?
I tried to a couple of times, but there weren't any available.