Over the past few months we have run a few stories regarding VBG – the Video Buyers Group – and their opposition to Redbox. (See recent VBG coverage here, here, here and here.) For a blog like this, all news is good news, so we gladly run their stories and viewpoints here, even if we don’t agree. But, come to find out, VBG has been naughty. More on that in a minute…
First, let’s take a look at some of VBG’s claims they make against Redbox:
- Redbox is destroying the DVD industry with $1 rentals
- Redbox allows children easy access to R-rated movies
While there are more, these 2 are by far the most common, and will suffice. Let’s look at them in detail.
Claim #1: Redbox is destroying the DVD industry with $1 rentals
As you all know, this claim has been beat into the ground lately by the studios’ and VBG alike. While there is no actual evidence that Redbox has had a negative effect on the movie industry, this is certainly their favorite talking point.
As you probably know, it is my belief (as well as that of many of our readers) that Redbox actually has a positive effect on the industry, by exposing people to movies that they would never have seen were it not for the $1 price point. But, that is not what this post is about…
The real issue here comes from the fact that Ted Engen – President of VBG – also owns quite a large chain of video stores (the 70+* store “Total Entertainment Center” chain) that have likely seen dwindling revenues due to the expansion of Redbox. That, in addition to the fact that VBG makes its money off of independent video stores (1,800* stores are a part of its group), really speaks volumes to what VBG’s (and Ted’s) real complaints are. Redbox is hurting their business. (*figures as of 3/2008)
What is that saying about not being able to “take the heat” again? I think that applies nicely here…
Claim #2: Redbox allows children easy access to R-rated movies
This one has actually been beat at a bit longer by VBG, starting in March of 2008.
As mentioned by many readers in the comments of the above post, I am pretty sure you need to be 18 years old to own a credit card. And, if parents are just giving their kids’ their credit cards, that is another problem entirely.
Of course, the most interesting part of all of this, is that VBG represents many stores (including Ted’s own Total Entertainment Center chain) that rents “adult films” (more commonly known as porn). How many of those stores gladly turn a blind eye to the age of the renters of those films, which have long been the bread-and-butter of many independent video stores? Exactly.
So, if VBG really wanted to do something about keeping the wrong kinds of movies out of the hands of our kids, may I recommend dropping all adult titles from TEC and VBG stores. What do you say, Ted?
VBG GOES TOO FAR…
Now that we have that out of the way, lets get to the point of this particular post, and let you know why I am using such a strong title…
VBG owners and employees, as well as some of their friends with another known company in the industry, have been using Inside Redbox to try and deceive you, and have been lying about who they are in the process.
I uncovered this about a week or so ago, and have been tracking it since then to confirm my suspicions. I now have indisputable proof that this has been going on for at least the past few months, and possibly longer.
Some of the names of commenters who are part of this include those using the following names: Joey, Linda, redman, Jim, Iwantitnow, igloo, wendy, jerry, Tony, Todd, filmflam, Tim, Louie, and Jon. And, even in the last few days they have been stealing others’ users name to try and confuse, like “moviecrazy” and “rb”.
All-in-all, the folks at VBG have made 240+ comments since August of this year, and one other back in April of 2008 (where I called him out). And, this doesn’t even include the other comments from friends who I believe to be working at Ingram Entertainment in alliance with VBG, using names such as: Greg, Sony?, hipocrite, taxman, middleman, TexasRebel, and Radman.
In order to make it clear for Inside Redbox members, I have now “branded” all comments made by these folks, with a link back to this post. Feel free to look around at some of the recent comments made on the site and find your favorite comments from these jokers. It’s a lot like a treasure hunt, but instead of treasure you are looking for shills, astroturf and FUD!
More on VBG
You can find VBG’s website here (http://www.vbg-tec.com), including contact information for Ted, Linda, Jon and others. If you would like to voice your support or opposition for what they are doing, feel free to contact them. I am sure they will be glad to hear from you!
