Hiring party equipment: How to avoid being ripped off?
You have a special event coming up, whether it's a birthday party or just an evening out with friends? Whatever the case, you want to hire equipment for a party but don't know how? These days, many ill-intentioned people take advantage of occasions like these to rip off those interested. They are quick to offer damaged, counterfeit or unusable equipment to make money easily and dishonestly. In this article, we'll give you some advice and tips on how to avoid getting ripped off before hiring party equipment from a private individual.
Inspection of the condition of the rented equipment
First of all, check the specifics of the equipment you want to hire. Once you've done that, when you go to the hire company to collect the equipment, check it.
It is still advisable to carry out a complete check of its general condition and proper operation. The equipment should come with instructions for use and the accessories you need to operate it properly. Your equipment should be free of scratches and indelible marks, or these should be mentioned before hire.
You can also choose equipment that carries the CE mark (in compliance with European legislation) and brands with a good reputation.
Customer reviews
Don't just rely on the photos. They may look impeccable, but in reality the materials may be in very poor condition - it could be a scam. To avoid any scams or problems, you can check the customer reviews of the individual and their materials. This will tell you whether you're dealing with a good deal or a scam. It's best to check several reviews before hiring specific materials.
Equipment hire contracts between private individuals
It's important to know that when you want to hire equipment from a private individual, you need to sign a hire contract. The contract must contain a number of elements, such as
- Description of the equipment hired
- General condition
- Terms and conditions of use
- Daily rate
- The duration of the lease
- The amount of the excess to be paid in the event of damage, theft, etc.
This contract must be signed on the day of hire by both parties, the hirer and the lessor.
If, when you rent, the tenant does not present you with any contract or information or does not ask you to sign it, you are probably dealing with a scam.
Conditions for repairing damage
If one of your appliances breaks down during your rental period, the necessary expenses must be borne by the tenant. No repairs should be carried out without the owner's permission. You can call him directly to inform him of the damage.
It's also advisable not to opt for an old appliance that could break down at any moment, or to use an appliance that you don't know how to operate. It's essential to read the instructions carefully.
Curious to find out more about potential scams? Read our articles on Mondial Relay scams between private individuals and Colissimo scams.
Secure the rental of your second-hand party equipment with Obvy :
If you want to conduct sales/purchases/rentals between private individuals in complete security, choose Obvy. Obvy is a secure payment platform designed to eradicate online scams between private individuals.
When you make a transaction on Obvy, the funds are only credited to your seller when the buyer certifies the conformity of the property purchased.
In the event of a counterfeiting scam, you can quickly and easily return the product to the seller and get your money back. What's more, you'll have all the information you need about the seller in the event of legal action.
