Where do you want to see a RedBox DVD Kiosk Downtown? « Columbus Underground Messageboard

Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion

Where do you want to see a RedBox DVD Kiosk Downtown?

[29 posts] [16 contributors]

Topic Rating:

(Total Ratings: )
Rate this topic:

Started 1 year ago by Walker
Latest reply from pez

Tags:

12 Next »

Walker
The KLD / Downtown
Login to Send PM

I've never used their service, but RedBox has become quite popular for cheap DVD rentals:

http://www.redbox.com

There's one outside the Giant Eagle in Victorian Village, which is the only one close to Downtown.

There's a request form on their website where businesses and customers can request a Kiosk:

http://www.redbox.com/content.mvc/requestkiosk

Before we all start flooding them with random suggestions, I thought it might be worth asking folks where the best strategic locations for a Kiosk (or multiple kiosks) would be Downtown? I've already contacted Kacey Campbell at Capital Crossroads to get her two cents on this as well.

Personally, I would think that a machine at/near Broad & High or Gay & High would work well. Maybe one near CSCC/CCAD too? One outside the North Market? Arena District? Convention Center? Lots of heavily foot traffic in all of those areas.

Thoughts?

Posted 1 year ago #
tourist19
Merion Village
Login to Send PM

Ohhh, I would love to have one (or more) Downtown. Selfishly I would like to see it more near the library/hospital/CCAD, but anywhere that I don't have to drive to would be awesome. Seriously I would have used the heck out of it this winter, especially when the library couldn't open because of weather.

Posted 1 year ago #
DavidF
Elysium Fields
Login to Send PM

Blockbuster also has kiosks, so here's an option if you can't get a redbox near you.

I've used the redbox kiosks and really like the convenience.

Posted 1 year ago #
pez

Login to Send PM

I think they depend mostly on 'convenience traffic' rather than being a destination, hence the Walmart, Speedway, Giant Eagle locations. My guess is that they are like Coke machines, no reason you couldn't drop them just about anywhere and saturate an area. Stick a $3-5 a month low-use, low-priority cellular data plan on the machine and all the need is a power jack and someone to service the machine. They're owned by Coinstar, so maybe they prefer to co-locate.

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
Login to Send PM

Tourist - I thought about suggesting a location near the Library/Grant as there is a lot of people coming & going in that area, but I thought that most people in the area would probably just use the free movie rentals at the Library instead? Unless the newer releases (which is what RedBox seems to stock) are hard to come by at the Library and people would be willing to pay for a rental.

David - Does Blockbuster have a way for people to request new kiosk locations? I'm not finding anything like that on their site. When doing a search for 43215, the whole two I find are inside Urban Active Fitness locations at Hilliard at Polaris Parkway. I imagine we might see one closer to Downtown in the new Urban Active Fitness opening this fall at Grandview Yard... but that's still a bit outside of Downtown.

Pez - Agreed, and I think there's loads of convenience traffic Downtown. I think having 10 of these things throughout Downtown in the right locations could probably work pretty well.

Posted 1 year ago #
michaelcoyote
!seabus
Login to Send PM

Probably the best bet would be the POD market near CCAD campus. I think that's going to have a built in market (students) for the service and is close enough to the near east side and many of the downtown condos to pick up a fair number of local residents. The Library might work as well (if they're down with the idea).

Posted 1 year ago #
DavidF
Elysium Fields
Login to Send PM

@Walker: I don't really know how the blockbuster kiosk system works. The one I saw was in New Philadelphia. I just mentioned it as an option if the redbox thing doesn't work out.

Posted 1 year ago #
cc

Login to Send PM

I think POD would also be the best choice, but campuses charge very high fees for vending rights. I think another business close to, but not actually part of campus would probably be more likely to get one.

I am surprised there aren't a bunch along High St, by OSU, but there is probably also a security/vandalism issue.

From what I have heard Kroger has a deal with another company.

Redbox is now testmarketing a raise in price to $2 a night in several test cities. It also is planning to add game rentals in a year or two.

