Redbox...

I am a huge fan of redbox. I love that it turns renting a movie from a planned out activity to an impulse decision as you are leaving the grocery stores. I love that the choices are somewhat limited compared with a traditional video store. I love not dealing with video store employees, and that the video can be returned at any number of locations. Oh and did I mention that price, love it. But there is one thing about redbox that I don't love... the other customers. Why? Let me give you a "for instance". Last night we reserved a video online for pickup at one of our local redbox locations (love that feature as well). I planned to run in, grab the movie, and get out to the car (where Brian was waiting) in 1-2 minutes... no. There were other customers at the machine when I got there, given it was Friday night that was totally understandable, but what were they doing? Reading the summary of what seemed like every movie in the little machine. They werent fast readers, or decisive people so it was taking awhile for them to choose. One finally chose and the line moved on one machine, the other was not finished when I left- a good 7-10 minutes later. Really? Really? Is friday night when there is a line the best time to find out which movie you want to rent? why not step out of line allow people to grab the movie they know they want, make a return, or pick up an online reservation and then get back in line? I know that part of the impulse purchase of a redbox movie means that you dont do your research in advance, but maybe detailed research while the line stacks up isnt the but option. Other issue with other customers... returns. My favorite is the people that try to shove the movie into the slot without first pressing "return" (sorry if that is you), sadly it will not work no matter how hard you try to shove it. So all in all, redbox rocks, the people that use it... not so much.