Rent-All Inc — Local services in Salem

i probably should give them One Star because i will never go back. If i owned a business with the two very poor reviews that are already posted on the web (!!!!!)... i would try a lot harder to make CERTAIN no one else could possibly be unhappy with the job i'm doing... but that doesn't seem to be the case with Rent-All. Part of my frustration is with ME... for not having checked the reviews before i sent them my lawn mower. Having now read the previous two reviews, i absolutely would have sent the mower elsewhere. They say on their website it's been a family owned business since 1967... that's a LOT of years to be throwing away on such poor service.

Essentially my mower had a broken cable and was sputtering and running poorly. i sent the mower to Rent-All via a long time trusted employee of mine KNOWING he would communicate my problem. I got the mower back... cable fixed and at a price of $58... which seemed fine to me given it needed a brake cable and probably a new spark plug or minor adjustment to the carburetor. Last night i couldn't wait to mow my lawn and immediately noticed the engine was still misfiring. It was past 5 so i put it on my list to call this morning.

Here's how my call went. John answered and I was immediately transferred to Michael. I had high hopes since Michael seemed much sharper than the guy who answered the phone. John (the man who originally answered... i'm guessing the owner) sounded waaay too lethargic and sick of his job, so i was grateful to be transferred. I told Michael i had some questions about what was done and asked him to please pull the ticket so we could talk about what had (and HADN'T) been done. He quickly found the ticket (so far so good!) and said.. "looks like we were told to replace the brake cable" Me: (We didn't even know it was called a brake cable so there is no way that is what Juan told them!!) After you fixed the cable... did you start it? (knowing if they started it, they instantly would have heard how poorly it was running). Him: No, we didn't start it. We don't touch the engine unless we're told to (it's there for SERVICE... OF COURSE YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION TO TOUCH THE ENGINE!!). Me: No one expected you to "touch the engine" but after you put on the cable you never started it up??? Him: That's right. Did you TELL us to do a tune-up? Me: Maybe not specifically but if you started it and called me, you would have probably gotten the job and i get a lawn mower that runs like it should. Him: If you'd like to bring it back i will be glad to look at it for you. Me: No thanks... it's a pain to bring it back and it was already there yesterday.

Honestly, i'm furious. it's a PAIN IN THE A** TO LOAD UP MY LAWN MOWER and TAKE IT BACK when you didn't do it right the first time. I'm dumbfounded a family owned business since 1967 hasn't figured out to START UP THE FLIPPING MOWER WHILE IT'S ALREADY THERE FOR SERVICE. What's a spark plug cost... MAYBE $3.00??? If i owned a company that had service complaints publicly posted on the web... i would put a new plug in EVERYONE'S mower and tell them it was on the house.... just for the $3 bucks of good will.

If i told my auto mechanic to put on a new alternator and he didn't even START the car i would be FURIOUS. "Well, you just told me to put on the alternator so that's all i did." Fortunately my auto mechanic knows better and goes the extra mile WITHOUT being asked. although... i don't consider starting the lawn mower and calling me "going the extra mile" but with Rent-All... apparently that's the case.

Use these people at your own risk. You've been...

EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS PLACE. I went there to rent a couple of machines (tiller, aerator and lawn roller). They had everything on hand (that is why they earned a star). I get home to start working on my lawn, both machines were warn and tired, when I turned them on they were running strong, as soon as I started to use them they idled down almost to the point of shutting off...they were closed and I could not go and exchange it. It took me longer but I got it done.

When I was comparing them to Home Depot their prices were less so I went with this place, As I was paying to rent the machines the manager Greg, stated it was OK for me to bring it back on Monday. What he neglected to tell me was, it needed to be back first thing in the morning.

When I went back that afternoon to return the items, I was charged 2 days of rental, which exceeded the price of the roller and tiller (used on LetGo). I contested that I was never told a time as long as it came back on Monday and after going back and fourth, he stated it was on my receipt that he rushed me through because he was closing. This place takes advantage of its customers and people, I know now where not to go next year or suggest to anyone else!

My mistake, my lesson learned and...

5 stars * Friendly/communicative/great to deal with ! Called them Wednesday and said I need 2 pieces of equipment for delivery Friday around noon, they had both ready to go and delivered on time, picked up on time, even realized I needed a 3rd piece of equipment Friday morning a few hours before delivery and they had no problem changing my order and adding the 3rd piece without any hassle on such short notice. Very tentative, very responsive, easy to talk too. My first time dealing with them and it was an over the top experience, and I don’t use that term very often. A lot of business owners get frustrated with customers and being busy and not having time to deal with some stuff, not this company, fabulous in all areas of my interactions ! 5 stars will be returning in the future and will recommend anyone to them...