With the rise of streaming services, you'd think that DVD rental services will start to die out, especially since Blockbuster did not make it through the transition. However, Scarecrow is not fazed by that at all as it continues its DVD retal service through mail.
Scarecrow DVD Rental
Streaming services have been taking over the small screen industry, and even Netflix understands that DVDs will soon become a thing of the past, but Scarecrow aims to keep the option alive as it continues the traditional method of renting.
The independent video store started the service out in 2019 in order for people to access its library. Dedicating its efforts to improve its website, it launched a campaign back in 2021 to raise funds and redesign the site look more modern and be easier to use, as per Engadget.
First-timers will have to go through a process before the can rent a DVD and have it delivered through mail. First, they'll have to sign up for an account, which will require verification and approval done by Scarecrow's employees.
The shipping fee is fixed at $12, which is limited to a maximum of six discs. To be clear, discs don't equate title, which means that if a movie has two discs, then it will count as two out of six. Customers cannot exceed the maximum number under any circumstance.
The rental can only be held for 14 days. Any later than that and the customer will have to pay late fees. However, they can choose to extend their rentals which can be done through phones, which call for additional fees.
Scarecrow also has a vast library of movies. There are around 140,000 titles in the collection. That's pretty impressive for an independent video store, considering that Netflix, a steaming giant, only has around 5,000 titles in its US catalog.
Read Also : Netflix Will Let You Keep Your Final DVD Rental
Netflix is Leaving Its DVD Rental Service Behind
Scarecrow already has more titles in its library, but that won't matter soon as it will no longer have Netflix as a competitor. By Sepmtember 29th, the streaming giant's DVD-by-mail service will be shut down as it is no longer profitable.
Netflix's first shipment was back in March 1998 with the movie "Beetlejuice." Since then, the company has sent out more than 5.2 billion DVDs. The service had a selection of 20 main genres and 530 sub genres, boasting 40 million unique subscribers.
As a way to thank its customers, Netflix is even letting its customers keep their final rentals. Netflix states that customers can enjoy their final shipment as long as they like without the additional charge of exceeding the rental window.
In addition to that, the company is also sending up to ten extra discs in the mail. Although that won't be the case for everyone who rents a movie through the mail, Netflix says that it's still worth giving it a shot, as mentioned in Gizmodo.
Sadly to those who want to subscribe to the rental service to take advantage of the promotion, the last day for signing up was August 29th. As for the ones who are subscribers, it would be nice to get a memento from Netflix's sunsetting service.
