Customer profile
What was the name of your video store?
2001 Video
Where was the store located?
Plano, Texas (United States)
When did you start shopping at this store?
1983
Describe your video store - what did it look like? What were its distinguishing
features?
Originally sold TV's and electronics, like stereos and record players. First place I ever saw a LD player and CD players. Entire other wall was all Beta, no VHS at the beginning. Later on, the store dumped all the electronics equipment, except for VCR's, both VHS and beta. The only other video store in the nearest 10 mile area was a Soundware House that stocked more VHS than Beta. Hours were 10-10 7 days a week. Didn't stock "2001" the movie until they got VHS tapes, ironically.
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?
Employees were a rotating stock of teenagers. None terribly memorable, I was younger than all of them, so it didn't matter much. The owner was a bearded middle aged guy, that would remind most of an ex hippie. He was a really nice guy, who'd go out of his way to hunt down hard to find titles, and would cut unbelievable deals for prerented tapes. Sold tapes that should have sold for (when he purchased them for the rental price, usually $100 or more...)$30 to me for $15 or less, and I was a kid!
What other services/products did the store offer besides the rental or sale
of videos? Did this change over time?
See above... The enevitable switch to VHS, eventually picked up a HUGE NES library, and never got into any other consoles, ever.
What video formats did the store offer (i.e. VHS, Beta, Laserdisc)? Where were
different formats kept in the store?
Kept Beta initially. VHS, and VERY limited support for Laserdisc. LD's were dropped entirely when they moved locations and undertook a name change.
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?
Decent stock of childrens, I was a kid after all. Had Exercise, lots of Jane Fonda... Unaware of pornos...
Did you tend to rent or buy videos? Why?
Rent more than anything. After they moved locations, I primarily bought their used rental tapes for my own burdgeoning library.
During the period that you shopped at this store, what changes did you see?
Moved locations, 6 spaces over in it's shopping mall spot. Bigger space, with more open area for more titles...
Is this store still open? If not, when did it close?
No, closed in 1992. After the move, they were forced by MGM to change the name, can't remember the newer name... But it had Video in the title.
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?
First Beta player, don't remember too well, I know the only prerecorded film our family owned was sound of music. Got a VHS player in 1987, Got ET, Superman, Blank tapes, and Spaceballs.
Did you ever rent a VCR or other hardware (a camera, for instance)? If so,
how often and why?
Nope. Never.