Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Fin de siècle

To all of our customers:

This day had to happen eventually so we are choosing to do it now. Gen X Video will cease operation on Feb 28th, 2011 after serving Waterloo Region for 16 years. There are plenty of reasons we are shutting things down but the main one is that we no longer have the passion or drive to keep things going. It has been a fun run but we need to move on to something else.

So what does this mean? We will be starting to sell off our inventory on Jan 1, 2011. If there are titles you are interested in buying, talk to the staff and they will let you know the cost. We will not be doing a fire sale on our product because we know what we can get for them online. That doesn’t mean there won’t be some good deals but you won’t be getting an Out of Print Criterion DVD for $5.00 from us.

We will stop renting movies on Feb 14th (which seems appropriate). We expect all of our DVDs to be returned to us even though we are shutting down. Late fees will still apply. We do use a collection agency for the ne’er-do-wells who try to avoid paying what is due to us so please don’t make us send you there. We have always been fair over the years and we expect you to treat us in the same way.

If you still have rental credits on your account we suggest you use them quickly. If you would like to exchange your rental credits for store credit (so that you can purchase product instead), please let us know and we will come to an arrangement with you.

Your membership information will remain private with us until we can completely delete everything. We have to keep it on file until all of the taxes have been filed with the government but we promise to destroy the information after we have been given clearance.

Our store hours will be reduced during the sell off period. Check the sign outside the store or call our message at 519-888-4369 to get the new information.

Where can you rent the movies that Gen X carried after we are gone? Well, try Steve’s TV (Frederick St Mall), Far Out Flicks (Queen St in Downtown Kitchener) or the WPL or KPL. None of those sources are a complete replacement but you’ll find something worthwhile to watch. Failing that, use the Internet.

Finally, we appreciate your patronage over the last 16 years. We did not make this decision lightly. We have been considering this for the last 3 years. That doesn’t mean it isn’t hard for us too. We will miss being part of the Waterloo community. So long and thanks for all the fish.

Sincerely,

Mike Greaves (owner)

Chris Beckett (manager)

15 comments:

Randy Metcalfe said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Adam Thornton said...

I learned to love so many things through Gen-X. I'd list them but it would take forever. Thank you!

I can't imagine what Colour Porn Guy will do now.

Patrick said...

It is sad that a shining light of independent business has chosen to close and I hope to get some titles I can't find anywhere else to add to my small library.

Best of luck in whatever is next!

@Randy, grow up - there's lots of things that make Waterloo great, that's a pathetic comment.

Anonymous said...

aw! so sad, guys!
you're going to see more of me than you want to over the next couple of months. i'm going to blow my savings account!

Jon Johnson said...

Sorry to hear it guys. Sad to see an institution close its doors. Totally understandable considering the way the industry is, but still very sad. All the best.

Mark Connolly said...

Wow! This is a milestone that I'm sorry to see you reach. Thanks for all the great recommendations over the years, and thanks especially for having made Waterloo a better place to live.

Martin said...

Damn, Mike. I don't know what to say except that I will miss GenX terribly.

Anonymous said...

Oh No! Very sorry to hear this. Thanks very much for the great service, selection, and many hours of entertainment and enlightenment. Best of luck with the next chapter for all of you.

Chuck Erion said...

OUCH!! so sorry to read this. you will be dearly missed, and my movie-watching will suffer - tho may get a few more books read.
Best of luck in the winding down and your next chapter/s.

Luke said...

This sucks :( I just started going in August.

Well I'll definitely be stopping by to buy some films. It'd be great if you could put up more information for possibly purchasing DVDs and whatnot and what sort of prices would be expected.

Narrator said...

Oh, fuck!

Ellie Anglin said...

Thank you so much for existing for 16 amazing years. You will be sorely missed.

freakydruid said...

This must have been a hard decision to make. I've been a customer since the first week you were open, and I have loved having you as part of my neighborhood and community. You guys are awesome! I will miss you very much, and I wish you all the best in whatever comes next.

Video Guru said...

Wow, guys, this comes as a shock. While we here at Steve's thank you for the plug, it is truly sad for us to lose yet another independent video retailer (although this time at least, it's not to the big guys). You filled a niche in this area no one can replace (who will WE send customers to now?!). The best of luck to you in future endeavours, Mike and Chris. You will be missed.

The gang at Steve's Movieworld

Sherry Coman said...

I am so saddened by this news. I have taught film these last six years largely relying on your resources. I have always said that I have never seen a greater collection in Canada. Apart from these things, you were always so kind to my dog hana who loves going in there. It has been such a community business in the best sense, in so many ways. I am sorry to see you go - and hope so much that whatever comes next fills you with passion as this venture has. You go out, having been the best there was at what you did. Thank you so much.