opening a new store

[twells]

Hello all,

I'd like to thank everyone in advance for this forum and all the help that it has been. I will be opening a DVD only rental store in the next few months. I have some general questions that I hope you folks who have been in the biz for a while could help me with.

Do you all get your movies from Ingram or a similar distributor?
Where did you get your initial inventory and how much did you pay (per disc)?
Do you all use secure cases? And where have you found the best deals?

I will probably have many more questions, but that's a start.    Thanks again to everyone.

Ted

[Hardcopy]

I'll give you our info, but I am not sure how much it will help.

We are a very small (<1000 sq feet) we don't use secure cases and we don't have a security system though we should have.

We get our DVDs usually through Walmart. Our local Walmart usually charges $13.72 or so a movie on the day it comes out. Now we usually get less than 10 total so this works for us.

Rich.

[Bryan Akers]

It's usually best to purchase videos through an array of sources.  Compare prices between Ingram, VPD, Baker & Taylor.  Also, some titles (particularly DVDs) are available "sell-thru" meaning you can buy them at a much cheaper consumer rate at your local Walmart, Costco, etc.  In addition to these sources, you could also invest some time looking at Pawn shops and other places that sell used videos.  Often you can find used movies for much cheaper than new, and many stores will let you haggle if you plan on buying a lot.  Tapes are not always in the best condition, but with DVDs you can usually tell if they're damaged just by looking at them.
-Bryan Akers

[twells]

Rich,
Just curious what your shrink (loss) is like not having secure cases. (I'm looking at the cost of cases and trying to determine if they are worth it in a smallish store)
Ted

We are a very small (<1000 sq feet) we don't use secure cases and we don't have a security system though we should have.

[Hardcopy]

I have lost 3 or 4 out of around 750-1000 in a year and a half. I have lost more to jerks damaging them. <shrug> To me the cost isn't worth it. We are in a very small community. Also you can just tag the DVD itself with a magnetic sticker so that if they swipe it it will set off an alarm.

[Rad]

Ted,

Seems like you and I are at about the same stage.  Email me your phone number and I'll give you a call and we can share our learning experiences.

David

DavidRadkovich@optonline.net