ShareThisCan't afford to buy a Gucci or Louis Vuitton bag you so desperately want for an event that could close a multimillion-dollar deal?
How about the perfect pair of shoes to match the dress you plan to wear for a red-carpet event -- a pair you'll probably never wear again?
Well, the Internet is solving high-end dilemmas. And we'll say, just as with any good thing, look for the right company before typing in your credit-card number.
I chatted with Michael Smith, chief executive officer of Avelle, a 5-year-old Seattle-based company that rents high-end accessories such as handbags, jewelry, sunglasses and watches.
Over the past five years, Avelle has emerged as a major accessory-rental operation, with some 1 million customers across the country, "from college students to grandmothers," Smith says.
The question is, does renting accessories over the Internet make sense and is it safe?
"When I first saw the article, I was like, 'Wow, I can't believe this happening!' " said Deborah Berry, of the Pinellas County Department of Justice and Consumer Services in Clearwater, Fla. "Now it's normal."
And the deals are good at a place like Avelle.com, if you need the products:
Louis Vuitton Totally Monogram MM Tote: Retail price $1,000. Avelle rental for one week: $44.
Michael Kors Astor Chain Satchel Handbag: Retail price $378. Avelle rental for one week: $17.
Smith said a businesswoman recently rented $30,000 worth of accessories at $750. She was working a major business deal and wanted to look her best.
So the deals are good. What about the safety?
Well, Avelle has a strong reputation (but not all Internet companies do, so you'll need to take some care when considering any business). The company isn't without complaints -- about a dozen on the Better Business Bureau Web site that have been resolved. The BBB gives the company a "B" rating.
Here's how it works: You use a credit card to secure your products. For large amounts such as $30,000 worth of merchandise, the company will perform a credit check. There's optional insurance and you get "normal wear and tear" grace on the product -- much like renting a car.
You can rent for a week, a month or more. Price varies based on product and length of time rented.
Just as the company checks you out, Berry says consumers need to do the same with Avelle and any other Internet business.
"You may not need to worry with the most reputable companies," she said. "But make sure they don't have a history of problems.
"What are the wear-and-tear limitations? They may charge you if you have a stain on the item. What's your liability?"
Some tips:
-- Use a credit card. Be sure to use a credit card and not a debit card. A debit card is tied to a checking account. You don't have the opportunity to dispute a charge before it is deducted from your account.
-- Thoroughly review the agreement. Be sure to understand your liabilities and obligations before renting the item. Renting a $1,000 purse for $44 might seem a good idea -- unless you don't take good care of it and get stuck paying for it.
(Contact Ivan Penn at ipenn(at)sptimes.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service www.scrippsnews.com)
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