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Seems inevitable, but I do note constant usage at RedBox kiosks, so there's clearly still demand for local (i.e. instant) movie rental. Even with the (significa

Seems inevitable, but I do note constant usage at RedBox kiosks, so there's clearly still demand for local (i.e. instant) movie rental. Even with the (significant) additional overhead, I'm kind of surprised that a store's not viable as a local option with much broader selection than RedBox. I guess the long tail of local movie rental isn't thick enough.

bdcravens 13y ago
Costs of carrying inventory + employees + several thousands USD/month leasing costs for property I'd say RedBox provides 80% of the experience; online options provide the rest. However, read the article, as it touches on the reality: the illusion of choice. Almost everyone who goes into a Blockbuster is interested in the same couple of dozen options that the RedBox provides for a fraction of the (business) cost. For the most part, everything else that was in Blockbuster was merely filler.
- jack-r-abbit 13y ago
  Agreed. When we went into Blockbuster, we started at one end of the New Release wall and walked the store perimeter. If we didn't find anything in the New Releases, we usually just left. Every once in awhile, we checked out the middle shelves... but rarely. Blockbuster would also carry dozens of copies of the same movie... devoting entire sections of a shelf unit it. I don't know how many copies any given Redbox machine has at any one time. Since you can return the disc to any machine, the stock self rotates a little.
- gambler 13y ago
  All of the factors you mentioned existed before Blockbuster went bankrupt. I found nearly half of the good movies I ever watched simply by looking at DVD covers of older titles there. Yes, it had lots of filler. Netflix has even more filler percentage-vise. The thing I disliked about Blockbuster was that renting new stuff there was a stressful experience where you felt ripped off at the end. It was too expensive and the time limits were way too short.
cstejerean 13y ago
Redbox kiosks are almost 5x cheaper than renting from iTunes or Amazon. I suspect this has a lot to do with the strong demand for Redbox compared to online instant rental alternatives. The other factor is the availability of devices for streaming movies on the living room TV, but that gap is closing fast with new TVs, BluRay players, game consoles and Apple TV and related devices. For long tail, Blockbuster wouldn't stand a chance against online alternatives at the price point needed to support physical stores. From what I remember of Blockbuster (and it's been years since I've been to one), their rentals were about the same price as renting from iTunes today. Not to mention that most of the really long tail content is available for instant streaming from Netflix, even if you didn't want to wait for a DVD.
- kenrikm 13y ago
  I would like to add that they can be ripped so you can get a illegal copy without the fear that the MPAA will track down your IP.
mmanfrin 13y ago
I imagine the proliferation of RedBox is due to a few points: 1) It promotes DVD purchasing (by encouraging DVD usage). 2) It is a complimentary service to your local 7-11/CVS/Safeway. Pick up a box of popcorn with your movie. 3) RedBox buys DVDs in the same schema that Blockbuster did -- a schema content producers are used to.

bdcravens 13y ago

Costs of carrying inventory + employees + several thousands USD/month leasing costs for property I'd say RedBox provides 80% of the experience; online options provide the rest. However, read the article, as it touches on the reality: the illusion of choice. Almost everyone who goes into a Blockbuster is interested in the same couple of dozen options that the RedBox provides for a fraction of the (business) cost. For the most part, everything else that was in Blockbuster was merely filler.

jack-r-abbit 13y ago
Agreed. When we went into Blockbuster, we started at one end of the New Release wall and walked the store perimeter. If we didn't find anything in the New Releases, we usually just left. Every once in awhile, we checked out the middle shelves... but rarely. Blockbuster would also carry dozens of copies of the same movie... devoting entire sections of a shelf unit it. I don't know how many copies any given Redbox machine has at any one time. Since you can return the disc to any machine, the stock self rotates a little.
gambler 13y ago
All of the factors you mentioned existed before Blockbuster went bankrupt. I found nearly half of the good movies I ever watched simply by looking at DVD covers of older titles there. Yes, it had lots of filler. Netflix has even more filler percentage-vise. The thing I disliked about Blockbuster was that renting new stuff there was a stressful experience where you felt ripped off at the end. It was too expensive and the time limits were way too short.

cstejerean 13y ago

Redbox kiosks are almost 5x cheaper than renting from iTunes or Amazon. I suspect this has a lot to do with the strong demand for Redbox compared to online instant rental alternatives. The other factor is the availability of devices for streaming movies on the living room TV, but that gap is closing fast with new TVs, BluRay players, game consoles and Apple TV and related devices. For long tail, Blockbuster wouldn't stand a chance against online alternatives at the price point needed to support physical stores. From what I remember of Blockbuster (and it's been years since I've been to one), their rentals were about the same price as renting from iTunes today. Not to mention that most of the really long tail content is available for instant streaming from Netflix, even if you didn't want to wait for a DVD.

kenrikm 13y ago
I would like to add that they can be ripped so you can get a illegal copy without the fear that the MPAA will track down your IP.

mmanfrin 13y ago

I imagine the proliferation of RedBox is due to a few points: 1) It promotes DVD purchasing (by encouraging DVD usage). 2) It is a complimentary service to your local 7-11/CVS/Safeway. Pick up a box of popcorn with your movie. 3) RedBox buys DVDs in the same schema that Blockbuster did -- a schema content producers are used to.