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DVD Forum => Stores, Shopping & Rentals => Topic started by: Mr. Hankey on Oct 01, 2017 at 04:23 PM

Title: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Mr. Hankey on Oct 01, 2017 at 04:23 PM
My friend passed by V-Mall this morning and Astrovision V-Mall was closed already. Papered up, stocks being removed from the shelves.

I'm sad. This has been around since I was in high school/college! They used to be on the third floor of Virra Mall, and I would buy Beta and VHS format tapes from them. And rent LaserDiscs. I spent HOURS in that shop! Their initial sales staff were the ones who ended up as managers in their branches that subsequently opened in other malls. Almost all of them knew me by my name, or at least by face.

This was also the very last physical store that sells DVDs that I still visited, albeit less and less frequently. But I'd surely do even just a quick stop every time I'd make it to the area. If not to buy a DVD or even some peripherals, then to chat with Violy and catch up about life. I even brought my little girl there to introduce her to a store that meant a lot to me when I was still single.

I'm sad I didn't get to say a proper goodbye to Violy and the rest of the staff. This is really the end of an era.

Thank you for the decades of sales and entertainment! You will be missed.

#ripdvds #ripastrovision
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: syoti on Oct 01, 2017 at 06:54 PM
Maybe they just moved to a smaller location? Sales not as good anymore due to the era of digital downloads. Plus the blus they sell locally are far more costly than imported from US. Kumikita nlng sila sa audio video accessories. Wala ng bumibili ng dvds. Although i have to admit mas nagtatagal un mga locally bought dvds and blus ko kht 10years na than imported ones. Madami nkong region 1and As na nagrot na... Dont know why..  Other stores like in RP manila lilipat lng dw sila sa mas maliit... Pati un sa Moa, lumipat sila sa cyberzone in a smaller stall
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: coastal on Oct 01, 2017 at 07:10 PM
Even the one in Trinoma had already closed down for some time now.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Moks007 on Oct 01, 2017 at 07:37 PM
Darn, first place i always visit when i go to virramall, even if i don't buy anything.

I'm so sad, sayang.

Ya maybe they just moved to a smaller place.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Dan on Oct 02, 2017 at 12:48 AM
The one at Robinsons Manila has also closed. And I think the one at MOA as well. The one at Glorietta is still open.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Moks007 on Oct 02, 2017 at 06:47 AM
The one at Robinsons Manila has also closed. And I think the one at MOA as well. The one at Glorietta is still open.

Wow seriously? The one at rob manila? I frequent that too, but not recently.

The one in moa moved to cyberzone area. A smaller place.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: raptor on Oct 02, 2017 at 07:05 AM
kahit sa Greenbelt wala na yata, recent lang ... yung Odyssey parang pawala a rin
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Moks007 on Oct 02, 2017 at 08:27 AM
Sad nga. I go to these stores to release stress. Look at music cds sometimes and gadgets. Not necessarily blu movies or dvds.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: traveler69 on Oct 02, 2017 at 08:59 AM
For those of us who found Astrovision a go-to for CDs, VHSs and DVDs back in the day, the news is indeed sad.   

Same feeling I had when Tower Records, at the time facing bankruptcy issues, started to vanish in Manila.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Dan on Oct 02, 2017 at 09:12 AM
Wow seriously? The one at rob manila? I frequent that too, but not recently.

The one in moa moved to cyberzone area. A smaller place.

Yes. For nearly 15 years halos every week ako nasa Astro Rob Manila. I feel the same way Mr. Hankey does. Di man lang ako naka-pag goodbye sa staff, lalo na kay Bossing, yung manager nila. She used to set aside some of the collector's editions for me.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Moks007 on Oct 02, 2017 at 12:30 PM
Yes. For nearly 15 years halos every week ako nasa Astro Rob Manila. I feel the same way Mr. Hankey does. Di man lang ako naka-pag goodbye sa staff, lalo na kay Bossing, yung manager nila. She used to set aside some of the collector's editions for me.

