The video rental market has changed. Traditional video stores like Blockbuster and Hollywood Video are now going out of business. The video rental market has evolved from storefronts to video by mail outlets, like Netflix to an even more efficient phenomenon: Video Rental Kiosks.
These video rental kiosks are essentially vending machines which allow you to use your credit card to rent movies for only $1.00 a night. This business model is by far the most efficient, it can run 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week and can run by itself without any staff onsite. However, there is also a trick to beat this system and actually keep your DVD for only $1.00 without ever having to return it or be charged any additional money.
Getting the Movie for only $1.00
The way these video rental kiosks work is that you select which movie(s) you want to rent. You swipe your credit or debit card in the machine and your movie is given to you and you are billed $1.00 plus tax for one night’s rental. If you don’t return the movie within 24 hours you will be billed an additional $1.00 plus tax for each night you keep the movie. After 25 nights and $25.00 plus tax, the movie is yours to keep and you will no longer be billed.
The Credit Card Transaction Process
When you rent the movie, the video rental kiosk checks your credit or debit card and makes sure that $25 is available on the card. You are initially charged $1.00 plus tax, which turns out to be $1.08 (with tax) in my area, you are not charged anything over this initial $1.00 for 24 hours.
The Trick
If you buy one of those $25 Visa or Amex Gift Cards, you will be able to use this gift card to rent the movie. It will check to see that $25 is available, which it is and then it will charge you an initial $1.08 as a rental fee. Leaving a balance of $23.92 on your gift card. You can take your video and then go spend the rest of the money on the gift card, thus they will not be able to charge you anything additional beyond the initial $1.00 regardless of whether or not you return the movie!
This trick would only allow you to rent one movie using a $25.00 gift card, because after the initial rental, the card no longer has $25 available on it. That’s why I prefer using the $50 gift card, because it allows you to rent multiple movies and still keep $25 available on the card. Using a $50 gift card you can rent 10-12 movies easily and still have over $25 left over.
After you rent the movies using your gift card be sure to spend the remaining balance on your giftcard within 24 hours or you will be billed an additional $1 per movie. I like using gas stations to spend my additional balance because you can buy beer, cigarettes, food, soda and then gasoline. With pumping gas you can spend the remaining balance on your gift card to the penny.
You can easily use the process above to get any movie from the video rental kiosks for only $1.00 plus tax and keep it forever without being charged anything additional!
but you don’t get the artwork, you don’t get a bonus disc, and it’s not blu-ray which is what a lot of people want in regards to owning the media
who cares about the cover, the bonus disk, etc? you get the movie complete with the special features and bonus footage for only a buck. the other crap is not really necessary.
in terms of bluray, yes they are starting to rent these disks with the kiosk systems, so you could do the same thing to get a free bluray disk.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Blockbuster and Hollywood started putting out their own kiosks like this one in order to compete!?!
These two companies could copy what Redbox is doing and put them out of business in a snap. They really needed to do that from the beginning. Either that or acquire Redbox entirely.
You are a dirty thief!
Awesome idea! I wonder what other items you can use this trick on???
Doesn’t work at all. These machines do not allow gift cards.
Yes they do work provided you have $25 on the card to authorize at the time of purchase.
PS- Blockbuster owns RedBox
RedBox is owned by CoinStar, not Blockbuster… idiot. Look it up before you open your mouth.
Redbox is owned by Coinstar who is a publicly traded company. Great Concept!
i wonder what they do if you rent the movie and then the next day cancel your credit card?
They’ll have your name & address and will get it plus fees because you’ve intended to fraud a business. You may want to go with the gift card, or of course you can just do the right thing which is return the movie or pay the $25.
This trick will only work for so long - I own several of these machines (not Red Box-but another brand), and they are starting to change their card processing techniques in order to prevent fraud. They are starting to place an actual hold on the entire $25 instead of just verifying the balance.
that sucks cause this trick works awesome now. did it again last night and got another $1 movie from redbox.
redbox machine clearly states gift cards are not accepted
where does it state that giftcards are not accepted? i used redbox tonight and it worked, i also looked for something both on the machine and in the program indicating that giftcards were not accepted. i could not find anything.
Very dishonest. Your actions will be recorded in heaven for everyone to see then.
Someone needs to clean your “clock”! Just what we need another religious nutcase!
While I take offense at the idea that belief in oversight from beyond this world makes one a “nutcase”, the fact remains that the question of whether this is dishonest or not is the important one, not the question of whether or not anyone else will find out (here or in the hereafter).
(”Someone needs to clean your “clock”!”??? As if suggesting violence based on the idea of religious/moral overtones to actions isn’t a sign of being a nutcase.)
(I guess I meant “as a response to the idea of…”, though “based on” does hold true enough of the time…)
I vomit on the bible!
I piss on the Cross!
I shit on the Holy Mother and her BASTARD SON!!!
you disgust me.
Amiel what kind of Jew are you?
Suggesting and executing violence based on the idea of religious/moral overtones to actions is a sign of being JEWISH!
