TV RENTAL COME BACK?

There are a few companies that rent, but normally for the landlords of furnished flats or people with bad credit.

Hughes round our way has been renting most appliances since the dawn of time... 

I presume if you aren't able to save £17 per month for 2 & a half years for a £500 50" TV it probably works out OK.

I suppose it’s back to that ‘what if it goes wrong outside of the guarantee?’ – especially with the (perceived) more technologically complex and more expensive items. And of course like everything else digital, its technology is pretty much obsolete before you open the box.

My last TV (Samsung) developed an unrepairable fault after two and a half years. Unusually, I had actually taken up an extended warranty when I bought it so was within the three year period. A man came round, took one look at and deemed it scrap. They couldn’t replace like for like as it was now out-of-date so recommended a similar model of another brand along with a cheque to the amount of the retail price of the recommended replacement.

The item has a pretty bad screen fault that 99 out of 100 folk wouldn’t put up with but I watch so little TV – in fact I am down to almost nil and considering cancelling my licence and putting the money towards my recently increased energy bill – that I put up with it for those odd times. So basically I have had a TV for free.

Given what many folk spend monthly on their mobile phone agreements and car payments I guess £17 isn’t a fat lot.

And, despite the much lower real terms costs of many consumer items than years ago, we do seem to be moving into a period where many things are rented. Many new car sales are effectively rental agreement sales.

Perhaps that WEF prediction is coming true: ‘You will own nothing and be happy’.

There's a few places that now do "retro rentals" where you can effectively get an 80s VHS movie rental for the weekend! They'll provide a VHS video recorder, a TV and of course a suitable 80s movie on VHS. 

I have no idea how much it costs though. 

£17 pm for 50inch TV, they are available for around £300 including 3 year guarantee and 12 months HP interest from the big online retailer. Not the top of the range but the rental one probably isn’t either. So after 3 years the total paid is around £600, doesn’t add up to me.

If it’s a short term few months then appreciate the rental would be a better option.

@nuvistor yeah, it's these places like Brighthouse (they're known round here as something that rhymes with "Brighthouse") that charge a ridiculous APR for entry level products that get me. I remember when we bought our first Plasma TV back in 2011. It was £500 Panasonic from John Lewis with a 5 year guarantee. I could've paid a total of £1700 for a no brand one from Brighthouse.

Brighthouse went bust a couple of years ago.

@malcscott glad to hear it! Although I've seen similar shops doing exactly the same.

It's agreed a 50" LED TV set can be bought for £300,  which is £250 + VAT.   Price to the trade? £200 ex VAT. Might be even less. The rental firm can claim back the VAT.                     It would interesting to find out how much these imported sets cost upon arrival at the docks and before the customs people impose their charges. 

Till Eulenspiegel. 

Hi.

Here in Kilmarnock there is one renter, Cash Generator, I believe some of their outlets are closed down but it seems to be relatively busy. They rent to landlords and those who cannot get credit, they include TV, Fridges Washing machines and other white goods. Some items are refurbished.

This NOT a return to what we know as TV rental, I doubt it will ever return as before with service engineers etc, In a way loosely like hire purchase was. The thing is though a resurgence may occur due to the cost of living. Like David there is NO way I'd even consider working for a rental company even for £1000 per week, you can shove it as far as I'm concerned. Thank God I'm retired. 

@murphyv310 we have a Cash Generators here in Blyth, Northumberland too. Apparently it originally came from Radio Rentals, specifically their ex-rental outlets. Didn't realise they rented stuff out too but that would make sense as they seem to do all sorts of stuff such as pawning, cheque cashing, pay day loans etc. It's known as "Smack Generators" locally...

My 9 year old son collects video games for the Nintendo Wii and PS3. Last time we went in even he said their second hand games were expensive! He's used to Wii games being under £2, not over £10!

@wayned 

We have Cash Generator shops, I think thats what they are called, never been in them.

I do like the local name you have for them, perhaps quite apt?

btw I think/Hope I reacted positively, just getting used to the new system.

@nuvistor there's Cash Converters as well as Cash Generators. They're pretty interchangeable though. 

The alternative name is probably more a reflection on the local social issues, but it's very apt.

Stockport has had two Cash Exchanges but neither lasted.  It's one it's second Cash Converters.

At the original Cash Converters in the late 1990s I was surprised to see they were selling a large 1980s set cheaper than the others, only to see it was black & white.  I think it was a Pye or Philips.

There is still one place in Peterborough. Cotton TV rentals. they have been trading since the 1950's I think. Dennis Cotton who was the original owner passed away some time ago, he was a real character! I used to buy ex rental sets from them in the early 1980's. The workshop was always busy back then! I think it may be run by family members now. I think they have done very well to still be going, just about everyone else has gone.

Kellyvision in Whittlesey is still going they took over my rental contracts when I sold up in late 2000, they mainly do kitchens now though. I was told recently that they still have a few rental customers left from my old place. I didn't know it at the time but in retrospect I think I baled just in time!