As always Insiders, we are interested in what YOU have to say. Feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts. And, if any of the VBG folks have something to share, or just want to come clean, feel free. We are listening…
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Of course, I have no idea what you are talking about, but as long as you are happy…
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no others are welcome”
in an honest debate people share honest opinions. Pretending to be someone else (i.e not an employee of a threatened company), or someone co-opting other usernames ranges from simple dishonesty to intentional lying.
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My 2 cents
Good work finding AND identifying AND tagging the trolls. :-)
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And, I have absolutely no problem with VBG employees making comments on this site, and I never said I did. I do, however, have a problem with them purposely posting under other users’ names and trying to deceive others.
Like I have said many times, I have no problem with any point of view regarding Redbox, and I certainly don’t delete comments or block IPs unless they are malicious in nature.
What I care about is the truth, and trying to deceive others while hiding behind a keyboard is not a great way to win any friends on the net.
what are you afraid of? did somebody eat you cheese.
just compete….let the best entity win there share of a market…btw i don’t work for redbox or any media group nor do i have an interest in the video sales and rental business. you act like it is a closed system…it isn’t…there is always room for more and there always will be more. work on you business not your competitors and you will succeed.
sincerely,
a business person
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I agree that a lot of the commentary has been good for debate, no matter who posted it or where they came from. The real problem came when they started using other people’s usernames to intentionally mislead.
Honestly, I debated whether to post this at all because it is not my goal to stifle discussion or debate about what is happening in the industry. But, that should be done in an honest and open manner, not by lying and deception.
Even if you want to be anonymous, fine, but there is certainly a line that was crossed here.
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The only reason they have begun labeling the different people as employees of VBG is to point out that they were using anonymity to viciously slam and possibly in some cases slander this website and other companies and people.
If they had outright said who they were, or had they kept things fair, and especially had they not started posting as other people, this wouldn’t have happened, and it wouldn’t be the issue that it is.
The InsideRedbox crew are NOT stifling debate or saying that the VBG people don’t have a say. They are merely pointing out the slimeball tactics used.
to: John Small [visitor] @ October 15, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Don’t know why i cant reply to you directly. But, people in the industry should be able to post as long as they follow the rules of the site. It seems that using other peoples usernames is an issue. Also, if you are an industry person you *should* identify yourself. ALSO, insideredbox commentators should respect the viewpoints of others (even if they are acting like shills)
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Google Adsense commissions
Gold Membership fees
[and, income from the sales of the Inside Redbox iPhone app, but that is technically a separate business]
Look, that wasn’t so hard was it? Now would you like to share your financial interests in the movie industry and Redbox?
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what does villified mean?
Simply put, vilified in this case means “to make someone into the villain”.
thanks for the clarification;)
First part – Nice digging.
2nd point – you do not need to be 18 to get a credit card. I got my first one when I was 16 (my parents were very big in teaching financial responsibility). However, if I ever wanted a R movie I would just go to the theater. They rarely carded and the local movie rental stores never did. (There’s actually no law saying that you HAVE to be 17, it’s generally just company policy of the theaters, etc.)
I am aware that you do not need to be 18 to get a credit card, but you do need parental permission if you are not 18.
Either way, the point I was making was similar to yours. I don’t think Redbox renting R-rated movies with a credit card is a major contributor to minors accessing age-inappropriate material. Seriously, has VBG used the internet lately?
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And, of course, I never said it was OK for Redbox to rent kids R-rated movies, but nice try. I said if a kid rents an R-rated movie from Redbox, it is the responsibility of their parents who gave them the credit card.
It is the parents involvement in the lives of their children that deters them from making bad choices, not that of Redbox. Personally, I don’t want my kids drinking soda. Does that mean I should start a campaign banning soda vending machines, too?
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BTW, I did answer the income question: click here
I have nothing to hide, and I am not biased one way or the other.
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I don’t think anyone is “out to get me” nor am I paranoid. You are the one who keeps making irrational comments that ignore everything I have said. So, it makes you sound like a troll – and a bad one at that.
I “showed my colors” by exposing a ring of fraudulent commenters? Then you attack Shane for no apparent reason?
I don’t even care if everyone has a financial interest, nor do I expect everyone to tell me who they are and who they work for. I respect anonymity for many reasons, and I have said as much many times on the site, and even directly to folks like “Sony?” and “Joey”.