If all else fails, an entrepreneur can buy their own redbox ;)

http://www.insideredbox.com/buy-your-own-redbox/

Posted 1 year ago #
tourist19
Merion Village
Login to Send PM

Walker, it is hard to get new releases from the library, generally the wait list is really long. Also, with the library's reduced hours you really have to plan ahead to get there in time (especially on the weekends) to get one. I generally only think about getting a movie later at night when I'm bored.

The POD location sounds like a good hit too.

Posted 1 year ago #
Patch
Schumacher Place
Login to Send PM

cc wrote >>
From what I have heard Kroger has a deal with another company.
http://www.insideredbox.com/buy-your-own-redbox/

The Kroger I go to has "DVD Play", still only a buck to rent.

Posted 1 year ago #
vestanpance
Harrison West/at work OSU
Login to Send PM

I'm pretty sure there is one in the nationwide building downtown.

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
Login to Send PM

vestanpance wrote >>
I'm pretty sure there is one in the nationwide building downtown.

Does that mean it's only intended for employees and only during 9-5 M-F?

If so, FAIL.

Posted 1 year ago #
takeasiesta
Harrison West
Login to Send PM

The question that I have to pose is: Are these DVD vending machines (and Netflix) killing video stores? The video store/tanning place went under fairly quickly after the Red Box machine was put next to the Giant Eagle on Neil and Buttles.

Posted 1 year ago #
Patch
Schumacher Place
Login to Send PM

takeasiesta wrote >>
The question that I have to pose is: Are these DVD vending machines (and Netflix) killing video stores? The video store/tanning place went under fairly quickly after the Red Box machine was put next to the Giant Eagle on Neil and Buttles.

Oh yes. Absolutely killing them. I use Video Central in the GV, and the owner said that they are waaaay down. It doesn't look good for them.

He also said that almost no one is renting new releases from them anymore.

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
Login to Send PM

I would say that Netflix and other online streaming movie services are killing video stores more than the DVD vending machines are.

Video Central is a bit of a unique beast though, as they're more of a movie library than your average "100 Copies of This Week's Release" type of Blockbuster store. Sad to hear they're not doing well.

Posted 1 year ago #
DavidF
Elysium Fields
Login to Send PM

I agree with Walker. I'd say Netflix has been the primary threat to brick and mortar video stores. The kiosks don't help this situation, but they seem to be a model that tries to work around Netflix by providing a few, popular, titles on immediate demand with an attractive pricing structure.

I'm curious to see if on-demand services respond to the kiosks. This is not good for the video store, but I suspect it is good for consumers.

Posted 1 year ago #
michaelcoyote
!seabus
Login to Send PM

Walker wrote >>
I would say that Netflix and other online streaming movie services are killing video stores more than the DVD vending machines are.
Video Central is a bit of a unique beast though, as they're more of a movie library than your average "100 Copies of This Week's Release" type of Blockbuster store. Sad to hear they're not doing well.

Perhaps VC could pop up a couple of machines around town instead of Redbox. From cc's post it looks like you can buy/lease the machines. And I'd imagine that something like that on CCAD campus that served up current hits and a few cult classics and art films might actually be a success.

If I had to choose between two machines, I know I'd choose the one with "Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.".

Posted 1 year ago #
vestanpance
Harrison West/at work OSU
Login to Send PM

Walker wrote >>

vestanpance wrote >>
I'm pretty sure there is one in the nationwide building downtown.

Does that mean it's only intended for employees and only during 9-5 M-F?
If so, FAIL.

I think you are right there. I think redbox would do really well if it put more in big company buildings. You have to go there 5 days a week to work, so returning the disc is no big deal.

Posted 1 year ago #
dru
IV
Login to Send PM

I stopped at the McDonald's in Van Wert for some coffee and noticed they had a Red Box in their drive-thru lane. I thought this was a stroke of financial genius on multiple levels. Dinner and a movie in one, and then when you return the movie you're already in line, so why not buy another meal, and another movie, and repeat...

Posted 1 year ago #
Snarf
How Do I Delete My Account
Login to Send PM

dru wrote >>
I stopped at the McDonald's in Van Wert for some coffee and noticed they had a Red Box in their drive-thru lane. I thought this was a stroke of financial genius on multiple levels. Dinner and a movie in one, and then when you return the movie you're already in line, so why not buy another meal, and another movie, and repeat...

I just gained 5lb reading this.

Posted 1 year ago #