You might have noticed the Red Box movie rental kiosks in you local McDonalds. It's just one of thousands, owned by McDonalds Corporation, which was later purchase by Coinstar. They are now one of the major players in the movie rental business along with Blockbuster and Netflix.
You can signup at the RedBox.com website for membership, even reserve a movie there and retrieve it at a local machine (with no in-stock guarantee). By signing up you may also receive future promotional offers like coupons.

At $1 per rental plus tax this is cost competitive. Payment is by credit card at the machine, which also accepts all returns, however no receipt is given for evidence of return. Each time you rent a movie it must be returned within a day and if it is not, you incur a late fee of $1 per day overage (running on a night-by-night basis at 9:00pm -- see their terms for details).

On the downside, the kiosks hold only a modest palette of movies given the demands of today's moviegoer. Due to space limitations, the popular titles leave easily, with the larger machines contining up to 200 titles each. However the machines are updated with new titles on a regular basis, and they are located with cost and convenience in mind, strategically at super markets, shopping centers, pharmacies and conveniences stores, and of course, McDonalds.

The business model seems successful with plans for continual growth. They have yet to capture the market share equal to Blockbuster and Netflix but they have developed a niche that serves the impulsive entertainment audience. The company references that there are some 20,000 Redbox locations across the United States..

Depending on your part of the country, Redbox is found at:

• McDonalds Restaurants (reduced kiosks, like elsewhere)
  
• Krogers
  
• Publix
  
• Ralphs
  
• Albertsons
  
• Winn-Dixie
  
• Safeway
  
• Walmart
  
• Meijer
  
• Biggs
  
• Pharmacies like Walgreens and others
  
• Convenience Stores like 7-Eleven
  

Reb Box has stated that Blue Ray is to be served up during the year 2010.


Support options are the RedBox customer service line at 1-866-733-2693 and also 7 day by voicemail support.