REDBOX PLANS TO START STREAMING, RAISE RENTALS TO $1.20 PER DAY

[gregg75]

http://www.deadline.com/2011/10/redbox-raises-dvd-rental-price-to-1-20-a-day-from-1/

 

[searadiofreak]

While they are two different business models, Redbox should take a lesson from Netflix and tread lightly. Major changes that are deemed unpopular can indeed cause damage that may or may not be able to be fixed. That said, a 20 cent increase probably does not present any real problem.

Personally, I am old school and still like to go into a video store and take advantage of the variety, and use the old fashioned DVD player. Unfortunately, options in my market are fewer and fewer, with both Blockbuster and Hollywood now completely gone. We have Hastings still remaining in my Rocky Mountain town, and they seem more popular than ever, so evidently I am not alone. However, their rates are up too!

 

[FreddyE1977]

There are still several Family Video stores in my area. The parking lots are almost always empty anytime I go by.
Can't see them hanging in very much longer. Other than a couple of hole-in-the-wall porn shops these
are the only brick-and-mortar video stores I am aware of.

I am pleasantly surprised by how many videos, including recent releases, are available for
free at my local library.

 

[LKellerIII]

I used to own and manage video stores - got out of the business about 15 years ago, while it was still the VHS era...thank God. The only stores that seem to be surviving in my area (San Francisco) are those that specialize in some way, and have built up loyal followings by delivering excellent customer service.

I live in a neighborhood that has a lot of high-tech Silicon Valley types, but also a lot of latter day hippies, gays, and lesbians. The one remaining video rental store in my neighborhood specializes in foreign and avant garde films, and has a large LGBT section. They've also instituted a NetFlix like service in which you can pay by the month, and keep your DVDs as long as you like with no late fees.

Another still popular video store in SF has kept a loyal following because they have a huge selection of pretty much everything ever produced on VHS and DVD.

Otherwise, these stores are dying out, and will be entirely gone, in a few more years.

 

[Yeziknoradio]

Old fashiond DVD player? ??? Is the Blu Ray Dead??

Quality is the most important.

 

[searadiofreak]

I used to own and manage video stores - got out of the business about 15 years ago, while it was still the VHS era...thank God. The only stores that seem to be surviving in my area (San Francisco) are those that specialize in some way, and have built up loyal followings by delivering excellent customer service.

I live in a neighborhood that has a lot of high-tech Silicon Valley types, but also a lot of latter day hippies, gays, and lesbians. The one remaining video rental store in my neighborhood specializes in foreign and avant garde films, and has a large LGBT section. They've also instituted a NetFlix like service in which you can pay by the month, and keep your DVDs as long as you like with no late fees.

Another still popular video store in SF has kept a loyal following because they have a huge selection of pretty much everything ever produced on VHS and DVD.

True, only the specialty stores mat survive and I even wonder about those. There is a store in North Seattle called "Scarecrow", and they do well due to an incredible wide variety of titles, both VHS and DVD. Their business perhaps is aimed at those over the age of 40, but they are still wildly popular. Longterm, not so sure, just as record stores that specialize in vinyl may have a certain loyal clientele, but for how long?

Otherwise, these stores are dying out, and will be entirely gone, in a few more years.

 

[mysticnitekatt]

I say go to $1.25 and get it done

 

[nathannah]

I say go to $1.25 and get it done

The $1.20 seems to have been done so that it will get to or near $1.25 once you add in the local sales tax.

Compared to the $8 Netflix hike which I refused to take a part of (still stream), 20c is really nothing. It only matters to the few who keep their discs more than three days, and there are so many ways to avoid the $1.20 fee in the first place through promo codes in products, texts and emails that you actually have to struggle to pay full price for a Redbox rental.

 

[LKellerIII]

I used to own and manage video stores - got out of the business about 15 years ago, while it was still the VHS era...thank God. The only stores that seem to be surviving in my area (San Francisco) are those that specialize in some way, and have built up loyal followings by delivering excellent customer service.

I live in a neighborhood that has a lot of high-tech Silicon Valley types, but also a lot of latter day hippies, gays, and lesbians. The one remaining video rental store in my neighborhood specializes in foreign and avant garde films, and has a large LGBT section. They've also instituted a NetFlix like service in which you can pay by the month, and keep your DVDs as long as you like with no late fees.

Another still popular video store in SF has kept a loyal following because they have a huge selection of pretty much everything ever produced on VHS and DVD.

True, only the specialty stores mat survive and I even wonder about those. There is a store in North Seattle called "Scarecrow", and they do well due to an incredible wide variety of titles, both VHS and DVD. Their business perhaps is aimed at those over the age of 40, but they are still wildly popular. Longterm, not so sure, just as record stores that specialize in vinyl may have a certain loyal clientele, but for how long?

Funny you should mention record stores. At least in the SF Bay Area, there is not a single major old-line record-store chain left. Chains that were monster money-makers like Tower Records and The Wherehouse - all gone. But at least 2 smaller chains that specialize in used CDs - Amoeba and Rasputin - are apparently thriving. I've heard that Amoeba has even opened a store on the Sunset Strip in LA.

I've totally entered the MP3 world - haven't bought a CD in about 3 years now. But there are apparently enough customers to keep those stores going.

 

[LibertyNT]

Ever since the nearby Blockbuster closed here, Our Family Video is always busy.

Before the Blockbuster closed it was usually pretty empty.

 

[BlueWanderer]

In my town, Movie Gallery went away but one Blockbuster is still here. However, in the next town over both their Blockbuster and Movie Gallery stores closed down within the last few years. Btw, I've never heard of Family Video before.

I suppose the Redbox kiosk in my town's Wal-mart replaced the Movie Gallery option there.

 

[anotherguyTN]

In Jackson, TN Blockbuster still has one store and there may be a local store or two around. In Dyersburg, TN Hastings has a store and there's still one local store. I just recently went back to DVDs on Netflix. The promised improvement of the online selection hasn't happened yet, at least in movies and TV shows I'm interested in.

 

[nathannah]

In my town, Movie Gallery went away but one Blockbuster is still here. However, in the next town over both their Blockbuster and Movie Gallery stores closed down within the last few years. Btw, I've never heard of Family Video before.

I suppose the Redbox kiosk in my town's Wal-mart replaced the Movie Gallery option there.

It's mainly confined to the Midwest that point (it's headquartered in Springfield, IL). They're really good because they also have multiple discount opportunities, a good check-in system (you don't need a membership card), and a much bigger selection than Blockbuster. Also, it has an (ahem) decidedly not-so-family friendly stock of adult films in a shameful back room setting, which has always made me laugh about the name.

 

[BlueWanderer]

It's mainly confined to the Midwest that point (it's headquartered in Springfield, IL). They're really good because they also have multiple discount opportunities, a good check-in system (you don't need a membership card), and a much bigger selection than Blockbuster. Also, it has an (ahem) decidedly not-so-family friendly stock of adult films in a shameful back room setting, which has always made me laugh about the name.

Interesting. I'm in northeastern Alabama so that's why I've never of that chain before. I remember back in the mid to late nineties, we didn't have those franchises yet. Instead, there was three locally owned video stores existing at the same time but not for long.