Your pretty Cool!
So you believe in a fairy tale that says a magical, flesh eating zombie is going to save you from being worm food, and you think you’re sane? That, in and of itself implies that you need counseling. That’s almost as fucked up as the Muslims and their 72 “virgins”…ROFLMAO ;D
I love sites like this because deep down I have always wanted to be a white collar criminal. My father was, so was my grandfather. But my life changed in my mid 20’s when both my dad and grandfather were both found murdered in a hotel room suite. My dad and grandfather were both the most incredible slight of hand experts, card counters, huslters, and could do things with a deck of cards that makes chris angel and all the other magicians look like amatuers. Well, according to the investigative detective, both of my closes family members, dad and pop, were set up by a psycho ex-girlfriend of my dads. He never ever let her know that he was a card shark, conman, etc…… But, a few years she wouldnt leave him alone about getting married .He decided to break up with her. She was so crazy she started stalking him. she drove 1,000 miles away from her home, same town where my dad grew up. Just happens that while she was in some run down Indian casinos she was befriended by some guy and while conversing about where they were both from, this guy asked her if she knew my dad, Carl Sr. She told this stranger that yes, she knew him, and that he died a few months ago and she had to get away to clear her mind. She asked him if he knew my dad from the computer business. He said, what computer business. Well, my dads front to her was that he owned his own IT security/installation/programming business which was the reason he was away so much for business. He laughed and said computers. That man cant use an atm machine without asking for help. He then asked how long were they dating before he passed. He asked how long ago did he divorce carolyn. Who is carolyn, she asked. Well, now the shit really hit the fan. She now knows he was married the entire time they dated. Hey, my dad was getting old and this chic was a hot ass gold digger and he could have cared less. According to the police report, she left the next day from checkout at the hotel and headed home. She went and bought a handgun but when they told her about the waiting period she said forget it. She went to a local mom and pop sporting goods store and bought a 12 guage shotgun. After a week ago or so she heard about a high stakes texas holdem game being ran at the Hilton in town and that my dad and pops were the ones that got the game together, brought in about 12 high stakes players from all over the US. According to police, this game was going on for a few hours into the third straight day. This crazy bitch entered the hilton as if she was a guest. She somehow wondered around the place till she found the uniforms that Room Service wear. Even though they didnt order room service she knocked and said she had complimentary shrimp, oysters, clams, caviar, fresh carved prime rib, and assorted cold bottled beer all compliments of the General manager. She was pushing a food card filled with the silver platter trays, bowls, fancy bucket that was supposed to be filled with beer. Of course all platters, bowls, buckets, all had lids so who would think otherwise.One of the guys opened the door, didnt want her to see a high stakes poker game going on, especially with a table covered in 100 dollar bills. She came over to my dad, said, Hi carl, and poured a beer over his head. As soon as he dropped the deck, because he was dealing. She grabbed it and handed it to one of the other players and asked him to inspect it because this piece of shit,(my dad) has been telling me he loves me and is going to marry me within the next year. But, that would be kind of hard now knowing that he is married and has been for 15 years. Oh, and if anyone thinks that he owns a computer repair, programming business then you are as stupid as him. She then told all these guys that she just met a guy named ……… ……. while she was in montana and this guy happens to know carl and his dad very well. They both have been thieves,con men, card sharks, hustlers, and scammers all there lives. If you dont believe me, the cards carl uses are always marked, or he has been dealing from the bottom. Well, one of the gentleman just started going crazy. he was the guy she gave the cards to. My dad had just reshuffled the deck but it was obvious now that all these dudes were being hustled, scammed, cheated. Well, before my dad could even get out of his chair, she ran out of the room scared. When she got home about 25 minutes later she called 911 and told them that they need to check out room 33__, because she thinks her ex boyfriend might be in some kind of trouble. About 10 minutes later the cops called her and said sorry to inform you but Carl, your ex has been beaten to death, then shot in the face with a shotgun. They had a car pick her up within minutes to be questioned. When the food cart was inspected, they found a shotgun case, box of shells on the lower shelf of the tray where condiments go. She was arrested for the murder of my dad. She tried to tell police that she was so angry that she bought the shotgun, the case, shells, drove to the hotel, found a room service outfit in the laundry room on one of the floors and although it was 3 sizes to small, she put it on so she could get these guys to open the door so she could just shoot him. But then she told them that after she called him every name in the book, snitched on him to a room of high stakes poker players, and proved that he was dealing from the bottom of the deck, that the look on his face scared her so much that she ran for her life. She said that before she ran, the men started