I have a Sony 560 which is almost 18 months old at this point and it seems like most times I rent a dvd from the local store not BB, I will be watching and the picture will freeze, it will eventually wake up, but normally has skipped to the next chapter.

It then displays a C13 error which per Sony means the DVD is
dirty

When I play any of mine no problems, it just appears to be rental dvds.

I guess as the disc is handled so often it is easy to damage it.

Any other thoughts.

i have gotten some rentals that look brand new, but most look worst than any dvd i have ever seen in a private collection. I would say your observation is correct.

I gave up on renting. The last four or five I have rented in the last few months have been scratched so bad they wouldn't play very long before freezing. I just took them back. Just unbelievable how some people treat things that are not their own, plus the store lets them get away with it!

I figured as much, I dont rent often, I usually see everything I want to see at the theater. but looks like back to VHS for rentals.

Not what I wanted to hear. Thanks for the answers.
Guess there is some work to be done as far as making them more durable. esp if the dreaded rental pricing comes into the dvd world

i use the rentmydvd service i get some bad dvds sometimes but they always play

I have a few nasty scratched discs that play. If you have a disc that freezes, try cleaning it real good.

I rent quite often from the local Blockbuster, and while I get an occasionally dirty disc, a few wipes with a cloth works miracles. What's the chaos?
I have heard from many, many people about the horrors of renting discs and they are all scratched, won't play, etc. I don't know where you guys rent from, but I always check out the disc before I leave with it. It takes about 5 seconds and if the disc is badly scratched, you get another.
YMMV.