India Flick@Click – CineSprite, Seventymm, CatchFlix,Madhouse September 20, 2006
Posted by Pawan Agarwal in Blogroll, Consumer Internet India, Vc, consumer internet.trackback
I strongly feel that Indian Market is just right to start a business in Consumer Internet. There’s nothing really bad about building a clone of a service which is successful in US. Afterall you are entering a new Market, a Market offering more than 18 million online users.
Online DVD rentals, which was an unexplored territory until last year, now happens to have quite a bit of competition with many services starting in India. Following are some of my thoughts:
1. Challenge: Indian Mindset! Still, most of the people aren’t willing to make payments online. They would still like to see the face and whereabouts of the party they are paying to. Fortunately, the scenario is changing atleast in the Metros, but still would take some time to spread. (That’s the reason we say it’s the right time to enter Indian Market).
2. Are online DVD Rentals a threat to local DVD Rental Operators: Immediate, NO!, long term YES!, only when people realize the value add of an online service and the professionalism it offers in all it’s dealings. (I am absolutely satisfied with CineSprite’s services in terms of customer care. How long?)
3. Who gets the princess? – It wouldn’t be about better UI, niether would it be about Site Speed, it has to be about Quality of Service, better service plans and supporting revenue models, probably, online stores, advertising on delivery envelopes, web advertising etc.
There certainly is going to be more competition here 
And WOW!! Seventymm receives $7m
There is another company in Bangalore Fusion Rental started renting books and movies online. they deliver the books and movies at your doorstep and many attractive monthly subscription plans. Check it out http://www.fusionrental.com
I quite agree… from the mom and pop stores, hole in the wall operators /pirates, online DVD rental companies. India has it all!! Whats interesting to see is the Indian consumer and his operational preferences. Take for instance the example of http://www.clixflix.com – India’s 1st ALL ACCESS DVD rental site – evolved the model first – an sms application, stores, Dial A DVD/VCD and online. Theyve come a long way in their opeartions with a centralised call centre.. Certainly makes for an interesting business.
about cinsprite they are not refund the security money after the member ship expired.I request on 17 may2007 and many time communicate and custmore care mail still I waiting for refund
I written about security money refund in this couloum dated 11.06.2007 Now dated 26.07.2007 after many mails to cinesprite they not give the reply nor a secutirty money refund. I am still waithing for two & half months. I can’t understand what to I do? can any help me in this regard?
Note that Cinesprite as of today 23rd October 2007 seems to be out of business. I am a member and have tried to schedule pickups many times. They are neither responding to my mails, nor their phones are working. Both of the phone numbers are de-listed and unavailable.
I guess the company has run away or the management is into serious problems.
Regards, Puneet
Seventymm – HORRIBLE SERVICE!
Recently subscribed and all the positivity vanishes the moment your cheque is collected.
Ask for a suggestion and they will give an uneducated one! Order a DVD and wait until the delivery boy arrives, or you can call the next morning to check and the reply is its been dispatched.
I waited half a day and then called again to check. Now the reply is “SORRY, SYSTEM FAILURE, DVD WAS NOT DISPATCHED”
Guess these guys can do with some serious investment in SYSTEMS & CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE if they want to be a leading online rental service.
I had a good experience with CatchFlix for about 1 year, however, in Feb 2009, when I tried to rent some movies, the service appears to have been shut down. It appears Supposedly, they seem to have run away with the subscription money. Because the mails sent to them have gone unanswered. All the phone numbers published on their website are either switched off or non-existent.
Their website is clean though. I have reported the matter through their blog also.
I would be reporting this to the appropriate consumer forums.
Regards, Puneet