Video Difference

So, these guys sold me a bootleg Game of Thrones season 5 boxed set on eBay. His eBay listing said «early release». I would be very careful of anything I bought from them, in store or online. Check the pictures here on Unilocal.It is just a DVD with content from somebody’s DVR. Their «Customer Service Manager» Dave assures me that can’t be the case even after I sent him a picture of the gibberish on the back of the package, the bogus menu, etc .He claims he got it from legitimate suppliers at Entertainment One. He’s even too cheap to spring for a return label to send it back. He wants me to send it from the US at my expense then he will reimburse me. I called the store after he called me a name of online. Dave himself answered, I played along when he said it wasn’t him selling on eBay, even though the address they wanted me to return the bootlegs to was the store address!

When I was working night shifts, I would go down there on my day’s off and grab a few weird things to watch while the rest of Halifax was asleep, good times. 3 stories of movies and they’re open ²⁴⁄₇. If you’re looking to see something that’s out of print, no one’s torrenting and definitely not on a streaming service this is your best bet. In fact, I always bet on them. I swear, they got it all. And if it’s not on the walls, they have a vault which they will go through. It may take a few days but they’ve always been able to find whatever weird thing some Weird Thing recommended I see. The staff is always very friendly (patient with me and my friend’s snobby whims and incredibly informative) and it’s got a great atmosphere. I do have some qualms about pricing which ain’t cheap (in the 90’s, weren’t we all a little spoiled by gas station rental prices?) and in that regard it’s easy to find yourself with a big stack of movies and some very hard choices. But the fact that they’re always open and the awe inspiring selection makes up for that. Go there for the bizarre and the imported.

I have bought into the netflix experience for 7.99 a month. I was always the one in the family to hold onto old outdated tech. The VCR I would hang onto it and still do then the dvd became yesterdays news and out came Netflix I held onto the DVD all the time while blockbuster kicked the dust. Video difference became the only mainstream place to pop in for a good ol DVD movie. Time has passed and I have been a Netflix customer for several months now with our smart TV we have 100’s of movies to pick from for the 7.99 fee per month.
One movie we searched for last night was Reservoir Dogs and it came up dry. I thought good ol video difference has it. So I proudly pointed this out to my wife who lead the way in the tech upgrades. I thought yeah can always count on video difference for the hard to find movies that Netflix does not have.
They sure had it and with an oatcake $ 12.98? OK I thought and said man have you guys put your prices up? She says it is a buzz oatcake they are over 5 dollars? So 6 bucks for an oatcake and like 7 for a movie would come to 13. I find that crazy. Video difference you seen the last of me.

Though video stores are all but extinct, Video Difference doesn’t just get a great rating by default — it has always been the best place in Halifax (and possibly the World?) to rent videos — so much selection and very well organized. Great deals on previously viewed movies to buy as well.
And hey to all you downloading thieves who destroyed this industry — you can probably find things here that you can’t get on Pirate Bay — they’ve got damn near everything — I’ve never stumped em!

Absolutely superb. This isn’t your regular movie store (not that those even exist anymore). Stepping in this place was the most nostalgic experience I’ve had in a while. And that nostalgia was accompanied by an even higher sense of awe and joy that I could have never imagined.
I picked up a few of my favourite movies and a few that I have always wanted to see, and that was all in the first few minutes. I could have spent hours looking through their selection. It was three levels full of every movie and tv show imaginable, all cleverly and neatly arranged into categories. And not only are these all available to rent for a whole month for an average of $ 6, but all are available to purchase (as long as they can replace them).
Also, the staff were some of the nicest people to deal with when I was having trouble finding a specific movie.
I also picked up 5 empty movie cases for $ 1 to replace all of the ones I’ve broken in the past — just a nice little addition.
And to top it all of, there was a sign that stated that all children get a free bag of chips.
I. Love. This. Place.

Always great to see a good olé’ fashioned movie rental place. Especially one that seems to have an endless amount of movies. Although I tend to use Netflix or stream (guilty as charged! Well at least not yet) i have used video difference for the rare movie nights in. I hope this plays stays around forever!

