VIDEO: 5 Things to Look for in a Rental Provider

Whether it's your first time renting equipment, or you’ve rented a hundred times before, it's important you identify and evaluate the factors that weigh in choosing a rental provider. Asking a few simple questions can reveal flaws in a company’s policy. Before you make your decision, here are a few quick tips to help you make the right choice:

1. Do their employees know what they’re talking about?

• Do they ask about the application?
• About sensors? Accessories? Power requirements?
• Did they offer their suggestions?

This is an easy way to find out how knowledgeable the partner is that you’re working with.

• Is the equipment current?
• Do they offer the latest models?
• Can they provide technical support for data handling?

These are all good questions to ask when dealing with a rental provider for the first time. Your rental specialist should be knowledgeable on their products and make you feel confident about partnering with them on your project.

2. Can they get you what you need, when you need it?

Sometimes you need something fast and you need to know:

• Can the rental provider get you the instrument you need, when you need it?
• Do they even have the unit in stock?

Take into consideration the location of the rental provider.

• Are they close to a large airport or ground shipping hub?

Review their shipping policies and promises.

• Can they guarantee on-time delivery and “works out of the box” performance?
• Do they charge you while the instrument is shipping? (Are they making you pay for rental when it’s on a UPS or FedEx truck?)
• Does the rental include all necessary components and accessories? What about software? If your company doesn’t let you install third party software on a corporate PC, can the rental house provide a pre-loaded PC ready to go?

It’s important that you ask these kinds of questions, so you know exactly what you’re paying for and what you can expect to receive with your rental.

3. Do they calibrate the instrument?

Nobody wants to spend extra time (or money) calibrating an instrument themselves. And nobody wants to run tests without being confident in the results an instrument provides.

Make sure you ask if the rental provider can offer proof that the instrument has been calibrated before shipping to you. Ask them to share that certificate with you, so if you need to include it with regulatory reports, you can do so.

4. Are they willing and available to offer help and assistance?

We all know user manuals can be wordy and difficult to understand. Does the rental provider make themselves available if you have questions or need assistance?

A good test of the company’s reliability is to see how easy or difficult it is to get in touch with a live representative. Before you order a product, try calling the company. Do they have people answering the telephones or is it a prerecorded operator?

Try sending an e-mail. How quickly do you receive a response?

These kinds of tests should help you get a better idea of the kind of provider you are working with.

When you’re on the company’s website, can you easily find ways to get your questions answered? Can you chat with them during business hours? Do they have an after-hours phone number?

5. What do they do to go above and beyond?

• Do they guarantee availability?
• How do they handle it when their rental instrument fails in the field?
• How easy is it to return the instrument when you’re done?
• What does the company do ensure the rental and return process is easy and stress-free for the customer?

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RAECO Rents is an industrial instruments rental house that makes it quick and easy to get the products you need. RAECO Rents offers products for portable environmental testing, industrial health and safety test and measurement instruments.

Our goal is to make your rental experience easy and hassle-free, so you can focus on getting your job done quickly and effectively.

Questions about placing an order with RAECO Rents? Check out our RAECO Rents Service Policies and Promises page or call (866) 594-8804 to speak with a rental specialist today.