System and method for offline vending of a media product

A method for offline receipt of a media product having entertainment content therein to a media vending apparatus, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a media product into the media vending apparatus at a first time;
• determining at the media vending apparatus whether communication with a transaction network can be established;
• storing transaction data related to the media product in a memory of the media vending apparatus proximate the first time if communication between the media vending apparatus and the transaction network is not capable of being established;
• attempting at the media vending apparatus to establish communication with the transaction network at predetermined periodic intervals;
• and,
• transmitting the transaction data via the transaction network after communication with the transaction network is established at a second time.

A method for offline vending of digital video discs, comprising the steps of:

• receiving, at a vending location and at a first time, a request for a digital video disc from a user interface;
• determining, from the vending location, whether a vending controller is capable of being placed in communication with a transaction network;
• storing transaction data provided by the user interface in a memory, wherein the transaction data comprises a title of the requested digital video disc and financial information provided by the user interface;
• encrypting the transaction data;
• generating a signal for vending the digital video disc from a vending apparatus;
• polling the transaction network, from the vending location, at predetermined periodic intervals to determine whether the vending controller is capable of being placed in communication with the transaction network;
• transmitting the transaction data via the transaction network at a second time, upon a determination that the vending controller is capable of being placed in communication with the transaction network;
• and,
• deleting the transaction data from the memory.