Blu-ray Rental Questions

[Streetlight]

I've been trying to find other DVD/Blu-ray/4K rental services. Here are the ones I found:
---Netflix: DVD + Blu-ray, Mainstream to Obscure, No edition distinction
---3D Blu-ray Rental: Blu-ray + 3D BD + 4K BD, Mainstream to not-so-mainstream, Edition distinction
---Scarecrow Video: DVD + Blu-ray + 4K BD, Mainstream to not-so-mainstream, Edition distinction
---4K Blu-ray 4U: 4K BD
---rent 4K: 4K BD
---the Local Library
---GameFly: Blu-ray + 4K BD, Newer movies
---Redbox: Blu-ray + 4K BD, Newer movies
---FamilyVideo: RIP?

[BluBonnet]

I believe Scarecrow Video now rents by mail - at least within the US.

[Kakihara]

Check your local library. I'm a Librarian and where I work, we have a vast BD collection.

[Mister_Kidd]

Originally Posted by Kakihara

Check your local library. I'm a Librarian and where I work, we have a vast BD collection.

I’ll second this, my library has 1000’s of titles and can get stuff from other libraries too. The library system as a whole has tons and tons of stuff even obscure and OOP titles. And it’s free.

[Tylerfan]

Lucky you guys. My local library branch doesn’t even do Blu-rays. It’s DVD or GTFO

[Kakihara]

Originally Posted by Mister_Kidd

I’ll second this, my library has 1000’s of titles and can get stuff from other libraries too. The library system as a whole has tons and tons of stuff even obscure and OOP titles. And it’s free.

Yeah we also have interlibrary loan services from other libraries. As for our collection, we have cult stuff like A Serbian Film down to all the blockbusters. I play a hand in the process but there must be other librarians out there who go nuts with orders for their libraries!

[meremortal]

Definitely check any local libraries for dvd and blu. They may have new releases, plenty of catalog titles, and possibly Criterion. And they are free.

[Jay H.]

I haven't rented a Blu-ray since 2011, when I would get discs in the mail from Netflix. The discs would come with deep scratches most of the time so I cancelled the service. How does one even scratch a Blu-ray? I mean, you would really have to go out of your way.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by Jay H.

I haven't rented a Blu-ray since 2011, when I would get discs in the mail from Netflix. The discs would come with deep scratches most of the time so I cancelled the service. How does one even scratch a Blu-ray? I mean, you would really have to go out of your way.

I have been renting blu-rays from Netflix since they started offering them. I've never had one that was too scratched to play perfectly well. I've only had problems with DVDs

[meremortal]

Originally Posted by Jay H.

I haven't rented a Blu-ray since 2011, when I would get discs in the mail from Netflix. The discs would come with deep scratches most of the time so I cancelled the service. How does one even scratch a Blu-ray? I mean, you would really have to go out of your way.

Agreed. I've purchased several used blus where even lighter scratches can cause complete chapters to skip. It seems to be more common now with blu more mainstream than in the earlier days when many of the people were a/v enthusiasts and likely more careful with discs . You'd have to really manhandle a blu to get deep scratches.

[bigdaddyhorse]

Originally Posted by Kakihara

Check your local library. I'm a Librarian and where I work, we have a vast BD collection.

Found out about the library having movies back in the dvd days, been a valued source ever since. Thankfully the one here also has a large collection of blu-rays including many OOP titles. Sad thing is I often see their discs in pawn shops, but not the rare ones which they still have. Thevies are stupid.

[Kakihara]

Originally Posted by bigdaddyhorse

Found out about the library having movies back in the dvd days, been a valued source ever since. Thankfully the one here also has a large collection of blu-rays including many OOP titles. Sad thing is I often see their discs in pawn shops, but not the rare ones which they still have. Thevies are stupid.

Don’t worry, if you see library copies in pawn shops, they were either copies we removed from circulation or the customer will be sent to collections and mess up their credit score if they stole from us. Responsible libraries have sensors at the exit gates to prevent theft. It hasn’t been an issue where I work.

[Streetlight]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

I believe Scarecrow Video now rents by mail - at least within the US.

Is there any way to see what movies they have and in what format and edition?

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by Streetlight

Is there any way to see what movies they have and in what format and edition?

Scarecrow Video boasts a 130,000-title library that includes many imports, so if it was ever released in an existing format, there's a good chance they may have it.

For more info on their RBM program go to http://blog.scarecrow.com/scarecrow-rent-by-mail/

They converted to a non-profit a few years back and they can probably use your support!

[Streetlight]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

Scarecrow Video boasts a 130,000-title library that includes many imports, so if it was ever released in an existing format, there's a good chance they may have it.

For more info on their RBM program go to http://blog.scarecrow.com/scarecrow-rent-by-mail/

They converted to a non-profit a few years back and they can probably use your support!

So, they don't show what movies they have?

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by Streetlight

So, they don't show what movies they have?

I believe they have an online catalog but not sure where on the website it is, failing that, you can call or email and they'll be happy to help.

[Warm Gun]

Originally Posted by Jay H.

I haven't rented a Blu-ray since 2011, when I would get discs in the mail from Netflix. The discs would come with deep scratches most of the time so I cancelled the service. How does one even scratch a Blu-ray? I mean, you would really have to go out of your way.

I still rent from Netflix and only receive unplayable or glitchy discs once in a while. Maybe one out of twenty-four. Sometimes more. It's too bad they don't make replacements free slots anymore.

[Warm Gun]

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

I still rent from Netflix and only receive unplayable or glitchy discs once in a while. Maybe one out of twenty-four. Sometimes more. It's too bad they don't make replacements free slots anymore.

But sometimes I'm just really unlucky.



The THIRD time I need to have Under the Skin sent to me. I'm gonna call customer service and ask for a free slot this time, like they used to do automatically when this happened.

Edit: Cool, they told me I'm getting the free slot, so four discs this time.

Edit: Either the first customer service rep whose call disconnected finished what I asked her to or the second rep was extra nice. I haven't seen five discs in my At Home list in years!

[bigdaddyhorse]

Originally Posted by Kakihara

Don’t worry, if you see library copies in pawn shops, they were either copies we removed from circulation or the customer will be sent to collections and mess up their credit score if they stole from us. Responsible libraries have sensors at the exit gates to prevent theft. It hasn’t been an issue where I work.

Hope that is the case. I fear it's not customers but straight up thieves taking them. I remember chatting with one guy working there who told a story about catching a dude with garbage bag full of discs one time. Either way I haven't ever seen the library announce any sales of discs or books. For blu-ray they color copy the cover onto a dvd size insert for a dvd case with the library info on the bottom below the print. My OCD wouldn't allow that in my collection, no matter how rare a title.

[Streetlight]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

I believe they have an online catalog but not sure where on the website it is, failing that, you can call or email and they'll be happy to help.

So I found the search option which let me see if movie is there or not and show Blu-ray and rent in their search filters.

https://www.scarecrow.com/45/search.html

Also, I have questions in my signature.