The problem here was related to the underhanded way these posters were taking advantage of my site and trying to deceive others, plain and simple. I welcome all points of view, and certainly not just those that I agree with.
Unless you have something useful to add to the discussion, I won’t be responding to your accusations any longer.
What’s wrong with weeding out the dishonesty and hidden agendas? Sure everyone’s opinion enhances the site…
Now if I were administrator, I would tag the posts that are bringing the average IQ level down, particularly yours…
Read your own posts, you sound like a rambling child demanding answers to common sense questions already addressed.
At least Joey and John Small are interesting to read, but your posts are making me wish I never learned how to read…in fact I think everyone that reads your posts comes away a little bit dumber.
This is rediculous,you can hear the Panic with these people who are against Redbox . I Love Redbox,we just finally got one where we live. I managed a Movie rental store for 5 years that was owned by my sister.She was smart to sell out when she did.She sold 2 years ago. With Netflix and Redbox,it is much more convenient and affordable for the consumer.Who can compete with that? Not the Brick and Mortar Rental Stores. As Far as the concerns about underage kids renting rated R movies,what are they doing with a credit card??? And I know that I signed up for my receipts to come to my”"password Protected Email”" so,I would know anyway,if somehow,by some strange means,my sons rented an R rated movie,then that, would be an issue between parent and child. IT comes back to ,Do You Know What Your Children Are Doing??It’s not up to Redbox to babysit peoples kids.
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/Americas/2009/October/For-Credit-Cards–21-Is-the-New-18-.html
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They hate them too:
http://www.insideredbox.com/youre-next-studios-tell-netflix/
Don’t feed the trolls
http://media.photobucket.com/image/dont%20feed%20the%20trolls/paul-1/DBZ/do-not-feed-the-trolls.jpg
Thanks!
Personally, I feel that to try and stifle innovation, the inevitable march of technology, and consumer choice, is foolish. Just look at the RIAA and MPAA. It is a losing game.
I have no affiliation with the movie industry whatsoever. My viewpoint is that of the consumer. As consumers we vote with our wallets. For too long many of us have felt that the cost of the ‘product’ sold by the movie industry is overpriced. But until recently, consumers have had no other means to access the product but through the old established channels. Now that technology has allowed more convenient and less expensive access to the product, consumers have greater choice and our collective voice is finally being heard.
amen!
guenzo…Thanks for saying what I was thinking! You are so right!
yes sir, I have no affiliation with movie industry either and i started reading posts almost 6months ago. Seems like the movie industry IS heading towards the direction of the cd’s. I’ve been around the world and have experienced a many a things and as abundant as CD’s used to be when they were expensive and not so readily avaliable to any consumer. I know many people who copied the one song they liked from one particular album on a cassette.Then there was MP3, downloading and suck and then came piratecy of the DVD’s.Its seems like its the same pattern emerging.DVD movie content is now more readily avaliable, and we as consumers view it like this: pay 5 for bootleg, or pay 10 for movie theater, or pay 20 for physical content with all the extras, well only if it would stand the test of time and I would like to view it more than one time. Mediocre movies dont make the cut, pun intended.
Movie industry pays actors way too much so that they could pretend and tell a story. is is worth
25 10 or 5 ? but if we see it and like the story at a dollar,and then buy the story(movie) at 19.00-25.00 for keeps doesnt mean that if we had seen it for more it would have changed our minds. We are going to buy it reguardless, and besides the movie industry already makes the millions at the box offices, how much more do they want to bleed us dry(figure of speach)?
Debate is good, calling someone an idiot is not a debate. It’s your site Micheal, but I say warn then ban any IP’s that disrespects others. Espesially if there insulting the Admin or any memeber of the site. But that’s just me.
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There are many other factors. It seems very easy to place the target on them.
Maybe the industry itself needs to be reworked to stay profitable?
Any you want us to believe that 2 people in your office have the exact same point of view, and you both call people idiots as your debate tactic, plus end statements with “Pathetic.” (Don’t forget the period) If your not the same person do you have meetings and prep sessions on how to sound alike?
