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Real People. Real Reviews.®
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We don't head out to rent a movie often but when we do I enjoy browsing through Video Difference's huge selection in every genre you can imagine. This is not Blockbuster - you won't find 20 copies of the latest release or action thriller.
What you will find, though, is interesting selections and obscure titles. Don't forget that Video Difference runs their food-for-rentals program quite often - bring a donation to the food bank and get a free rental!
Video Difference is the type of store that you dream of being locked in over night. Floors of movies of every genre you could imagine, TV shows on DVD, documentaries, new releases and blue rays. Not to mention the treats (chips, pop, popcorn, candy, ice cream, etc.) that surround the cash register. Unfortunately you can't get locked in Video Difference over night because they are open 24 hours.
I've worked my way through the display of the 50 best movies of all time and the staff suggestions for almost every month since I've been a frequent customer here. I've found obscure British TV shows on box set ("Skins" anyone?) and I've never walked out without a movie in hand. The sales on pre-watched DVDs are always tempting, a couple older or less popular movies can go for under $5. They advertise the sale as "today only" but they usually have one every week.
Hot Hint: This Video Difference location is now a licenced Ticket Pro vendor.
Listed in: Night Moves
Power to the People.
Video Difference is a reason to make screen time a priority. For those who crave beyond the latest Hollywood lackluster-- er-- blockbuster, this is the spot to hit.
Three glorious floors of flicks to entertain and educate. Documentaries, foreign film, anime, gay/ lesbian, and tv are amongst its abundant variety. Music lovers can revel, revel in the alphabetically shelved music docs: from Riot Grrrls to Rock'n'Roll beginnings, David Bowie to The Germs. Its all there. Waiting. For you.
Employees are friendly and will direct, suggest and make eye contact accordingly. Between the staff and the selection, its pretty hard not to love this place. They also accept Canadian Tire money and have video drop off boxes all around the city! Rentals tend to go for a longer then average time period too. Boys oh boys... are you as excited as I am?
To me, Video Difference seems too good to be true. They really go out of their way to provide a flawless movie renting experience. Customers and community are valued and have a reason to go back time and time again.
If you are just looking for the new romantic comedy release, you might be better off going to the Blockbuster. The selection at VD could leave you a little frazzled. Other then that... expand your horizons through cinema at Video Difference. There's something for everybody and opportunity to delve deeper than the average rental shop will offer.
Listed in: Girls Night!
I may just be the only person who doesn't yodel hip-hip-hooray at massive movie selection. My immediate response is a flash of anxiety paired with sweating. However, my idiosyncrasies shall not mar my review of this fantastic flick rental center.
You can find everything at Video Difference. Random local independent films, Hollywood blockbusters, political documentaries, sexy foreign pictures, and the list goes on.
The staff are film-buffs to the max, with informed opinions that can help even the most anxiety-laden patron find a solid flick. I recommend going in with an idea in mind or else some time on your hands. Better yet, a solid set of decision making skills will really be of benefit to you in choosing the perfect picture for your night in.
I'm going to have to jump on the bandwagon here and proclaim Video Difference to be The Best Video Store Ever. With the giant selection sprawling over three floors, with titles from the popular to the obscure, it's even a draw for people like me who rarely go to video stores.
When I did eventually find my way there, I was looking for a hard-to-find movie; it was also hard to find within the store, but the helpful staff gave me a hand. After seeing it had been re-cataloged to a mysterious new shelf, they were having trouble finding it too. But I was given a free rental card for the inconvenience. I finally spotted it on a shelf, and it was free plus the two freebies you normally get for signing up! I think if I could give this place 6 stars, I would.
A friend spoke enthusiastically of Video Difference before I moved out here, and rightly so. It's a treasure trove. My favorite features are all the "Staff Picks" and other thematically organized walls, which make for great browsing if you go without a particular movie in mind. When I had the flu recently my boyfriend picked up 8 movies from their bargain bin, a pile of unsorted hit or misses where the per-movie price drops as your number of rentals increases. Tons of TV series on offer as well, if you're into marathon viewing.
I can't really imagine that being open 24 hours is that effective of a business strategy for a video store. However I've never been in there at 3am. Maybe it's packed. Whatever the deal is, it seems to be working for them so I won't argue.
So way to go, Video Difference. I just wish you were closer to my house. Then maybe I would be showing up at 3am...
Today I was on a mission to find some movies for my dad. John Wayne movies. So were to we head to but Video Difference, I knew if anyone would stock these it would be them.
I was lucky enough to have one gentleman help me, I actually think it was the owner or the manager. Anyhow he was very nice and helpful.
He took me right to the section and helped me choose five movies for him, since I was not up on John Wayne flicks.
I also rented the movie Johnny Darko.
I was very happy with the extra service I received today and can't say enough about this place.
Video Difference is the experience looking for a movie should be. Your first time in you will be in… Read more »
I love this video store!
Video Difference does so many things well that it's almost hard to keep track. First of all, I love that they have drop boxes all over the city for ease of returning videos. I must admit, sometimes i'm willing to incur the penalty of late fees if it means not walking 15 blocks.
I also really like that Video Difference doesn't just alphabetize movies... cause lets face it- when movies aren't well organized we all pretty much wander around reading titles waiting for something to jump out at us. Not so at Video Difference, they have useful category's like: Documentary, Performing Arts, Academy Award as well as a 'top 100' list of their favorite movies. Highly useful!
