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The Reality of Rentals: Uncovering the Long-Term Damage of Renting Uniforms
Renting uniforms and apparel introduces a world of hidden fees and reduced quality.
We discovered agencies who choose to rent uniforms are often unaware of many of the detrimental effects to their budgets and uniform quality.
Time for the facts.
This infographic was created to show exactly what renting uniforms entails so agencies like yours can continue to work hard to serve the public, and avoid being bogged down by extra costs or limited uniform options.
Take a look at the full infographic here or by clicking on the preview image below and prepare to be enlightened on the harsh reality of rentals. Or, if you prefer, continue on past the image to read a synopsis of our findings.
Renting Vs. Purchasing Uniforms
Renting uniforms takes a detrimental toll on budgets and uniform quality throughout the
contract.
Purchasing uniforms saves money, ensures quality, creates ownership and avoids unnecessary commitment or time constraints.
Hidden Fees Vs. Up-Front, Set Pricing
Uniform rental contracts often require laundry services they count on you to not fully utilize.
Underwash
Even when your employees do not turn in your garments, you pay for laundry, including days your employees are sick, on vacation or disengaged. For example, your contract might require you to pay $300 per week to launder 100 uniforms even when you have 11 out sick, 8 on vacation and 23 disinterested in actually using the laundry service.
Inconsistency
One agency might have to pay completely different fees than another. With purchasing, you don’t have to negotiate or worry. Pricing is standardized at one low rate. (You can find our set annual pricing here.)
Quality Depreciation
Recycled Garments
Uniform rental companies reuse, patch and repair old garments as long as possible, usually milking an item an average of 3-5 years. Purchasing plans replace garments in 1-2 years.
Wash Options
Mandatory laundry services use hot water and harsh chemicals, which deteriorate both the appearance and comfort of garments much sooner than home wash.
Brand & Employee Detachment Vs. Ownership
Style Pushing
Has a rental contract ever suggested you go with a navy pant and light blue shirt? In attempts to cut their own costs, rental services sometimes push the exact same uniform to every job at every business.
Ownership Type
Uniform rental companies regularly take money out of employee paychecks to create a sense of “ownership.” Purchased uniforms, however, are a reflection of your brand that allows your employees to take pride in their uniform and believe in their team.
It’s sort of a ownership by fear vs. ownership by pride scenario. Wouldn’t you much prefer your employees take pride in their uniforms?
Employee Morale
No one wants to wear a ratty uniform for 3-5 years. Purchasing new uniforms every 1-2 years can lead to:
- happier employees.
- better fitting uniforms.
- a sense of responsibility for the uniform.
Long-Term Costs
The average employee uniform rental agreement begins at three years at $6.00 per person/per week for a shirts and pants program. This charge is just the base fee and doesn’t include additional charges, repairs or replacements.
This means that, with rentals, your accumulated costs for just 1 employee are upwards of $1,500 after five years compared to around $300 for that same employee if he or she had uniforms purchased for them. Take a look:
Don’t forget. This is just savings at base price. All the recurring fees of renting uniforms will likely lead to even higher actual savings with purchasing.
Commitment
Over-Stocking
Average uniform rental contracts often require you to pay for 11 uniform sets per person. This is so you have 5 sets of uniforms in your closet, 5 sets in the wash and 1 on you at all times.
Not only is this just simply an unnecessary amount of garments, with 11 sets, a garment or two are more likely to go missing, which you would be charged for.
Contracts
Rental contracts typically last 3-5 years, but you often can downgrade to only 10% of your original agreement to maintain your end of the contract. Meanwhile, purchasing uniforms through us doesn’t require a contract or any commitment. Purchase as frequently or infrequently as you like, starting anytime. (No, seriously. Start now.)
Save on Uniforms for Your Team
We do our best to make purchasing uniforms easy. Get a free product comparison to see for yourself. Email info@servicewearapparel.com to see how much you could be saving.
Ever wonder why you may wear a size small with one clothing manufacturer and a size medium in another? Recent history gives us some insight into this conundrum.