15 companies that may not see 2010

[LtMarvel]

Ouch. I plan to do business with some of them (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/15-Companies-That-Might-Not-usnews-14279875.html).Rite Aid
Claire's Stores
Chrysler
Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group
Realogy Corp
Station Casinos
Loehmann's Capital Corp
Sbarro
Six Flags
Blockbuster
Krispy Kreme
Landry's Restaurants (operates Chart House, Rainforest Café, and other eateries)
Sirius Satellite Radio
Trump Entertainment Resorts Holdings
BearingPoint.
A lot of well known names on that list!

[K-DoG7p7]

Six Flags
WHAT!! then who will take over the Batman decapetating rides??

[TCJohnson]

No more Krispy Kreme?!?!?

I know I am a horrible person for this but...Blockbuster? Good!

[EdContradictory]

No more Krispy Kreme?!?!?

I know I am a horrible person for this but...Blockbuster? Good!

I thought Kripsy Kreme franchises did great.

[Michael P]

As a New Yorker, may I say that the end of Sbarro in our city cannot come soon enough?

[Infra-Man]

I know I am a horrible person for this but...Blockbuster? Good!

I worked for Blockbuster for about a year in college and have been a movie nerd for most of my life (i.e., I want unrated and NC-17 movies, darn it), so I am also glad they're going down. Long live Netflix (hopefully.. meep). I will feel bad for the Blockbuster employees being out of work.

Sadly, Kim's Video just went kaput out here in New York. Wonder what the future will be for brick and mortar movie rental and movie retail places.

[Infra-Man]

As a New Yorker, may I say that the end of Sbarro in our city cannot come soon enough?

Now if they could only do something about the 80 bajillion Ray's Pizza places.

[Dr Ray Palmer]

Krispy Kreme? NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TCJohnson]

I worked for Blockbuster for about a year in college and have been a movie nerd for most of my life (i.e., I want unrated and NC-17 movies, darn it), so I am also glad they're going down. Long live Netflix (hopefully.. meep). I will feel bad for the Blockbuster employees being out of work.

I worked as a manager for Blockbuster Video for about a year. I feel bad for the Blockbuster employees being out of work, but I did not like the way Blockbuster treated it's employees.

[Pariah74]

Six Flags

Maybe it has something to do with the $40 admission? Tack on top of that all the other ways they bleed you once you are in and it doesn't equal value. Roller coasters are fun and I am a thrill ride nut but even I have my limits. I'm supposed to drive 2 hours, pay $20 to park the car, $80 for me and my wife to enter the park, and then pay movie theater prices for food while I'm there? No...sorry, I'll just skip it. One day at Six Flags for 2 adults can cost as much as $150-$200. And if the lines are short you might ride10 rides in one day. Still cheaper than Disney but still not worth it.

I've often wondered why these concession stands charge so much. At Gencon nobody buys the $3 sodas at the concession stand, instead they walk down to the mall (or closer) and get one out of a machine...but what if the concession stands sold their fountain soda for $1? Or even $1.25? I don't see how they wouldn't make money. They'd sell them hand over fist...wouldn't they? I'm no financial business guru so I wish somebody would explain the logic to me.

[Lester C.]

I guess Net Flicks and illegal downloading is bigger than I thought if Blockbuster in trouble.

[Infra-Man]

I worked as a manager for Blockbuster Video for about a year. I feel bad for the Blockbuster employees being out of work, but I did not like the way Blockbuster treated it's employees.

What was it like being a manager there?

I remember my manager and one of the assistant managers wanted out (and they did move on to other jobs). The replacement managers that took over for them were hardcore company shills and made working there less fun. (Not only were they company shills, but they were total sticks in the mud, too.)

[Phrozen]

The real surprise on there is BearingPoint which is a moderately big contracter.

