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Is Canopy Tent Rental Safer With Shops?

In your search for a good canopy rental outfit in your neighborhood, you may come across individuals who have put up advertisements for canopy tent rental. In a word, they have their own canopy tents and are willing to lend it off to strangers for a fee. Sounds easy and uncomplicated, doesn't it? But can these individuals be trusted with your money? Is it still more practical to rent from shops than from individuals?

It is sometimes cheaper to rent from individuals than from shops. Most canopy owners just lend their materials out for a little extra money; they don't have a lot riding on the transaction. They may also settle on handshake deals, which may be risky, but considerably less hassle than arguing over rental contracts with shop owners.

However, the "you break it, you buy it" policy applies even to individuals. Just because they don't have the backing of a business entity, doesn't mean they'll let you go easy if you damage their property. Remember that even if you are technically leasing a canopy, it is still privately owned by the individual you are leasing it from, so he or she has the right to charge you for repairs or replacements, if either one is necessary.

As with shops, it would be good to look into the individual's prior transaction records before making a commitment. A quick check would reveal if this person has had shady dealings in the past - as in, does his canopy tent have a steady record of breaking or falling apart? Does this person have a record of running with other people's money? If this person resides in your neighborhood, it may be best to ask around first for your friends and neighbors' input on his or her character.

But you could go with your gut on this. If the person has had no record of successful lending in the past, and if he or she exhibits dodgy behavior, it may be best to bow out of the deal. Be extra careful of canopy tent rental entities who don't want to sign anything, and those who want all the rental money up front, too! It is entirely too easy to take advantage of handshake deals, after all.