"As vending machine technology and secured communications became available, [image-nocss] the Navy Exchange Service Command wanted to utilize these advances to increase DVD rental availability to our active duty personnel and their families. Outside machine placement, secure credit card acceptance and vendor service were key points in moving forward," said Richard Dow, senior vice president operations for NEXCOM.
He added, "Today, we are providing approximately 18,000 DVDs per week. The program benefits include convenient access to machines, reserving DVDs online and DVD returns to any redbox machine nationwide. We are excited about the success and especially the value to our customers with a '$1 per day rental.' This is truly a great service and benefit to our Navy family."
Mitch Lowe, president of Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based Redbox Automated Retail LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Coinstar Inc., said, "We are proud to work with NEXCOM to provide servicemen and women and their families with convenient access to affordable, new release DVD rentals at Naval bases across the U.S. Redbox kiosks can be found in more than 21,000 convenient locations nationwide and we are pleased to include U.S. Naval bases among our growing number of locations."
Virginia Beach, Va.-based NEXCOM is headquarters for the worldwide Navy Exchange System that oversees 103 Navy Exchange facilities and its 300 stores worldwide; 42 Navy Lodges; Ship's Stores; Uniform Program Management Office and Navy Family Support Programs. Its mission is to provide authorized customers quality goods and services at a savings and to support quality of life programs for active duty military, retirees, reservists and their families. The Navy Exchange enterprise operates primarily as a non-appropriated fund (NAF) business instrumentality. Revenues generated are used to support morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) programs. In full-year 2008, it generated $2.5 billion in sales with more than $45 million in profits provided to Navy MWR programs.
In a separate deal, supermarket retailer Schnuck Markets Inc. has signed a deal to install redbox kiosks in the more than 100 Schnucks locations across Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Tennessee and Mississippi. The rollout is slated to begin immediately and is expected to be complete in June.
Also, Coinstar has announced that it will be working with Amazon.com to offer another convenient way for consumers to use cash to purchase music downloads. The deal makes it possible for consumers to exchange coins at Coinstar Centerswith no transaction feefor a gift card redeemable for Amazon MP3 music downloads or millions of other items at www.amazon.com.
Redbox DVD rental kiosks are available nationwide at select McDonald's restaurants, leading grocery and convenience stores, Walmart and Walgreens stores and other locations. In addition to Naval bases in the U.S., redbox kiosks are now available at select airports, libraries and within national landmarks like the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower in Chicago, the Pentagon and the Empire State Building in New York City.
Each fully automated redbox kiosk holds 630 DVDs, representing up to 200 of the newest movie releases. Consumers use a touch screen to select their favorite movies, swipe a credit or debit card and receive the DVD. For added convenience, movie-lovers can reserve DVDs online atwww.redbox.com or via an iPhone and pick them up at the redbox location of their choice.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.