The advent of VHS and DVDs made watching movies more affordable and convenient. But in order to rent a movie, one had to travel to a nearby movie store or wait until the mail arrived in order to watch the film. Until now. Technology is jumping on the movie bandwagon and is changing the way we rent and watch and rent movies.
Free-standing machines are dispensing the latest video releases with a simple touch of a button. These new DVD kiosks are cropping up all over the United States and Canada. The high-tech, self-service vending machines are located in food chains, grocery and convenient stores.
The ease of use allows registered users to rent a movie without waiting in lines. Renting movies from these high-tech kiosks is cheaper than traditional rental stores. Most charge $1 for new releases. Some services also allow users to reserve and pay for movies online.
Redbox - There are two ways to find and reserve movies with Redbox. Both are simple, convenient and cheap.
Reserving and Renting Online:
Reserving a DVD online is simple and straightforward. Select a movie, location of the Redbox and input credit card information.
- Users must register online and must be over 18.
- Users must have a valid email account and credit card
- Select a movie by name, genre or release date.
- Movie information includes running time, description, actors, Yahoo rankings and trailers.
- Users type in a kiosk location to see if the movie is available at that location
- Payment is done using a credit card
- Movies can be reserved 24 hours in advance and payment is immediate
- If reserved movies are not picked up within the 24 hour period, they will no longer be reserved but the $1 fee is still charged
- Once the movie is ordered, a confirmation email will be delivered to your inbox.
- Promotional codes are available for specials and free rentals
At Kiosk:
- There are currently over 8000 Redbox machines
- Users can select a movie from the kiosk or pick up a reserved movie by using the credit card used online
- Select a movie by movie name, genre or release date by using a simple touch-screen
Redbox Advantages:
- All movies are $1 plus tax and are new releases
- No hidden fees
- First time users receive one free rental
- SMS alerts are now available for new release information
- New releases are available each Tuesday
- All movies must be returned by 9 P.M. after pickup or users will be charged an additional $1
Redbox Disadvantages:
- There are only limited titles available
- Only one slot available for obtaining and returning movies
- If the DVD is damaged, lost or stolen, the renter must call 866.REDBOX3 for assistance
MovieCube - The New Release DVD Rental Machine launched MovieCube in 2007. This service offers both new releases and classic movies for $1 each.
Positive Aspects of MovieCube:
- Over 2000 kiosks in the USA
- Hundreds of kiosks are located in Canadian grocery stores
- New movies are updated each Tuesday
- Users can rent up to 3 movies at a time
- 14 days to return
Negative Aspects of MovieCute:
- Not currently available online
- No receipts are available
- Damaged, lost or stolen DVDs
These new high-tech video vending machines are changing the way we rent and reserve movies. Traditional vending machines may never look the same again.
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