Customer profile
What was the name of your video store?
(i don't remember, its a corner store)
Where was the store located?
Manila, Select a State (Philippines)
When did you start shopping at this store?
1988
Describe your video store - what did it look like? What were its distinguishing
features?
The "legitimate" part of the video store was in the front. It was a bodega-type video store with shelved titles on either side. Some pretty old movies on VHS and laser disk. A false bookcase was the doorway to the back room. Here people rented current title tapes which were pirated videos or videos not for rental or public use that were up to the minuted rentals.
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?
THe employees liked us because wewere Visayan just like them. We came from the same province. The employees were the household staff of the owners we thought.
What other services/products did the store offer besides the rental or sale
of videos? Did this change over time?
No other products were sold there. Maybe some gum or candy.
What video formats did the store offer (i.e. VHS, Beta, Laserdisc)? Where were
different formats kept in the store?
VHS and laserdisc. ALl kept in the same place.
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 cartoons, Filipino movies, Musicals and concerts as well as the usual hollywood movies.
Did you tend to rent or buy videos? Why?
Rent. Really cheap to rent.
During the period that you shopped at this store, what changes did you see?
The quality of pirated tapes improved.
Is this store still open? If not, when did it close?
Don't know if it is 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?
We were living in HK then. It was a huge family discussion about buying our first betamax. I think everyone else in the world already had VCR and were switching over to VHS macines. It was bought used from someone else in the apt. building. No remote control and we did buy new a rewinder.
Did you ever rent a VCR or other hardware (a camera, for instance)? If so,
how often and why?
no