Customer profile
What was the name of your video store?
Video Signals
Where was the store located?
, Massachusetts (United States)
When did you start shopping at this store?
1989
Describe your video store - what did it look like? What were its distinguishing
features?
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?
Lots of friends who worked there.
What other services/products did the store offer besides the rental or sale
of videos? Did this change over time?
What video formats did the store offer (i.e. VHS, Beta, Laserdisc)? Where were
different formats kept in the store?
VHS, laserdisc. Laserdiscs were near the register. VHS tapes were all around.
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?
Don't remember.
Did you tend to rent or buy videos? Why?
Rent. Never had much desire to own movies.
During the period that you shopped at this store, what changes did you see?
Didn't change much.
Is this store still open? If not, when did it close?
I don't know if it's still open.
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 parents' first VCR was top-loading and had a remote that plugged into the machine with a cord. They bought it in the mid 80s because my dad is a gadget-nut.
Did you ever rent a VCR or other hardware (a camera, for instance)? If so,
how often and why?
No.