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November 29, 2009

By Greg Bott / guest columnist The Meridian Star Sun Nov 29, 2009, 12:21 AM CST

I ask my school age daughters to refrain from using the word “hate,” so I’ll say I strongly dislike going to Blockbuster to get movies. Even though Blockbuster stores are generally well-maintained, offer good customer service, have a large selection of movies and an abundance of movie candy, I still loathe an evening at Blockbuster. It’s the aimless wandering. Invariably, the movie that compelled me to leave the comfort of my home to go to Blockbuster in the first place is already gone and I owe a late fee from the last time I was there.

I have found a way to nearly eliminate trips to Blockbuster: Redbox. Instead of aimlessly wandering the Blockbuster new release perimeter, consider renting your next movie from Redbox, an automated kiosk that rents and vends DVDs. For those that haven’t seen one, a Redbox kiosk looks like a big Coke machine with a touch screen and list of available DVDs. Like a Coke machine vending a can, after you put in your money, a DVD pops out for you to take home and enjoy.

Redbox was started in 2004 with money from McDonald’s Ventures, LLC, which made sense because Redbox machines were initially placed in McDonald’s restaurants in test markets. The company was later purchased by Coinstar (that’s the green box in your grocery store that converts your loose change to paper money and sucks a dime out of every dollar for the service). The kiosks are intuitive and well-designed. They’re made by the same folks who manufacture Xbox360 and the Zune.

If eliminating trips to Blockbuster isn’t genius enough, consider these additional features and capabilities. First, you can return a movie at ANY Redbox and with an estimated 22,000 Redboxes (incidentally that’s more Redbox locations than Blockbuster stores) there’s bound to be one where you’re going already. Redbox machines are conveniently located inside and outside grocery stores, pharmacies, and Wal-Marts. Dropping a movie at Redbox is a more time-consuming than the Blockbuster mail slot, but I’d still opt for Redbox over Blockbuster.

Second, and most important, you can create an online account with Redbox and reserve your movie from your computer before you go pick it up. This is the true genius of retail movie rental. I reserved a hard-to-find new release at a Redbox a couple of blocks from my house, grabbed my credit card, drove to the box, left the car running, walked up to the box, slid my card on the reader, grabbed the movie, and got back in my car. That’s genius.

Third, though I don’t have official confirmation from Redbox, the movies listed in the Redbox seem to be listed in real time. If a Redbox doesn’t have your movie when you first check it, check it again later. Chances are someone is returning it. Since rentals are one dollar per night, movies seem to be returned more frequently and therefore are more available.

Fourth, Redbox doesn’t charge late fees. You can actually get a new release, watch and return it for a dollar plus tax. Need it another night? Don’t feel guilty, Redbox just takes another dollar from your credit card. It’s all very civilized. If you forget about your movie rental, Redbox keeps charging you a dollar per night for 25 nights. After that, you have the opportunity to purchase the movie.

Between Netflix, on-demand Internet movies, and on-demand devices like VUDU, it’s tough to be Blockbuster. I really have nothing against Blockbuster, but I love the user experience and convenience of Redbox. It’s a great use of technology.

Bott Technology Solutions helps small to midsize businesses with computer technology needs and may be reached via e-mail at gregbott@bottinc.com or at

601-207-0509.

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