Oh yes, she is so cool. Darn, i still can't believe it. Sad too. Btw this is my meeting place too pag buy and sell anything from our marketplace.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: syoti on Oct 02, 2017 at 10:29 PM
nakita ko si Bossing sa Moa store. asks if she's there for good sabi nya pansamantala lng dw.. she will be back at rob place when they have moved to a smaller place
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: sdsmds on Oct 02, 2017 at 11:08 PM
Used to go there too to buy cds. Sad indeed
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: curvis on Oct 03, 2017 at 12:16 AM
bakit ba kasi ang mahal ng BDs locally. kung naging competitive pricing lang sana ok pa business ng physical media.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: t-bone on Oct 03, 2017 at 12:38 AM
bakit ba kasi ang mahal ng BDs locally. kung naging competitive pricing lang sana ok pa business ng physical media.
(http://greenhills.com.ph/cms/maps/2009-astrovision.jpg)
Mahal ang rent sa Malls.  Looking at the Astrovision store size at V-Mall, their rent would be around 250,000 to 280,000 a month.  :o
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: ninjababez® on Oct 03, 2017 at 03:58 AM
Mahal ang rent sa Malls.  Looking at the Astrovision store size at V-Mall, their rent would be around 250,000 to 280,000 a month.  :o
ang laki pala
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Moks007 on Oct 03, 2017 at 06:51 AM
(http://greenhills.com.ph/cms/maps/2009-astrovision.jpg)
Mahal ang rent sa Malls.  Looking at the Astrovision store size at V-Mall, their rent would be around 250,000 to 280,000 a month.  :o

For me nga mga lessors ng malls are the ones ruining the economy. They are so rich, at least no more take on percentage on sales. Babaan konti ang rent.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Verbl Kint on Oct 03, 2017 at 06:57 AM
The mall business in the Philippines is actually still in a bubble these days.  The US is showing us what the future potentially holds when e-commerce improves in the Philippines.


Tower Records still survives in Japan, btw.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: newwaveboy on Oct 03, 2017 at 07:12 AM
For me nga mga lessors ng malls are the ones ruining the economy. They are so rich, at least no more take on percentage on sales. Babaan konti ang rent.

Indeed. They care little if the tenants make a buck or not - they'll throw him out and just give the slot to the next in line. It's money to them, either way.

I miss TOWER RECORDS.   :(
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: jas on Oct 03, 2017 at 08:47 AM
Tower Records, Music One, Odyssey.....and now Astro..... :(
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: sdsmds on Oct 03, 2017 at 09:25 AM
The mall business in the Philippines is actually still in a bubble these days.  The US is showing us what the future potentially holds when e-commerce improves in the Philippines.


Tower Records still survives in Japan, btw.
Japan is a different breed when it comes to music/records. They're the Mecca of the recording artists. Mahal na mahal ng mga musicians.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: sdsmds on Oct 03, 2017 at 09:29 AM
Yung sa smnort the block & annex prang open pa. Prang mahal pricing dito kaya very seldom ako bumili. Madalas preloved cds na Lang.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: dibidi on Oct 03, 2017 at 10:06 AM
Tower Records, Music One, Odyssey.....and now Astro..... :(

parang wala na rin section ang sm department stores. more on videoke equipment ang benta.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Moks007 on Oct 03, 2017 at 02:39 PM
The mall business in the Philippines is actually still in a bubble these days.  The US is showing us what the future potentially holds when e-commerce improves in the Philippines.


Tower Records still survives in Japan, btw.

For me, i dont think the mall business is in trouble here because

1. People still like to go malls. Nothing to do here but to spend sa mall.

2. Return policy is still not like in america.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Koolkat on Oct 04, 2017 at 06:52 AM
I also have fond memories din with Astrovision. Sa Astrovision Megamall ako madalas bumili ng Sega megadrive games back in the early 90's. Early 2000's to late 2012 Lagi ako dyan bumibili ng DVDs.

