We are finishing up a job where we had to rent some large equipment (scissor lifts, boom lifts, etc.) for several months. I received a bill today for a 26′ lift that we rented from 04-13-07 to 06-22-07. The rental costs are $150/day, $300/week, $600/4 weeks. The last full 4 week period we had the lift was 05-11-07 to 06-07-07. This leaves 06-08-07 to 06-22-07, which is exactly two weeks. My question is this:
Would you expect to pay $300 (one half of $600/4 weeks) or $600 (2 weeks @ $300/week) for this last rental period? I know it’s not a huge amount to complain about, but I purposely called for them to take the lift off rental so we wouldn’t have to pay for it anymore. Now I see that we could have used if for two more weeks at no additional cost. I kinda feel like since we paid for two whole periods that we should get a prorated rate on the partial period.
What do you think? Is this just how the industry works or should I bring it up to our sales rep?
*edit- to change “of” to “or” as suggested by Julian
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com
Fredericksburg, VA
Edited 7/2/2007 9:55 pm ET by JonBlakemore
Replies
You should definately be paying the 1/2 of the monthly rate. (BTW - you should edit your original post - you have "of" instead of "or" and it makes your question a bit tricky to figure out.
Especially if you were also renting several other large items.
They should not hesitate to credit you back if they indeed charged you the weekly rate for the latter part of a long term rental.
With all of those rentals at one time - I hope they did you good in terms of the pickup and delivery charges if not at N/C.
JT
Julian Tracy,
Common sense and industry policies aren't always the same..
Customers always ask for rental rates,, usually ask about delivery etc.. but they don't ask about rental periods.. rental periods are not month to month they are for 4 week periods..
If he'd rented it one more day he would have been charged another day's rent as well so two weeks and a day would have been more expensive than a 4 week period..
Read what's covered when you use their insurance.. Basically nothing! You're still on the hook for most damage!
Jon Blakemore.
I'm sorry you have become a victim of the most recent trend in renting.. Most rental houses follow the billing you described..
In part it's because competition has forced most rental houses to quote rates that really don't cover our costs.. Clean up charges, fuel charges, plus labor to replace fuel, insurance that doesn't really provide you with much real protection, increased delivery charges. etc.. are done to close those gaps..
Personally I wouldn't expect to pay half the monthly rate since that rate is for a month minimum, but it comes down to how much pull you have with the rental yard, how giving the guy on the other end is toward you.
If between one week and 2 (half month) the prorated monthly amount equals the one week rate there would never be a reason to rent anything for less than two weeks since it could sit for a week for the same amount.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
Don,I agree with you about prorating when you are less than the month minimum, but we rented the lift for 10 weeks. All I am wondering is if we should pay the same for the last two weeks as we did for the first two weeks.
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
That's my point - that it was a long rental of multiple items. Anytime I've rented lifts longterm (done so a few times) these details get figured out at the get go and usually to get the rental they'll start cutting you slack at that time.Using the above reasoning - you all are saying that 10 months and two days would get you a bill for ten months and two full days worth of rent - screw that, but maybe it's too late to negotiate. But's it's never too late to let them know how much future business they will not get if they nickle and dime you on this job and further any of the contractor's & contacts of yours will not be getting the thumbs up their way. May not matter to them now that they had your business and have their equipment back and are just sending the bill, but it damn well should matter to them.JT
Edited 7/3/2007 1:12 am ET by JulianTracy
Oh... Now I see your point. Hmmm...
Come to think of it our last month long rental ran a little over and it seems it was prorated on the monthly charge.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
Of course hindsight is 20/20 but the time to negotiate the pro-rated monthly deal was during the week preceeding the completion of the work you needed the lift for.
Calling your salesman and asking for a partial monthly rate would allow you leverage because you could keep the machine for two weeks longer, if he didn't agree, when the rental company might be able to make a better rate with it during that period.
Thanks to all for your advice.I'm calling the rep today to ask him some questions.One thing I forgot to mention is we still have two pieces of equipment so I do have some leverage.
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Jon, I'm a little surprised at their rate schedule. They should be $300/week, $500/2 weeks, $800/month... something like that. At $300/week or $600/2 weeks, AND $600/month, they are foolishly encouraging people to keep things for a month instead of two weeks, and insulting their customers when they return after two weeks and want to pay less than a month's rental.
Someone at that place needs to rework the rate sheet. It'd be a good project for an 8th grader.
That's the way it's always gone for me - the rental guys will even tell me "rent it for 2 days you might as well keep it for the week since you already paid for it", "rent for 2 weeks keep it the whole month"
Like HudsonValley said, I have tried using the "extra" time as leverage in case they might have another customer waiting for what I had, so I would return early in exchange for discount. Sometimes it worked out for both of us, sometimes they said to keep it.
Hope this helps. Rich
Wow. Back in December I paid $2400 for a 32' lift (boom lift) for 2 weeks. I guess thats what happens when there is no competition. I'd love to have those rates (my customers too).
Frenchy, Ever think about expanding?
We rented a 60' boom lift for $1,500/month. I asked for a 40' lift and got a great price. They didn't have any 40' lifts at the yard so we got a 60' instead.
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
I know. Your post just floored me.
You know the old saying "its suprising what you can get used to".
Nac. Texas
ave wage: $18
ave house: $80- 90,000
ave lift: $1200
With the exception of diesel, the cost of living here is next to nil. I'm gonna start checking Tylers prices next time.
I'm confused. Is your average lift price per week or month?
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Per week
32' lift
no vaseline
Everybodies always payed. In the end its the customer that pays of course, but talk about gouging. I thought it was like that everywhere.
I'd sure ask for a rebate... they might think you are on a "cost plus" deal and cutting you a deal would cost you money... any good place would cut the rate...
around here i don't rent a ton but when i do i get the one day rate and pick it up on friday return it on monday morning and work my butt off all weekend...
p