to slowly approach my dad and kind of surround him so by the time she got home she genuinely was scared for carls life. These didnt look like your everyday average joes. Witnesses from a few rooms down said it sounded like a rock band was trashing the room. They heard a man moaning, yelling, crying, saying Please, Please, not in front of my dad. By the time this other hotel guest got the balls to open his door and look, all heard was what sounded like a gun go off. But it just wasnt loud enough to be a gun. So, his wife told him to stop being so nosy. Its probably just that room service girl that delivered food a while ago. So, her husband agreed and they went to bed. But, they were awaken by police sirens just outside the hotel. Then, it sounded like a stamped coming toward his door. But, he opened up, looked out, and saw 7 or more cops, a few firefighters, and 2 or 3 of those CSI investigators. Now, another 10 cops came to knock and canvass the entire hotel. The guy down the hall volunteered to tell him about the girl from room service and that she must still be in the room. Cops said, no room service was ordered from this room since the first day it was rented. To finally end this out of control life story of mine and dads, That floor where the poker game was held just happend to only have 12 rooms. These were the penthouse suites. Each room was the size of 4 regular rooms. Bad for the police because the only room being rented on that floor was my dads. To make matters worse, the 4 mini surveilence cameras set up along the ceiling happend to not be hooked up. So, according to the front desk clerk, he said he saw one of his room service servers just walk by him, quicklyl, he asked her if he knew her, cause he hadnt had the opportunity to introduce himself. She didnt even look at him, nor spoke. But, the front desk clerk said he never heard a shot gun, nor anyone getting beaten up. He sadly had to admit that he was wearing his head phones and listening to Eminem. He didnt even hear the Fire Alarm go off at one of the off limit DO NOT USE EXIT. ALARM WILL SOUND IF OPENED. So, everyone of these players left without ever being identified as being in that hilton. Her fingerprints were all over the shotgun. Sad thing is, my dad was murdered, his exgirlfriend is now on death Row in Texas for a crime I without a shadow of a doubt was done by these guys playing poker. Some were Mafia members, several major Drug dealers, crooked cops, etc….. The reason she should have never been convicted is because my dad is a tall, very muscular man and he was covered in bruises, deep cuts, 5 different broken bones, teeth knocked out, and one of his fingers was cut completely off with a dull butter knife from room service. To this day, my grandfather has never been seen again. I guess he would have been the key to getting these thugs put away so only god knows if he is alive, or most likely, swimming with the fishes. I apologise for this way to long message. I have never told this story about how my best friend(dad) and grandfather in any detail. I needed to vent very bad. Please, this message in not in anyway me trying to scare, intimidate, or any of that bull crap. My point is that Its in my blood to want to pull scams, find ways to beat the system, and everything involved with corruption. hey, who would suspect a cop? I love when I read about new scams like this. gets me fired up. I HAVE AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT THIS GIFT CARD PROJECT. WHY NOT JUST GRAB A FEW HANDFULLS OF GIFT CARDS RIGHT OFF RACK AND PUT THEM IN EACH JACKET POCKET. WHEN YOU GET HOME, EITHER CAREFULLY GET THE INFO NEEDED OFF CARD, OR USE OF OF THE MACHINES YOU MENTIONED THAT DOESNT NEED TO TEAR UP THE GIFT CARD PACKAGE TO SCAN.THEN, JUST TAKE THE GIFT CARDS BACK THE SAME WAY AND SLOWLY PUT THEM BACK ON THE RACK. I GUESS I AM WONDERING THIS, EVEN THOUGH THE CARDS ARE NOT BEING PURCHASED CORRECTLY, IF YOU JUST WALK OUT WITH THEM JUST TO GET INFO NEEDED AND THEN RETURN THEM, WILL THEY TRIP THE ALARM AT THE FRONT DOOR WITHOUT AN ALARM GOING OFF. THAT IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION. THANKS AND SORRY FOR THE STORY. GUESS ITS SAD, BUT HEY MY DAD AND GRANDAD ARE NOW DEAD AND IN A BETTER PLACE NOW. ME BEING A COP OR NOT, I TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANY SECRET HACK, SCAM I CAN GET AWAY WITH. THANKS AND HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU AND HOPE YOU DONT FREAK OUT OVER THIS NOVEL..
Seems a silly thing to do. They probably have a security camera recording to prevent thieves breaking into the machine. This may seem to be a type of minor shoplifting charge but since you’re using a credit card it becomes a major crime since it is credit card fraud.
it’s not shoplifting because you are not physically stealing anything out of the machine and it’s not credit card fraud as long as you don’t use someone else’s card.
so you are 0/2 in your claims.
How much of a balance would I need on a giftcard to get “FreeTrial” of Sensa weightloss product? Or Prado electronic cigarette?
amy the e-cigarettes run about $50 for a starter set, i got one recently.
It’s disheartening to see that so many incredibly dishonest people do things like this. “Expanding your wealth” should never come at the cost of reducing others’ wealth…even if the CEO of RedBox (or its parent company) will never go hungry. May you all find yourselves the victims of petty theft one day. If you are willing to steal DVDs, what other illegal acts are you willing to do out of pure selfishness?
Use an AMEX gift card, not a Visa or Mastercard gift card. Its more difficult for merchants to tell the difference between an AMEX gift card and a normal AMEX credit card.
really? how is it more difficult for them to tell with AMEX?