Nowadays, Pumapasok na lang ako dun to browse the latest releases. Hindi na talaga ako bumibili ng kahit ano dyan. Maybe that's the reason na rin kung bakit maraming Astrovision ang nagsasara. Parang Powerbooks din. Nalulugi na.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: syoti on Oct 05, 2017 at 07:55 AM
How bout the branch at podium.. Dun ako bumibili sale ng dvds before.. Dyan pb un store?
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: jas on Oct 05, 2017 at 08:28 AM
^  Have not been to Podium for quite a while, but yes, the Astrovision Podium Sale Events were one of the highlights of DVD collecting back in those days....
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Dan on Oct 05, 2017 at 12:23 PM
^  Have not been to Podium for quite a while, but yes, the Astrovision Podium Sale Events were one of the highlights of DVD collecting back in those days....

During the Astro Podium sales I would come away with 10 to 20 DVDs because they would always stock the ones that are not available at any of their other branches. And at sale prices pa!
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Moks007 on Jan 15, 2018 at 01:30 PM
Passed by glorietta yesterday. Wala na din yun astro dian near the landmark bridgeway/ luk yuen.

Pa isa isa nawawala. Tsk tsk. Sad
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: aszamora on Jan 15, 2018 at 05:16 PM
Sa Cash & Carry Mall meron pa but I don't know how long it will stay open. Sa MOA yata meron pa rin
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Ice Storm on Jan 15, 2018 at 06:01 PM
Buying solely during sales was a contributing factor in killing Astrovision.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Dan on Jan 16, 2018 at 08:27 AM
Greenbelt store is still open but mostly headphones and music ang benta.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: a2 on Jan 16, 2018 at 09:11 AM
Yung 3 stores (main, the block and annex) nila sa sm north bukas pa din.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Koolkat on Jan 17, 2018 at 12:37 AM
Ampanget na rin kasi ng quality ng mga DVDs. Parang mga japeyks na rin. Part of the reason why I stopped collecting a few years ago.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: viper on Jun 25, 2018 at 12:12 PM
They started selling vinyls na rin di ba?
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: aszamora on Jun 28, 2018 at 10:15 AM
Their Cash & Carry branch is also now closed.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: tacquio on Jun 29, 2018 at 08:07 AM
Bill Gates has predicted during the early 2000s that movies will be bought and delivered on line or thru micro storage (microSD) and that VHS/VCD/DVD rentals and stores will be out of business soon. It's now happening.

Konti na rin lang ang bumibili ng dvd/bluray players. Mas mura kasi ang media player at mag-download ng movies on line.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Jude on Jul 02, 2018 at 05:03 PM
There's a buy 3 take 1 promo for Blu-rays going on now. Some Blurays priced at only P250-499. Could have bought in either Astroplus or Odyssey in Megamall. Astro has their Blurays locked in a glass cabinet, so its hard to see all the titles and pricing. Odyssey has fewer titles but they're all accessible on the shelves. So decided to buy at Odyssey :p Some of the Astro vinyl records are also on sale, but I think some are under consignment from Satchmi and if you go to the Satchmi store in Mega they're cheaper there. Not sure why Astro even bothers selling videogames when they can't match the prices in Datablitz or iTech even during sales.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Ice Storm on Oct 25, 2018 at 08:48 PM
Is Astrovision still in operation or have they totally closed already?
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: DVD_Freak on Oct 25, 2018 at 09:20 PM
Is Astrovision still in operation or have they totally closed already?

