Renting out your equipment

J

jordy2324

Well-known member
Have a question for everybody here.

I've had the 7D and T21 for a while -- using it as my main A cam/B cam.
I recently sold my old XS and lenses I didn't use anymore and found a great deal on a 60D.

So... I'm sitting here with 3 HDSLRs -- which is great and all -- but I don't really foresee using all three all the time. I was thinking I could just sell my Rebel, but I'm thinking 3 cams would be nice for some wedding video stuff instead of two.

So now I'm thinking I could rent some of my equipment out. I'll only need all three cams once in a while and rarely will need more than one any given weekend.

I was also going to throw in some other equipment (Zoom H4n, mics, lighting, etc) for people who either need an entire B-setup or who are just doing test shoots before purchasing themselves.

So I'm wondering what experiences people have had renting out their gear.

Here's what I (think) I've figured out so far:
I'll charge less than online places and Calumet and whatnot. Obviously.
I'll make up a contract for the both of us to sign.
I'll require two forms of ID to make sure no one's trying to scam.
I'll require a bill or something that has their current address that matches up with the address on their ID.
I'll require two working phone numbers.
I'll require a deposit.

I'd love to hear peoples feedback. Any horror stories? Any success stories?

Thanks.
 
You'll need to insure it.

All those forms of ID can be faked online very easily with photoshop. Two phone numbers can be worked around with Google Voice.

So you're basically trusting that the person you are renting it to, won't screw you. And it's only a matter of time till someone does. So you'll need to insure it.
 
jordy2324 said:
I'd love to hear peoples feedback.
Click to expand...

Don't rent gear unless you want to be in the rental business. Crooks feed on owner/operators that want to make money on their idle equipment.

jordy2324 said:
Any horror stories? Any success stories?
Click to expand...

Horror stories? - We were taken for $300k in gear in one swipe back in the nmid 90's.

Success Storries? - If you add up the cost of the gear, how quickly it looses value, and all the time it sits around collecting dust...no really success story to be told.
 
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Contract

Deposit

Insurance


In order to get insurance to cover a rental, they ( insurance company ) are going to make you jump thru some more hoops, so by the time you get to a casual rental to strangers you might think twice.

For friends maybe a different story, if you just have personal insurance and let that cover it in anything goes wrong, at yours or their expense.

Either way its not a great idea unless you are going into the rental business.
 
I've done some gear rental here and there, I'll try to summarize.

People I know:
• Decent rates for my idle gear
• Signed contract
• Money up front

People I've met recently and can verify there are legitimate: (they have a personal or company website, were referred from someone I know, references)
• Standard rates
• Signed contract
• Money up front
• Picture of them with my iPhone
• Picture of their State ID and one other form of ID with my iPhone
• If they have production insurance, I asked to get added as an additional insured or whatever it's called (most people in my area that I rent to don't have this)

Someone I don't know and can't verify their legitimacy:
• No dice. It's not worth it.

Now, I have had times where someone tried to hire me for a job, and after a short meeting they realize I don't work for rates as low as they are willing to offer. By this time I've decided whether or not they are legitimate video/film makers that I would offer rentals to or not. I've seen their previous work, I know who else they are connected with, and it's pretty easy for me to tell if they are scamming or serious. At this point I suggest they rent my gear rather than hire me. This has worked more than a few times... my gear makes me money, and I keep my free time :)

The one time I had someone damage my gear, I was paid money promptly to replace it.

No horror stories, and I attribute that to COMMON SENSE, and experience dealing with people who are legit and people who are scammers, and knowing the difference between the two.
 
I'd echo what was already said, but...

Are you a DP or a rental shop? To me, it's two very different businesses (even if what's being rented is camera gear).
 
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