Andrea Markey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 06/05) - If you think Roboflix is a new science fiction movie, you aren't too far off.

It's a robot-operated vending machine dispensing movies and video games.

There are only two of these Italian-made machines in Canada, and Yellowknife has one.

After almost three years of planning, entrepreneur Thomas Wunderlin placed an order for the machine he said costs "tens of thousands of dollars."

The free-standing devices are common in Europe, in existing video stores and on the street, he said.

"The main advantage of Roboflix over running a video store is they are cheaper to operate and require very little maintenance," he said. "They can also be placed in areas not suitable for a video store."

And that is just what Wunderlin is thinking. The Yellowknife Roboflix, located in the Country Corner convenience store, is a test installation.

He eventually plans to have more machines in smaller communities and possibly mine sites.

While the unit may not be cheap, the 130 DVD rentals inside cost only $2 a day, payable by credit card. The machine has safeguards in place to help keep credit card information secure - such as a 30-second time-out if a customer walks away without finishing the transaction, he said.

Wunderlin uses a remote server connection to keep track of rentals, late fees and upload new video information.

Hollywood Video operator Robert Hui hadn't ventured down Franklin Avenue to see Roboflix, but was certain there is still a place for human-staffed video stores.

"Nowadays people are used to pushing buttons for service, but they still like to see a friendly face," he said. "Customers, even the film savvy ones, often ask for advice when selecting a film."

With more than 1,000 titles to choose from, the selection in a store is far greater as well, he said.