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Forums - Gaming - Why did video rental stores stopping renting consoles?

madskillz on 28 January 2009
scottie said:
They used to do this, but it makes sense not to do it anymore.

If you want to know what a console is like, play it at a friend's house. This logic isn't so vali for renting games, as you may not know friends with the game.

That said, I don't see any point to renting games either

See, here's the thing. I am usually the tech point person with the folks I hang wit. I was the first to buy a PS1, PS2, PSP, 360 and a Wii. With my crazy sked - I work 3 to midnight - most of my peeps wanna play their consoles on the weekends. My weekend is Monday-Tuesday.

Sure, I am a unique situation, but still - I do think a trial run would be good to see if the public is interested. Do you realize how many folks regret their decision to buy said console? They didn't have friends to try it out with. They invested a ton of money and can't return their console. Research is one thing - taking a console on a spin is something else.

 



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famousringo on 28 January 2009
madskillz said:
famousringo said:
Either the risk was too high, or the demand was too low. Maybe both.

Consider the continual growth of the videogame industry. More and more households already have a gaming system. Increased ownership is probably driving down demand for rental.

Here's the thing - with the economic downturn, folks are selling their consoles. Being able to rent them would actually be good for folks who just want to play games when they have company/party or just want to do something different.

As far as risk, when I rented a PS2, I had to have a $200 deposit, in cash AND an active credit card on file too. They were well covered.

I wanted to rent a PS3 and a Wii when they first came out to see if I would like the systems. I wish I could have rented them. I have purchased several games I rented recently. Without renting, it's unlikely I would have taken the plunge.

 

 

$200 deposit + rental fee is roughly the price of a new console (except the PS3, of course). I know you get the $200 back, but all these requirements raise the barriers for rental, and make purchase more attractive by comparison. Furthermore, you can get money back on a console by selling it.

The only difference between buying a $250 Wii which you can sell for $200 and renting a Wii for $50 plus $200 deposit is that rental has the added barrier of requiring a credit card. The exit barrier is lower with rental, but people are usually more interested concerned with getting in than getting out.



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O-D-C on 28 January 2009

my local store still rents consoles.



madskillz on 28 January 2009
famousringo said:
madskillz said:
famousringo said:
Either the risk was too high, or the demand was too low. Maybe both.

Consider the continual growth of the videogame industry. More and more households already have a gaming system. Increased ownership is probably driving down demand for rental.

Here's the thing - with the economic downturn, folks are selling their consoles. Being able to rent them would actually be good for folks who just want to play games when they have company/party or just want to do something different.

As far as risk, when I rented a PS2, I had to have a $200 deposit, in cash AND an active credit card on file too. They were well covered.

I wanted to rent a PS3 and a Wii when they first came out to see if I would like the systems. I wish I could have rented them. I have purchased several games I rented recently. Without renting, it's unlikely I would have taken the plunge.

 

 

$200 deposit + rental fee is roughly the price of a new console (except the PS3, of course). I know you get the $200 back, but all these requirements raise the barriers for rental, and make purchase more attractive by comparison. Furthermore, you can get money back on a console by selling it.

The only difference between buying a $250 Wii which you can sell for $200 and renting a Wii for $50 plus $200 deposit is that rental has the added barrier of requiring a credit card. The exit barrier is lower with rental, but people are usually more interested concerned with getting in than getting out.

For a PS3, $200 is a good price. For a Wii or 360, you'd do like $100 for the Wii and $75 on the 360. Really, it's just an insurance policy. I remember when the Wii first came out, you had to pay $40 deposit to play it. I saw that at 2-3 Gamestops.

For some, the deposit would be an obstacle, but you get your money back - it's cash - or as a chargeback. Just like car rentals - they charge the amount you are getting the car for up front - but get it back in a few days.