Devastated by closure of video store
THE last scene has played for Otago’s last DVD store, leaving residents worse off, a ‘‘devastated’’ former manager says.
Valley Video in Kaikorai Valley, Dunedin, closed suddenly last week.
Manager Glen Edmondson said he was given about four days’ notice from the building owner.
‘‘Internet killed the video shop.
‘‘With downloads and that kind of thing, it’s ridiculous. People are coming in and wanting one movie, and they’ll get that and not bring it back, or if they do they won’t rent another.’’
Mr Edmondson worked at the store for four years, in what he described as a ‘‘dream job’’.
‘‘I’m absolutely a movie buff, I’ve had a passion for it all my life. I had the latest movies at my disposal, I loved the place.
‘‘I was just devastated, absolutely devastated.’’
Everyone lost out from the absence of video stores in the region, he said.
‘‘If you want to see a new release movie you’re either paying big money to take your kid to the big screen, in which they’ll get restless . . . or you’ll get Sky, which will cost you a hell of a lot.’’
Mr Edmondson said he had a knack for talking to customers.
‘‘They were coming in for me and my staff — our knowledge about movies and what’s coming out.’’
There were many devoted customers, he said.
‘‘The elderly, they would come in on the special day when movies were $1 and get lots of classics out.
‘‘Kids came in with their families. We had thousands of kids’ movies.’’
Mr Edmondson said there had been a video store on the site for about 12 to 13 years.
He was one of three staff members.
The stock and computer systems were sold to a storeowner in Wellington.
The region’s secondlast video store, United Video South Dunedin, closed late last year.
Since then Valley Video had signed up more than 900 people, Mr Edmondson said.
‘‘Although even I wondered where the people were. Some days we weren’t even making enough money for wages.’’
Southland’s DVD stores are still holding out, two in Invercargill and one remaining in Gore.