Do you rent movies?

[lordsmurf]

I use Netflix, have been for 2½ years now.
Renting movies and tv shows was cheaper than satellite tv, and better selection.

[gadgetguy]

Not very often. 5 or 6 times a year.
We used to rent from Blockbuster, but a Movie Gallery opened closer to home so my wife opened an account there. Saturday was the first time I went there and as I was checking out, the clerk asked me if I wanted to pay an extra $0.25 per disk for "scratch protection". I asked what that was and he said that if I scratch the disk, I wouldn't have to buy it. I've never heard of a video store being able to charge you to buy a disk if you scratch it as a rental. Does this sound reasonable to you guys?

[adam]

Since I discovered that my library stocks all the latest movies, as well as any older title I'd wanna see, I haven't had any reason to rent. I just browse through the online list and pick the ones I want and they deliver them to the closest library.

[waheed]

Rent only rarely from blockbuster. I only rent like a dozen times a year.

@ gadgetguy

Never heard of any store chraging you to buy a scratched DVD. DVDs being scratched is inevitable in the rental business.

I dont think any company imposes you to buy it. How would they know who scratched the disc in the first place. You could easily have received a scratched disc to rent in the first place (and noticed after you have taken it home or tried to play it).

[b1tchm4gn3t]

Not very often. 5 or 6 times a year.
We used to rent from Blockbuster, but a Movie Gallery opened closer to home so my wife opened an account there. Saturday was the first time I went there and as I was checking out, the clerk asked me if I wanted to pay an extra $0.25 per disk for "scratch protection". I asked what that was and he said that if I scratch the disk, I wouldn't have to buy it. I've never heard of a video store being able to charge you to buy a disk if you scratch it as a rental. Does this sound reasonable to you guys?

All we have around here is a Movie Gallery, and the first time they tried that shit with me, I asked to see the disk, and just as I thought, it was already scratched to hell, so I asked her 'Wouldnt it be pointless unless it was new?' I mean damn, Im not going to pay a quarter for shit thats already fucked up. I should suggest they pay me a quarter seeing as I take VERY good care of them and NEVER put a scratch on a disk. But Im sure alot of ppl are scared to pay for a disk and get it since its only a quarter. Just another example of the system bleeding you dry.

[Dv8ted2]

I rent from BB. I go to the store. I know that is archaic in this day and age but it gets me out of the house.

Edit - I also rent from BB online.

[Grimey]

I manage what you would call a "mom and pop" movie store. so I rent tons of movies, all for free and cause I'm the boss, I don't get late fees :P

[hudsonf]

I with gadgetguy, I only rent a few movies a year. I did join BB and a mom and pop shop. At the present I'm into buying the old tv series I watched growing up.

[yoda313]

I voted the last option - though I'd have to say its closer to 3,313 times

[ozymango]

Netflix all the way, plus the occasional stop at Hollywood video.

My sweetie is a movie nut (as am I), and she loves digging around in Netflix to see who's starred in what movies, catch some odd flick somebody at work really liked and she's curious about, and see if the latest season of "House" is out yet. :P

EDIT: Hollywood video is for when I've got a sudden craving to see something RIGHT NOW (happens maybe once a month). She also checks out movies from the library but the wait on some films can be long enough that by the time they have a copy available, you wonder why you put it on reserve in the first place.

[Epicurus8a]

Movie. What's that?

[Conquest10]

No, don't rent but I would go with Netflix if I did. BB only carries new movies. I prefer foreign but everything else that I do like they only have one copy that always seems to be out.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

I used to go to BlockBuster at least once a week and get 2 or 3 movies.
I kept seeing commercials for some crazy rent DVD's by mail scheme that seemed off the wall.
A couple years ago I decided to try Netflix and have only gone to BB maybe 5 times since then (and only to rent games).
No more standing in line, no more ABSOLUTLEY FILTHY stores to wander around in, no more screaming brats being ignored by their idiot parents, no more finding that the movie I want is STILL out...
the convenience and selection offered by Netflix over BB is like a night and day difference.
It's not at all surprising that so many of the Hollywood Video and BlockBuster stores in my area have closed up -- zero customer service can't compete with awesome service and selection.
Interestingly enough, all of the mom & pop rental joints around here are still going strong.
It's gotta be that quality service deal...

[ZAPPER]

Well, we rent from BB maybe 6 to 12 a year in groups of two or three at a time. The cold hard truth is that even with the best planning, my wife and I will only get to watch one of those two or three before they have to go back.

I did enjoy the pay per veiw with a cable company many years ago, but I have not even plugged my Sat box into the phone jack the whole time that I have had it (I don't even know how long I have had Sat.)

Maybe once or twice a year we may go to a movie theater, but then it is almost always a kids flick or around X-Mas if we travel.

[sacajaweeda]

Blockbuster online and their in-store movie pass. They've got quite the selection, as have I.

[oldandinthe way]

I take videos out of the library.

In the Boston area, the Minuteman Library system has inter-library loan on DVDs. The towns making up the system are suitably different that I get an excellent selection, have a 20 item request list at any time, and keep the items when they are in for a week.