[jerrymcl89]

Blockbuster is clearly suffering from an obsolete business model, moreso than from the current economy. Most of the others on the list seem like viable businesses that took on too much debt in better times, or businesses (like Chrysler or the Casinos) that are particularly succeptible to the current economic woes.

[Merey]

The only one that I semi care about is Rite Aid and that's only because, besides the one (overly priced) Duane Reade, Rite Aid has the monopoly in my neighborhood. Although, I suppose if Rite Aid went down, someone would swoop in and take them over.

Oh, and I can't wait for Blockbuster to go under. Long live Netflix!

[Cayman]

I guess Net Flicks and illegal downloading is bigger than I thought if Blockbuster in trouble.

There's also those Red Box kiosks that are everywhere/

[Dragonflye]

Well, Netflix is beating the shit out of Blockbuster. Monetary worth, and bonus features being the best.

* Netflix includes Saturday as a working day. One more chance to get movies a day sooner than Blockbuster.

* Netflix actually pays attention to how long that short wait or long wait DVD has been at the top of your queue.

* Netflix allows you access to their instantly viewable website content, which includes a mega-ton of movies, TV shows, and documentaries, as long as you subscribe for at least three DVDs at a time.

No, I don't work for them. I just have been so much more satisfied with my subscription service ever since I left Blockbuster Online for Netflix. It's like night and day.

[TomStillwell]

I worked as a manager for Blockbuster Video for about a year. I feel bad for the Blockbuster employees being out of work, but I did not like the way Blockbuster treated it's employees.

I managed a Blockbuster too. Never felt more like a corporate cog in all my life. I can totally understand why they'd go out of business.

[Calybos]

I've never even used Netflix and I'd like to see Blockbuster go down, hard.

They're the Wal-Mart of movie rental: "We decide what you're allowed to see."

[Crowley]

It won't surprise me if:

Kmart/Sears
Harley Davidson
Toys R Us
Sprint
Marshall's
TJ Maxx
Office Depot and other Office supply chains...

all collapse too... as well as most of the department stores.

[Royal]

Oh wow! Station Casinos too?

Vegas must really be hurting.

[Cayman]

That would suck if Station Casinos went down. They just opened one by the condo my parents have in Vegas.

[Royal]

That would suck if Station Casinos went down. They just opened one by the condo my parents have in Vegas.

Especially when they're riding a wave of momentum right now.

[Tommy]

Blockbuster got greedy. They way overcharged for movie rentals, and were blindsided by Netflix. They should have gone out of business years ago.

Anouther company I'm thinking is in serious danger, Pizza Hut.

[Cayman]

Another company I'm thinking is in serious danger, Pizza Hut.

But they have lasagna!

[Royal]

But they have lasagna!

That fool Italians!

[Mermaid]

Ouch. I plan to do business with some of them (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/15-Companies-That-Might-Not-usnews-14279875.html). A lot of well known names on that list!

the only names I know on there are Blockbuster and Krispy Kremes.

Our local Blockbuster closed down last year and Krispy Kremes are relatively new over here, they seem to be doing quite well.

[fireSTRIKE!]

the only names I know on there are Blockbuster and Krispy Kremes.

Our local Blockbuster closed down last year and Krispy Kremes are relatively new over here, they seem to be doing quite well.

over here, they're closing up shop allover the place... plus when I used to eat their garbage, I always found their stuff just way too sweet for my taste... no big loss, but feelin' bad for all those employees...

Blockbusters and Hollywood vid stores are closing doors allover, as well, what with Netflix blowing them outta the water

[Lester C.]

How's Best Buy doing? I'm in the market for a new gaming computer and I want to make sure that the company I buy an extended warranty from will be around to honor that warranty. Had I bought my computer from Circuit City or Comp USA I'd been screwed.

[mgs]

As a New Yorker, may I say that the end of Sbarro in our city cannot come soon enough?
Well Sbarro is based in chicago, I believe. So though they may fade out of NY, they should remain strong in their hometown, I would think.

[fireSTRIKE!]

