Blockbuster Video

[whitesatin]

I saw on the news last night that Blockbuster Video stores have selected a few test sites in the U.K. to try out a new marketing strategy.  They said they were going to place different aromas in different areas of the stores to make it easier for customers to find the videos they are searching for.

Am I the only one that finds this idea ludicrous and an insult to the intelligence of the consumer?  Blockbuster said they would put the aroma of roses where the romance films are and so on.

So tell me, how does a comedy smell?  How does an action adventure smell?  How does a foreign film smell?  How does a thriller smell?

Are they out of their minds?  Do they think people are so stupid they can't read the signs?  Then there is the question of how do they keep these smells segregated to their own areas?  That reminds me of a joke I read last week; it said, "Having a smoking section in a restaurant is like having a pee-ing section in a swimming pool".

Any opinions or thoughts?

WhiteSatin

[andream]

And Uhh Kristy? I'm a little concerned about how they are going to scent the Adult section:shudder: I think I'll leave the video rentals alone for a bit.....

[whitesatin]

And, uh, Andrea, UH, how about children's flicks, dirty diaper perhaps?

WhiteSatin

[workerbee2]

As an allergy sufferer, I hope they don't do this.  There are already lots of stores I can't enter that I would like to.

Sniffles

[winkiebear]

Chucktown, you'll be happy to know that Blockbuster does not have an Adult Video section - it's a Family show, babe!


winkiebear
Deskdemon Editorial Board Member

[laundryhater]

I CAN sympathize with them. I have been in a video store with large signs designating each section and STILL heard customers ask the clerk where the new releases are located. Answer: Over there under the sign which says "NEW RELEASES" in big letters.

When dealing with the general public, logic and common sense are often out the window.

However, I don't agree that aromas are the answer. The answer is just to continue to answer these repetitive questions. It comes with the job.

[catsmeat]

Indeed.  Didn't Blockbuster learn a lesson from the London Underground?  LU used perfumes on the platforms of selected stations to make the whole experience "nicer", only to set off the allergies of commuters.

What a daft idea.

[jomitchell]

While I agree about the stupdity of the general public (which never ceases to amaze me!), I have come across the occasional shop which has signs that are just TOO BIG. The sign is written in 3000000000point typeface and is hung high overhead. This places it outside the 'human-scale' viewpoint, i.e. you just don't pick it out amongst the visual clutter of the rest of the shop! It becomes part of the background instead. I think this is why sometimes, people just don't see the signs. It would be better if the signs were placed more at eye-level, in a contrasting colour to the rest of the shop if possible.

Just my $0.02....

DeskDemon staff  

[ozbound]

I could see that working if they were trying to market video rentals for cats!
Good grief, what will they think of next?