Rent-to-own is convenient for lower income people, but also very expensive over the long run. Consumer advocates complain that the purchaser may end up paying as much as three times what the product would normally cost in a cash or standard credit purchase. They claim that rent-to-own companies exploit lower-income and minority consumers, even that they deal in inferior and sometimes used merchandise. For a lower income person with no credit, however, spending $8.00 a week for a television delivered immediately may seem a better alternative to no television at all, even though final payments for a $200 television may equal $600 or more. The rent-to-own industry certainly attracts dishonest players, but many reputable independent, chain and franchise operators claim they provide a valuable service by offering products low-income people would otherwise not be able to obtain. As a consumer, it pays to approach any prospective rent-to-own transaction with care.

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