How's Best Buy doing? I'm in the market for a new gaming computer and I want to make sure that the company I buy an extended warranty from will be around to honor that warranty. Had I bought my computer from Circuit City or Comp USA I'd been screwed.

I believe Best Buy is doing well, but I think Circuit City may be in trouble... not sure tho, so don't hold me to that...

[Lester C.]

I believe Best Buy is doing well, but I think Circuit City may be in trouble... not sure tho, so don't hold me to that...

I know what I'd like to hold agaisnt you.:evilsmile:

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/protomegax/swordhand.gif

[fireSTRIKE!]

I know what I'd like to hold agaisnt you.:evilsmile:

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/protomegax/swordhand.gif

A-HO... :evilsmile:

[TCJohnson]

I know what I'd like to hold agaisnt you.:evilsmile:

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/protomegax/swordhand.gif

Your phallic symbol?

[suedenim]

I believe Best Buy is doing well, but I think Circuit City may be in trouble... not sure tho, so don't hold me to that...

Circuit City's already dead and having their going-out-of-business sales.

Frankly, I can't believe Blockbuster didn't go out of business, like, 5 years ago. Once you have Netflix and better video-on-demand systems, why on Earth would anyone want to use the traditional video-store model?

[Michael P]

Well Sbarro is based in chicago, I believe. So though they may fade out of NY, they should remain strong in their hometown, I would think.

And they're welcome to it.

Like they know from good pizza, anyway...

[Black Atom]

I guess Net Flicks and illegal downloading is bigger than I thought if Blockbuster in trouble.

NetFlix and cable services that offer "On-Demand" digital rentals are probably the bigger contributor there. Both options offer greater selection and are more convenient. Shoot, for an extra $10 you can just own the damn DVD, anyway.

[Black Atom]

Maybe it has something to do with the $40 admission? Tack on top of that all the other ways they bleed you once you are in and it doesn't equal value. Roller coasters are fun and I am a thrill ride nut but even I have my limits. I'm supposed to drive 2 hours, pay $20 to park the car, $80 for me and my wife to enter the park, and then pay movie theater prices for food while I'm there? No...sorry, I'll just skip it. One day at Six Flags for 2 adults can cost as much as $150-$200. And if the lines are short you might ride10 rides in one day. Still cheaper than Disney but still not worth it.

I've often wondered why these concession stands charge so much. At Gencon nobody buys the $3 sodas at the concession stand, instead they walk down to the mall (or closer) and get one out of a machine...but what if the concession stands sold their fountain soda for $1? Or even $1.25? I don't see how they wouldn't make money. They'd sell them hand over fist...wouldn't they? I'm no financial business guru so I wish somebody would explain the logic to me.

Once you've parked and walked a half-mile to get to the park, no one is going out again to buy food, so they can gouge you on the prices. Bringing your own food has always been the way to win the day at theme parks.

[beetlebum]

Aww, I used to love Claire's.

Claire's was the place where I first pierced my ears, and when I was still a teen, I used to spend a lot of my disposable income on pens and other trinkets from that store.

But I guess there's just not enough teenagers with disposable incomes to keep their stores going (either that, or the the teens are going elsewhere).




Anouther company I'm thinking is in serious danger, Pizza Hut.

I hope they are.

I hate Pizza Hut.

The dough tastes like greasy cardboard, and the cheese tastes like melted plastic.

Pizza Hut, to me, represents the worst aspects of American "sentimental imperialism", as I can't believe food that bad is being marketed worldwide.

[titanfan]

I thought Kripsy Kreme franchises did great.

Over-expansion and mis-management. Their stock has been plummeting and I think they were almost dropped from the NYSE a couple of years ago. They have a good product so I hope they are able to survive.

[Solaris]

Krispy Kreme? NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That was my reaction, too. Heh. I love me some hot fresh glazed donuts. Dunkin Donuts in NO way compares.

