Town Hall Panel Topics
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This month we are interested in questions rental businesses would like to see addressed in the Town Hall Panel discussions we are planning for your January Rental Rally Tradeshow. Here are the responses to the October survey.
1. Please rank the following Town Hall Discussion topics in order of interest to you.
Damage Waivers:
1: 17% (3 responses) 2: 11% (2 responses) 3: 22% (4 responses) 4: 39% (7 responses)
5: 11% (2 responses)
Delivery:
1: 5% (1 response) 2: 50% (10 responses) 3: 30% (6 responses) 4: 15% (3 responses)
5: 0% (0 responses)
Party Side of Equipment:
1: 37% (7 responses) 2: 16% (3 responses) 3: 11% (2 responses) 4: 11% (2 responses)
5: 26% (5 responses)
Equipment Side of Equipment:
1: 45% (9 responses) 2: 10% (2 responses) 3: 15% (3 responses) 4: 15% (3 responses)
5: 15% (3 responses)
Fuel:
1. 0% (0 responses) 2: 17% (3 responses) 3: 22% (4 responses) 4: 22% (4 responses)
5: 39% (7 responses)
2. Other Topics of Interest? (7 responses)
1. Contracts, yard security, customer P.O. requests which create liability for Rental Center, wash rack
designs and concerns.
2. Silica dust compliance.
3. Collections from cash past due customers (non-account). Collectors don’t want to mess with non-commercial customers. Amounts are usually smaller, $200 to $1,000.
4. Employees (finding, training, etc.).
5. High cost of insurance.
6. GPS vehicle tracking, employee incentives, equipment purchase vs. profit.
7. GPS tracking, employee handbooks, employee incentives, equipment purchase vs. income potential.
3. Pros and Cons of Damage Waivers (7 responses)
1. Profit center and argument reducer.
2. Trouble explaining coverage.
3. Cap on damages. Explanation. Free money.
4. We've never offered a damage waiver.
5. Interested.
6. It is equipment protection not DW.
7. Pros—make money to replace equipment. Cons—sometimes doesn't cover everything and hard to
collect if you don't have a cc on file.
4. Are there circumstances when a Damage Waiver is NOT offered? (8 responses)
1. Yes.
2. Certain very easily damaged equipment.
3. Not available on some specified equipment.
4. Yes, Rollover and hydrolic hose breakage.
5. Always.
6. Yes, when the customer provides you with a Certficate of Insurance.
7. My older regular customers.
8. On trucks.
5. Do you require a certificate of insurance on file?
Yes: 46% (6 responses)
No: 54% (7 responses)
Additional comments (4 responses):
1. But we strongly encourage submission of C of I.
2. On longer rentals or farther distance.
3. On all truck rentals and account customers.
4. Would like more information.
6. Other Damage Waiver Questions:
No responses.
7. How do you calculate your Delivery Charges?
By Mile: 36% (5 responses)
By Time: 43% (6 responses)
Size of Equipment: 21% (3 responses)
Size of Order: 29% (4 responses)
Venue/Job Site: 21% (3 responses)
Truck Used: 21% (3 responses)
Other (please specify): 50% (7 responses)
1. Market pricing.
2. By distance "zone" and truck size.
3. Party, we have a flat rate by the zone. Then it goes into a mileage charge.
4. Zone chart within 20 miles. After that by time.
5. Delivery Vehicle Type (required to legally haul the equipment) and Delivery Location (determined by county boundaries).
6. We charge by distance.
7. City.
8. Do you have a Delivery Minimum?
Yes: 85.71% (12 responses)
No: 14.29% (2 responses)
Other: 0
9. Other Delivery Questions
1. Truck inspections, GPS, Camera Systems.
2. Delivery time windows, after hours delivery and pickup.
3. Additional instructions at schools, dealing with military bases, moving equipment, setting up inside homes, charging for set up and take down.
10. What items do you rent that must be delivered and set up by your crew?
Tents: 82% (9 responses)
Stage: 64% (7 responses)
Dance Floors: 64% (7 responses)
Other (please specify): 45% (5 responses)
1. All equipment turn key operation.
2. Margarita machines.
3. Light towers.
4. Tables and chairs.
5. N/A.
11. Other Party Equipment Questions
No responses.
12. For equipment that requires safety equipment, do you rent or sell the following:
Harness: Rent: 25% (2 responses) Sell: 75% (6 responses)
Goggles: Rent: 12.5% (1 response) Sell: 87.5% (7 responses)
Dust Mask: Rent: 0% (0 responses) Sell: 100% (8 responses)
13. For equipment that requires specialized training and certification. Do you:
Require proof of certification: 33% (2 responses)
Take the customers word: 67% (4 responses)
Additional comments:
1. Training is referred to on rental agreement.
2. Print on contract, that customer understands responsibilty.
3. We do not rent anything that needs specialized training.
14. Other Equipment Questions
1. We offer boom, scissor and forklift training and certification.
15. How do you charge for fuel (gas/diesel)?
Separately: 82% (9 responses)
Included in rental: 18% (2 responses)
Additional comment:
1. Automatically added to contract, refunded if returned "topped off."
16. How do you charge for propane?
Separately: 83.33% (10 responses)
Included in rental: 16.67% (2 responses)
Additional comments:
1. Filled upon return to store and billed accordingly.
2. For heaters price is included.
3. Flat rate per bottle considered a rental.
17. Other Fuel Questions
1. What is charged if Red Fuel is returned in a road going vehicle?
