DEC 02

"All Rent to Own...All the Time"

#1 Online Destination For the Rent to Own Industry

Trade portal for companies who rent to own furniture, electronics, appliances, custom wheels, jewelry and other home goods.

July 02
Articles

RTO Magazine
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Aaron Rents Q2 Conference Call Summary
It has been said that "The shorter the Earnings Conference Call, the healthier the company. If this is true...Aaron Rents is the healthiest company in the universe...more

Aaron Rents Revenue Soars 28%
Aaron Rents, the nations 3rd largest Rent to Own released it's Q2 2002 results today. As announced earlier in July, Aarons exceeded expectations. Revenue increased 28% vs 2001. Same store growth for Q2 was a whopping 9.9%...more

Bestway Sets New 52 Week High
Bestway stock closed up 14.31% today at $6.63 per share, setting a new 52 week high. Fluctuations in a stock with such a small float...more

updated to reflect recent changes
Rent to Own Stock Index
Two model portfolios of 100 shares each in all 6 publicly traded North American Rent to Own companies. Short term portfolio purchased in January 2002, the long term portfolio purchased in January 2000...more

Take a Look at TARA
The Texas Association of Rental Agencies recently launched its new website. It is, in a word, stunning! For those who remember the old site, the difference is even more acute...more

Rent Way Request to Dismiss Fraud Case Denied
U.S. District Court Judge Sean P. McLaughlin ruled Thursday to dismiss Rent Way's request to have the civil case, accusing Rent Ways top officers of accounting fraud, thrown out. In the 42 page ruling, Judge McLaughlin stated that the allegations are strong enough to deny Rent Way's request to dismiss the case...more

Kathy Windsor, VP National TV Sales and Rental, wrote a poem in 1997 to honor the 'significant others' in the lives of their employees.

"I am a Rent to Own Widow"

We hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Printer friendly version included ...more

Rent Way Stock Takes a Beating...
Rent Way stock, volatile on its best day, lost over 25% of its value today on extremely heavy volume...more

Aaron's to Exceed Q2 Estimates
Aaron Rents, the nations 3rd largest Rent to Own, joined the 'good news' club today by announcing it's expectation to exceed the high end of Q2 earnings estimates by $0.01 to $0.02 per share...more

Rent A Center to Top Estimates
Rent A Center announced today it expects to, not only top previously reported Q2 estimates...but also raise estimates for the year...more

Another 'hit piece' on Rent to Own in Florida. This one is relatively tame. It even includes a few facts!
outside article
Source: Hoovers
Florida Lawmakers Take Closer Look at Rent-to-Own Industry

Dave Kraemer, (Executive VP RAC), Leaves Rent A Center
Will be New President and CEO of Bestway...more

A quick 6 month stock comparison of Rent A Center, Rent Way, Aaron Rents, and Rainbow reveals some startling performance gaps. For a market that has been exceedingly appreciative of Rent to Own margins...Rainbow continues to struggle...more

Press Release
07-12-02
Beginning immediately, RTO Online will provide 'Printer Friendly' versions of original content...more

What a Difference a Weekend Makes
Friday you're the Executive VP over 25% of the nations Rent to Owns...Monday you're CEO of 69 stores...and you do it on purpose!..more

Rent Way announced it will record a one time, $3 million charge for the most recent quarter ended June 30. The charge is an 'upward adjustment' of the companies insurance premiums ...more

RTO Enterprises, Canada's largest Rent to Own, announced improved results. The company reports a 5.6% increase in revenue while same store sales increased 5% and store operating profit increased 20% over the same period last year...more

Final results of our BOR poll. Over 72% reported a drop in BOR from May to June...more

Whirlpool Recalls Washer and Gas Dryer Combo units. Dryer can overheat, posing a fire hazard.

Models were sometimes called 'Thin Twin' and were sold...more

7-03-02
Press Release
RTO Online continues to set records for Rent to Own industry site traffic. With 2 consecutive months well in excess of 100,000 hits, and over 7,500 unique users, RTO Online is providing more information to more industry professionals than any other source ...more

HR1701 "Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act"
The Full Committee Markup ended with the passage of HR1701, "Rental Purchase Act", by a vote of 29-9. RTO Online has the entire bill available for review in HTML...more

07-31-02

HR1701 Senate Sponsorship?

07-24-02

7 Steps in the Sales Process

07-17-02

Do You Want Slaw With That?