And I can still read all your old posts, and others with the same view, so how is he silencing you? Alot of people here wish he would and I feel he has the right todo so.
So IMHO you lost all credability when you called him an idiot.
Pathetic.
i’ve been reading the post up to this point and i felt the need to comment cuz everyone else was so into debating then i read this one had me cracking up. =)
since they have too share their (ip )comp. the also want to share users name..lol
Hey Davis, it’s been awhile…
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I had not really considered the Fair Trade issue here, but it is definitely a great point that needs to be considered.
And, if you ever want to do a guest post around here, let me know. I would love to share more of your thoughts with our readers.
As for claim #1: Even if there was no RedBox or NetFlix, VGB would not be getting my retail dollars. I flat-out refuse to pay $20 or more to buy a current release movie that I may only watch once or twice. If I have to see it, and it is worth while, sooner or later, it will make it’s way to the TV networks. Heck, I might even spring for a movie ticket if it something I HAVE to see!
As it is, I take full advantage of both RedBox and NetFlix for my movie viewing, and may even keep a movie more than one day paying a whopping $2 for the privilege of watching it twice if I missed something the first time. But to buy it without knowing if I even know I would like it based just on hype and previews?? I think not.
And claim #2? There are still cigarette vending machines out there, people! Do they ask for ID, or just make the sale to anyone who pays the price? And if a visual ID check was REALLY enforced, why do we still have such a problem with underage drinking? Who’s to say that the “minor” with a credit card doesn’t also have a note from his/her parents allowing them to rent an R rated movie. Unlike underage drinking, at least that “minor” can LEGALLY watch the film at home with his parents.
“Rated R: RESTRICTED-Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.”
Bottom line here is simply this… VBG is just whining because they are not getting every dollar available to them, and RedBox is to them what the little kid on the playground is to the neighborhood bully: Someone who they think they can beat up. When the Playground Monitor comes out, they will just stomp off and look for someone else to pick on.
You Rock, Michael! Keep up the good work!
I totally and fully agree with you Linda “CowNow” I would even be willing to bet theat who ever /what ever this VGB is rents from REDBOX themselves!!!
For the record, I did work for one of the largest cable/satellite providers for two years. I do understand the industry enough to understand the whys and hows of adult rated movies and parental controls and restrictions. I will not state the company for the reason that the specifics do not matter and also that it would be illegal to do so based off my employment agreement with them.
Netflix and the Cable and Satellite companies have the ability to block unauthorized access to the movies. In the case of Netflix it’s due to the fact that one cannot access the movies without the password to an account that has a verified address. The providers offer a variety of parental controls and also the ability to block out pay per view purchases altogether that make it just as difficult to block.
The unique problem that Redbox has is that a minor could obtain any credit or debit card and use it to rent the movie. The problem goes into the debate of how much of the responsibility the companies should be expected to reasonably take. Some people believe that the parents should teach their children better and should have the sole responsibility, some people believe that parents shouldn’t HAVE to teach their kids because it shouldn’t be available in the first place.
This is an issue for another time, but just wanted to put in my two cents on the issue before too much speculation either way made it too crazy.
QUOTE
The providers offer a variety of parental controls and also the ability to block out pay per view purchases altogether that make it just as difficult to block.
Well the parents can put away their credit cards there is their ReDBOX block on renting R Rated movies … ALSO the parents have to put the blockon the channels if they own them if you dont put a block on them anyone can watch any of these channles… also if the child gets the password they will override the block meaning the block is useless… at least with a credit card you can hide the credit cards since you need a piece of plastic to slide and not just a code wrote on a piece of paper to unlock all of the prono on cable
So, by your argument of “kids will do it anyway” (I mean seriously, what can be done about a kid who finds a wallet on the street full of credit cards that haven’t been reported lost or stolen?) we should just make all movies PG (or G for that matter) to avoid the situations where the parents of rebellious kids would rather point the blame elsewhere.
