DVD Net Kiosks To Provide Rental Service Pretty Much Everywhere

from the go-out-to-rush-back-home-again? dept

Maybe some Techdirt UK readers can help explain this one to me, because I'm not sure I understand how it's useful. BT has decided to set up internet kiosks in public places that only are designed to let you order a DVD to be delivered to your home within the following 24 hours. It's sort of a weird Kozmo-like offering. Of course, Kozmo failed pretty dreadfully, because they couldn't support a model that required rapid delivery on very low margin items... which seems like the same sort of problem this venture will face. Even worse, BT has to install and maintain these kiosks everywhere. Historically, such attempts at kiosks have failed because they breakdown constantly. At least with Kozmo the "kiosks" were simply everyone's home computers. Finally, maybe I don't fully understand how this works, but the whole "benefit" to this is supposedly that you don't have to go out to the video store. Yet... you do have to go out to the kiosk. So, maybe it's a little closer than the video store, but you still have to go out... and then go home and wait 24 hours before you get the DVD. It would seem easier and more sensical to either (1) go to the actual video store or (2) order this DVD from your home computer.
Hide this

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team


Follow Techdirt
Essential Reading
Techdirt Deals
Report this ad  |  Hide Techdirt ads
Techdirt Insider Discord

The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...

Loading...
Recent Stories

This site, like most other sites on the web, uses cookies. For more information, see our privacy policy. Got it
Close

Email This

This feature is only available to registered users. Register or sign in to use it.