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?
1989
Describe your video store - what did it look like? What were its distinguishing
features?
It was an old small public library that had lots of shelves and felt like a library still. It had that "smell." It had big windows. Totally a hippie mom and pop kind of place.
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?
They were all rather hostile hippies and ex cons. They would scoff at peoples' video choices if they felt they were pathetic. They looked at me like I was the worst person in the world if my video was late. One time I lost a video, and the guy said, "You have to pay for it." It was a rare video and it cost $90 to replace. I apid it without comment, yet he would continue to harass me for being a bad person every time I ever came in the store. I miss them.
What other services/products did the store offer besides the rental or sale
of videos? Did this change over time?
Videos only for a long time, then candy and videos for sale, then video games.
What video formats did the store offer (i.e. VHS, Beta, Laserdisc)? Where were
different formats kept in the store?
they had vhs and beta when i first went there. It switched to solely vhs for years, then moved to SOME dvd before they closed.
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, foreign films (lots), tons of indie films, concert video, exercise video, huge sci fi section, no porn. sci-fi and action had their own little room. childrens had their own section in front as you waolked in. Foreign and music had their own little vestibule. new videos were in another room at the far end of the store. i was a regular renter - at least one per week.
Did you tend to rent or buy videos? Why?
rent. i don't need to see movies over and over.
During the period that you shopped at this store, what changes did you see?
more games. more demand for new releases. the employees became unionized. this store developed satellite stores. hollywood video also popped up, causing the demise of this store
Is this store still open? If not, when did it close?
Nope - see above. it closed in 2002.
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 didn't have one when i was growing up. my first was owned by my college roommate in 1988. i finally bought one in 1990 from some refurbished electronics store. i bought it b/c my roomie was moving out.
Did you ever rent a VCR or other hardware (a camera, for instance)? If so,
how often and why?
i have rented a playstation once b/c i was bored and wanted to see if i wanted one, but i don't rent equipment really.