The Redbox has arrived in Rapid City.

It's a vending machine that dispenses DVD movies for $1 a day. You insert your credit card, make your selection, and the DVD pops out of the machine. When you return the DVD, you put it in a slot, and the machine charges your credit card. The process is fairly simple - takes about a minute.

This type of video vending machine is ubiquitous in other parts of the country, especially in Denver, where nearly every McDonald's in the city has a Redbox rental machine.

But it has not been in Rapid City until now.

The Albertson's supermarket here installed its Redbox machine in December.

It replaces the in-store video-rental business that Albertson's had operated for years.

The reaction from customers has been positive, manager Deb Van Skike said. "We've not had one negative comment," she said.

Van Skike said you can also reserve a DVD in advance by visiting the Redbox.com Web site and selecting a movie for the Albertson's location.

Christine Wilcox, spokeswoman for Albertson's, said the company is installing the machines at nearly all of its stores in the Rocky Mountain region, which includes South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado and New Mexico.

"It's a good convenience for our customers," she said.

Redbox Automated Retail, based in Illinois, is owned by Coinstar Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of McDonald's Corp. According to company literature, each Redbox kiosk holds more than 500 DVDs, representing 100 to 150 new movie releases.

It's a fast-growing company. In April, the company announced it has passed 38 million rentals and 2,900 locations nationwide. By June, it had 4,000 locations.

You trade some variety for the convenience. Most of the titles, in fact, are new releases. You probably won't find a lot of black-and-white French language movies, but for the newest releases, Redbox will likely have it.

Redbox advertises no late fees, but the $1-per-day charge continues until you return the DVD. After 25 days, Redbox stops charging the fee, and the movie is yours.

Contact Dan Daly at 394-8421 or dan.daly@rapidcityjournal.com