Stores Nix Disposable Flicks (disposable DVDs)

Wired News ^ | 02:00 AM Jan. 29, 2004 PT | Katie Dean

[gd124]

A Texas grocery chain has decided to stop selling disposable DVDs, a product that outraged environmentalists and apparently didn't sell too well, either.

About 20 H-E-B grocery stores in the Austin area sold the EZ-Ds, vacuum-sealed movies that, once opened, play for 48 hours before a chemical reaction on the surface of the discs renders them unplayable.

[gd124]

What a surprise.

[anonymous_user]

$7 to watch The Waterboy? I'm outraged too!

[judgeandjury]

About 20 H-E-B grocery stores in the Austin area sold the EZ-Ds, vacuum-sealed movies that, once opened, play for 48 hours before a chemical reaction on the surface of the discs renders them unplayable.

I've always felt that this was one of the most ridiculous concepts ever for a consumer product. I pay for an item, and then 48 hours after I first use it, it becomes unusable. No thanks.

[kitkat]

The industry doesn't seem to learn. About 15 years ago they tried to introduce videos that would count the number of times they were watched, and the renter would be charged if it were watched more than once.

IT WAS A TOTAL FAILURE.

[packrat35]

I wonder how many millions they wasted on this stupid idea. I can get most all of those movies on a real used DVD like new for around $7.00.

[jokar]

I think this is a billion dollar idea. Triggers some great marketing ideas for me.

To bad I'm not a business man.
Anybody out there in freeperLand that wants to make a multi million bucks and cut me in for a slice.
I'll make you richer then the guy who started MCDonalds.

[NYCVirago]

The discs sell for about $7.

Why would somebody pay $7 to rent a movie, when they can go to Blockbuster and rent one for half that? And grocery stores have rentals for even cheaper!

[Glenn]

I think this is a billion dollar idea.

So did Circuit City with DIVX. Same concept. They poured a ton of money in it before it died. Best of luck to you.

[jokar]

DIVX is a format that adds confusion to the mix. And is an entirely different animal then the "disposable CD."

The public currently rents videos and games like crazy with never a thought to ownership. From what I've seen, this needs to be marketed as rental. It needs a much larger catalog movies available and it needs a better marketing campaign.
This product has convenience written all over it. Unfortunately for me, they are partnered with cut throat Disney I won't personally buy or rent from disney. It is still early in the life of it's early invention.
There are at least 10 ways to use this product that say I will make life easier for you. The cost is to high as well

[jokar]

BUMP