Redbox raises DVD rental price to $1.20

Coinstar, the company that owns the Redbox brand and boxes has announced a price increase for it's DVD rentals. The long-standing $1 fee to rent a DVD will soon increase to $1.20. 

Here is the letter email I received yesterday in my inbox:

Redbox is making an announcement about its prices today, and we want to make sure that you hear it from us first. 

Starting on Monday, October 31, the daily rental charge for DVDs will change to $1.20 a day.* The price change is due to rising operating expenses, including new increases in debit card fees. Daily rental charges for Blu-ray™ Discs and video games won't change.** Additional-day charges for DVDs rented before 10/31 won't be affected, either. 

In order to make the transition easier, Redbox will discount the first day of all online DVD rentals to $1.00 from 10/31 through 11/30. Additional rental days will be $1.20.*** 

If you have any questions, please visit redbox.com/pricechange. There, we've provided additional information. 

This marks our first price change in more than eight years as we work hard to keep prices low for our customers. 

Thank you, 

Redbox 

I am personally getting tired of fee changes, first Netflix and now Redbox. I understand that operating expenses increase, but there have to be other ways for businesses to make up the difference. What I really take offense with is that they are passing on the increased fees of debit card transactions to customers.There are not other ways to pay for the discs other than debit cards and expenses like that should not be passed on to consumers. I consider that as part of doing business and that cost should be made up from other avenues. Coinstar should instead go to all of their grocery store and other business locations and renegotiate the contracts. Redbox locations bring heavy amounts of traffic into a store, which the location benefits from. 

What are your thoughts?