Customer profile
What was the name of your video store?
can't remember
Where was the store located?
Naucalpan, Other (Mexico)
When did you start shopping at this store?
1982
Describe your video store - what did it look like? What were its distinguishing
features?
Basically shelves chockfull of tapes more or less arranged by genre (Bond movies don't belong in the SF section). All the tapes were home made copies of original tapes for the first couple of years. Afterwards they started carrying the originals. There was a long counter to handle transactions, too. A few notices of store policies and a movie poster or two.
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?
I don't know if I ever met the owner(s). The employees, for the most part, knew very little beyond the process for renting a movie. One exchange I vividly remember was asking if they had Fantasia. I was told they only had the "good Disney movies." Whatever that meant.
What other services/products did the store offer besides the rental or sale
of videos? Did this change over time?
None. Not at first and not later.
What video formats did the store offer (i.e. VHS, Beta, Laserdisc)? Where were
different formats kept in the store?
VHS and Beta. Eventually they dropped Beta. At first they had more Beta than VHS, but the balance tilted over time until VHS reigned supreme
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?
This bein Mexico, there were tons of Mexican movies.
Did you tend to rent or buy videos? Why?
Rent. Much cheaper.
During the period that you shopped at this store, what changes did you see?
Not many. They went from home made copies to original tapes, but that was it.
Is this store still open? If not, when did it close?
Not anymore. By 1988 or so it was incorporated or taken over by a national chain called Videocentro. It closed around 1996, I think.
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 father bought a monstrously large Panasonic VHS in 1980 or so. We bought a couple of cartoon tapes (one was Little Lulu, the other I don't recall). Soon after buying it I taped a Cantinflas movie, "Un Dia Con El Diablo" in the tape that came with the VCR. I still have it :)
Did you ever rent a VCR or other hardware (a camera, for instance)? If so,
how often and why?
Once in 1989 I rented a VHS camera in DisneyWorld. Pretty much just to make a video of the trip. Not reallya good idea, now that I look back on it.