07-10-02

10 Pearls of Rent to Own Wisdom

07-03-02

What are the real impacts of HR1701? Who will most be impacted should the bill become law?

Reader Comments

07-31-02

HR1701 Senate Sponsorship?

NOTE: We received tremendous response from our call to contact Senators regarding support for HR1701. Thanks to all who take an active roll in furthering the Rent to Own cause.

07-24-02

7 Steps in the Sales Process

Helpful
Been in the business a while, sometimes we need to get back to the basic's...
I have Tears of Joy
Is it OK to re-print these articles?
RTO Online Response: RTO Online provides printer freindly versions of all appropriate content. Feel free to print them out and share them as you see fit. The only restriction is that the RTO Online Header must remain intact.

07-17-02

Do You Want Slaw With That?

I have tears of Joy
I've been preaching this for a long time !! Thank you.
Chopper
Better than War and Peace
Good advice. Games are most often won by inches, not yards.
Helpful
This article will be entertaining to share with my associates.
I have tears of Joy
Who in the world is Rufus Mudsucker?
RTO Online Response: Rufus Mudsucker, also known as my evil twin brother 'Skippy', is a long time industry veteran and frequent contributor to RTO Online. I must admit that I have never met Rufus in person. My staff says they can here me talking to him when the office door is closed...:)

07-10-02

10 Pearls of Rent to Own Wisdom

Better than War and Peace
Hail the ONLOOKER!!! I too have been in RTO for twenty five years or so. I have spoken at many APRO conventions and have done seminars for almost every State Association and I am certain that I have never {said} it better or heard it spoken better!!! HAIL THE ONLOOKER!!!
The Reverend of RTO
Larry S.
RTO Online Response: Onlooker does have a way of boiling everything down to its core.
I have tears of Joy
Great article, hope the big boys aren't watchin'
Better than War and Peace
Thanks. Sometimes even those of us who have been in the business a long time need to be reminded of the importance of the points you make. I really enjoyed the article and had forgotten a few of your suggestions.

07-03-02

What are the real impacts of HR1701?

Helpful
I've never seen the whole {bill} before. Its very similar to our State Statute with a few exceptions.
RTO Online Response: The bill is very similar to most state statutes. APRO board members have worked very hard to push consistent legislation through in all but 4 states. HR 1701 was modeled after these statutes with some notable improvements.
Worthless
The whole premise of this story is biased and lacking in facts. I have seven stores that cover an area that lands in two states. This bill will make a huge difference to my company. Does seven stores make me one of the "big boys." It seems to me that this writer is so worried that someone else will get more benefit than himself in this bill that he overlooks the true facts. States have overturned Rent-To-Own laws. H.R.1701 will make sure that never happens again. Who is the big winner of that benefit. If a State reverses itself on a Rent-To-Own law the "big boys" simply move on. However, the little guys are likely out of business. Set a side the attitude problems and you will find that it is every one that benefits by H.R.1701 not just the "big boys."
RTO Online Response: We stated in the article...

"Rent a Center, Rentway, Aarons, and others operating across state lines will gain the biggest benefit should HR1701 become law. A rent to own company operating in multiple jurisdictions, must essentially have a different business model for each state. HR1701 would bring consistency, and therefore cost savings, to the big boys."

It is our opinion that the biggest benefit of HR1701 will be the consistency it will bring. This consistency at the federal level would preclude states from modifying state law in a manner inconsistent with HR1701. Since the 'big boys' operate in the most states, they will receive the biggest benefit. That is not to say that others will not benefit as well...just on a smaller scale.

I have tears of joy
Awesome!
RTO Online Response: Totally
Just OK
It's extremely important to understand the history and evolution of this bill. It will prove crucial to anyone who enjoys the business of rent-to-own because it sets a firm consistent foundation of consumer protections and consistent business practices in all fifty states. Anyone doing business on state lines, multiple store operations, small companies who would like to grow, and will protect the business as a whole in the U.S.. Vermont is classic example of what can happen to the business as we are the only state which is required to disclose an EAPR, Effective Annual Percentage Rate.
RTO Online Response: True. All Rent to Owns will benefit from the Acts passage. States like Vermont will no longer be able to require irrelevant disclosures such as EAPR.
I have tears of Joy
You guys are doing a Great job Keeping the info current!!!
RTO Online Response: Thank you! Keep checking back. There will be much more info in future issues.