Renting is different than any other business out there. We’re entrusting you with our equipment (for a fee, of course), you’re trusting us that the equipment you’re reserving is good quality and that we will have it for you, and we’re expecting it returned, on time and in the same condition. It can be a strain to put on so new of a friendship, which is why we have certain policies.
We require 25% down when you reserve more than a month in advance. That way, we know that you actually are going to be picking up the equipment. You would be surprised how many times people call and want to reserve equipment “just in case” and then decide the day of their event that they don’t want it. We can’t do that, because then the people who do want the equipment won’t be able to use it. When you reserve, we GUARANTEE that we will have the equipment here for you. The 25% you put down is your commitment to us that you will be getting it!
We require a State ID #. We realize that some of you are calling for companies, or on behalf of a friend/family member, but unfortunately, not everyone is as wonderful as you are! Our insurance REQUIRES us to get State ID numbers from whoever places a reservation, whether its for a delivery or pickup, and the Drivers License of whoever picks up the equipment. This is for two reasons. 1. We have had customers not return our equipment, even from businesses. It’s unfortunate, but because of it we do need that information. We need someway of getting our equipment back, and that does mean putting a black mark on your permanent record. YES. We will report you to the police if we don’t get the equipment back after a while. We do realize that there are extenuating circumstances, and that sometimes things happen, but that’s why we need things like the person placing the order and picking up the order’s numbers, so we can be informed and not turn you into the police prematurely. The second reason is sometimes, in this land filled with Olsons, Smiths, and Johnsons, sometimes there are people with the same last name with similar orders on the same day. One day, many years ago, we had a customer pickup something that was for the wrong Ron Olson. Since then, we’ve made it mandatory that we get driver’s license of whoever is picking up and a phone number. Mistakes like this DO NOT happen often, but if they do, we want to have a way to fix it, and this is the easiest way. Also, every once in a while, a piece of equipment gets left behind, and if we have a cell number, we can call you before you get too far off!
The thing to remember when it comes to State ID numbers, is 1, you don’t actually use them for anything other than renting and getting pulled over, 2. they are public record, and 3. whenever you rent ANYTHING, they require that information. From car rentals to back in the day when video stores still were kicking, they all require a State ID. And so do we. We are not the only ones in the rental industry either. We are members of the American Rental Association, and it is standard protocol everywhere. We do keep your information secure in our systems, though, to point out again, there really is no danger if that information does get out. The only danger is if you DO NOT return the equipment, which you’re going to do anyway, right?