I don’t have it in my head that parental controls and account passwords are 100% safe. I had to handle a billing inquiry from a lady disputing over $200 in pay per view charges (adult and otherwise) when she had disabled it on the account level and put the password “NOPPV” with a documented history of her attempts to prevent unauthorized viewing. I personally prevented a lady’s grandson from accessing pay per views by using the last four of the account holder’s social security number to verify that he, a 13 year old boy, was the account holder. I was taught the loopholes so that I could help prevent them from being used.
My point to my explanation of the different ways to block pay per view and Netflix access is not to say it’s perfect. It’s to say that the companies are doing what they can. The rest is up to the parents to 1) educate their children that it’s the wrong thing to do to get into these things and 2) to punish their children appropriately when they do step out of bounds like that.
I think you have a point, but you need to draw the line somewhere.
Retailer’s can’t be held responsible for everything.
A couple of examples:
I saw a young kid ask his mom for the credit card to get a movie at the local Redbox, of course he got a rated R film. How does Redbox or any other sales system stop bad parents?
Another place I saw an adult buy a teenager some smoke from a local store, how does the store stop that?
I hate to say it but kids will find a way. Shoot, my bosses daughter just got caught with a fake ID. You can’t stop them all. And parenting is a big part if you ask me.
Laura, so what do you think Redbox should do to prevent this? Only sell G movies?
Retnal scanner?
Go out of business?
Redbox is just like anything else. Of course there are people who will abuse it.
I’m not wiling to pay the price just because someone else allows their brats to rent R rated movies. And really! R rated movies? They could be out shotting people.
Go to the theaters on a week end and waych how many parents take their kids into R rates movies.
Don’t let VBG fool you, they have no concern for “children”. It’s their profits they’re worried about.
“In the case of Netflix it’s due to the fact that one cannot access the movies without the password to an account that has a verified address.”
Oh please! And the kids never ever get the passwords? Dream on!
It is not the company selling items that has the responsibility to restrict their sales to anyone. Nor is it the job of society as a whole. That lies entirely with the parents. Period.
actually, parenting is my point. On numerous occasions when kids were obviously getting into accounts without permission to order movies or whatnot I had to suggest to parents that they look to changing how THEY did things instead of relying on the company I worked for to do everything. On a few occasions I even had to suggest that the parent, grandparent, or other relative press charges against their child, it had become that severe of an issue.
Point #2 – Can’t you buy visa gift cards these days at Walmart? If that’s true, couldn’t a 10-year-old put a few bucks on one and have access to the R-rated movies without a parent knowing about it? I think that concern is valid, even though it’s a drop in the bucket in our culture. R-rated content is everywhere.
No you can’t. Gift cards are identifiable apart from regular credit/debit cards and I believe they are rejected by Redbox because there is no guarantee they will be able to charge the full amount of the rental if the customer keeps it past the initial night.
The Visa gift cards don’t work at Redbox, however, the prepaid Visa cards you can pick up at Walmart and other stores do. That said, Chris’ 2nd point is essentially true.
These guys are just going to walk down to the local Starbucks with their laptops + wifi and post from there, different IP.
I think most of us here knew that a lot of the people that seem to hate Redbox but yet still come here to post (on a coupon code sort of site no less) are company shills. It’s actually pretty easy to identify them.
So this is really a non issue, and not much you can do about it except ignore these idiots.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-fri-redbox-oct16,0,4111569.story
Using this example, obviously the child could only obtain the card through the parent, but a kiosk would not necessarily know this. So to argue that Redbox (and Blockbuster Express — who has an easily bypassable option of answering “Yes” to their “Are you at least 17 years old?” question prior to check out) — is moot: Yes they do make it an easier option for minors to rent “R” rated movies, as long as they have a card with a Visa or Mastercard logo on it.
How they get that card is another question altogether, and because of that I personally don’t feel the kiosks should be held responsible. Is it really any different than dropping a child off at a theater to see the latest Pixar movie only to have them sneak into the latest Jigsaw movie? Extreme example but it happens. The people in the theater are not there to babysit your children, but if they catch them trying to get into an R-rated movie, they usually are dismissed. Not quite as easy when it comes to DVD rentals, but if the parents were more involved (”Say Sally what did you rent at Redbox? Let’s watch it together!”) then more instances like that could help ensure it doesn’t happen a second time.