[Infra-Man]

My folks were always big into Pizza Hut and I could never understand why.

They weren't as cheap as Little Caesars, they weren't as good as Round Table, they certainly weren't as good or as cheap as Papa Murphy's, and they weren't as well made as a lot of the local places in the San Jose/Cupertino area (Jake's in Saratoga for the win).

And yet once a month, without fail, my folks would want pizza and they'd drudge up those coupons from Pizza Hut while my brother and I would want something else.

[sk716]

Former Blockbuster manager, also. Surreal.

Blockbuster has been on the way out for at least five years. Our local shop closed over a year ago. Movie Gallery is still holding on around here, but I don't expect it'll last much longer.
The neighborhood video rental industry is dying as a whole. Netflix is killing it and I'm okay with that. I spent a lot of years running video stores and after I left the industry, I hated setting foot inside a shop to try to wrangle whatever movie I wanted to watch.
Which is kind of funny really, since I went from video stores to managing a theatre and I still love to go to the movies.
But then again, I didn't have a great experience in managing a Blockbuster. We were a franchise of five stores with an asswipe of a district manager who didn't have the foggiest idea how to run a store let alone run five of them from an office.

[Alex L]

Well, Netflix is beating the shit out of Blockbuster. Monetary worth, and bonus features being the best.

* Netflix includes Saturday as a working day. One more chance to get movies a day sooner than Blockbuster.

* Netflix actually pays attention to how long that short wait or long wait DVD has been at the top of your queue.

* Netflix allows you access to their instantly viewable website content, which includes a mega-ton of movies, TV shows, and documentaries, as long as you subscribe for at least three DVDs at a time.

No, I don't work for them. I just have been so much more satisfied with my subscription service ever since I left Blockbuster Online for Netflix. It's like night and day.

Didn't Netflix catch some flak a while back, for putting infrequent customers ahead of frequent customers in the queue for titles in short supply?

[jerrymcl89]

How's Best Buy doing? I'm in the market for a new gaming computer and I want to make sure that the company I buy an extended warranty from will be around to honor that warranty. Had I bought my computer from Circuit City or Comp USA I'd been screwed.

You're better off just not buying an extended warranty. They are almost always a bad buy. But, of course, it's still a good idea to buy a computer from a place that's staying in business. They do ususally come with at least a short basic warranty.

[GozertheGozarian]

Nobody would care if Krispy Kreme went out of business if Mel-O-Cream was national.

[Pariah74]

Mel-O-Cream is headquartered right here! I get em fresh bay-bee! :biggrin:
Krispy Kremes are crap compared to Mel-O-Creams. And yeah yeah, "You gotta try them hot!" ppppfft! I could cover a piece of cardboard in hot donut glaze and it would taste good.

[Major Comma]

I seem to be in the minority here,
I LOVE SBarro and I NEVER heard of Mel-O- cream.

[Royal]

Station Casinos offers deal to shareholders. (http://www.fightopinion.com/2009/02/09/station-casinos-and-bankruptcy-letting-the-chips-fall-where-they-may/)

Aw man. Can't believe it's this bad.

[Agent Helix]

I'm actively rooting for the complete dissolution of Krispy Kreme.

[Pariah74]

I seem to be in the minority here,
I LOVE SBarro and I NEVER heard of Mel-O- cream.

If you live in the midwest you may have had Mel-O-Cream and just didn't know it. Mel-O-Cream is just another donut shop franchise except they sell their dough and ingredients to other outlets as well, like grocery stores and other little bakeries. You can have Mel-O-Cream donuts packaged in a different box.
Their just really good donuts, and no gimmicky crap.

[Charles RB]

Chrysler's likely to go under after how much bailout money it got?

Ouch.

[Phrozen]

Chrysler's likely to go under after how much bailout money it got?

Ouch.

The only worthwhile things they have is Jeep and their trucks aren't to bad, better then Honda's at least. Still not on the level of Toyota, Chevy, or Ford.