Video Difference also has computer's set up for customer use so when you wander in with only a vague recollection of that movie your friend told you about, you can go search for it without walking up to an employee and saying: "Do you have that movie... uhhh... I don't remember what it's called... I think it has the word tomato in it...? Brad Pitt might be in it too." Always a plus if you're scatterbrained like me.
Video Difference also has a promotion going where you get 2 free rentals when you join! So quick, go join!
Probably the best marriage between mainstream movies, old & foreign classics and indie films. Three floors of choices to make sure you never leave openhanded. And, while I've been meaning to take out their boxed sets of everything imaginable, I still haven't run out of singles I want to see.
Staff is knowledgeable and helpful. So if you don't remember the real title or just a little description of the plot...maybe....they're all eager to solve the mystery for you.
One other great thing about this independent outfit is that I can return DVDs to the Italian Market just up the street from me. So no hassles with making my way directly to Video Difference.
Another, is the section for Academy and other Award winners, local & foreign. Perhaps this holiday season that will be my focus. How many films can you see in a day?
Video Difference does everything right.
The fact is that one doesn't expect service like this when you enter a video store. Case in point, for years I would go into my local movie store, see if a movie was in and if it was, I would get it. If it wasn't, I might browse around for another choice, but usually I would just leave empty handed while clerks counted the minutes until their shift was over.
I was fine with this because this is what I had come to expect.
Compare that to the night I went into Video Difference looking for a Mexican Documentary that I did not know the name of. I had an idea of what it was about, but not much more. When a clerk asked if he could help me I laughed and told him about the movie. I expected a "Good luck" style response, but what I got was something else entirely.
Would you believe this guy spent twenty minutes helping me look for this movie? We searched imdb, we searched the store, we asked other clerks, it was an adventure! Though we didn't find the movie (apparently it was never released on DVD), we did find some great alternatives and I left the store very satisfied.
I haven't rented a movie from anywhere else since. It's not just the selection that makes this store special, it's the staff. Tell a clerk that you're interested in seeing a great new release or a classic drama and they will find one for you. Ask for a bizarre horror movie and they will find you something that will keep you up all night. The staff know their stuff because they love their stuff.
That's what keeps me coming back to Video Difference - and that's why every movie lover in Halifax should check it out.
The Difference is in the selections and the service!
Video Difference is one of those strange phenomenon's in the world. You wouldn't expect a simple video store to be an important part of the community while also delivering the same selection some of those huge video rental stores have. But they do.
Video Difference has everything you would want or expect from a video rental store and a lot more. Lets start with the basics. Yes they have new releases and older movies / television shows. But they also have one of, if not the largest foreign and independent movie selection in the city. They also have a deal with local, up-and-coming filmmakers who have created a short film or film of any length. If you are a local Producer / Director, you can bring in your movie for others to rent out for free. A small option, but one I haven't seen elsewhere. And small acts such as these really show a thoughtful attitude you won't find in any other video store in the city.
Their staff are incredibly knowledgeable. So much so that I recommend they get paid at least a few dollars more than what any other video store pays its employees.
My only reluctance to holding back on a fifth star was the organization of the video sections. They have rearranged their order a few times and there is still a bit of a confusing method to their madness on where anything is. But it is a small price to pay given their selection and friendly staff. So the fifth star is staying where it is.
Given the immense support Video Difference has for its local film and television industry, together with great staff and a unique, wide variety of movies and television choices, this store ranks the highest in my books.
If it's out on video or DVD, Video Difference either has it, or can get it for you. And if you can't find it in the store, there's someone there who is ready, willing and able to help you find it - a customer service anomaly these days.
Video Difference has all the usual Hollywood stuff, but the beauty of this shop is that they cater to more - I'm going to say it - sophisticated tastes. They actually have up-to-date sections of independent and foreign films (unlike the big blue store which shall remain nameless), a fantastic documentary section, lots of gay films and even a whole section of its own for independent comedies.
And box-sets to die for. I've spent many weekends hunkered down with a whole season of Deadwood or the Sopranos rented from here. So, i guess we can blame Video Difference for my filthy mouth.
"You have to go to Video Difference," my friend insisted. "I was sceptical, too, but you have to check it out!"
Recommendations like that are hard to ignore, so we headed down to the Quinpool location to check out the fabled store. Um...they really do have everything.
We wandered around for what felt like hours, or maybe only minutes, marvelling at the three floors of selection. Old movies, new movies, TV box sets, independent film, documentaries, foreign films...seriously, everything. Good news is, even if they don't have what you want, the friendly staff is more than willing to place an order for you.
Great service, multiple drop-off locations, open 24 hours AND they'll let me keep season 2 of Deadwood for two weeks? I'm sold.
This is quite possibly the best video store in the world. I have never seen anything like it. The categories are broken down so specifically they even have a "conspiracy theory" category in their documentary section. It's that detailed. The most box sets I've ever seen - every British series you could ever think of, obscure foreign films, obscure Canadian films, every doc you could imagine, music, all new releases, and tons and tons of dvd's I've never seen before. Truly amazing. Awesome in the true sense of the word.
I would move to Halifax just so I could rent from them.
Halifax, NS
Halifax, NS
Halifax, NS
Halifax, NS
Halifax, NS
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