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)
