TLA Video

I’m caught in between. On the one hand i want to give them a thousand stars for being the only video rental place left. On the other i want to take them all away for the frustration i’ve experienced at this location.
TLA got me through my toughest breakup. Disks upon disks of teen dramedies are all that kept me from going off the deep end for a while there. I have much love for TLA. It is the last video store standing and serves a truly essential purpose in my life.
The hours are long, the selection is good. I’ve only ever had a problem with the staff. I wouldnt call anyone outright rude, but its happened more than once that im standing right in front of the counter waiting to be served and end up being ignored. I keep hearing about how helpful the staff can be, but i guess i haven’t come across anyone who is into the movies i’m into so i still have to do my research before i go. I also get really annoyed with how the foreign films are organized, but since i rarely go in anymore without knowing exactly what i want, that isnt really a problem.
I also wish they wouldn’t let the customers bring dogs into the store.

I would still give them four stars for selection but after my recent transactions I got that old frustration again that I experienced with them in the past. I bought some DVD’s (which were rated R adult, not anymore than that but I have bought more adult things than that from them in the past) and my debit card declined the transaction. I asked a real live representative to help me which was futile. I tried to get him to run my card again, there was plenty of money on it. Either he didn’t or the Work Order rejected the card again. I placed a brand new order and the card was approved. Suuuh-​er-​iously? I have had similar issued with TLA in the past which is why I stopped buying so many DVD’s from them. They sent me a discount if I started buying again… I kinda regret starting up again. lol! Another thing I noticed is that new DVD releases are poorly reported these days till like the week of release. Kinda pathetic. I don’t know what is coming out then really till the day of.

Their sign looks burnt or dead. As, sadly, soon will be the bricks and mortar video rental industry. Ask not for whom the bell tolls, TLA Video, it tolls for thee.
Also, when the hell is there going to be a domestic DVD release of my favorite Orson Welles movie?

TLA Video is a film geek’s porn shop. Unfortunately, the prices are a little high for me. I guess it’s hard to compete with Netflix, but four-​something for a stock rental is a little tough.
It ends up in heartbreak, because I want to rent everything in the store. I was so happy to find Jan Svankmajer (he was conspicuously absent at my local video rental store in Carrboro). There’s a little bit of everything here.

One of the last of a dying breed, and «sister» to the departed 4^th Street TLA Video, whose demise I regret every day.
The key to TLA is not the vast selection, which includes all first-​run pics as well as a vast archive of classics, art-​house, indies, foreigns, and porn. The key is the staff, a collection of people of many stripes who all share a true common love for (and vast knowledge of) film. Tell any staffer that you loved any given pic, or ask for a selection that happens to be out of stock, and you always get a great recommendation that can only come from that rare combo of encyclopedic knowledge-​base and low-​level understanding of «film as art».
Since it’s located crosstown from me I don’t get to visit this TLA as often as I’d like (uh-​oh… here come the tears of mourning for 4^th St. TLA again!) but I hope it finds a way to stay with us… I don’t think I can take another loss like that again!

TLA’s awesome for its wide selection of non mainstream films. They are always actively involved in the sponsorship of local film festivals and societies too. Very cool.

I absolutely love TLA. All of their locations serve the most amazing films. I’ve been a massive fan of independent films for about 7 years now. I honestly think that if not for TLA my interest in indies would have faded out a long time ago.
Thank you TLA.

A good video store used to be hard to come by, now it’s even harder. I want to weep looking at the search page for TLA Video, or every time I pass by the empty shell of the South Street location. Now it’s up to Locust St to carry the torch.
Some people might not appreciate the simple pleasure of browsing boxes on a shelf. I still feel this is the ideal way to find offbeat and bizarre films, especially if you’re programming a mini-​festival at your home. There’s also the immediate satisfaction of taking it home and watching it, as opposed to waiting 2 days for it to come in the mail.
The staff by-​and-​large is helpful, and the sheer selection can’t be beat. One of the best aspects is the pre-​viewed dvd deals, which can lead to many impulse buys. The regular retail dvds can be pricey, but this is still the best Criterion selection anywhere in the city.
As much as I appreciate the convenience and selection of online rentals, there’s always something to be said for the video store as a social gathering. TLA has always felt like an orgy for cinephiles, so we should appreciate this one while we still can.

