I first saw an ad on t.v. for these Redbox DVD machines at McDonalds. I decided to look it up online and found an article on USA today's website. Basically it is a vending machine that holds anywhere from 350-550 new release dvds which you can rent for $1 a day. They claim they are trying to be "contemporary and lure more business during slow dinner hours". While this may be convenient for some people I can't help but think that this sort of marketing scheme may put mom and pop video stores out of business. Of course there is already the other corporate video conglomerations such as Blockbuster and Netflix, but McDonalds itself is so widespread that they may even put some heat on those businesses that may charge twice as much for the same dvds. I found this article very interesting and felt it hit close to home because it reminded that one of the local beloved Eugene video stores just went out of business- Flicks N' Picks. I can't help but think this new marketing ploy by McDonalds may cause more of these local businesses to go under.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2004-05-23-mcdvd_x.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2004-05-23-mcdvd_x.htm
2 comments:
When I saw the TV commercial, I thought it was just ridiculous. Isn't McDonald's just a fast food restaurant? Under the capitalist system, in order for the capitalist to make more profits from consumers, s/he has to make it easier/ more convenient for the consumers to consume. It is bad enough that families watch TV while they eat dinner; now they HAVE to spend extra money on getting the movies (they feel that they have to because the machine is right there when they get their McDo and it's "just" $1 a day anyways). In the end, who really benefits from these DVD machines? The consumers? No! They make it sound like these DVD machines are created FOR the consumers by making their lives easier. Well, is it really better for the consumers when all they do is eat their fatty McDo and sit for two hours without going anywhere else because they've saved a trip to the video store? These DVD machines are created so that it's easier for the consumers to DUMP THEIR MONEY into their multi-million dollar fast food business. Oh wait... they're not really just a fast food restaurant anymore. With one additional commodity at a time, may be it will one day it will turn itself into a Walmart!
I am going to vent a minute about CD's. I wish I could listen to an entire song/album at least once before I buy it. I don't mind paying for it, if I know that it is something I like and will listen to. But as yet, there is no way to do this. *sigh*
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