Comments on: redbox Adapts to Social Media, Makes Changes to Free Rentals http://mikethoughts.com/2009/12/14/redbox-adapts-to-social-media-makes-changes-to-free-rentals/ Just another WordPress site Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:29:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Harris http://mikethoughts.com/2009/12/14/redbox-adapts-to-social-media-makes-changes-to-free-rentals/#comment-86 Harris Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:15:59 +0000 http://mikethoughts.com/?p=233#comment-86 Yes I know couple f social bookmarking sites which help users to generate revenue from sharing their bookmarks. Particularly xomba.com. Its really good in getting traffic to your content which you want to share with people. I would like to advise redbox to provide coupon codes for all week days rather than on mondays only. I think that would be great in growing their business. For more updates on redbox check out my site here <a href="http://www.codesredbox.com" rel="nofollow">Redbox codes</a> Yes I know couple f social bookmarking sites which help users to generate revenue from sharing their bookmarks. Particularly xomba.com. Its really good in getting traffic to your content which you want to share with people.
I would like to advise redbox to provide coupon codes for all week days rather than on mondays only. I think that would be great in growing their business.
For more updates on redbox check out my site here Redbox codes

]]> By: Mike Templeton http://mikethoughts.com/2009/12/14/redbox-adapts-to-social-media-makes-changes-to-free-rentals/#comment-85 Mike Templeton Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:22:22 +0000 http://mikethoughts.com/?p=233#comment-85 You are right about the fact that this is the type of situation that COULD alienate a customer base if not handled correctly. Fortunately, redbox seems to have done a good job with this (at least in my opinion). I think this is an example that a lot of other companies could learn from, rather than just storming in and making sweeping changes that end up affecting their customers. You are right about the fact that this is the type of situation that COULD alienate a customer base if not handled correctly. Fortunately, redbox seems to have done a good job with this (at least in my opinion).

I think this is an example that a lot of other companies could learn from, rather than just storming in and making sweeping changes that end up affecting their customers.

]]> By: Pete Jones http://mikethoughts.com/2009/12/14/redbox-adapts-to-social-media-makes-changes-to-free-rentals/#comment-84 Pete Jones Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:16:07 +0000 http://mikethoughts.com/?p=233#comment-84 It just seemed like an abrupt decision that may have alienated their customers, which was my point above. I understand why the decision needed to be made, but it seemed like it was very abrupt and may not have been with much communication. I state that I was previously unaware of their strategy with social media, so I was most likely way off base, per Mike's comment. It just seemed like an abrupt decision that may have alienated their customers, which was my point above. I understand why the decision needed to be made, but it seemed like it was very abrupt and may not have been with much communication. I state that I was previously unaware of their strategy with social media, so I was most likely way off base, per Mike’s comment.

]]> By: Mike Templeton http://mikethoughts.com/2009/12/14/redbox-adapts-to-social-media-makes-changes-to-free-rentals/#comment-83 Mike Templeton Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:41:22 +0000 http://mikethoughts.com/?p=233#comment-83 I knew redbox started out being owned by McDonald's, but sometime last year they were acquired by Coinstar (which seems like a more natural fit). And according to <a href="http://www.investmentu.com/IUEL/2009/May/coinstar.html" rel="nofollow">this article from Investment U</a>, it was in redbox's plans to have 20,000 kiosks in place by 2009. I wonder how close they are to that number now? I knew redbox started out being owned by McDonald’s, but sometime last year they were acquired by Coinstar (which seems like a more natural fit). And according to this article from Investment U, it was in redbox’s plans to have 20,000 kiosks in place by 2009. I wonder how close they are to that number now?

]]> By: Mike Templeton http://mikethoughts.com/2009/12/14/redbox-adapts-to-social-media-makes-changes-to-free-rentals/#comment-82 Mike Templeton Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:31:07 +0000 http://mikethoughts.com/?p=233#comment-82 We were in a very similar situation last summer. My wife and I would hardly ever pay for the initial rental fee. Between "Free Movie Mondays" and the March Madness promo we were getting a couple of DVDs per week, all without paying. I think this was a great strategy (free rentals) to encourage early adoption of the system, but I also respect and approve of the way redbox has been cutting the promotion back. Along each step of the way they've been actively communicating with customers and explaining the changes, which makes me as a consumer feel ok about the changes. The other thing I appreciate about redbox cutting back these free rentals is that it is a smart business decision. They can't go on giving away free rentals forever if that is their core business. redbox went about this right way and they communicated every change. I really appreciate that. We were in a very similar situation last summer. My wife and I would hardly ever pay for the initial rental fee. Between “Free Movie Mondays” and the March Madness promo we were getting a couple of DVDs per week, all without paying.

I think this was a great strategy (free rentals) to encourage early adoption of the system, but I also respect and approve of the way redbox has been cutting the promotion back. Along each step of the way they’ve been actively communicating with customers and explaining the changes, which makes me as a consumer feel ok about the changes.

The other thing I appreciate about redbox cutting back these free rentals is that it is a smart business decision. They can’t go on giving away free rentals forever if that is their core business. redbox went about this right way and they communicated every change. I really appreciate that.

