It may look, smell and feel like Blockbuster, but DVD Dot makes it clear immediately upon entry that it does not intend to copy the international video rental giant. And plenty of people are happy about that.
Buffalo resident Ariejoelle Anderson says the new location at Elmwood and Forest Aves. provides a better alternative to Blockbuster.
"It's a lot better," Anderson said. "It's a lot more affordable and there's a no-hassle membership. You don't have to sign away your first born (to DVD Dot)."
The new location is one of three in western New York. A reincarnation of Video Factory, a local video rental chain open during the 1980s and 90s, the store reopened its doors last year under the name DVD Dot, offering customers a rental experience that its competitors don't: convenience.
Besides the store's flashy ambience - contemporary lighting fixtures, colorful carpeting and fully stocked shelves make for an impressive greeting - the store's selection sets it apart from other local stores.
"There's a better selection here," said employee Sipho Dowling, who joined the company when the Elmwood Avenue location opened in August. "There are titles very few other places can say they have."
Sections vary from the traditional Comedy, Drama and Family, to Anime, Mature, and Martial Arts. While Dowling says most of their customers come in for new releases, like "The Hours," "Chicago" and "Barbershop," there is an added bonus to having a varied selection of titles.
"I enjoy introducing new films to customers," he says. "Someone will come in and I'll say, 'okay, give this one a try.' Especially B-grade humor and foreign films."
An example of the wide selection lies right on the shelves: Ken Burns' complete, 10-disc PBS documentary "Jazz" is just feet away from the "Ernest Goes to..." collection.
While the DVD Dot might be the new kid on the block when it comes to renting films, it's not the only alternative to Blockbuster. Another local store offers a mix of selection and convenience.
Mondo Video, an offbeat video rental store down the block at 1109 Elmwood Ave., is perhaps the city's only place to find obscure, independent films from all across the world. The store carries mostly VHS tapes, but is also accumulating a DVD section.
The term "independent," according to owner M. Faust, isn't an appropriate classification for his inventory, though.
"All movies are independent, no films are really made by studios anymore," he says. "Calling (these films) 'independent' is like calling music 'alternative.'"
Most could consider Mondo's titles alternative, however. No signs read simply "comedy" or "drama." Instead, "British horror" and "Woody Allen" categorize a portion of their selection. Separated by country, genre - like film noir and "drugsploitation" -, and director, Mondo prides itself on offering a completely unique rental experience.
"We get everyone in here," said Faust. "Even grandmothers looking for movies from the 50's come in."
While the titles at DVD Dot don't fall in line with the obscurities at Mondo, the new store tries to keep their policies and prices both competitive and consistent. DVD new releases cost $3.50 for three or five days, catalog titles are two for $3.50 or $2 each, and children's titles are $1 for five days. Late fees are charged the same rates per additional rental period, a policy identical to Blockbuster's.
Mondo's prices are similar, though late fees are $3 a day. Faust says the cost of operating a small rental store with hard-to-find titles makes the high fee necessary.
"I know it's kind of stiff, but we've only got one copy of most films," Faust said. "We're not Blockbuster, we don't have a team of lawyers ready to chase after customers."
To celebrate the opening of the new DVD Dot location, a special pricing policy was put in place to welcome customers. For two weeks in August, customers could rent as many DVDs as they wanted, up to two at a time, for $9.95. Dowling says the sale was a hit and that it could possibly be brought back for Christmas.
"We had tons of people in the store at that time," he said.
With the addition of the DVD Dot, the question of going to Blockbuster or local chains is still up in the air.
When asked if she'd go back to Blockbuster after opening a new DVD Dot account, Anderson had made up her mind.
"Only on rare, desperate occasions would I go back (to Blockbuster)," she said.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
