Why rent lenses?

Tailgunner · Dec 17, 2013

I have a friend who was a manager for Sam's and he would tell me some crazy return stories. People would buy a lawn mower, use it for the summer and return it in the fall. Sam's would actually accept it!

EIngerson · Dec 17, 2013

Rental lenses are insured. If you buy a lens with the intent to return it and trash it……..? Good luck.

CCericola · Dec 17, 2013

Even Hoity toity movie companies rent. Sometimes it just makes more financial sense to rent than to buy and gather dust.

bratkinson · Dec 19, 2013

Derrel said:
Some people have what are called "ethics". They feel the need to do what "is right, just, and proper". SO...when they need a tool for a short-term use situation, they rent it, and thus they pay for their use, and also gain the benefits of insured shipping, and insurance on the equipment in case of damage, loss,theft,breakage, and so on. As for the buy-it-and-use-it-in-lieu-of-a-rental crowd, there are those types of people in the world, who will use other peoples' businesses for their own profit. We call them low-lifes out here on the west coast. There might well be a different name for them in your region.

*E*T*H*I*C*S*

That says it all.

SCraig · Dec 19, 2013

Decades ago there was a rule that appears to have been forgotten by many and remembered by few. At that time we called it the "Golden Rule" and it went something like "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

kathyt · Dec 19, 2013

Canon Pro Services. I can rent any lens/body, at any time, insured, and with free shipping to me with the cost of my membership. It is like Christmas all the time. I would never buy and return. That is just not right.

Steve5D · Dec 19, 2013

Two words: "Restocking fee".

Say you bought a 400mm f/2.8L IS II from your local dealer. Odds are, he's not going to have a lens like that in stock, so he'd have to order it in. In such a case, the likelihood that he would even accept a return is practically nil but, for the sake of discussion, let's say he would. A restocking fee of 15% is common. Well, the lens has a price tag of $11,000.00. The restocking fee would be $1,650.00.

Or you can rent that lens for a month for $500.00 less than that.

Also, consider this: Let's say you wanted to buy that lens, and your dealer sold you one which had been sold to and returned by another customer. Would you want it at the full new sale price, or would you expect a discount?

Tailgunner · Dec 19, 2013

kathythorson said:
Canon Pro Services. I can rent any lens/body, at any time, insured, and with free shipping to me with the cost of my membership. It is like Christmas all the time. I would never buy and return. That is just not right.

I'm a long ways from anything close to being a Pro but I have heard of this service and I must say it sounds like an awesome deal. I think Nikon offers something similar but can't remember.

Designer · Dec 19, 2013

bullock1692 said:
...why do people use rental companies for lenses?

If I am not sure of a particular lens's qualities, I would be happy to rent it before buying it. I would consider the rental charge as worth getting some first-hand experience with it. I might also ask the rental company if I can apply the rental payment toward my eventual purchase.

Ihatemymoney · Dec 27, 2013

Some times threads like this make me wonder what kind of person would suggest things like this, then I get the feeling the op is just waiting for someone to bit.

imagemaker46 · Dec 28, 2013

Before I make a choice on a new car I will check out the rental companies and take one for the day, I can decide then if I like out it runs. Cameras and lenses are the same for many people. I own the lenses I need to do my job, I didn't need to "test drive" them. If someone is looking to buy a new camera, try renting the ones they are considering and see how they feel. Buying with the intent on using them for a weekend shoot isn't the way to build any kind of credibility with the camera stores you may have to deal in the future.

HitenNainaney · Dec 28, 2013

imagemaker46 said:
Before I make a choice on a new car I will check out the rental companies and take one for the day, I can decide then if I like out it runs. Cameras and lenses are the same for many people. I own the lenses I need to do my job, I didn't need to "test drive" them. If someone is looking to buy a new camera, try renting the ones they are considering and see how they feel. Buying with the intent on using them for a weekend shoot isn't the way to build any kind of credibility with the camera stores you may have to deal in the future.

That's probably the worst thing you could do for yourself. As an avid car enthusiast and amateur car collector, I can confirm this much. All rental cars have been abused by people.

So deciding based on the reckless conditions they've been driven on cannot do your judgement and the car itself any justice.

Just my two cents though.

No offence intended.

Cheers,

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

imagemaker46 · Dec 28, 2013

HitenNainaney said:
imagemaker46 said:

Before I make a choice on a new car I will check out the rental companies and take one for the day, I can decide then if I like out it runs. Cameras and lenses are the same for many people. I own the lenses I need to do my job, I didn't need to "test drive" them. If someone is looking to buy a new camera, try renting the ones they are considering and see how they feel. Buying with the intent on using them for a weekend shoot isn't the way to build any kind of credibility with the camera stores you may have to deal in the future.

Click to expand...

That's probably the worst thing you could do for yourself. As an avid car enthusiast and amateur car collector, I can confirm this much. All rental cars have been abused by people.

So deciding based on the reckless conditions they've been driven on cannot do your judgement and the car itself any justice.

Just my two cents though.

No offence intended.

Cheers,

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

No offence taken, I've been around cars all my life, so I do understand them very well. I am one of those guys that does enjoy the benefits of rental cars, when the new generation mustang came out I rented one for a few days and had a blast in it, returned it in one piece but a lot less rubber on the rear tires. I usually request cars with a fairly low number of miles on them.