If you’ve not gotten sucked into the world of streaming/​downloading/​Netflix — or even if you have and you’re trying to claw your way out — this is the place to go. Video Difference isn’t anywhere near where I live and have lived, but it was a nice treat to go there every once in a while and marvel at their expansive selection. I’ve never left the place disappointed/​empty-​handed, which I certainly cannot say about their former rival, Blockbuster.
Highly recommended!

Blockbuster has been defeated, Video Difference lives to fight another day!
Even when it was open, Blockbuster could never compete with the selection at Video Difference. If you wanted to see it, no matter how obscure, chances are it was there.
However, even I must, video rental stores are a dying breed. The fact that this place remains well-​known and loved in Halifax is the reason it is still here today.

In a world where movies are being streamed all around us, where Netflix is on our computers, our television remotes and our phones, it’s not hard to see why Blockbuster went, well, bust. The days of the Mom and Pop convenience store video walls are long past their prime. Why bother with a rental store anymore?
If you’re asking that about Video Difference, you have CLEARLY never been. This is more than a rental store. This is a museum. This is the history of cinema. This is 24 hours of movies you love, movies you keep meaning to watch and movies you’ve never heard of. This is art.
The staff recommendation wall is often hilarious (I once saw a recommendation for Lost that said nothing but «WAAAAAAAAALT!!!») and always informative. If you’re looking for a French art flick, a BBC drama or that weird one season only show from the late 80’s that you swear is real that everyone else swears you made up, this is where you can find it! And if they don’t have it, then you can request it. For film students in the area, they also house a section just for you and your courses, which is really fun to check out even if you’re not enrolled.
They also have a freezer full of ice cream and soda, local baked goods, and they support the food bank with regular donation drives. It’s a great place that just makes you feel warm and cozy inside. Sometimes I think Video Difference could be the heart of Halifax. Its bright neon film reel is always blinking in the sky, always guiding you towards knowledge and laughter. Bless you Video Difference, for all you’ve done and all you will do. Nothing will defeat you.
Not even the Internet.

Ahhh… my old stomping grounds. What can I say about VD? It is fantastic-​o!
Besides the amazingly friendly and helpful staff (all super obsessed with film and media too!), it is floors and floors of fun! Seriously, even if you don’t rent– go and peruse their intense selection. It’s nostalgic and can open your eye to a lot of new media.
Plus– (not sure if it is there any more) but they have a request wall! They once got me Hulk hogan’s Mr. Nanny– amazing. Thank you for whoever did that.
Honestly, it is great fun– even if you are in the pirating or Netflix state of mind– going to VD is part of your night out and always leaves you satisfied.

Video Difference is the crème de la crème of video rental stores in Halifax. They have everything from classics, to comedies, to dramas, to documentaries, and all the subgenres in between.
I enjoy the rotating displays: currently there’s a Woody Allen inspiration section that holds all of his favourite movies; a section for movies that’ve played at the Oxford theatre; movies that top industry lists; etc. Almost every time I go into Video Difference there are more displays and more suggestions.
The staff is very helpful. I’ve never met a cranky or unpersonable staff member. There’s at least one staff member on each floor waiting to offer help. They run contests. There are drop-​off boxes all over HRM in case you can’t make it back to either the Quinpool Road or Bedford Highway locations.

Video Difference is awesome. They always have what you are looking for, they have the BEST knowledgeable staff and extremely helpful. If they do not know, they will help you find out release dates. I also like the fact that if you do not know what mood of movie watching you are in, they can make great suggestions.
Dave and Duncan — you are the best staff — go see these two gents, they will help you out.

Well… as video stores go, you needn’t look further. Sure you hear that phrase all the time but I assure you, it’s true with Video Difference. Three levels of movies to choose from and convenient computer terminals for customers to seek out whatever it is they’re looking for.
Name a box set. It’s a good bet they’ll have it. Name an obscure documentary. Yep. This is the place. Like foreign movies? Yep. Gay/​Lesbian cinema? You got it.
The staff is always friendly and eager to help. Did I mention they’re open 24 hours? Yeah, I know! Got a late night movie emergency? To top it off, you don’t even have to return the movies to the store. They have drop off locations throughout the city!
How great is that?