Let’s start off with– i miss the tla just off of south street. having gotten that off my chest, I suppose I can continue to say that if you are in need of a video TLA is pretty much so the best in the city because it seems that their staff– for the most part– does a great job. Sure I’ve come home with the wrong disk in the wrong season of Bones before, but slip ups like that happen all the time (heck Netflix just sent my the breakfast club instead of a completely different movie so mistakes can happen at any video club). But I still maintain, if netflix has sent you the wrong disk and you need something TLA is your best bet in Philly to get what you need and get it quickly. You can also call ahead to make sure they have it before you get there– that’s always a good idea.

I’m sorry, but TLA is awful. And they’re awful for one simple reason — their staff is horrible. They have been horrible since I moved to town more than 3 years ago, and they have remained horrible every since. Staff have come and gone and somehow they still manage to find new, horrible, rude, inconsiderate, preoccupied people to replace them with.
Do they have a great selection? Yes, especially if you’re into porn or indie stuff that isn’t rented elsewhere. But, speaking for myself, it just isn’t worth it to be treated like crap every time I go in. Frankly the fact that there isn’t one single other negative review here on Unilocal makes me think those unpleasant rumors about this site are true…

That rad dude behind the counter who (and don’t be offended now) looks like a slightly less insane (probably less interested in hunting) version of Ted Nugent gave me a Tom Servo figurine!
I’m going to start making cupcakes for those guys and start lingering to hear them talk about how The Phantom Tollbooth needs to come out on DVD and how Almodovar is a bore…

They have a very solid selection of films, especially the more esoteric ones (always the test of a good/​unique video store). The prices are also pretty reasonable, which is great when it comes Criterion purchases. They mail coupons to people in the area, which means the occasional spree! It’s so cathartic to have the opportunity to indulge, given the state of thing$, and the coupons really help with that.
I am kind of a snob about video rental stores, since the Bay has tons of them with breadth and volume that put the East Coast to shame (big ups to Reel Video), but I am not going to hold it too much against TLA, since they are clearly the gold standard for film in Philly.

I couldn’t really find any flaws with TLA if I tried.
The rent two, get one free deal.
Open til midnight…
Amazing selection… seriously, from the indies to the porn to the italian
Staff has been hit or miss but more often than not they’re knowledgeable and chill, and have recommended all sorts of movies to my friends and I.
And I love the table filled with local brochures/​newspaperes/​magazines/​promotions.

I’ve only been here once, and the wine I’d been drinking was just kicking in, but I loved it. The film selection is amazing, with an emphasis on foreign and small-​budget flicks. The best part was the introduction the employee gave me, explaining in detail how they’re open every single day, what their policies are, what the rentals cost, etc. You don’t need a membership card; thankfully, they just take your name and a credit card number and you give your last name when you rent.
TLA Video is a throwback to the pre-​Blockbuster, independent video store era from years ago, and a welcome one. The foreign films are organized by language because there are so many of them. I guess Netflix is now usurping Blockbuster, but even their foreign film selection is not comprehensive.
Apparently they have several locations and a website, but I recommend going to the 15^th and Locust Street store. It’s a great experience, kind of like going to an old movie theater with character.

They’re open 11-​midnight 7 days a week, all holidays. They really are a better deal than Netflix, especially since their locations are pretty convenient in the city. You can reserve new releases for rental, which is recommended because they tend to go really fast (I’ve never done it, though). The staff are knowledgeable and friendly. I was a patron of the 4^th St. TLA until I moved close to Rittenhouse and I started going to the one on Locust. This place comes second to the 4^th St. TLA.

In the age of Net Flix there’s not too many reasons to rent at stores any more. But TLA always manages to give you rare reasons. their obscure themed racks are the perfect reason to walk around and give in to the cinema gods.
I also got to give it up to the staff. They’re definitely the friendliest bunch of film snobs around. Definitely appreciate them for tolerating my random film choices, and having the decency to save laughing over my absolutely horrible choices for when I walk out the door. I might not always agree with their personal choices (I don’t always agree with mine either) but the majority of times their dead on and know what they’re talking about.
And if weren’t for TLA things like the Philly Film Fest wouldn’t be as fun. They work hard every year to bring in the most diverse selection from all over the globe, with plenty of debut directors, documentaries, and crazy horror. the end result might not always be the best. but just like the store it always celebrates the true diversity that is cinema. and this TLA is my personal favorite.

My favorite Philly video store (and favorite location.) Videos organized by genre, favorite actors, and favorite directors… it’s a little bit like a treasure hunt. The best selection of foreign, obscure, and underground films in town. All locations seem to have very knowledgeable staff.