Robot arm supplies all the labor for fully functional DVD rental store, kills Sarah Connor
According to Video Business Online, a new, fully automated store is selling DVDs in Fredericksburg, VA. Unlike simple kiosks, these new stores are operated by robot arms and provide a selection of up to 10,000 discs to customers. The discs are selected via a touch screen, then picked up at a drive-thru window.
“One of our stores can make more money on less [revenue] than a typical Blockbuster,†Nehrboss said.
That’s because DVDs On the Run spends 90% less on labor costs than a typical video store. The touch screens also recommend catalog titles when a customer types in a rental, which helps to increase catalog rentals and overall profitability, Nehrboss said.
DVDs On the Run customers drive up to a window, type in their movie rental requests on the touch screen, swipe their credit card and wait for a robotic arm to grab the title. The store charges $3.29 for one-day rentals, $3.69 for a two-day rental and $3.99 for a five-day rental. Customers are charged a $1 a day late fee up to the cost of the movie. The store operates 24 hours a day.
“We can watch revenue come in when everybody else is closed,†Nehrboss said.
During its first three months of operation, DVDs On the Run has had 2,000 unique customers, with no marketing. The store is on the same street as a Hollywood Video, Blockbuster Video, Movie Gallery and Video Club.
Beats the hell out of the McDVD, that’s for sure. However, and this is one of the reasons why video rental stores are still kicking around, people will always want to go into the store and see the DVDs in person. Oh well, as long as it doesn’t ask for my clothes, my boots, and my bike I’m game.
Read the whole article here.