]]> By: Mike Templeton http://mikethoughts.com/2009/12/14/redbox-adapts-to-social-media-makes-changes-to-free-rentals/#comment-81 Mike Templeton Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:37:59 +0000 http://mikethoughts.com/?p=233#comment-81 From what I've seen, redbox is doing a good job of communicating with customers. From their tweets, to their blog, to their emails, I continue to see great stuff coming from them. Case in point was the change to the unique SMS codes: I received an email from redbox explaining everything succinctly and completely. Also, I think the way that redbox has been communicating with customers is probably a big part of their success, just as I mention in the post. From what I’ve seen, redbox is doing a good job of communicating with customers. From their tweets, to their blog, to their emails, I continue to see great stuff coming from them. Case in point was the change to the unique SMS codes: I received an email from redbox explaining everything succinctly and completely.

Also, I think the way that redbox has been communicating with customers is probably a big part of their success, just as I mention in the post.

]]> By: Justin Brady http://mikethoughts.com/2009/12/14/redbox-adapts-to-social-media-makes-changes-to-free-rentals/#comment-80 Justin Brady Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:19:03 +0000 http://mikethoughts.com/?p=233#comment-80 There used to be websites devoted to free RedBox codes. When I lived in Minneapolis, I went a whole year without paying for a single rental... There used to be websites devoted to free RedBox codes. When I lived in Minneapolis, I went a whole year without paying for a single rental…

]]> By: Justin Brady http://mikethoughts.com/2009/12/14/redbox-adapts-to-social-media-makes-changes-to-free-rentals/#comment-79 Justin Brady Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:20:10 +0000 http://mikethoughts.com/?p=233#comment-79 Hey Mike. RedBox is owned and was started by McDonalds corporation. One of the more brilliantly marketed companies out there. I believe the original point to RedBox was simply to get people into McDonalds to rent a DVD and hopefully walk out with food. I don't think their original goal was to make a lot of revenue off of DVD sales. However, like you mentioned, they may have underestimated just how popular this service would become, as now they are placing them in locations that are not McDonalds. Hey Mike. RedBox is owned and was started by McDonalds corporation. One of the more brilliantly marketed companies out there.

I believe the original point to RedBox was simply to get people into McDonalds to rent a DVD and hopefully walk out with food. I don’t think their original goal was to make a lot of revenue off of DVD sales. However, like you mentioned, they may have underestimated just how popular this service would become, as now they are placing them in locations that are not McDonalds.

]]> By: Jon Thompson http://mikethoughts.com/2009/12/14/redbox-adapts-to-social-media-makes-changes-to-free-rentals/#comment-78 Jon Thompson Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:07:22 +0000 http://mikethoughts.com/?p=233#comment-78 Pete, The problem was much more severe than what you think. When redbox opened up, we were _never_ paying for a rental, and we were using them daily. Now, we would pay occasionally for an extra day or two. But the first day was always free. Furthermore, we were always sharing the codes with the random stranger in line after us, which always gave them a smile, but removed a dollar from RedBox's revenue. I'm certain that I wasn't the only one doing this, as it was extremely easy to look up codes. In fact, Mike's article mentioned that people would put post-it notes on the machines themselves, eliminating the need to tell someone by word of mouth, and making that night's "sales" a complete loss. RedBox needed to shore that up, as I'm sure it had a very negative effect on their cashflow. Once they did, they then could go back and re-evaluate and communicate with their customers. I don't think they had the convenience of time to do it any other way. Pete,

The problem was much more severe than what you think. When redbox opened up, we were _never_ paying for a rental, and we were using them daily. Now, we would pay occasionally for an extra day or two. But the first day was always free. Furthermore, we were always sharing the codes with the random stranger in line after us, which always gave them a smile, but removed a dollar from RedBox’s revenue.

I’m certain that I wasn’t the only one doing this, as it was extremely easy to look up codes. In fact, Mike’s article mentioned that people would put post-it notes on the machines themselves, eliminating the need to tell someone by word of mouth, and making that night’s “sales” a complete loss. RedBox needed to shore that up, as I’m sure it had a very negative effect on their cashflow. Once they did, they then could go back and re-evaluate and communicate with their customers. I don’t think they had the convenience of time to do it any other way.

]]> By: Pete Jones http://mikethoughts.com/2009/12/14/redbox-adapts-to-social-media-makes-changes-to-free-rentals/#comment-77 Pete Jones Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:24:59 +0000 http://mikethoughts.com/?p=233#comment-77 I wonder if they listened to their customers via the social media platforms before they made the business decision to scale back the free Monday rentals? I am sure they could have come to a good medium had they listened to what their customers were asking for rather than just chopping the promotion off at the root. I understand why they made the decision, and to your point I am sure it was costly. But, it seems they may have had an opportunity to truly chat with their customers and conceive an organic plan via suggestions on FB and Twitter that would have worked better with their customers and not potentially upset those who expected the Monday discounts. Not sure, I was unaware of their SM efforts until your post. Nice work. I wonder if they listened to their customers via the social media platforms before they made the business decision to scale back the free Monday rentals? I am sure they could have come to a good medium had they listened to what their customers were asking for rather than just chopping the promotion off at the root. I understand why they made the decision, and to your point I am sure it was costly. But, it seems they may have had an opportunity to truly chat with their customers and conceive an organic plan via suggestions on FB and Twitter that would have worked better with their customers and not potentially upset those who expected the Monday discounts. Not sure, I was unaware of their SM efforts until your post. Nice work.

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