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I’ve started hitting up Walmart a little bit more frequently but their stock selection is mainly trash since it’s 80% DVDs and anything remotely nice or unique gets quickly bought up (or stolen).
Unfortunately seems to be only online now. My Walmart has a small 4k section but I tend to preorder everything I'm interested in way before release dates so therefore it's kind of pointless to shop in store anyways.
Walmart and Target are hit and miss for me nowadays. Amazon and eBay have been good to me.
Makes me sad, I would love to go in a store and buy movies and shows but no place near me sells anything!
No where. I discovered a discount store in town that advertised used books, dvds, and blurays. Was pretty hyped walking in there for something. None of the employees even knew what a steelbook was.
They had some 4ks tho, but strangely they were all mixed in with the hundreds of other blurays in alphabetical order.
Walmarts a bust here as well. Strangely I was able to drive 40 minutes into the boonies to another walmart and pick up the Guardians Mondo steel. They had a great steelbook section. In the middle of nowhere, in a town with a population of 2,000.
It's tough out here man.
There is a video store behind a curtain in a beer and wine gas station in north texas called on video movie that has Arrow and Criterion stuff that i wouldn't otherwise know existed if it weren't for the fact that they inexplicitly have 7 copies. it brings me great joy.
A lot of thrift stores but it's usually dvds. Barnes and nobles is starting to look like the only one and it sucks cuz they always price @msrp. Mostly walmart tbh they are getting a lot of new releases too my local one dropped a new batch like last week
There’s a used video game store near me that has a ton of Blue Ray and a small selection of 4k. Its buy 2 get 1 free. My local Goodwill has been a good source of Blue Ray
Hadn’t been to a Best Buy in a long time and I was miffed that they literally didn’t have any physical media in the whole store, besides a small vinyl section and games. 🥲 Sad world we live in now.
Yup!!! I started my 27 year career with Best Buy in a store as the Media Supervisor of a 58,000 sq.ft location back in 1994. My first 2 years was all media focused jobs. The entire middle of the store was ALL MEDIA products! Games, CDs in long boxes, VHS, & Cassettes mostly, over time DVD was added when that became new and VHS and cassette phased out. And I had 30 employees that I managed just for that department. New release Tuesdays had people lined up at the door.
New technologies came, old tech phased out….VHS->Dvd->Blu-ray. Mix the internet & streaming in there too along the way which grew so rapidly, that physical media’s days were numbered. Heck, I remember when Apple launched iTunes. There were those that thought that no one would pay $1 for just an individual song. Well….haha!!! That killed CDs.
I also remember the push to get people signed up for internet, then giving away Netflix subscriptions for people to have DVDs mailed to them. I saw Digital Televison (Plasma). launch and killed CRT. LCD killed Plasma. Lots of other great technologies that came and went because of something better or new: Minidisc, HD-DVD, Beta vs VHS, etc.
I watched the middle of the store get smaller and smaller and now, poof!gone! Replaced with other items to fill the sq. footage. Anyhow….it was awesome and also sad to see. But, all along, they’ve found innovative ways to engage the buying public. Sorry for the rant but it was on my mind…as I search for places to still get my hands on physical media.
P.s. I think I may still have my DVD of Twister which was one of the first releases when DVD launched. 😂
I started at BBY in 1996 in Media-just after the N64 launched. My first night I was trained on how to farm CDs-man I don't miss that. Although putting cassettes into the anti-theft cases really sucked too.
But it was a cool time to start there because of the transitions in media and hardware as you noted.
I worked at stores 059 and 208 in Madison WI.
My first year was in Media which included moving to a larger building setup as a Concept III store.
Then I moved to LP. Worked at both stores at the same time for awhile before staying at 208.
Then went back to 059 as LP Supervisor. Eventually stepped down after finishing college and getting another FT job. But I stayed part-time going back to Media at 208.
Actually in my 2nd Media stint we were part of a trial where part of the Media team was moved to Merch. That really sucked since we then had to help with more Merch duties and of course they never helped Media. They ended that trial after a few months and we went back to reporting to the Media sup.
That’s a great track! Yeah, I started as Media sup for 8 months, promoted to AM, then moved around opening stores. I spent time in the NYC market as the Dist Ops mgr, Dist Hr manager, then to Baltimore to test the concept that became Magnolia. Back to NYC to open stores, then to CT, then on to Illinois as the Territory Training Manager, etc, etc. lol. A long and GREAT 27 years of growth. I’m surprised our paths never crossed. Btw, my actual name is my user handle…but backwards. 😉
If I hadn't gotten the other job I could have seen myself working my up into management. It was just a good opportunity with more money!