I believe the one in SM Megamall is still there... 3/F by the Cinemas.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: syoti on Oct 28, 2018 at 05:12 PM
north edsa mron pa. sa bridge going to the block. and in the Block
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Jude on Jan 16, 2019 at 05:29 PM
Astro Megamall just closed :( Was still able to buy several Blurays on sale last week, they didn't say anything about shutting down.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: jas on Jan 17, 2019 at 08:17 AM
^  RIP Astro Megamall.... :(
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Moks007 on Jan 17, 2019 at 10:58 PM
This is so sad. Rip astro megamall. I will always remember the good times buying from you.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: prototypeone on Jan 18, 2019 at 03:10 AM
Astro din ba yung sa Glorietta na nagclosedown na? I think Skechers na pumalit sa kanya if I am not mistaken.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: aszamora on Jan 18, 2019 at 05:57 AM
Now, I really miss the fun and hassle of going to Astro Podium, whenever there are sales of really good titles and Collectors Edition DVDs.  I made it a point to be there when the store opens para makapamili agad. My most prized haul yata nun is The Matrix Ultimate Collection, if I remember correctly.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Moks007 on Jan 18, 2019 at 06:24 AM
Astro din ba yung sa Glorietta na nagclosedown na? I think Skechers na pumalit sa kanya if I am not mistaken.

Yes i think na close down na din yan. Ya parang skechers nga yun store ngayon.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: jas on Jan 18, 2019 at 07:25 AM
Now, I really miss the fun and hassle of going to Astro Podium, whenever there are sales of really good titles and Collectors Edition DVDs.  I made it a point to be there when the store opens para makapamili agad. My most prized haul yata nun is The Matrix Ultimate Collection, if I remember correctly.

This. I used to go all the way from Marikina to Astro Podium also during their much awaited DVD sale events. Daming tao rin noon, many who should be PDVD members of old. Ngayon puro download at streaming na lang....hehe....
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Dan on Jan 18, 2019 at 07:34 AM
Now, I really miss the fun and hassle of going to Astro Podium, whenever there are sales of really good titles and Collectors Edition DVDs.  I made it a point to be there when the store opens para makapamili agad. My most prized haul yata nun is The Matrix Ultimate Collection, if I remember correctly.

Same with Astro Podium. On one sale that's where I got a bunch of great titles for cheap like the Band of Brothers tin case.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: aszamora on Jan 18, 2019 at 08:31 AM
Same with Astro Podium. On one sale that's where I got a bunch of great titles for cheap like the Band of Brothers tin case.

Sa Astro sale ko rin nabili iyong mga Superbit (Spider-Man & The Fifth Element) titles dati na I wouldn't buy in their original price.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: frootloops on Jan 18, 2019 at 10:20 PM
Those were the days when we haul DVD's at Astro Podium. There are times I go Friday Saturday Sunday just to grab those sale items. Sabi kasi nung store clerk..."balik ka bukas sir, may mga lalabas pa"....balik naman ako. :D

I also met a lot of fellow members during the sale which later became friends. Ngayon wala na, isolated na halos lahat sa DL at streaming. 

Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: radiohead on Jan 19, 2019 at 08:15 PM
I was at Greenbelt 1 earlier today and The Astrovision branch there seems to have closed as well.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Koolkat on Jan 23, 2019 at 07:22 AM
Astro has gone the way of Blockbuster and the video rental shops of old.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: Jude on Jan 23, 2019 at 04:21 PM
Update, sumilip ako sa SM North and bukas pa nga ang Astrovision and Astroplus dun. According to the staff, the 2 other remaining branches are SM Aura and SM Naga. Marami pang Blurays na naka-sale from P125-P500. Although newer discs (Greatest Showman) and other blockbusters (Star Wars, Avengers) full price (P1550+) pa rin.
Title: Re: R.I.P. Astrovision V-Mall (October 1, 2017)
Post by: neilc on Jan 23, 2019 at 11:24 PM
Update, sumilip ako sa SM North and bukas pa nga ang Astrovision and Astroplus dun. According to the staff, the 2 other remaining branches are SM Aura and SM Naga. Marami pang Blurays na naka-sale from P125-P500. Although newer discs (Greatest Showman) and other blockbusters (Star Wars, Avengers) full price (P1550+) pa rin.

Their SM Aura branch is more of a gadget store than a music store. Small area na lang yung CDs and DVDs/Blu-ray. They sell usb cables, speakers, chargers, power banks etc as their main business already.


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