Comparison shopper / Movie rentals
Tired of paying $9.50 for a movie ticket and $4.50 for a small box of popcorn? Pop your own kernels and settle into a comfy chair to watch a DVD at home. Film fans have a number of rental options from scouring shelves at a video store to a pot-luck search on a touch-screen panel at a Redbox kiosk in your local supermarket to ordering your favorite flick online. If you have an even better small-screen rental deal, share your cinematic cheapie on our blog at www.buffalonews.com/moneysmart.
— James E. Brennan
STORE: Family Video
STORE HOURS: 10 a. m. to midnight
COST: $2.79, 1 night first-run film or 5 nights rental for older movies
RETURN POLICY: 24-hour drop box
LATE FEE: $2.79 re-rental after 5 nights
INVENTORY: 14,000 titles
BEST DEAL: $1 for 5 nights of 2 titles from store floor or $9.95 for Half-Off Card, half-price rental for 30 days
STORE: Hollywood
STORE HOURS: 10 a. m. to 11 p. m.
COST: $4.29, new for 5 days, $2.99, older movie for 5 days
RETURN POLICY: 24-hour drop box
LATE FEE: $4.29 re-rental after 5 nights
INVENTORY: 40,000 titles
BEST DEAL: $10.74 for two new movies, two popcorns, one pop and one candy
STORE: Netflix
STORE HOURS: 24 hours, mail delivery in one business day
COST: $4.99 (2 per month) or $8.99 per month (unlimited, one DVD at a time)
RETURN POLICY: No due dates and prepaid return envelopes
LATE FEE: No late fees
INVENTORY: 100,000 titles
BEST DEAL: $16.99 per month (unlimited, 3 DVDs at a time)
STORE: Redbox
STORE HOURS: 24 hours, online search with movie held at kiosk
COST: $1 for 1 night
RETURN POLICY: 24-hour drop at any Redbox kiosk
LATE FEE: $1 each day re-rental up to $25, then you own movie
INVENTORY: 700 titles per kiosk (200 new releases)
BEST DEAL: One free rental to first-time user
STORE: Blockbuster
STORE HOURS: 10 a. m. to midnight or order 24 hours online
COST: $4.99 for 2-day new, $2.99 to $4.99 for 7-day older film; $9.99 (2 per month online)
RETURN POLICY: 24-hour drop box or prepaid return envelope
LATE FEE: One week past due date, price of movie charged, then $1.25 restocking fee if DVD is returned
INVENTORY: 5,000 titles in stores, 90,000 online
BEST DEAL: $19.95 for Reward Program Card (One free with every 5 rentals, plus one free older movie per month)
Log into MyBuffalo to post a comment
MyBuffalo is the new social network from Buffalo.com. Your MyBuffalo account lets you comment on and rate stories at buffalonews.com. You can also head over to mybuffalo.com to share your blog posts, stories, photos, and videos with the community. Join now or learn more.
Reader comments