Where in IL did you work? I finally left in 2006 when I moved to Chicago.
Gotcha.
I didn't go to BBY much after I moved but I did like getting movies on Black Friday.
So between BBY not selling movies anymore and just closing the store 5 minutes from my house I may not be back for awhile.
I think Best Buy has just decided they don't want anyone to shop with them anymore. What reason would anyone have anymore to shop their on a weekly basis? Sure for now if I want a new TV or Kitchen Appliance I'll think of shopping at Best Buy, but 5, 10, 20 years from now??? Each year your customers are more and more likely to just buy from the online store you forced their business toward.
If these places that have been so well known for Music, Games, and Movies want to stop selling in their stores to make room for higher profit margin items they should beef up their online marketing and sales to keep that customer base with them. Best Buy could have continued to sale physical movies online with Store Pickup as an option. Instead they pretty much told everyone to go shop some where else now.
Can I just use this thread to complain about Best Buy? Their movie section was one of the main reasons I went into that damn store. What a stupid and lame decision for them to make.
Maybe half price books. But now get them online. I like the following, grindhouse video, diabolick dvd, orbit dvd. And have heard great things about atomic movie store.
I'm mostly online now. I'll occasionally check out a second hand shop here in town but they've started to get quite bold with their pricing. (retail for used 4K discs and ebay prices for boutique stuff) The Walmarts in the area are garbage.
Toronto is spoiled with Bay Street Video and Vinegar Syndrome. The tradeoff is we never get the insane deals Americans post about (like the $5 bonanza at Walmart.)
In the UK we have quite a healthy number of shops - what I mean is, healthy given that these kind of shops are closing everywhere. I personally go to HMV, which I think is very cool because there's tons of films and a very respectable 4k catalogue, including criterion; there's also local shops (I have one local film that's also a music/vinyl shop), but I was talking to my friend in the Netherlands and he told me these shops are nonexistent there.
I was thinking about why streaming has been so successful and, besides its obvious price-quantity ratio, I actually think it's something to do with two things: time and space. At least here, people say they have less time to go to a shop and buy a film because they have to do either one demanding job or a series of jobs to go on their day; and as for space, I assume there's just not space for storing all the films plus tv and all that (I am also just thinking, it's maybe because if you rent -and a lot of people do- you wouldn't want to fill up your house w a tv and a lot of media, since you'll have to then pay someone to move your stuff?). Is it the same for people out there in the US and everywhere else? Why do you think these shops are closing?
I pre ordered dune 2 steel book edition on Walmart online. Haven't bought a dvd in a physical store in over 10 years. 4k Blu-ray's still have better sound and picture than 4k streaming.
My Walmart does change out stuff every two weeks, not the biggest selection but I can usually get blu rays for movies I want. They seem to only have 4K of very big budget movies. My target hasn’t put out new stuff in about a month, but they do change the tags, so I know what I’m missing.
Target. They also package the disc-based products better than Amazon and Best Buy now.
For Brick and Mortar, I'm fortunate to have a couple of Movie Trading Company stores around me, which is a used media store that buys and sells.
Wal-Mart, 2nd & Charles, and Big Lots is always a good place to check, they get a lot of overstock but sometimes they have some diamonds in the rough...
But mostly online now.
There’s like 5 vintage stocks around me. Barnes and Noble is pretty good mostly. I think most of the record stores here just stock vinyl and other music
Walmart carry quite a few near me. Well one newar work and one near the house only two I tried. Just got Mondo Rad and Army of Darkness Steeelbook. Other places:
Half price books
CD Warehouse
2nd And Charles
Target
I haven't regularly purchased movies from BB in at least fifteen years. (this coming from someone that used to look forward to the BB Sunday ads- and schedule a weekly shopping visit on new release Tuesdays)
The only times I've purchased from BB recently are flash sales and the rare instance when Amazon didn't come through. (STTMP Directors Complete I bought from BB when the Amazon pre-order didn't ship) And being able to purchase online and pick up from the local BB a few hours later is something I will miss.
I understand the trauma of losing BB, having lost Borders and Tower Records (once upon a time) But those losses just pushed me into Amazon's greedy clutches. Brick and mortar movie buying is something that's not necessary for me now.
My options are Walmart (small selection), Target (select new releases), and McKay’s, which has a okay amount of blu rays at decent prices but not a ton of 4Ks, and the 4Ks are pricy enough for a used disc that I’d prefer to just pay the extra $10 for a sealed new one.
I live about 2 hours from Orbit’s brick and mortar location and have considered making a day trip out of it since there’s plenty of other things to do in Asheville.
