Customer profile
What was the name of your video store?
VIdeo Ithaca
Where was the store located?
Ithaca, New York (United States)
When did you start shopping at this store?
1990
Describe your video store - what did it look like? What were its distinguishing
features?
small and dark, I found. Compartments fro adult movies and stuff, but I guess that's normal. Since I did not visit that many other places, I don't quite know what distinguished it from other video shops.
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?
Staff seemed bored most often. The whole place a bit depressing, and the staff's impression/behaviour contributed to that. I would go there, chosse my film and then leave, all very quietly and unsuspicuous. So - I don't think there were any memorbale exchanges. Does this help...? Sorry...
What other services/products did the store offer besides the rental or sale
of videos? Did this change over time?
I think there was soft drinks and snacks and popconrn, but not particulalry nicely arranged., I remmevbr HOLLYWOOD being better about this.
What video formats did the store offer (i.e. VHS, Beta, Laserdisc)? Where were
different formats kept in the store?
I don't know... Only one kind, the one used by the late 1990s...
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?
there was a specific children's section. The porn etc was in a compartment separetd by a curtain. The curtain itself reminded me of (secret and sort of run-down) gay sex-shops. I don't remeber anyting about exercise.
Did you tend to rent or buy videos? Why?
Rent. I don't tend to watch films more than once or twice.
During the period that you shopped at this store, what changes did you see?
None.
Is this store still open? If not, when did it close?
No. Don't know when it closed. SOme time between August 2001 and January 2003.
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?
Summer of 1999. On a garage sale in Ithaca. I was moving into a place of my own, and I decided films to be part of my AMerican life style... (I am European, and families and students were not into the VCR-thing by the time I left Europe (1998).
Did you ever rent a VCR or other hardware (a camera, for instance)? If so,
how often and why?
No.