Many of us today consider renting household appliances instead of buying due to the lower prices and the convenience they offer. So, if you’re too looking to rent appliances, here are 5 tips for renting you should keep in mind:
1. Analyse the cost-effectiveness
Many of us while renting furniture and appliances, rent in bulk, i.e. rent all items from the same renter, which can get us discounts. But first, look at the cost of buying certain appliances and determine if they’re worth renting. For example, a decent microwave can cost around Rs.2,500. You could even get great discounts during the sale. And to rent it will cost around Rs.250 per month. So, basically 10 months’ rent can get you to own your own microwave. So, in this case, it might make more sense to buy a microwave instead of rent it.
On the other hand, an appliance such as an AC can cost around Rs.30,000 for a new model and good brand and renting starts from around Rs.800. Here you could consider renting it before you can actually afford it.
2. Check the maintenance and cleaning charges
All appliances require maintenance and cleaning periodically. Check the policy for the charges of the same as this will be an added expense along with your recurring rental expense. However, many popular renters are offering these services for free, especially in popular cities. For example, if you get a TV on rent in Pune from a popular online renter, it would cost you around Rs.600 per month with free maintenance and annual cleaning. A little research will help you compare and reduce additional costs such as these.
3. Check for discounts on renting
Many renters offer a discount if you rent their appliance for a period of time. Let’s take the same example here – say you want to get an air cooler on rent in Pune. If you rent it for a period of 3 months, you may pay around Rs.850, if you rent for a year, you may pay around Rs.450, and if you rent for 3 years, the price significantly comes down to around Rs.250 per month. So depending on the place you’re living in, check for discounts on renting for a prolonged period to save money.
4. Check if you can upgrade models
Suppose you have been using an appliance for a while and wish to swap it for a newer model, do you have to return it, get your deposit back and then rent another model? This can be a tedious task. However, there are renters that allow you to upgrade models after you have used the current for a particular period of time.
5. Cancellation policy
As you are renting appliances, you can cancel your subscription at any point in time. But there will be cancellation charges and a procedure that you will have to follow to complete this process. Make sure you know exactly how much it will cost you to cancel your subscription and how convenient this process is.
6. Know about their customer service
What happens if you don’t like their products? What if you’ve received a damaged appliance? You would have already paid the deposit when you rented the appliance, so what happens now? Make sure to enquire about the customer service and their policy on returns. Many reputable renters initiate a full refund of the deposit within 24 hours if you are not satisfied with their service.
Due to the increased demand for renting furniture and appliances in India, renters have made this whole process seamless. You can place the order online within the comfort of your home and have everything delivered to your doorstep and a technician install everything within 3 working days. You can, however, keep these tips in mind while renting your next household appliance for a better experience with renting.