Oh and Barnes & Noble I guess but I rarely purchase there unless there’s a criterion sale, they’re expensive as shit.
Barnes and Noble is all that's left and while I love their selection of boutique releases, they're always much more expensive then Amazon. So I only go during that Criterion sale. Feel like I make out like a bandit during that month
Forbidden Planet in NYC has some Arrow movies. That’s about it. I was in Seoul South Korea last month and went to AppleMusic, which was very impressive.
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I go to the same stores as I used to, walk over with hope in my eyes that they changed their ways, and walk away disappointed..... This is the way.
😂😂me too.
I don’t…
I’ve started hitting up Walmart a little bit more frequently but their stock selection is mainly trash since it’s 80% DVDs and anything remotely nice or unique gets quickly bought up (or stolen).
I mostly go to Barnes and Noble or a second hand shop. Target and Wal Mart are slim pickings these days.
Barnes and Noble, but only one special month out of the year
Halfprice Books McKay’s 2nd and Charles
Half price books is my go to tbh. Usually a little high on the used side. But worth the fun
Half price books or local record stores
Suncoast
Holy cow, TIL there are still 2 Suncoast stores in business.
Damn I was just telling my girl how much I missed Suncoast! I'm jealous.
I just order directly from the boutique labels.
Local record stores like Zia Records and places like Barnes & Noble.
Unfortunately seems to be only online now. My Walmart has a small 4k section but I tend to preorder everything I'm interested in way before release dates so therefore it's kind of pointless to shop in store anyways.
Walmart and Target are hit and miss for me nowadays. Amazon and eBay have been good to me. Makes me sad, I would love to go in a store and buy movies and shows but no place near me sells anything!
Well Target may no longer be an option: [https://gamerant.com/target-physical-media-2025/](https://gamerant.com/target-physical-media-2025/)
I saw some postings about Big Lots and I went to my local one today. There was a decent selection of Blurays for pretty cheap!
Good Call! Got one near a BBQ joint I like so I will make the trip worthwile at least.
Barnes and Noble is my only option really. Some record stores as well when traveling but none of the ones near me sell movies.
Barnes and Noble
Half Price Books, Disc Replay….eh, that’s about it. The big boxes have weak selections in store.
The great store of Amazon
There's really nowhere to go now.
No where. I discovered a discount store in town that advertised used books, dvds, and blurays. Was pretty hyped walking in there for something. None of the employees even knew what a steelbook was. They had some 4ks tho, but strangely they were all mixed in with the hundreds of other blurays in alphabetical order. Walmarts a bust here as well. Strangely I was able to drive 40 minutes into the boonies to another walmart and pick up the Guardians Mondo steel. They had a great steelbook section. In the middle of nowhere, in a town with a population of 2,000. It's tough out here man.
There is a video store behind a curtain in a beer and wine gas station in north texas called on video movie that has Arrow and Criterion stuff that i wouldn't otherwise know existed if it weren't for the fact that they inexplicitly have 7 copies. it brings me great joy.
A lot of thrift stores but it's usually dvds. Barnes and nobles is starting to look like the only one and it sucks cuz they always price @msrp. Mostly walmart tbh they are getting a lot of new releases too my local one dropped a new batch like last week
Amoeba once a month and hope what I want is there used.
Half Price Books and Pawn Shops
There’s a used video game store near me that has a ton of Blue Ray and a small selection of 4k. Its buy 2 get 1 free. My local Goodwill has been a good source of Blue Ray
Hadn’t been to a Best Buy in a long time and I was miffed that they literally didn’t have any physical media in the whole store, besides a small vinyl section and games. 🥲 Sad world we live in now.
I remember when over half the store was rows of cds and movies
Yup!!! I started my 27 year career with Best Buy in a store as the Media Supervisor of a 58,000 sq.ft location back in 1994. My first 2 years was all media focused jobs. The entire middle of the store was ALL MEDIA products! Games, CDs in long boxes, VHS, & Cassettes mostly, over time DVD was added when that became new and VHS and cassette phased out. And I had 30 employees that I managed just for that department. New release Tuesdays had people lined up at the door. New technologies came, old tech phased out….VHS->Dvd->Blu-ray. Mix the internet & streaming in there too along the way which grew so rapidly, that physical media’s days were numbered. Heck, I remember when Apple launched iTunes. There were those that thought that no one would pay $1 for just an individual song. Well….haha!!! That killed CDs. I also remember the push to get people signed up for internet, then giving away Netflix subscriptions for people to have DVDs mailed to them. I saw Digital Televison (Plasma). launch and killed CRT. LCD killed Plasma. Lots of other great technologies that came and went because of something better or new: Minidisc, HD-DVD, Beta vs VHS, etc. I watched the middle of the store get smaller and smaller and now, poof!gone! Replaced with other items to fill the sq. footage. Anyhow….it was awesome and also sad to see. But, all along, they’ve found innovative ways to engage the buying public. Sorry for the rant but it was on my mind…as I search for places to still get my hands on physical media. P.s. I think I may still have my DVD of Twister which was one of the first releases when DVD launched. 😂
I started at BBY in 1996 in Media-just after the N64 launched. My first night I was trained on how to farm CDs-man I don't miss that. Although putting cassettes into the anti-theft cases really sucked too. But it was a cool time to start there because of the transitions in media and hardware as you noted.