I have 12 disks out at this time and one has been scratched to unplayable. Since I'm not desparate I'll return it with a note and the library will polish it. This avoids having to clear a flat surface for my disk polisher.

[SingSing]

These are two additional library systems in Boston area, also have inter-library loan on DVD, for 7 days per title. They have hundreds of classic and contemporary movies.

Merrimack Valley Library Consortium

NOBLE: North of Boston Library Exchange

I rent new movies at local mom and pop video store to support local bussiness.

I confessed. I also rent from REDBOX, because they are $1 a piece, and right in the supermarket.

[Bronx]

I use Netflix and sometimes DVD Rental Machines.

[Marvingj]

I like Hollywood video especially when they hired this cute Blonde Babe............

[kato51]

Library gets my vote.

-Free
-Reserve online to any branch
-Extend rental online (if no other holds)
-Return to any branch
-Intelligent, responsive service
-Thousands of titles, current, classic, some OOP
-Also has CDs, VHS, and books, etc.
-Pleasant atmosphere with food court, shops
-Free highspeed, wireless internet or use of one of their pcs

[AlecWest]

Since I discovered that my library stocks all the latest movies, as well as any older title I'd wanna see, I haven't had any reason to rent. I just browse through the online list and pick the ones I want and they deliver them to the closest library.

I "double-dip" (grin). I have an old library card from where I used to live (different county) and a library card where I am now. They each have very good selections of films, mostly older films (the kind I like). If I can't find something within either county's library stock, I can usually find it here at my local mom/pop rental store. The store has some new stuff but they specialize in the older and obscure DVDs (and VHS tapes). It's a neat store to visit because the owner is also a "collector" of film memorobilia. Among the props he owns and has on display is the actual knife used by Anthony Perkins in "Psycho" and the "working model" of "The Time Machine" that Rod Taylor showed to friends at dinner before he departed into the past (and future).

[handyguy]

Only if I can't find a video from other sources.

[SingSing]

Look like big box video rental stores are going down like AOL.

[edDV]

Library gets my vote.

-Free
-Reserve online to any branch
-Extend rental online (if no other holds)
-Return to any branch
-Intelligent, responsive service
-Thousands of titles, current, classic, some OOP
-Also has CDs, VHS, and books, etc.
-Pleasant atmosphere with food court, shops
-Free highspeed, wireless internet or use of one of their pcs

I use library database holds + Netflix 2x in play Can get anything that way.
Gave up Showtime and soon will drop HBO in favor of Netflix 3x

[Xylob the Destroyer]

yeah, I use the Library too, but sometimes the wait is WAY longer than Netflix

[edDV]

yeah, I use the Library too, but sometimes the wait is WAY longer than Netflix

Library advantage here is {free}, longer checkout time with renewal and for series like 24, you get all 7 DVD and original packaging for 2 weeks It takes a while to watch 24x42/60 plus extras and commentary (i.e 17 hours plus extras).

I hate that Netflix, Blockbuster et al rent by the disc.

[Poplar]

Used to but not any more. I am a downloader now, instead of a renter! If I want to watch a movie, I just search and download it from BT or Emule. Thank you very much, high-speed internet and vid compression technolgy.

You are in breach of the forum rules and are being issued with a formal warning.
/ Moderator mats.hogberg

[lordsmurf]

I'm amazed at the number of people that have not overlooked their local pubic library.

Unlike the person that started this poll.

[cal_tony]

Like Lordsmurf, I use Netflix. On occasion, I use my local library. They have hundreds and hundreds of VHS but only about 50 disks. Also use Hollywood video for something that I want to see right away (worlds fastest Indian). But that doesn't happen often.

On lots of polls like this, a one check response really doesn't do the job.

[AlecWest]

I'm amazed at the number of people that have not overlooked their local pubic library.

After my move to a new county (Multnomah), I used my library card at the old county (Clackamas) library to check out a DVD. I was a bit surprised they didn't ask for a current ID to prove I was still a county resident (neither card has any expiration date). But on my last visit there, I found out why. They were rallying voters to approve a new tax levy. Without its passage, they'd be forced to cut back staffing and hours. And the librarian was encouraging patrons to call friends and ask them to check out material as much as possible - because they justified their budgets by check-out "numbers." In short, it's in their interest to not check residency too closely - and encourage high usership to justify their budgets.

The levy failed ... but they're still encouraging high usership for a possible retry with voters. And because the levy failed, they no longer have the staffing or budget to verify residency or even do the community mailings they once did. Sad state of affairs. When I was a kid, I never thought I'd see the day when public libraries had to "beg" for their own survival.

FWIW, here are the current catalog counts of my two local county libraries (each, about the same driving time from my house since I'm close to the county borderline):

Multnomah County Library
2,501 DVDs on hand
unknown VHS on hand (they changed their search criteria - weeding out tapes, maybe)

Clackamas County Library
2,092 DVDs on hand
4,805 VHS on hand