Redbox

amnesiac · #1 02-24-2008, 08:03 PM

I rented a movie from McDonald's last week. Actually, I rented the DVD from a Redbox that was at a McDonald's. I discovered this ingenious idea a few weeks ago. Redbox's business model allows customers to rent DVDs for $1 per day (plus tax), with no late fees.

Each fully automated Redbox DVD rental kiosk holds over 500 DVDs - generally representing approximately 70-140 titles - with stock rotated every Tuesday. A rental can be returned anytime before 9:00pm the following day without any penalty. DVDs rented from one Redbox location can be returned to any other Redbox rental kiosk. If a DVD is kept for 25 days, according to Redbox's policies, the customer has effectively purchased the DVD, and charges to the customer's credit card will cease.

And that's not all. Some of the best features, in my opinion, can be found on the website at redbox.com. You can search for Redbox locations near you by entering your zip code. Once you select a location you can then view all the titles available for rental and you can even reserve the one you want for pickup later.

Both website and actual Redboxes are very easy to operate and efficient. With over 6000 McDonalds location, if each Redbox only has 50 out of its 500 DVDs rented one day, that is still $300,000 for one night. I don't see how these things can not be making a fortune. Initial cost of DVD + maintenance + staff who stocks every Tuesday are about the costs it takes to operate these machines. Overall, an ingenious idea, and could this be the end of Family video, Blockbuster, etc.?

**Leo C** · #2 02-24-2008, 08:09 PM

I think I saw one at a Wegman's Supermarket.

amnesiac · #3 02-24-2008, 08:36 PM

I believe there are some at Walgreen's as well.

sfft_2108 · #4 02-24-2008, 10:48 PM

Yeah, I see them at our McDonalds. I just don't stop and get one. Though I haven't rented a movie from Movie Gallery in ages.

amnesiac · #5 02-27-2008, 10:15 AM

Another great Redbox feature are the promo codes. If you join their emailing list they send you promo codes to your email that allow you to rent a movie for free one night. I’ve rented a total of 5 movies from Redbox and have spent a grand total of $2.14!

The only downside of Redbox that I have seen thus far, as with almost any movie renting retailer, some of the DVDs could be dirty or get scratches on them. But for only a buck a night, I’ll take the chance.

jamesS · #6 02-27-2008, 01:07 PM

I wont rent from redbox no more because some people rent movies and don't take care of them, only to return them scratched for the next person to rent.

I rented about six movies that skiped and five of them i had to clean to make them work and the other one, I tryed to clean, but I still couldn't get it to work.

I like the concept of redbox because it saves you the trip of having to go to the video store and its only a buck a night, however since the movies would skip every other time i rented from there, I wont rent from redbox no more.

coasterlove · #7 02-27-2008, 04:51 PM

Amnesiac, if you weren't an already registered member, I'd think you were someone who just signed up to try and promote a product. In fact, I would've reported you. This thread doesn't seem like someone asking people's opinion but rather a promotional thread. I wouldn't be surprised if you worked for them.

Anyway. I have used it fairly often. They are very common otside Jewel Food Stores which is the main grocery store chain in Chicago in which I also work at. So it's pretty conveinent for me to get and return movies for the most part. The negative though is when I'm returning a movie before I start work and there is a line of people in front of me getting or returning movies. That is one major negative I've noticed. There is only one slot that is used for both returns and rentals and only one person can use it at a time. It would've been nice had there been a way to allow returns that wouldn't interfere with someone already in the process of picking ot and renting a movie.

Another problem is that they get jammed often or some sort of other problem. I'll go to use it and notice it's not working. Sometimes, they can fix the problem by calling them and they can reset the machine. I haven't had any major problem with discs being dirty or scratched though.

Now there is a competitor, at least in the Chicago area and perhaps elsewhere too. At Dominick's which is the second biggest grocery store chain in Chicago, they have DVD Play (I think it's called). They're a similar machine style rental service. The thing I don't care about them is that they're $1.49 for a rental, $1 on Mondays. So it's a little bit more expensive, although still very cheap. I just obviously prefer $1 to $1.49. Although second rentals and beyond are just $1 like the Redbox. In the couple times I've used DVD Play, I have noticed they don't have as many DVD's actually in stock. This at least applies to the one I've used. Whereas I've used many more Redbox machines. This isn't to say they haven't been out of stock as well.

amnesiac · #8 02-27-2008, 06:09 PM

I'm sorry if the thread appeared to be promotional, I meant it more as you said, to see what peoples opinions are. And no I don't work for them.

I have also found it to be annoying when you have to return a DVD and there is someone using the machine, especially if they are flipping through every single page of movies to see what they have.

I have not come across any mechanical problems with the machines, but I have only used them a handful of times.

I have never heard of this DVD Play. Interesting. It seems like there are still some issues to work out as I think these systems are relatively new but I think they are ingenious ideas. So again I pose the question: do you see the end of family video, blockbuster and the like?

**James R** · #9 02-28-2008, 12:02 AM

I've used one of these at a McDonald's in the past. My friends and I borrowed Superbad and watched it that evening, and returned it the next morning. Very cheap, efficient and useful for cheap college students.

However, I don't think it serves the same clientele as Blockbuster or Hollywood Video, etc. NetFlix as well. I think it isn't necessarily competition because it offers such a limited choice, as in only movies, while Blockbuster offers video games, higher quality DVDs for purchase.

amnesiac · #10 02-28-2008, 07:38 AM

That's true and a very good point.

**Ryan F** · #11 02-28-2008, 05:51 PM

When I was little there was a VHS renting machine at the subway station by my house. I thought it was the coolest thing ever, and I haven't seen anything like it since.
I like the idea of a cheap rental service, but I doubt there's any around me.

Carowinds 73-03 · #12 02-28-2008, 07:06 PM

They have those thing in every Wal-Mart & Harris Teeter gricrie store in charlotte. They seem to be very popular cause every time i see one it has a long line of people waiting. I just don't get why they are so popular. Netflix is alot cheaper and the moves come to you.

amnesiac · #13 02-28-2008, 09:23 PM

With regard to Netflix, doesn't it depend on how many movies each month you actually watch? Isn't Netflix based on a monthly payment?

I found Redbox to be really helpful the first time I used it- I was on a weekend trip in Indianapolis and didn't have anything to do one night so I rented a movie from the Redbox in McDonalds next to the hotel and watched it on a laptop.

jimhamblin · #14 02-28-2008, 09:41 PM

Never seen one before but I've been more than happy with Netflix. I don't think I would be interested.

Thunderhawk · #15 02-28-2008, 09:55 PM

I just saw one at Giant, which is a grocery store. I guess they are beginning to pop-up in Southeast PA.