The other day I saw that my local Hollywood Video Store is closing down which causes me to wonder, are the DVD Rental Store on the way out? Will they go the way of the Dinosaurs? Has the online, mail order, pay per view and the movie vending machines taken over? If so why is that? Can the DVD Rental Stores survive the onslot from these competitors? So to start off with I’ve got a short poll so you can let me how you rent a movie.
If you rent from a store leave a comment to let me know why.
If you rent a movie from one of the other methods still leave me a comment to let me know why.
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The future of movie rentals is Redbox for SEVERAL reasons.
1. Fees – No late fees, just easy to understand charges per day.
2. Internet based system – you can reserve your movie b4 you pick it up by going to the on-line store and you’re GUARANTEED to have your move waiting for you.
3. Payment process – they already have your payment info so it very quick and easy to pay for your purchases
4. Location(S) – I put a big S because there are 6 Redboxes in my not very big community. The fact that they all talk to each other makes me very happy. People hate that stores don’t let you return movies to other locations.
5. Convenience – 24 hours a day, usually very close to a parking spot – That’s huge!
6. Selection – They have great movies
7. Web site – their web site is easy to navigate and they add value when you visit by giving good reviews from honest reviewers instead of just trying to sell me a movie.
8. Smart – they send me txt msgs and emails to remind me of new releases and give me free movie coupons. The first night is free of course…I fall for it all the time.
9. Red – Firetrucks anyone? They stand out b/c of their color
10. Function – They actually work – the layout/ interface of the machine is VERY simple and easy to use.
11. Advertising – I’ve never seen an ad for Redbox – they put their machines in the right locations (sounds like real estate 101 to me) and that is their advertising.
12. Packaging – Their system for packaging the movies is slick. They cut past the advertising and give me a package that works (and if I lose the packaging then I can buy a new one for $1 AT the machine so I can stillr return my movie.
13. Waiting – I don’t wait for movies I want. I don’t have to pay $9 a month to get them mailed to me and wait 2 days, I can get on-line and pick it up at locations I’m going to be at anyway! I reserve all my movies ahead of time on-line so I ofter cut the line after telling everyone “I reserved mine on-line so it’ll take me 30 seconds for my movie to pop out, can I cut?” And they’re so grateful that I told them that you can reserve movies on-line that I don’t have to wait in line 99% of the time. Lastly, they do get movies fairly quickly so you don’t have to wait that long to get the new releases.
And that’s why the future of DVD rental is Redbox – Sorry stores…stop paying rent and trying to sell candy and buy a RedBox…
We do each of the first four. Other than mail order, 3 have severe limits, and mail order requires a couple days advance planning.
The vote is in… Movie Gallery went bankrupt and closed, Same with Blockbuster but only closed most of their stores. Pay per view and online and redbox the winners.