| Topic: DVD rental services |
| Posted : 13/05/05 / Views : 1867 / Replies : | |
|  | DVD Rentals – the way forward
Until now, video and DVD rental has been the domain of one or two dominant players in the high street rental market, companies such as Blockbuster and Prime Time. You would go into the shop, scour the shelves for a film you were interested in watching, take your selection to the counter, pay for a one night rental and probably some popcorn which had been eyeing you up during your wait in the queue… then incur a fine as you returned it late. With the recent proliferation of companies offering an online DVD rental service, this familiar scenario may soon be a thing of the past.
How does it work?
Once you've completed a simple online registration, you can browse through a vast collection of DVDs from the comfort of your own home or workplace. You can list as many films as you want in your rental queue and rank them in order of priority for delivery. Films are dispatched
by first class post to your selected delivery address. Once you've watched a DVD, all you have to do is pop it back in the envelope in which it came and drop into a letterbox near you. No late fees, no hassle.
How much does it cost?
Typically, a monthly subscription is £15. This gives you an unlimited number of DVDs during any one month. The only catch, if you can call it such, is that you are allowed a maximum of 3 DVDs out on rental at any one time… so the quicker you watch the DVDs the more they will be able
to send to you over the course of the month.
Is it worth it?
That depends on the type of viewer you are. If you only rent a DVD once a fortnight then it's probably not for you. If you think you'll watch more than 5 DVDs a month then it's worth looking at these services. 5 DVDs rented from a high street rental store might cost you £15-£20, the
same as a month's subscription to one of these new services.
Which one shall I choose?
I trialled a few services and found them all to be efficient, prompt in delivery of DVDs and, importantly, if there were any problems with delivery (e.g. the wrong DVDs delivered, slow delivery etc.) their Customer Services were quick to respond and offer an apology and a substitute delivery. Love Film was the best of the bunch, Blockbuster the worst.
Many of them are currently offering free trials. Prices are very competitive as the different companies vie for the emerging market. Below, you'll find links to a few of the best known online DVD rental providers. There are others out there and more will spring up, so keep
your eyes open and your ear to the ground.
Useful links
www.lovefilm.com
www.screenselect.co.uk
www.moviepigeon.com
www.tescodvdrental.com
www.blockbuster.co.uk
www.dvds365.com |
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| Reply #1: Re: DVD rental services |
| Posted : 13/05/05 | |
 | | anonymous |
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| | I agree. I have just been into blockbuster to browse their preowned DVDs. All they had were 300 copies of Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. What rubbish!
If you are a dog can I send a picture of Alan, my stoat? It's only fair. |
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| Reply #2: Re: DVD rental services |
| Posted : 13/05/05 | |
| | anonymous |
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| | | I used to use this service, but I can't remember who with. You usually get a free trial (look in ads at back of Empire or dvd mags). I found them to be really prompt, and with huge selection. Highly recommend. I only stopped using them because renting didn't prevent me from spending thegingerkid's inheritance in HMV ;) |
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| Reply #3: Re: DVD rental services |
| Posted : 13/05/05 | |
| | I've been using lovefilm for over a year now and can't fault it, only twice has a DVD gone AWOL but as soon as I've told them it's been sorted out and no fuss made. tho interesting aside, last June a film went AWOL and last week I got a letter from Royal Mail asking me if it had turned up yet and theyhad the cheek to tell me I had to reply within 10 days, only took them 10 months to enquire!!
Lovefilm also have a great recommendation system and monthly email of film news... its more than an online dvd rental compant... it's my friend!!
**note to self: leave off the red wine** |
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| Reply #4: Re: DVD rental services |
| Posted : 13/05/05 | |
| | anonymous |
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| | I used LoveFilm as well, a neighbour who had signed up got me a free one month trial, and again the service was excellent and very easy to use.
There was an excellent choice of new, classic and older movies and no problem when a DVD went missing once. |
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