Tsutaya DVD rental chain to launch returns by mail

Saturday 31st October, 12:12 PM JST

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8 Comments

MartyP at 01:59 PM JST - 31st October

I assume this "container" will be include pre-paid postage? If so, sounds like a pretty good idea to me. Returning DVDs is the most annoying part of the renting process for me.
urufuls at 02:27 PM JST - 31st October

Is this similar to the Netflix company in the US?
Okinawamike at 03:38 PM JST - 31st October

In a country were it cost 350yen to mail a small box of air, don;t think you'll get 6 DVD's and thier case mailed for 100yen.
TokyoGas at 03:50 PM JST - 31st October

I was wondering when they would jump on a Netflix like solution.
bamboohat at 04:24 PM JST - 31st October

I was wondering when they would jump on a Netflix like solution

not quite. According to the article, they can only return them by post. They still have to go to the shop to get them. Which sounds like it's more of a convenience for the shop. (e.g. to get their dvd's back on time) If you are the type that watches a lot of DVS's , you'd likely return the ones and drop them off at the same time. If you rarely do, only being able to return them by post doesn't seem much of an incentive.

Not sure how this is going to help anybody, except the rare customer who is in a shop, and holds back on renting a DVD because they actually think ahead and realize they are going to have to bring it back.

Curious business decision.
Cos at 08:51 PM JST - 31st October

They launch it ? I used that service 2 years ago. That was really well, there was no box, a special film package for 4 DVDs with return postage included. You just had to drop it in the mailbox.

But well, I had to order by internet, maybe that won't be necessary. And I had given up because, after the trial period, I could only pay by credit card. I'll see if they changed their mind.

Then, I'd even prefer a service to download the films.
Speed at 10:51 PM JST - 31st October

>

Is this similar to the Netflix company in the US? >

Tsutaya already has something like Netflix. It's called "Discus" and you order DVDs online. After mailing you the DVDs, you can return them in the same postage-paid envelope. I have the plan where I'm allowed to rent up to 8 DVDs per month for 2,000 yen.

The above article seems to be about a new service that enables members to return DVDs by mail after going to and renting them from a shop.
PepinGalarga at 09:12 PM JST - 1st November

This is not innovative at all.

They should have leveraged on all that fiber optic lying around and set up a Video on Demand Service, where you don't ever need to go to a store and can watch any movie ever made at a moment's notice. I think that was Netflix's latest move.