Would you rent out your gears to others for profit?

<p>Dear photographer friends,<br>

I'm working on a startup project within an established company and would love to get your inputs.<br>

If you are a photographer owning various gears, such as expensive lens/cameras, softboxes, lighting equipment, when those gears are idle, would you like to rent them to others with reasonable price<br />and good protection plan?<br>

It'll be great to see how you like this idea by simply replying yes or no.<br>

Very appreciate your time!!!<br>

Helen</p>

<p>Not a chance, unless my business was equipment rental.<br>

<Chas></p>

<p>Reluctant</p>

<p>Nope.</p>

<p>All of the above...</p>

<p>Depends on the protection plan!<br>

Anything less than "new replacement" would be unacceptable to me.</p>

<p>I've loaned equipment to people I personally know but, to total strangers, . . . .?</p>

<p>Yes if there were a full value cash deposit, a signed agreement and a very big fee.</p>

<p>there are rental companies for this</p>

<p>Never. <br />I loaned a co-worker my flash back in the 80's. The next week he brought it back and told me that he dropped it. The battery cover was broken off, so I had to duct tape it after that or pay for a pricy repair. He did not even offer to pay for the damage. But I learned my lesson.<br /><br /><br /> Then again.. I would rent my D70 out:) I had brought it to a local shop to clean the sensor. They ended up making the spots much worse, plus added streaks of fluid or something on it. At the time, I already had a pair of D300, so I only kept the D70 for extreme emergencies. Was gonna try to sell it to KEH but they were only offering around $25.00 for the body and accessories. It is now a paperweight.</p>

<p>Never ever under any circumstances.</p>

<p>In addition to ordinary risks, there is something called the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons">tragedy of the commons</a>", a corollary of which is relevant to the treatment such equipment could be expected to receive from non-owners.</p>

<p>(see some of the essays and discussions of things like Hindu 'dust' celebrations and rental lenses at Lensrental.com)</p>

<p>Nope. However, I once lent a power drill to a construction worker who had to crawl under our house to do something. He came back with a long look on his face, holding a smoking power drill. He said it wasn't up to the task. That's sort of how I'd expect my photographic equipment to come back.</p>

<p>Nope, nope, nope...</p>

<p>Not a chance. I'd send them to Lens Rentals.</p>

<p>Generally, there is no profit in loaning out equipment. Especially sensitive electronics and glass. Lighting stands and counterweights are a different animal altogether. So, no to cameras, lenses and lights. Yes to stands and softboxes.</p>

<p>No, and the fundamental problem, IMO, is what to do about the gear receiving damage that is (1) not readily detectable (like maybe a cracked circuit board or decentered glass element in gear that was dropped or banged around); and/or (2) real but arguably minor enough not to warrant repair or replacement (and who gets to decide whether it warrants repair or replacement?). The converse problems are equally significant. I can't imagine any business model along these lines that makes sense for all involved parties. Better to leave this business to Lensrentals.com, Adorama, and the like.</p>

 

<p>Wow, we didn't expect such strong concerns and risks of having others use our personal gears.<br />Totally very legit concerns.<br>

Great to hear so many good pieces of advice from pros. It seems there might be some potential market for renting out lighting equipments, even studio space.<br>

Thanks a lot!!!</p>

 

<p>Sorry, one more ask. In order not to kill our project completely, do you feel there's market for renting out your lighting equipments or studio space?</p>

<p>Thanks again!<br>

Helen</p>

<p>Probably not unless I was in the equipment rental business.</p>

<p>I was in the equipment rental business for 8 years, audio visual equipment, such as microphones, lenses, projectors, screens, etc. The business model requires that your equipment be absolutely reliable, well maintained, and available when needed. This requires considerable inventory.<br>

Having one spare camera body or one 70-200 lens or one speedlight means that you must turn away customers when that one item isn't available and that loses business in the long run because you aren't giving the customer what they want, availability.<br>

Studio space is a different matter. I would never rent out MY working studio space, but with adequate capitol investment, I'd build a rental studio as a business.<br>

<Chas><br /><br /></p>

<p>Would you rent out your toothbrush? It's the same thing IMO.</p>

<p>My concerns about renting out camera and lenses (my reasons, which I did not articulate, echo those of others) would extend to any lighting equipment.</p>

<p>If I had a genuine studio space, it would be in my home. I would not rent that out, and I probably would not rent out studio space held elsewhere, either, for reasons of liability (what if they hurt themselves, for example, or start a fire), potential risk (breakage, theft) to equipment stored there, etc. Charles's idea of creating a second studio specifically for rental is a good idea, however--pending, as he mentions, adequate capital investment.</p>

<p>From the movie Clear and Present Danger...<br /><br />Jack Ryan: I'm here to rent the Huey.<br /> Helicopter owner: We don't rent it anymore, but it is for sale.<br /> Jack Ryan: How much?<br /> Helicopter owner: Two million dollars.<br /> Jack Ryan: Uh, my pilot and I will have to take it for a test drive.<br /> Helicopter owner: Of course, you just have to leave a deposit.<br /> Jack Ryan: How much is that?<br /> Helicopter owner: Two million dollars.<br /> Jack Ryan: Umm... <br /><br /> That's my gear rental policy.</p>

<p>Now that that's all settled, and at the risk of being scolded for pointing it out ... I'd like to go on record saying that, in this context, the plural of "gear" is "gear." Use it the same way you would "equipment." If you have a bag full of camera equipment, you still call it equipment (not equipments). "Gear" works the same way. <br /><br />The time to use the word "gears" is when you're referring to more than one gear, such as the parts in a watch or other machine. Like, "This diving watch is an important part of my collection of underwater photography gear, and inside of it are many tiny gears."<br /><br />The word is also used as a verb, as in "to gear up." Essentially, like "to equip." So you can say, "He is gearing up," or "Let's watch him as he gears up for his dive..." but when he gathers all of his give stuff in a pile, we'd still say "Look at that pile of gear!" (not gears).<br /><br />OK, scold me now.<br /><br />Oh, and no, I'd never rent out my gear unless I was specifically getting into that business. Likewise with studio space. If it's not built specifically for that use, and all of the legal/liability measures aren't in place, the only people using a photographic space of mine would be guests. Rentals are nothing but trouble, on the selling side.</p>

<p>I guess it depends on how bad I needed the cash. Under my current situation, I wouldn't.</p>

<p>Absolutely not. </p>

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<p>Would you rent out your toothbrush? It's the same thing IMO.</p>

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<p>If I'd been drinking anything when I read that, I think it would have come out my nose. I couldn't have said it better.</p>

<p>As for studio space? MY studio space? No again. Another photographer did ask to rent my studio space -- several times. The answer was "no" -- several times. I once rented out a house when I couldn't sell it. I incurred HUGE losses. I'm not about to repeat that.</p>

<p>This is not to say that renting stuff is a bad business model. However, it requires a level of business acumen that few people have. Certainly <em>I</em> don't have it. Either that, or I have had extraordinarily bad luck so far and haven't given the law of averages a fair chance.</p>

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<p> I'd like to go on record saying that, in this context, the plural of "gear" is "gear."</p>

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<p>This is true in formal English, but there are dialects in which "gears" would be common usage. I've heard such usage in Singapore, for instance.</p>