Ever use Rent-A-Center?

dmw16

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2000
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The people across the parking lot from me just got a TV delivered to them from Rent-A-Center. Is the place really a good deal? What kind of payments do they have on a big screen TV? I wasnt considering using them (as I just bought a new big screen), but I was just curious. The people who got the TV never struck me as those who could afford one.
 

MX2

Lifer
Apr 11, 2004
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Absolutely its a good deal! You pay three to fives times the MSRP. Who doesnt want to get in line for that?!?!

Originally posted by: dmw16
The people who got the TV never struck me as those who could afford one.

The answer young Jedi.
 

promposive

Senior member
Jun 15, 2004
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Yea... most likely they couldnt, they went in trying to rent one with hopes of owning it, but they will file bankruptcy before they "own" it.
I went when I just got an appartment to find a washer/dryer.... It was a lot cheaper to just buy a set at best buy.

Be smart, check the prices your paying over time... Even some credit cards are cheaper than most rental places....
 

dmw16

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2000
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i would never rent stuff like that. i always assumed it was a "scam" of sorts. I was just curious. I went to circuit city got 24mon no interest and my TV only costs me $70/mon.
 

RCN

Platinum Member
Dec 31, 2005
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No it isn't a good deal. Unless your credit sucks and there is no other way.........
Big screens start at about $35/week. $3640 over two years..

<-former I/O manager @ Renter's Choice/ Rent-a-Center



Oh and you will likely see the tv leaving soon.....
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
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81
Fsck no.

RAC has got to be one of the biggest ripoffs on the face of the planet.
 

Jawo

Diamond Member
Jun 15, 2005
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Originally posted by: RCN
No it isn't a good deal. Unless your credit sucks and there is no other way.........
Big screens start at about $35/week. $3640 over two years..

<-former I/O manager @ Renter's Choice/ Rent-a-Center



Oh and you will likely see the tv leaving soon.....

Thats what I always thought...thanks for confirming it
 

Rock Hydra

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2004
6,466
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Originally posted by: catnap1972
$1000 for a microwave?

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet--who wouldn't want to jump on that!

Damn, for that price that thing better cook my food just by looking at it.
 

Kelvrick

Lifer
Feb 14, 2001
18,422
5
81
Originally posted by: Rock Hydra
Originally posted by: catnap1972
$1000 for a microwave?

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet--who wouldn't want to jump on that!

Damn, for that price that thing better cook my food just by looking at it.

Yea, payments on it go half towards the item and half towards rent charges. Thats worse then 100% interest, people.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
when me and my wif efirst got married we looked at RAC to get a washer/dryer set. the end payment would have been $1200 for each. we went to lowe's and they had the same set for $400.

i really could not belive how expensive it is
 

bctbct

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 2005
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20 years ago a buddy of mine got a 25" color console....10 years of payments. WTF!
 

dmw16

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2000
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So is it really just for people w/ terrible credit who want things they can't afford?
 
Oct 9, 1999
15,216
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its for people who have really horrid credit and dont know better.

I remember some of my friends saying go get furniture from rent a center for my new apt.. i am like it will cost me much lesser to drive to ikea and pick something up.
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
26,130
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It is for three types of people:

1) Morons.

2) Those who have horrible credit and would rather get it now for 3-5 times the price than to wait a couple of months and purchase it outright. Of course, this type of thinking is WHY they have horrible credit to begin with.

3) People who need an item for a week. Say you wanted a big party and needed a big screen TV for just that week.
 

spacejamz

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
10,981
1,701
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Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
its for people who have really horrid credit and dont know better.

I remember some of my friends saying go get furniture from rent a center for my new apt.. i am like it will cost me much lesser to drive to ikea and pick something up.

or for the suckers who just see the XX.XX dollars a week part and don't do the math to see the actual total cost...

kinda like in some of new car ads in the paper, they advertise a $250 payment (and then the small fine prints says bi-weekly payments)...
 

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
20,551
2
81
Example of how they work:
https://www.pcsforall.com/Portal/productDetails.aspx?pid=112

$35/week for this PC. Doesn't sound too bad, in this deal though you pay for something like 3-4 months before they send it to you though. They just take the money out of your checking account weekly.
$35x52=$1820

I configured a PC identically at Dell for $502. They'll finance it for "as low as $12/month" (they have a $15 minimum) for three years.

So unless you credit is so piss poor that you can't borrow a penny from a sidewalk, it's a pretty crappy deal.
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
26,130
4,787
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Originally posted by: spacejamz
kinda like in some of new car ads in the paper, they advertise a $250 payment (and then the small fine prints says bi-weekly payments)...
Hmm, that gave me a great idea. I should start an ad like that. They think they are paying $250/month since they don't read the fine print. But I'm actually very sneaky. Bi-weekly can mean either (1) every two weeks or (2) two times a week. So really, I could honestly make them pay $500/week if I label it as bi-weekly. Since there are 4.34 weeks per month, that is $2174/month. Nearly ten times what they think they are paying. Plus with all the late fees they'd rack up each month, at $35 a pop, I could get another $304/month in late fees. I'll be nice though, I won't charge extra interest if they make up all missed payments. Grand total: $2478.48/month.

Great idea, spacejamz!
 

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
20,551
2
81
Originally posted by: dullard
Originally posted by: spacejamz
kinda like in some of new car ads in the paper, they advertise a $250 payment (and then the small fine prints says bi-weekly payments)...
Hmm, that gave me a great idea. I should start an ad like that. They think they are paying $250/month since they don't read the fine print. But I'm actually very sneaky. Bi-weekly can mean either (1) every two weeks or (2) two times a week. So really, I could honestly make them pay $500/week if I label it as bi-weekly. Since there are 4.34 weeks per month, that is $2174/month. Nearly ten times what they think they are paying.

Great idea, spacejamz!

"semi-weekly" is two times a week.
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
26,130
4,787
126
Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
The english language needs to get it's act together.
It is fuc&ed up. When you bisect something, you cut it in two. When you bisect a week, it would be two halves of a week. Thus, bi-weekly makes the most sense as meaning twice a week. But some moron used the two idea once and doubled instead of halved. Now we have the moronic English language that we have now.

When something is semi-important, it may be important some weeks, and not others. Thus, to me, semi-weekly should mean you pay some weeks and not others. But no, semi-weekly means you pay double what you would when you pay weekly. That isn't semi at all! That is double.