Marine base rolls out web-based DVD rental kiosks
Marines and sailors living at Camp Pendleton in California now have the option of finding and reserving a DVD rental online, then picking it up and returning at a nearby self-service kiosk.
“Customers have adapted very quickly to the automated rental process,” said Michael Haylett, manager of Camp Pendleton’s The Zone video stores, which are operated by Marine Corps Community Services. “The rental and return processes are simple and usage is similar to that of an ATM. Also, it allows for 24/7 access since the machines are located outdoors.”
MCCS has so far installed two web-based DVmatic DVD rental kiosks as a source of additional revenue as well as an added convenience to its customers, said MCCS director Lane Jones, adding that it may deploy additional kiosks if demand warrants.
The web-based DVmatic kiosks, from ELO Media, Piscataway, NJ, use a system of radio frequency identification to automatically process the movement of DVDs into and out of the kiosks, says ELO Media CEO Oren Hon.
ELO Media sells its DVmatic kiosks in two versions, one that holds 330 DVDs, the other 550 DVDs. Starting price is $17,000 for the smaller kiosk, plus $100 per month for maintenance and software upgrades, Hon says.
“Netflix may have tens of thousands of titles, but most of the rental market is for recent releases and that’s the market we’re interested in,” Hon says. He adds that he expects to continue rolling out DVmatic kiosks in areas of frequent consumer traffic, such as grocery stores and convenience stores, to make pick-up and return of DVD rentals more a part of a consumer’s common shopping routine.
After customers reserve their DVmatic DVD online using a credit card, they insert the same card into the kiosk to identify themselves and their order. Web-enabled software in the kiosk then identifies the reserved DVD by locating its RFID tag and dispenses the DVD as the credit card is charged. Customers can also rent a DVD directly from the kiosk without first ordering from a remote online computer. Customers return the DVDs by placing them into the same slot in the kiosk, which uses the RFID system to re-sort the DVD.
ELO Media also provides an online database of new DVD releases which will allow kiosk operators to download DVD images and content to their designated web sites as well as to the screens on their kiosks. It’s up to the kiosk operator to then load new DVDs into the kiosk.
ELO Media works with kiosk operators such as MCCS, who purchase the kiosks but operate them independently, but it will also provide complete kiosk management services to retailers, Hon says.
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