Short of having the kiosks take DNA samples of the person renting the movie (and thank GOODNESS they don’t rent porno) or increasing technological flags on bank cards to halt certain types of transactions from minors, taking responsibility as a parent seems to be what’s required.
im sick of these monkey fighting snakes LOL that line cracks me up everytime i watch that movie.
who cares about the children.. BOO HOO they are watching R rated movies.. hell back in the 70s children could get their hands on xxx movies their parents had in their house.. I was raised on R rated horror movies… I seen halloween 2 when i was 8 and loved it.. Did it make me into a crazy killer that goes around killing people on halloween… No, in fact it made me fall in love with the movies and how they are made… i would guess the 80% of all Rated movies are RATED R cause naked people are in them and not the violance.. Im tried up renting horror movies where for no reason at all the people decide to lets have a sex part here in the movie even though it has nothng to do with the plot LOL
o no little johny might see a naked person on a DVD we have to stop that, while the same people who say people have the right to run around naked in public…
i dont give a #$#$# about children i just want my 1.00 MOVIE RENTALS AHHHHHHHHH LOL
Wanna really pi$$ off/get back VBG and their ilk? How ’bout investing all this energy on some new codes?
I despise lying and skulduggery and they’ve only hurt their cause. I will NEVER rent another movie from any business associated with VBG again. And just to clear things up. It has nothing to do with Redbox. It has more to do with dirty underhanded lying sludge buckets.
I simply won’t do business with people that conduct business that way. I won’t support it with my hard earned money.
There are many reasons for revenues going down in the past couple of years: The economy, duh! Streaming video on the internet. The absolutely lousy movies Hollywood has been cranking out. And people don’t want to buy DVDs when it looks like they’ll be forced to buy Blu Rays at a much higher price.
I’m not rebuying the 1000 plus DVDs I own in Blu Ray. They can kiss my A**. Oh yeah, and I thought it was P2P that was the culprit. I wish they’d make up their pea brained minds. It’s every one else’s fault but their own. They’ve done nothing to turn people off. Pffft!
The greedy schmucks have made their own beds. Now they can lay in them!
all you studio lackeys are going to lose this fight cause you are just
making me angrier and less likely to give you my money.i have your back redbox!
As someone who ran a forum for 10 years, why can’t you just require registration to post comments and not allow duplicate names? That would solve your identity problem immediately.
As far as trolls — Set up some firm rules about posting. Also set up a stated mission statement and goals for your site. If anyone breaks the rules or is going against your mission statement, give them two or three warnings and then BAN THEM. It’s your site. Own it!
As far as Redbox — it rocks. It’s not bringing down the industry. It may be *changing* the industry, but so it the Internet, Netflix, Amazon VOD, Blockbuster VOD, Hulu, Fancast, TiVo — anything that makes renting/watching movies easier and cheaper. Just like the music industry, the movie industry has to adjust. The TV industry is adjusting to new technologies, so why not the movie industry?
Ya know, if resellers like VBG and others, old-school rental stores and even movie studios can’t keep up with the changes — if they can’t figure out how to survive in a changing market — if they have no business savvy — if they don’t listen to consumers — then maybe they deserve to die out.
Evolve or go extinct. It’s as simple as that. Redbox is not to blame for any incompetency in dying business models. Take some responsibility for yourselves!
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If Redbox cannot afford to pay a fair price, then they will either adapt or go out of business. It really isn’t that complicated. BTW, from all I have read, Redbox can certainly afford to pay the “retail” price by buying at places like Wal-mart and Best Buy, and it is only the additional man hours that is eating into their profits.
Do I really have to make rules that say: Don’t start fake conversations with yourself while using the identity of others to try and confuse people and make it look like more people have the same views as you?
Here is my rule for you: Don’t be a moron. If you are being a moron, I reserve the right to treat you like one. Fair enough?
