DVD Play Reviewed

The problem with Netflix is that it takes two days to receive a DVD movie. I usually choose my movies by mood, and can be rather picky. I suffer from Netflix guilt, a term that means that I rent a movie online and end up holding on to it for months. The DVD choice always sounds like a great idea when you add it to your Netflix list, but when you get it days later, it somehow becomes less appealing. Sometimes I end up sending the DVD back without ever watching it. This is why and how I found DVD Play.

A few months back I was shopping at my local Safeway Supermarket when I came across the Kiosk. It's basically a little computer machine (imagine a touch screen ATM) where you can easily, quickly, and cheaply rent DVDs. What caught my attention was a sign advertising "First Movie Free". I thought, 'Hey, what the hack – I'll try it out.' The interface was simple and easy to use. I swiped my credit card, entered a discount code from the sign, and out popped a DVD.

Typically you get the rental for $1.49 for one day, and 99 cents each additional day. All I usually need is 24 hours, but some people might worry about time. One of the great things is that they allow you to return the disc to ANY kiosk. And in San Francisco, they have more than a few locations. This means no having to trek back to Safeway. I can instead drop it off while I'm heading to a screening on Market street. (You can check out their Kiosk locator at DVDPlay.com)

They also have small e-mail incentive coupons, a 99 cent Monday, and rent 10 DVD's get 1 free deal. And Every tuesday they have the popular new releases available to rent.

Blockbuster has become way too expensive (I think it was over $3 last time I looked). Netflix has become to time intensive for me. DVDPlay is great because I often know what I want and am always on the go. If this sounds like you, I highly recommend it.

The only downfall is the limited selection. They tend to carry most of the popular hollywood flicks and some of the popular mini-major/indies (Prairie Home Companion, Thank You For Smoking, Running with Scissors). Three to four pages of recent selections may satisfy most. But they don't have the evergreen back catalogue titles. If you're in the mood for Back to the Future, look elsewhere. And that's why I still have a pile of Netflix DVD's sitting on my bookshelf.

Note: This review is sponsored, but the opinions are real and uncensored. I decided to write this review because I actually use and enjoy the service.