In an era where most video stores are going the way of the dodo bird, Video Difference is still going strong in the heart of Halifax.
This place is everything a video store should be. It has a fantastic selection that includes all of the Hollywood blockbusters and classics, but also lthe sleeper hits, cult films, and foreign and independent movies that you simply won’t find on Netflix. The staff are super friendly and helpful as well.
When we lived in Halifax, this was our neighbourhood video store, and since moving to Dartmouth, we definitely miss it. We still make the trip back sometimes when we need something that we know we can’t get anywhere else. I just wish someone would open one like it on the Darkside!

There is no place like Video Difference. Even when we still had video stores all over the city, they had no real competition. This is the only place you can walk into and ask any staff member for an obscure title, and without a moment’s hesitation be lead straight to it as if he had just put it on the shelf himself.
I’m not technologically literate enough to download movies and what-​not so until I’m forced to I will always go to VD. So far they have had every film and TV show I’ve gone looking for, and their extensive foreign film section has introduced me to many more. May this store never close!

Pretty sweet video store. Specializing in have all the blockbusters but more than anything EVERYTHING THAT IS AWESOME IN FILM AND TV. Seriously.
That British TV Show your Nana watches — Got it.
That cult sci-​fi movie you discovered when you were 13 (& had 2 friends) — Got it*
Ancient Horror movies for marathons — Got it.
Your Mom’s favourite Meg Ryan Movie — Got it.
True Lies — GOT IT!!!
Over 3 beautiful floors and near the down town core of Hali VD is the best. I’ve many a time suggested that they change their name to — VD, We’ve Got it!
Not sure why they never did. They are A-​OK in my books. Only thing I would change is there tag line (please see above).
*I’m there with you.

One of the few places left now to rent DVDs now that the video giant Blockbuster closed all shops across Canada. To show their appreciation VD are giving a free rental when you bring in your useless Blockbuster card. So I guess that ‘ol card has one final use.
Being open 24 hours is great for us who work late and want to rent a flick to chill on the couch with. Great selection on foreign and indi films as well.
The staff are great. Friendly, accommodating and will look up movies from my obscure «must watch» list.
VD also has various drop off spots around town, so if you’re not handy their store check them out on their web site. You can also buy a black postage paid envelope for 79 cents and drop your movie in the closest mail box for a return. Awesome for us who live on the Darkside. This is what got them their 5^th star… movie return options.

Peggy’s Cove? Wouldn’t miss it. Citadel Hill? Meh. Video Difference? Oh baby how do you be so good to me?! Oh yeah… I just insinuated that we like a video rental shop more than our cultural treasures. Deal with it…
As one of the few 24-​hour businesses that offer anything besides emergency materials and Walmart crap, this one is a goodie. Day and night access to a feast of visual stimulation, snacks, drinks and even baked goods is never a bad thing. With a library spanning vintage BBC sitcoms, nineties stand-​up, award-​winning documentaries, and foreign obscurities, you’re hitting the jackpot every single time you walk in the doors.
The staff are incredible for both helping you navigate the at times overwhelming selection — particularly on the bottom floor — and for recommending amazing films that you’ve never even heard of, so don’t be shy! Don’t know what you want in the least? Check the Top 100 shelves on the top floor where you can’t go wrong. Or you can always grab an 80s cartoon boxset. Might I suggest Thundercats? He-Man’s sidekicks get annoying.
But Video Difference isn’t just accessible with a lot of product. Video Difference is our hippest community member. That’s why you can get discounts for bringing in non-​perishable food items for the local food bank, or check out incredible community listings from the local art, music, and gay communities. Other cities have neighbourhoods dedicated to expression and creativity, we have Video Difference and all it represents. It’s really a hub of some of the coolest people in the city.
Video Differences has officially made movie-​nights-​in the new date-​nights-​out. So what are you watching?

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.

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.