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have you ever heard of wal-mart?
wow do you even read your own comments outloud to yourself just to make sure you even have a point. What is your point? Did you even understand what Michael was pointing out to you? I could paraphrase if you’d like and explain further if the words or concepts are too much for you to handle.
why are you even here?
this site is for movie lovers that happen to rent at redbox. (with an ocassional code )This is not redbox. Do you even know why you are agreeing “that Redbox needs to adapt or go out of business”
get a life.
Hey “John Small” have you ever even looked right at the bottom of your comment box when you are posting anything?? It clearly states and i quote “This is an independent website and is not affiliated with Redbox.” So why all the comments about how Redbox should go out of business and everything else?? Do you think us consumers can just run right out and put “out of Business” on all the machines and it will work???
Michael invites people to comment on the various blog posts he makes.
That is what I am doing.
Redbox customers like to jump up and down and say “Movies are only worth $1.00 because Redbox rents them for $1.00!”
I like to point out that Redbox cannot make any money renting movies for $1.00 if they have to play in an even playing field.
I have the facts on my side of the argument. You guys just have emotion and cheapness. I’m not too worried which side will win.
I can’t wait to hear you guys moan and wail when Redbox raises their price to $2.00 a rental. The betrayal is nearer than you think.
Does VBG even realize that RedBox doesn’t carry ALL the new release titles??? There are many titles I would love to rent/watch but are not in my local RedBox!!! I either have to wait for the tv version, or go to a video store and pay a higher price to see them!! So in fact yes RedBox may offer many great titles at $1 but, there are also many they don’t offer and you have to spend the outrageous price to rent form a video store or settle for the commercial interruptions version on tv, which in turn is putting money in all parties involved pockets!!
As far as kids renting “R” movies, it all goes back to the parents of the kids. I would rather my kids watch this at home with me present the kinds of things that deem movies “R” then to go to another persons home or sneek into a theater to see. At least at home with me present, I can talk to them about what they have seen and heard and how they feel about such things!! Face it, there are more things in this world ( especially at school) that our children will see and hear that are MUCH worse then seeing some guys naked rear end on a tv screen, or hearing some actor say some foul language!! I don’t know about anyone else out there, but I sure am not raising my kids in a BUBBLE!!!
Ok I am done with my soap box now….lol
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It may be that price in your area, and in your case. There are some areas (like mine) where there is only 1 video store and it costs $5 for a new release! Alos, you may want to take into consideration that some people have hit hard times, and cut costs where ever they can! Most of us don’t work for VBG like you and your million and one identities!!
so what you are saying is that i should pay your price and if i want it cheaper i should invite family and friends over and charge them $.75 an hour to watch a movie. gosh if i could get them to eat and drink i could charge them more. what should i charge for use of my sofa, how much for the eletricity, what would be a good fee for using the remote?
lol good one james…. sounds like hes not a consumer but a piramid skemer and wants us to pay him
no one charges me for watching a movie and eating at their place.
I can break down how muck my phone cost per second, my light per watts, my gas on my moto per inch I travel if I think “small” -well john small…lol
but the bottom line is most of us get paid by the week or twice a month and my girl only gets payed once a month.
so $3.00 is an outrageous price! and 5 or 10 forget about it.
for something that last an hour or so.
entertainment value with instant gradification is what we are truely paying for. But it eventually becomes free if we wait long enough thats the catch.Think about it.
Of course it becomes “free” if you wait long enough.
Even the studios are willing to let Redbox charge $1.00 for a rental is they wait long enough.
I’m glad you are in agreement with the studios.
The industry wants us to think new movies are must-see, the best ever, but once they have been out a few months, actually they weren’t so great after all, no point renting them now. Unless you bought the DVD, in which case you get years of continuing enjoyment from them! lol.
So there’s no reason to pay more. If someone is offering it to you convenient and cheap, how many people would rather pay more just because they’d pay more if they absolutely had to? I see all the VBG guys raising their hands, but noone else.
