Are DVD Rental Services a Seasonal Thing?

[Jason Dunn]

I was reading some of the comments in Kent's post about Wal-Mart dropping their prices (http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=51022), I thought it might be interesting to find out if any of you take a seasonal approach toward DVD rental services. I was a Zip (http://www.zip.ca) member for about eight months, and liked the service quite a bit, but I was finding that I wasn't getting through more than four movies a month because Ashley and I had so many other things to watch. When the TV season is active and new shows are playing, we have around eight shows that we watch every week (PVRs have a nasty habit of making you watch TV more 8O). We also have a few DVD boxed sets (Millennium (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000244E2O/qid=1105401072/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-6559946-1608147?v=glance&s=dvd) rocks!), so we were finding that we just didn't have time to watch the DVDs that we were paying for.

Lucky for me, Zip keeps my account settings and movie list in their database for several years, so come April/May when most TV shows start to show reruns, I'll start up my subscription again and watch a lot of movies. What about you?

[Kent Pribbernow]

Interesting points, Jason. I have to admit, despite my use of such online services, I too find that my usage of DVD rentals in general is based on seasonality. Particularly during the spring-summer months I tend to be more preoccupied with other activities to watch movies at all. In fact, I'm planning to cancel my subscription to Wal-mart in March, based on this very premise.

The only reason why I choose to use such services is content. The simple fact is you cannot find the breadth and variety in DVD content at a brick and mortar video store...especially if your tastes are as eclectic as mine. You'll find all the latest DVD content to be sure, but try finding sfi-fi classics or other specialty titles. Fortunately, most online DVD rental services are attuned to this seasonal consumer pattern and allow users to cancel their subscriptions without actually deleting your account...so you can come back later if you so choose.

[James Fee]

I don't bother. I'll buy DVDs for movies that are important to me, but I'd rather just TiVo a PPV movie and watch when I have the time.

[Kent Pribbernow]

I don't bother. I'll buy DVDs for movies that are important to me, but I'd rather just TiVo a PPV movie and watch when I have the time.

I'll never understand why people buy movies. After I view any movie once, I rarely have the desire to repeat the experience...except for rare exceptional films like Star Wars. :?

[Daimaou]

There are no interesting programs in Japan so for my case, I only rent DVD, or import them from the US...

[James Fee]

I'll never understand why people buy movies. After I view any movie once, I rarely have the desire to repeat the experience...except for rare exceptional films like Star Wars. :?You don't have kids do you? ;)

Other than The Simpsons season disks and those Disney movies for my son, I might have 5 other DVD movies in my collection.

[hoffm11]

Block Buster seems to be making a slash in this market now. You can get 2 weeks free by signing up through http://www.freeiPods.com/?r=8166158.