Dvd Rental

In 1977 the first video rental store opened in Los Angeles. It rented VHS movies for $10 per day. Fast forward to 2003, when DVD rentals eclipsed VHS rentals with 1.75 billion movies rented to become the leading form of home entertainment. As DVD players and DVD rentals continue to explode in popularity, VCRs, VHS tapes, and brick and mortar rental stores are all set to become a thing of the past.

DVD Popularity

In March of 1997, the DVD player was introduced to the U.S. It went on to become the most quickly adopted consumer electronics product in history. DVD player sales have skyrocketed, and economy models can be now be purchased for as little as $35. Due to this low cost and the excellent quality of DVD pictures, sales of DVD players have proliferated, causing VHS sales and rentals to plummet.

In 2000, video sales for the home market surpassed box office theater sales for the first time. While VHS rentals were at their peak in 2001, much of this success was due to new DVD products. Since that period, DVD rentals have grown exponentially.

Online DVD Rentals

Part of the reason for the success of DVD rentals is due to their high quality presentations. But it is their small packaging size that has revolutionized the way in which movies are rented. Since they are compact and lightweight, DVDs can be sent through the mail. The standard video store has a limited number of titles in stock, and they charge customers late fees if movies aren't returned within their allotted time.

When you combine these disadvantages with crowded stores and long lines, its no wonder people would rather have their movies delivered to their door by online rental agencies that offer a huge selection and do not charge late fees. With these companies, you keep the movie until you have the time to watch it and then simply drop it in the mail to return it.

DVD rental subscriptions emerged in the late 1990's. They allow users to search for and order movies over the Internet. Instead of running out to the video store on a busy Friday night after a long week at work, with a few mouse-clicks on Tuesday you can have all the DVDs you need to keep your family happy for the weekend. Users have a greater selection to choose from, save time in making trips to the video rental store, and ultimately save money if they watch more than 2 DVDs a week.

DVDs are returned in the postage paid envelopes provided, and the post office has done a remarkably efficient job in handling the growing volume of DVDs being mailed back and forth. The convenience based nature of online DVD rentals has been become a serious threat to the future of physical video stores. These stores have responded with special offers and by canceling late fees in an effort to retain business.

The Future of DVD Rentals

DVD rentals are expected to continue to shift towards the use of online interfaces. As physical stores dwindle in number, they are likely to be replaced by automated kiosks. After swiping a credit card for payment, these kiosks dispense your DVD rental in much the same manner as a vending machine. These services charge a dollar a day for renting a DVD. While they aren't as convenient as receiving a DVD in your mailbox, they are a solution for people traveling away from home. If you watch DVDs infrequently, they are also less expensive.

By Doug Vanisky