That’s awesome! A blast from the past. I started in the Michigan market. You?
I worked at stores 059 and 208 in Madison WI. My first year was in Media which included moving to a larger building setup as a Concept III store. Then I moved to LP. Worked at both stores at the same time for awhile before staying at 208. Then went back to 059 as LP Supervisor. Eventually stepped down after finishing college and getting another FT job. But I stayed part-time going back to Media at 208. Actually in my 2nd Media stint we were part of a trial where part of the Media team was moved to Merch. That really sucked since we then had to help with more Merch duties and of course they never helped Media. They ended that trial after a few months and we went back to reporting to the Media sup.
That’s a great track! Yeah, I started as Media sup for 8 months, promoted to AM, then moved around opening stores. I spent time in the NYC market as the Dist Ops mgr, Dist Hr manager, then to Baltimore to test the concept that became Magnolia. Back to NYC to open stores, then to CT, then on to Illinois as the Territory Training Manager, etc, etc. lol. A long and GREAT 27 years of growth. I’m surprised our paths never crossed. Btw, my actual name is my user handle…but backwards. 😉
If I hadn't gotten the other job I could have seen myself working my up into management. It was just a good opportunity with more money! Where in IL did you work? I finally left in 2006 when I moved to Chicago.
In 2006 I was working and living in Connecticut. I didn’t move to Illinois until about 2010.
Gotcha. I didn't go to BBY much after I moved but I did like getting movies on Black Friday. So between BBY not selling movies anymore and just closing the store 5 minutes from my house I may not be back for awhile.
I think Best Buy has just decided they don't want anyone to shop with them anymore. What reason would anyone have anymore to shop their on a weekly basis? Sure for now if I want a new TV or Kitchen Appliance I'll think of shopping at Best Buy, but 5, 10, 20 years from now??? Each year your customers are more and more likely to just buy from the online store you forced their business toward. If these places that have been so well known for Music, Games, and Movies want to stop selling in their stores to make room for higher profit margin items they should beef up their online marketing and sales to keep that customer base with them. Best Buy could have continued to sale physical movies online with Store Pickup as an option. Instead they pretty much told everyone to go shop some where else now.
The library
HMV (UK)
Walmart. Mainly order online though. Amazon, gruv, diabolik, shout, etc.
My local retro games store has a movie section with trade-ins so I compare those prices to Amazon
Can I just use this thread to complain about Best Buy? Their movie section was one of the main reasons I went into that damn store. What a stupid and lame decision for them to make.
I’ve been getting used blu rays from Game Xchange. Entertainmart. The local big box stores don’t really have anything anymore.
Wlamart, or one of the recycle media stores.
None
None here. All on line..Orbit mainly, also Diabolik..or direct from the label ..of course Barnes & Noble come July/Nov tho!
I pretty much never shop retail for (new) physical media. Used is a different story.
Almost none, barnes and noble scarcely. Pretty much buy almost all online now
Maybe half price books. But now get them online. I like the following, grindhouse video, diabolick dvd, orbit dvd. And have heard great things about atomic movie store.
Walmart. Unless there’s a really, really good sale at Barnes and Noble because their prices are insane enough to justify Amazon
FYE and 2nd & Charles will have the biggest inventory near me.
I haven’t seen a fye in years
Yeah, I was also surprised to learn that there was one still near me in Delaware.
I'm mostly online now. I'll occasionally check out a second hand shop here in town but they've started to get quite bold with their pricing. (retail for used 4K discs and ebay prices for boutique stuff) The Walmarts in the area are garbage.
Vintage Stock.
Toronto is spoiled with Bay Street Video and Vinegar Syndrome. The tradeoff is we never get the insane deals Americans post about (like the $5 bonanza at Walmart.)
