VSDA DB R.I.P.

[Hardcopy]

Well they did it, I was begining to wonder personally whether or not they had simply lost their nerve. Not that it matters, once they made it patently clear we were not welcome very few non-members posted to their site anyway.

It does make me wonder though with their recent dues increase ($10.00 per single store according to someone on their DB) what they intend to accomplish. Do they wish to just be a mouthpiece for Blockbuster, Hollywood Video, Movie Gallery, Family Video and their ilk? If that is indeed their plan, then more power to them.

Now this forum is all we have. I personally have been very lax in the last month or so. My own store has suffered severely locally from riots, weather, and other annoying things which are forcing me to either close down permanently, or move my store. (I do not give up easily I am moving it )

We now have an opportunity to do with this site whatever we wish to. The VSDA is dead to the true IVR. The choices are simple, continue on our own (as we always have) or try and come up with some ideas to focus and combine our talents.

Rich.

[times2]

I am soon to be opening my own store and have been encouraged by the postings in this forum. I found the VSDA site to be in favor of Big Blue and the others. I wish you luck in finding a new location! Hang in there, it will get better. I do need some input on a couple of operational issues and would love the opportunity to talk live. Please e-mail me with phone number and a good time to call.

[Zonk]

VSDA did make a huge mistake in closing the DB to non-members.  I have (had) been a VSDA member for over 13 yrs. but I have not renewed and as a result I am no longer a member.  I fail to see what they have to offer me any more.  For years and years they have shown, loud and clear, that they are not interested in my money and now - they are not getting it.  The only service I had been using was the movie ordering worksheet/spreadsheet.  I actually can perform the simple math myself and don't really need that service.  VSDA stopped representing me, an independent, long ago and now it is time to speak with my wallet, or lack there-of.  The only true justice will be for staff members to lose their jobs and their paychecks.  While I honestly do not wish misfortune upon anyone, I can not help them if they do not help me.  Additionally, VSDA cares soooooooooo much about my membership that they actually went to all of the trouble to put a 37 cent stamp on a computer generated form letter asking me for dues money.  This is incredibly insightful of the value they place on me, an independent retailer.
I apologize for the rant.  Thank you for providing this space for me to vent.  I will try to be productive with my posts in the future.

[Hardcopy]

Oh they care about your money, unfortunately I am not sure how much else they care about.

They seem like an organization that has their heart in the right place or at least did, but they are also catering to the big guys because they spend so much more than IVR's in general.  Eventually, BB, HLYW will pull their support from the VSDA and it will fold. They will eventually realize that they do not really need it. They already have the ears of the studio, congres, etc... so why do they continue? <shrug>

I really don't want to bash the VSDA because in truth I'd like it to come back better than ever.

Rich.