24-hour self-service video rental arrives in SA

Johannesburg-based Saron Petra, the company behind the launch, is also intending to launch MovieBank in other regions soon. According to Sandra Christos, managing director of Saron Petra, the MovieBank system is a compact, quick and user-friendly 24hr automated self-service Video and DVD dispensing machine that will reach even the busiest of consumers by renting and selling movies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. "The use of automated vending machines is fast becoming a way of life for busy South Africans who like the convenience of shopping when and where they want to. The Moviebank is the future of the home entertainment industry", she said.

Christos explained that the MovieBank works like an ATM machine, only that it is a lot more simple and fun to use for people of all ages. Customers use a membership card to access the service. The user-friendly technology "walks" customers through different browser screens, allowing them to choose a title by genre, actor, new releases or a search-engine. The computerized robotics system dispenses the movie selected within 15 seconds.

What makes this concept unique is that customers not only have access to 24 hour movie rentals where and when they want them, but that they are also given the opportunity to save money. Rentals are billed on a time-scale at the time of return. The sooner the movie is returned, the cheaper rental becomes. Thus the price-scale increases the movie rental cycle, as the same title can be rented several times a day. Similarly, the reduced rental rates encourage customers to make sooner returns, in turn increasing the availability of popular titles.

Additional advantages include: convenient proximity, greater privacy, fast selection, online bookings, reservations by sms, a rewards programme, and a 2 pin Parental Guidance Feature, on a single membership card, which allows parents to restrict children's access to movies according to their age groups.

When asked why she believes that MovieBank will be a success in South Africa, Christos said, " South Africans love new technology, and are willing to try new things. Our research shows that there is a huge untapped market for a 24 hour automated movie service in South Africa. Our product has already been met with such a great response that we will be opening several more outlets by the end of this year to meet the demand".

For any enquiries about becoming a member or franchisee of the MovieBank contact: or call +27 11 757 1444 or visit their website www.saronpetra.co.za.