It is not ‘outrageous’, but it is triple what I pay now. Also, it would make me rent less, which would mean, less buying movies….which means less profit, correct? At least when I can rent 3 different movies for $3 I can see which one I want to buy to add to my collection, but if I can only rent one movie for that price, it cuts out the likeliness of me buying more DVDs…do you get it, or do I have to start all over again…..*sigh*
Hi, I am no one in particular, I am especially not trying to be someone I’m not since I can barely be myself mosty of the time! However, I do know what the law says about owning a credit card! In all 50 States of this here USA, it is illegal for a minor(a person under 18 years of age) to enter into a contract!! Period! And since acquiring a credit card(or a debit card for that matter) requires one to enter into a contract with the issuer, it is illegal to do so without the signature of the Parent or legal Guardian!! Of course, something being illegal does not stop people from circumventing the law, rules or system does it?? Theft is illegal but, that does not stop Hollywood from doing it to all the people who pay to see one of many crappy movies they produce and can’t get their money back! Just a few more salient points; Its about time the public was charged what something is actually worth..$1 for a movie! So much of what is thrown at us today is just downright unfairly priced and of questionable quality! As concerns things we do not absolutely need to live thats just how it is but, as concerns the things we do need to live; food, gas water, electricity, etc,etc.. I wish RedBox would branch out into Grocery Stores, Power Generation, Oil Exploration& Refining, Water purification just to name a few!!! As for the whiney babies who are impersonating themselves… My Dad used to tell me; ” if you argue with fools ,, pretty soon no one can tell whom doth be the fool”!! Thanks for allowing my point of view!(yeah go ahead and point out my overuse of exclamation points!!! I happen to like them!!!!!) RotKasten 4 Ever!!
“My Dad used to tell me….”….Or did you ever hear the saying, “Any FOOL can be a leader–they just get OTHER FOOLS to follow!” That’s what the impersonator fools did when they came on this site with their foolish agenda of trying to sway others to follow and join them in their ludicrous point of view against Redbox. However, when they found no fools on this site willing to follow and join/ back them in their ludicrous point of views against Redbox “devaluing the studios sales of dvds”, they stooped so low as to “create” fools/bloggers’ , even stealing other regular bloggers’ identities to make it seem as if others shared or were swayed by their ludicrous views. NOW THAT IS REALLY PATHETIC!
I gave “Joey” this same opportunity, but he didn’t come through. I doubt you can come through either, but it is worth a shot…
Please provide proof of your claims that Redbox wants better pricing than what Best Buy and Wal-mart get from the distributors. Provide proof that they are indeed the ones who are trying to make the playing field unlevel.
It is my understanding that redbox buys DVDs from wholesalers such as Ingram and VPD at similar prices that others are paying. If indeed they are paying a lower price than others, it speaks well to their bargaining skills with Ingram/VPD. However, this has nothing to do with the studios, and is between Redbox and the wholesalers.
It seems to me that there was no problem until Universal (and now others) demanded that Ingram/VPD stop selling to Redbox – at any price. As far as I can read, the studios didn’t say they can buy from Ingram/VPD at a higher price, not that the studios have any right to dictate price to the wholesalers, anyway.
What evidence do you have that is contrary to what I have stated?
Ball is in your court.
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“You know and I know” – that has got to be the best evidence I have ever seen. How can I compete with that?
I certainly “know” no such thing about a guaranteed buyback. I know only what a Redbox rep told me regarding the possibility of my site selling off some old inventory – a discussion I had one time and have heard nothing about since. If the buyback was “guaranteed”, why would there even be any discussion at all about this? They certainly wouldn’t need me – or anyone else – to resell the old inventory if this was the case.
Regardless, the figure that I heard was nowhere near what many esteemed detractors such as yourself have claimed on numerous occasions.
I certainly do not “know” that the studios are within their rights to tell an external company how to do business. What are they, the government now? The mafia? Would a distributor really make a deal that would not be profitable for them, anyway?
For all I have heard regarding Redbox margins, they don’t seem all that narrow, especially if they can buy at retail and not take a major hit on their profits. Like I said before, what I read was that buying at retail redbox is paying about the same as they were at wholesale, but with additional man hours to make the purchases. Take a look back at some posts over the past few weeks and you will find this information.
I don’t waste my time telling lies, John, I leave that to the shills. Personally, if redbox disappeared tomorrow, it wouldn’t affect me too much. Can you (honestly) say the same?
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