Little Vent - Refundable Deposits

OK so you hire something (in this case a waterpump) and you fork over a refundable deposit. We hired the pump for a day. We had to return to the depo for extra hose about an hour later. Weren't told the exact time to have it all returned.

Today hubby drops the pump and accessories back. Couple of hours late apparently, 'so that will be an extra half day'. Then 'oh and we didn't charge for that extra hose'..... (we weren't told about an extra charge up front)

OK I can kinda see both sides of the story - hubby is a bit blaise about these things, whereas I read the small print and make sure I know exactly what I'm in for.

My peeve though is that the guy behind the counter was ultra smug when it came to whittling away our as much as he could get of our returnable deposit. It seems they've got you over a barrel and there's not a lot you can do about it when they are holding onto your money.

We were going back to that place to hire some quite substantial landscaping gear later this year, but now me thinks not.

Yes, I can also see both sides of this story.

But after years of probably letting folk get away with an extra couple of hours here, a longer hose there etc etc etc they have probably come to the conclusion they weren't making as much money as they should have.
Along comes user pays and you pay for absolutely everything, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. And the refundable deposit is just a way to ensure they get all they are entitled to.

I had to speak to my computer guru's today about the GST rise and what we are doing about it. I kept the conversation as short as I practicably could as I have learn't from experience that they charge for every second they are on the phone - no such thing as free advice over the phone.

Ok I'm coming from their side and it is just as ronnie said also people would come in and get at night something for the next day and then use it over night and bring it back early saying only needed for a half day after all . THink of it this way if you bring it back late that is another hire they can't earn. Sorry I see your point too and have felt the same. But now have son involved with one.

sod;337226 wrote: Ok I'm coming from their side and it is just as ronnie said also people would come in and get at night something for the next day and then use it over night and bring it back early saying only needed for a half day after all . THink of it this way if you bring it back late that is another hire they can't earn. Sorry I see your point too and have felt the same. But now have son involved with one.

Yes quite agree, I know from a friend who has had that problem many times. Sorry SarahM but with today's costs they have to do this. The next company may even be tougher to deal with. Build a relationship with your suppliers and you will get the "perks"

Yeah it was more the attitude of the guy that was so down right annoying.

Next time I will wear the pants when it comes to signing little dotted lines. :rolleyes:

arnie.m;337235 wrote: Yes quite agree, I know from a friend who has had that problem many times. Sorry SarahM but with today's costs they have to do this. The next company may even be tougher to deal with. Build a relationship with your suppliers and you will get the "perks"

And it's well known that the equipment that you hire from them are the specially manufactured models that are impervious to over-revving, bluntening, bad fuel, extreme terrain, overloading, severe impacts and most other abuse that would damage the gear that you or I own, so that's got to be worth the extra charge :rolleyes:

Yeah, Organix, that's why they charge like a wounded elephant for the privilege of using their gear. They know that even the best gear won't live long in the hands of the typical un-skilled and over-enthusiastic user.

Organix;337285 wrote: And it's well known that the equipment that you hire from them are the specially manufactured models that are impervious to over-revving, bluntening, bad fuel, extreme terrain, overloading, severe impacts and most other abuse that would damage the gear that you or I own, so that's got to be worth the extra charge :rolleyes:

I'm actually rather more careful about rental equipment that I am of my own... My stuff if I break it I can fix with a welder and sledgehammer... Rental stuff doesn't have that luxury... they want to do it themselves at shop rates and bill accordingly!

What annoys me about hire places is they used to start the motors of whatever piece of equipment up before you took it away to make sure it was all tickety poo. They've stopped doing that now and we've been caught twice with stuff that won't start, and have either lost a weekend's use (as not open Sundays) or had to drive into town and back out again for a replacement.

So we've started asking them to start the motors up before we take anything away, but if they are very busy they get very reluctant to do this...

What also annoys me is instead of taking imprints on credit card for deposit/hire, without actually taking that money out, some are now charging immediately for this so you have to wait for your deposit to be put back on your card.

So while I am with the others as far as late returns, I get very grumpy at the lack of service/servicing at some of these places now as well...

arie you are so right, when they know you are one of the good ones you get the "perks"
Sarah I would be annoyed at that too and you should have been told every thing before you got it and what comes with it.

igor and you would be shocked at just what people expect things to do

Kiwi me too

Tigger the one my son is at they have to show you how it all works and start them up but as for break downs it depends whose fault it is if it's theirs they come out if yours you pay or bring it in