Scarecrow Picks Up Where Netflix's DVD Rental Service Left Off

pcmag.com:

With so many streaming options available these days, it's hard to remember that DVD-by-mail was a once popular way to get your entertainment fix. Now, as Netflix winds down its DVD service, Scarecrow Video is ready to take its place. For a rental fee plus a flat $12 shipping fee, you can rent up to six discs for 14 days.

Those of a certain age recall that Netflix wasn't always a streaming service. It started as a DVD-by-mail company in an era when the internet wasn't ready to support billions of hours of streaming. Things have changed, though, and after a failed attempt to spin off the DVD business, Netflix is shutting it down altogether.

That's where Scarecrow Video comes in. The company is already known for its massive DVD library: 145,000 titles compared to Netflix's 14,000, Polygon notes. It's one of (if not the) largest independent video rental stores that still exists. That's probably not hurt by the fact that it's one of the few stores that still exist and the only one in Seattle, but its DVD library is gigantic all the same.

The cost to rent varies on the title, starting at $3 and going up to $11, and you'll have to pay the flat shipping fee. It should be noted that the six-disc limit doesn't apply to titles: if you rent a title contained on six discs, you'll have reached the limit in one title. Beyond DVDs, Scarecrow video also offers Blu-ray, VHS, and laser disc formats too.

Scarecrow will also charge late fees, though you can call to extend your rental. You have a 14-day window to watch and ship back, but round-trip shipping is included in the $12 fee. If all that sounds like a good way to pass the time, you can sign up for service at Scarecrow's site today.

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