06/17/09

Support local business, support DarkStar

by ghrohrs

The above (Jackie727) who felt so insulted by being charged a late fee must have kept the video 18 days longer than agreed ($2/day late fee). If you waited this long, you can't expect any leniency; its a business.

Darkstar has a great selection. I am one that believes 75% of movies made are worthless wastes of time, but you can find most of the quality ones here. They carry a lot of bad movies because most of you watch bad movies.

If you know better, you'll read the middle-ground reviews for the valuable stuff. Ignore the kooks and wackos, support your local mom & pops, strive to be an educated consumer and enjoy quality cinema, whether its from the library or DarkStar video.

• Pros: Reasonable rental fees, very ample selection
• Cons: Old-school, small, too many bad movies cluttering shelves

05/06/08

Great rental choices, low cost fees.

by luckylu

I like this store. Sure clerks are busy and helpful advice for movie choices is questionable for those who need to ask. Darkstar Video offers an excellent selection to make up your own mind. Low cost rentals, no membership fee is a good deal. Go in, find your selection, go home to watch and return in timely manner, keeps all problems to a minimum. This is a video rental store. Darkstar is an excellent addition to Lincoln Square, hope it stays in business for more shopping/rental choices in this neighborhood. Go in, join. You won't be disappointed by the selection or cost.

• Pros: Great selection
• Cons: Busy sales clerks.

05/02/08

Good selection, cheap prices

by Dalton74

I happily gave up my Netflix account and trips to Blockbuster after moving to Lincoln Square and finding Darkstar. At first I was apprehensive seeing mainstream movie posters in the window, but the selection inside has a wide variety and the prices are cheap at $3. Lincoln Square is a great neighborhood of local independent businesses and Darkstar is among the best.

04/22/08

HORRIBLE! do not give this man your business!

by jackie727

This place is horrible. The staff and "service" are rude, snobby and passive agressive. Their late fees are not communicated up front and are extremely high. if you forget a movie or lose it, there is no reasonable option to buy. i had a $36 late fee on a movie that couldn't have cost more than $25 to purchase. I asked to puchase the video outright instead of paying the ridiculous fee but the store owner would not be reasonable!

In the end he notified me by letter of the standing fee, not even picking up the phone to call, and charged my credit card without my consent!

I will NEVER visit this place again.

On a side note I find it reprehensible that the store owner would try to come on here and write a review of his own business! But what can you expect from these jerks!

It's a real shame because I would much rather give my business to a local owner than a chain, but not this one!

• Cons: Rude service, will charge your card at will for whatever they like.

Editorial Review

by Contributor

This independent video store offers an offbeat selection for the discerning film buff featuring an extensive collection of indie movies, classics, fun groupings by theme and hard to find cult oddities.

02/07/08

Cool place and great selection.

by AudryTotter

I just moved to the area and this place is better then any video store I've been to. I love documentaries and they have the best selection I have ever seen. It's only $3 and the clerks who work there seem really cool especially Kevin who gave me some great suggestions. There seem to be fewer and fewer video stores around. I'm lucky there's a great one right around the corner.

02/01/08

Below Review By Owner

by Janejewels

Review below written by the owner. I know this for a fact, while seemingly obvious by the bad attitude and copy and paste from their poor website, I'd rather write my personal review then go into the details. Expecting friendly video advice is expected in a video store! How this is comparable to a visit to a psychiatrist, I don't know?! Psychiatrists aren't expected to be friendly. They are expected to help with your condition. Comparing a clerk at a video store to a psychiatrist is a bit crazy! The clerks at Darkstar seem unable to deal and handle everyday people. They would be better positioned working at Netflix then to have contact with the people in the neighborhood. As far as the movie collection goes, very unimpressive. Nothing out of the ordinary here. In fact, usually nothing here. If you would like an excellent variety of film, better prices and superior service, just go a bit east to Facets on Clark. I am not affiliated with Facets, just like the good people of Lincoln Square they don't need to be treated so poorly by folks at Darkstar.

• Cons: rude, poor selection, questionable late fee charges, no new releases

01/11/08

Best Video Store in Chicago

by warencromarte

Screw that weasal who wines about not getting enough attention from the clerks at Darkstar. It's a video store not a psychiatrist's office!!! This place has the absolute best selection and a lot of out off circulation movies. Great Place!!! Grabed this off their website darkstarvideostore dot com;

Why DarkStar? This establishment goes far beyond a video store, this is more of a film school. Our inventory spans the great art form called Film. If you become a member of this video club you are saying to society No! I am not a number, I refuse to be a mere consumer. I demand more. Your Darkstar membership card will represent a broad stroke across the canvass of your life. You can go to sleep every night with the firm conviction that you haven't surrendered to the bland corporate oppression that is Blockbuster or retreat in to the sad isolation of a Netflix subscription. We here at Darkstar are trying to make the world a better place, unlike our competitors who do little more than sap the strength and deaden the sensibilities of a great democracy. Darkstar plays a socialization role for the right thinking iconoclasts of the Lincoln Square area. More then a few couples have met and hooked up within the bosom of Darkstar. At least two that we know of lead to marriage nuptials. The 4300 block of Lincoln has become THE destination for action on Chicago's north side and Darkstar is it's anchor.

Do you have dogs? Do you have children? All are welcome in the Darkstar family. In fact we have more than a few children's movies which feature dogs.

Have you seen every Hitchcock film? Have you watched the Wire? Can you recite the Big Lebowski? If not you're lagging. Empower yourself, get up to speed, ENRICH YOUR LIFE!!! This is why we've been a pillar of the Lincoln Square community for over ten years. If you're hip, if you're in the know, if you can get down with the clown then you have been chosen!

Also we have a drop slot for after hours returns.

• Pros: Great selection and really cheap
• Cons: only one location

12/03/07

Bad customer service...

by ddtjones

Consistently unfriendly, unhelpful, rude attitudes. Maybe this is a prerequisite for employment here? Maybe they are depressed or their lives are miserable and I should be more sympathetic. If so, I'm sorry.... Anyway don't let this throw you because the selection is pretty good. I'd still rather go here than Blockbuster, but I can see how some people would prefer Blockbuster because at least you get helpful service with a smile. The reason I like to give independently run places my business is that usually you can get a more personal, old main street USA type experience--i.e. get to know your local businesses. Sad that Darkstar apparently cannot see this... It's not too late guys. How about a smile and some friendly rapport with your valued customers? Some friendly helpful movie advice maybe? I don't know...