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The Low Down: Signals is a new online rental service, which rents DVDs, Blu-rays and Games to customers based in Cape Town. They pride themselves on an extensive new release, classic and cult movie collection, a two week rental period as well as a speedy delivery and collection service.

Pros: Signals Home Entertainment's stock is comprised of everything from the hottest new releases to obscure hard-to-find movie titles. Signals also has a wide array of Blu-ray titles available (including 3D Blu-ray) to rent and their gaming rental platforms include popular gaming console brands like Nintendo DS, Playstation 3, PSP, Wii and X-Box.

Each title has detailed information relating to available formats, everything from aspect ratio to actors, with a brief review and synopsis. The site search allows you to browse titles by actor, director or movie title with some nifty advanced search options.

You can keep DVDs as long as you want, although just like 'Nice People Rewind', they ask that you don't keep new release movies longer than 10 days. Signals offer several contract options: DVD, DVD/Blu-ray and Game rental plans. DVD rental plans start at R150 per month for a maximum of 6 discs. DVD/Blu-ray plans start at R180 per month and Game contracts start at R225 per month for up to 3 game titles a month.

You don't have to pick up or drop off rentals! This saves on time, petrol and on late return penalties. The rental per disc rates are higher than your average walk-in rental store. However, about 35% of the rental plans reserved for delivery and collection, which is handled by an independent courier service. 

The Signals rental website enables you to manage your rental queue. Browse the rental database, add movie titles to your queue or prioritize your rental list according to what you want to see most urgently. Press the pause/play button to set your next collection/delivery in motion and add extra rentals to your scheduled delivery by hitting the 'Get It Now' button.

Cons: Copy depth is an issue with almost any online rental service model. This means you may not get a desired title within a few weeks to a couple of months if someone else is prolonging their rental. This rental model works best if broaden your choice and create a wish list of titles you'd like to see in the near future. Contract costs are a little expensive, but the added delivery and collection from your door justifies the price in addition to not paying late charges. You will also need to be available to accept delivery of your rentals, which can be delivered to your office or after hours to your home.

Go to Signals Home Entertainment