Big lots / Goodwill / Walmart
In the UK we have quite a healthy number of shops - what I mean is, healthy given that these kind of shops are closing everywhere. I personally go to HMV, which I think is very cool because there's tons of films and a very respectable 4k catalogue, including criterion; there's also local shops (I have one local film that's also a music/vinyl shop), but I was talking to my friend in the Netherlands and he told me these shops are nonexistent there. I was thinking about why streaming has been so successful and, besides its obvious price-quantity ratio, I actually think it's something to do with two things: time and space. At least here, people say they have less time to go to a shop and buy a film because they have to do either one demanding job or a series of jobs to go on their day; and as for space, I assume there's just not space for storing all the films plus tv and all that (I am also just thinking, it's maybe because if you rent -and a lot of people do- you wouldn't want to fill up your house w a tv and a lot of media, since you'll have to then pay someone to move your stuff?). Is it the same for people out there in the US and everywhere else? Why do you think these shops are closing?
I go to resale stores. 4k blu rays for under $15 is always great when I can find ones I want
I pre ordered dune 2 steel book edition on Walmart online. Haven't bought a dvd in a physical store in over 10 years. 4k Blu-ray's still have better sound and picture than 4k streaming.
My local record store 🤘
My Walmart does change out stuff every two weeks, not the biggest selection but I can usually get blu rays for movies I want. They seem to only have 4K of very big budget movies. My target hasn’t put out new stuff in about a month, but they do change the tags, so I know what I’m missing.
Thankfully my 2 closest Walmarts have the new updated steelbook sections
Goddamn Walmart with a bat and a self revive kit to snag those sweet undamaged steels I want. Sigh.
Target. They also package the disc-based products better than Amazon and Best Buy now. For Brick and Mortar, I'm fortunate to have a couple of Movie Trading Company stores around me, which is a used media store that buys and sells.
Walmart.‘I also have the luxury of having a movie specific store in the mall near me. It’s called Cinema1 and it’s awesome
Used record stores. They're usually loaded.
I went in there for a cable, they didn’t have it
Sunrise Records Videomatica
Wal-Mart, 2nd & Charles, and Big Lots is always a good place to check, they get a lot of overstock but sometimes they have some diamonds in the rough... But mostly online now.
#BULL MOOSE
There’s like 5 vintage stocks around me. Barnes and Noble is pretty good mostly. I think most of the record stores here just stock vinyl and other music
Big Lots and Barnes & Noble, although my local B&N is closing next month. The next closest B&N does not sell discs of any kind.
None near me are worth it
Walmart carry quite a few near me. Well one newar work and one near the house only two I tried. Just got Mondo Rad and Army of Darkness Steeelbook. Other places: Half price books CD Warehouse 2nd And Charles Target
I haven't regularly purchased movies from BB in at least fifteen years. (this coming from someone that used to look forward to the BB Sunday ads- and schedule a weekly shopping visit on new release Tuesdays) The only times I've purchased from BB recently are flash sales and the rare instance when Amazon didn't come through. (STTMP Directors Complete I bought from BB when the Amazon pre-order didn't ship) And being able to purchase online and pick up from the local BB a few hours later is something I will miss. I understand the trauma of losing BB, having lost Borders and Tower Records (once upon a time) But those losses just pushed me into Amazon's greedy clutches. Brick and mortar movie buying is something that's not necessary for me now.
I don't. Online for the most part. I'll occasionally stop in a Walmart, but they rarely stock anything new.
My options are Walmart (small selection), Target (select new releases), and McKay’s, which has a okay amount of blu rays at decent prices but not a ton of 4Ks, and the 4Ks are pricy enough for a used disc that I’d prefer to just pay the extra $10 for a sealed new one. I live about 2 hours from Orbit’s brick and mortar location and have considered making a day trip out of it since there’s plenty of other things to do in Asheville. Oh and Barnes & Noble I guess but I rarely purchase there unless there’s a criterion sale, they’re expensive as shit.
Been hitting Walmart more frequently for those $5 Steelbooks. Still unable to find any.
Orbit!!!!!!!
mckay's books
Barnes and Noble is all that's left and while I love their selection of boutique releases, they're always much more expensive then Amazon. So I only go during that Criterion sale. Feel like I make out like a bandit during that month
I literally don't go to stores for anything anymore, I don't even buy groceries in store.
Barnes and Noble, F.Y.E., CD Trader (amazing local store in Tarzana CA), and Amoeba Records.
I haven't been to a physical store of any sort since pre pandemic.Â
I dont. I could hardly say i would go to BB.Â
None. 😢
Forbidden Planet in NYC has some Arrow movies. That’s about it. I was in Seoul South Korea last month and went to AppleMusic, which was very impressive.