Company wants to rent my Z1U... at DVinfo.net

James Huenergardt · May 2nd, 2007, 02:31 PM

Hi,

A company I do some web work for would like to rent my Z1U for a two-week shoot in Africa.

They say they have insurance to cover it if it's damaged.

What do I charge, and how to I make sure they DO have my camera insured?

I was thinking of asking for a check for $4,700 (B&H's current price) that I would deposit into my account and would refund once they return my Z1U in working order.

Any advice?

Thanks,

Jim

Geoff Dills · May 2nd, 2007, 02:49 PM

Ask for a copy of their certificate of insurance for rental equipment with an amount more than the value of the gear. And check with the insurer to make sure the policy is in force if you don't trust them. AND make sure it is valid for overseas.

Giroud Francois · May 2nd, 2007, 03:22 PM

the worst thing that can happen is not they break the camera (then you would get a new one), it is they bring it back, still working, but full of dust , sand and scratch. what would you do ? is it your only one camera ?
That is why i never lend equipment. After all if they are a company, they can probably get a serious camera at a shop.
Or lend it for almost the price of a new one, you would be surprised on how many companies cannot purchase stuff but are able to rent at even twice the price of the purchase price.

Steve House · May 2nd, 2007, 05:20 PM

I would certainly be suspicious since they want to rent your gear rather than go with an established rental house ... why would they do that? Not that that means anything negative about you, rather it should make you wonder why they're taking an unconventional approach, what are they not telling you that you really need to know before putting your gear at risk? Call me paranoid but in some cases people who AREN'T paranoid simply don't have enough information.

Reid Bailey · May 2nd, 2007, 05:40 PM

Jim,
Hopefully they want to borrow "your" camera because they've seen some great footage you've done for them.

I'd steer them towards a rental house, even offer to set it up so you can answer any tech questions.

If you really want to do it, check that their insurance will cover rented equipment in africa. And specifically for the region they're going. Several areas are going to be classified as "war regions" or whatever the insurance term is and I don't think any insurance would apply there.

And as someone else pointed out, these cameras really aren't all that expensive. Two weeks from a rental place is probably close to the purchase price.

Plus, you can't book any work for the two weeks that it's gone. Actually three to four weeks, considering the pro cleaning etc.

Steve House · May 3rd, 2007, 08:45 AM

Why don't you tell them you'll be happy to rent them the gear IF they hire you as the camera operator to go along with it. That not at all unusual - when the operator is expected to also provide the equipment (such as a location sound mixer usually does) the employer both pays the fee for the op and a rental for his equipment from him.

Bradley D Barber · May 3rd, 2007, 05:35 PM

Everyone above is throwing pearls at you. If this "equipment" is your business, and your business isn;t leasing equipment, then steer them elsewhere and charge them for consulting on the equipment rental if you handle the transaction for them.

Africa is a long way away if there is a customs issue.

Graham Risdon · May 5th, 2007, 02:46 AM

I never hire equipment to inexperienced people, only operators that work for me on other jobs. I always insist on insurance.

I would either suggest they hire me and the camera as a package, or charge the full cost of a new camera as a rental. I'd then simply buy a new camera - they take my old one to Africa and I have a new one. If it comes back in reasonable condition, I then have 2 cameras to use or let one go on eBay...

Whether this is workable is, I guess, up to the client ;-)

James Emory · May 6th, 2007, 10:13 PM

I wouldn't recommend renting your camera to them either. It doesn't matter if they do have insurance, you still have to go through alot of paperwork and downtime if something happens to your camera. The recovery process may not be as smooth as you might think.

May 2nd, 2007, 02:31 PM	#1
James Huenergardt Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA Posts: 513	Company wants to rent my Z1U... Hi, A company I do some web work for would like to rent my Z1U for a two-week shoot in Africa. They say they have insurance to cover it if it's damaged. What do I charge, and how to I make sure they DO have my camera insured? I was thinking of asking for a check for $4,700 (B&H's current price) that I would deposit into my account and would refund once they return my Z1U in working order. Any advice? Thanks, Jim

May 2nd, 2007, 05:20 PM	#4
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	I would certainly be suspicious since they want to rent your gear rather than go with an established rental house ... why would they do that? Not that that means anything negative about you, rather it should make you wonder why they're taking an unconventional approach, what are they not telling you that you really need to know before putting your gear at risk? Call me paranoid but in some cases people who AREN'T paranoid simply don't have enough information. __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!

May 3rd, 2007, 08:45 AM	#6
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	Why don't you tell them you'll be happy to rent them the gear IF they hire you as the camera operator to go along with it. That not at all unusual - when the operator is expected to also provide the equipment (such as a location sound mixer usually does) the employer both pays the fee for the op and a rental for his equipment from him. __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!

May 2nd, 2007, 02:49 PM	#2
Geoff Dills Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 85	Ask for a copy of their certificate of insurance for rental equipment with an amount more than the value of the gear. And check with the insurer to make sure the policy is in force if you don't trust them. AND make sure it is valid for overseas.

May 2nd, 2007, 03:22 PM	#3
Giroud Francois Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 2,133	the worst thing that can happen is not they break the camera (then you would get a new one), it is they bring it back, still working, but full of dust , sand and scratch. what would you do ? is it your only one camera ? That is why i never lend equipment. After all if they are a company, they can probably get a serious camera at a shop. Or lend it for almost the price of a new one, you would be surprised on how many companies cannot purchase stuff but are able to rent at even twice the price of the purchase price.

May 2nd, 2007, 05:40 PM	#5
Reid Bailey Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Fredericksburg, Va Posts: 220	Jim, Hopefully they want to borrow "your" camera because they've seen some great footage you've done for them. I'd steer them towards a rental house, even offer to set it up so you can answer any tech questions. If you really want to do it, check that their insurance will cover rented equipment in africa. And specifically for the region they're going. Several areas are going to be classified as "war regions" or whatever the insurance term is and I don't think any insurance would apply there. And as someone else pointed out, these cameras really aren't all that expensive. Two weeks from a rental place is probably close to the purchase price. Plus, you can't book any work for the two weeks that it's gone. Actually three to four weeks, considering the pro cleaning etc.

May 3rd, 2007, 05:35 PM	#7
Bradley D Barber Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 117	Everyone above is throwing pearls at you. If this "equipment" is your business, and your business isn;t leasing equipment, then steer them elsewhere and charge them for consulting on the equipment rental if you handle the transaction for them. Africa is a long way away if there is a customs issue.

May 5th, 2007, 02:46 AM	#8
Graham Risdon Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 192	I never hire equipment to inexperienced people, only operators that work for me on other jobs. I always insist on insurance. I would either suggest they hire me and the camera as a package, or charge the full cost of a new camera as a rental. I'd then simply buy a new camera - they take my old one to Africa and I have a new one. If it comes back in reasonable condition, I then have 2 cameras to use or let one go on eBay... Whether this is workable is, I guess, up to the client ;-)

May 6th, 2007, 10:13 PM	#9
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	I wouldn't recommend renting your camera to them either. It doesn't matter if they do have insurance, you still have to go through alot of paperwork and downtime if something happens to your camera. The recovery process may not be as smooth as you might think.