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Chassis Manufacturers Please Read.

JSF

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 15, 2010
268
2
Oklahoma
To all the chassis manufacturers out there, I have a favor to ask. Would you consider renting your chassis? There are so many different chassis options out and I would really like to try them before purchasing. If we could rent it for a week or two to really have time to try it out that would be great. Just getting behind one at a match or even a day is not enough time to really get a feel for it. If the person that rents it decides to purchase your chassis apply the rental fee to the purchase price. If not, you keep the rental fee. I think this would be a great way of increasing your sells as well. I really like my XLR, but just out of curiosity would like to try some others. Let me know what you think?
 
To all the chassis manufacturers out there, I have a favor to ask. Would you consider renting your chassis? There are so many different chassis options out and I would really like to try them before purchasing. If we could rent it for a week or two to really have time to try it out that would be great. Just getting behind one at a match or even a day is not enough time to really get a feel for it. If the person that rents it decides to purchase your chassis apply the rental fee to the purchase price. If not, you keep the rental fee. I think this would be a great way of increasing your sells as well. I really like my XLR, but just out of curiosity would like to try some others. Let me know what you think?


That is a very good thought.
 
While a great idea, in the current market, they're having a hard time keeping up with demand.
 
I know they are having a hard time keeping up, but I would imagine it would be a win-win for them and the customer. If they have a good product, not only would it increase their sales, they would make more of the chassis they rented than if they had sold it. These things are built to last and they could rent it over and over.
 
If they cannot make enough to handle current orders, what does increasing orders do for them?
 
maybe not so much the chassis manufacturers renting them, but a local gun store or range could do the renting. I think that might be easier and reduce the unnecessary shipping of chassis around the country.
 
Even people who already are in the rental business hate the rental business. It opens a whole new bunch of legal issues (transfer of ownership, re-posession of product, etc) , and chasing your tail that I doubt manufacturers would want. Its actually far easier to refund a purchase than rent equipment. They get back rental equipment that's trashed, if they get it at all. And THEN what do they do with it? Can't sell it as new. Take a loss selling it for half the price as new? Warranty issues abound. There's very little upside for manufacturers, and alot of down.

If a manf DID rent chassis, its not like they are gonna then credit the full rental to the purchase, cuz its would add signficant cost and aggravation. They are in the business to sell product and make money, NOT to humor tire kickers.

Think of it this way - why isn't there a company that buys a few of each, and then rents the chassis out to prospective purchasers? This type of business will only develop in the secondary market. Manufacturers exist to MAKE and SELL product, not babysit rental contracts.

Instead, do some in depth analysis of what you want. GO to major shoots and check out your potential purchases. Shoot them if people will let you. And then make your best decision. If you hate it, return it. And try again.

Or open a chassis rental business.

Hope you find the chassis you want. I did. (XLR)
 
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Also, you have the problem of chassis not able to accept different trigger setups, recoil lug thicknesses and other variable that leads to problems. Basically they ship the chassis to someone only to find out it won't fit their rifle and then they either don't want to pay rental fee and shipping costs or they want to modify with dremel making chassis basically junk (basing this off of some peoples lack of dremel ability). It's a great idea but just too many problems making it work out.
 
So many Debby downers here. I have never rented stuff, but this can't be that difficult. The company can easily cover their ass by having a deposit placed on the credit card of the person renting the chassis for the entire purchase price of the chassis. If they don't get it back or the person who rented it jacks it up you are covered by the deposit. Let's get real here, these chassis are not fragile and it is highly unlikely they will be damaged by someone renting it for a week. I have the XLR and really like it. I just want to try some other options. I have been behind just about all of them at competitions, but that is just not enough to make an informed decision.

If there is enough interest in this I may consider opening a chassis rental business. I just figured it would be much more beneficial to the builders if they did it. I would imagine it would be great for sells.
 
Go to comps. You'll see just about everything and I have yet to meet someone that is so much of a prick to not offer getting behind a rifle if you have questions.

It would make no sense for manufacturers to rent their own stock. You don't land at an airport and call up the local Ford dealer, you take a shuttle to Enterprise/Hertz etc. and they have the infrastructure to rent what you need.

The overhead involved with getting a fleet of chasis to fit R700, SA/LA, RH/LH, Savage, FN/Win, etc. would be more than I could afford, but if someone has good credit and enough business savvy to get a loan and do the foot work, that would be the only way it would happen.

Option #2 would be to get a gentlemen's agreement with someone who has what you're looking for. Give them a deposit, they send you the stock for X days as agreed upon and they give you back your deposit minus their fee.

Don't know how that would fly per the selling rules on this site, but the easiest way to make stock renting a reality.
 
So many Debby downers here. I have never rented stuff, but this can't be that difficult. The company can easily cover their ass by having a deposit placed on the credit card of the person renting the chassis for the entire purchase price of the chassis. If they don't get it back or the person who rented it jacks it up you are covered by the deposit.

There's reams of law regarding the taking, holding, and refunding of security deposits. (I'm a CPA with a concentration of business law.) The security deposit would have to be 100% of the cost of the chassis, to indemnify the manf on the rental. Or they would ahve to purchase insurance to cover the balance of the purchase price, hire new staff to track all this, purchase new accounting software for recording transactions, etc etc On and on.

The fact that its personal property (not real property) has no serial number (for rental conract purposes) and the near impossibility of reposessing it on rental contract default all are but a few of the reasons manufacturers don't get into the rental business.

Let's get real here, these chassis are not fragile and it is highly unlikely they will be damaged by someone renting it for a week.

You've obviosuly never rented anything out to a renter. Many of my clients have been in the rental business. Renters can screw up just about anything in the world. In a single day.


If there is enough interest in this I may consider opening a chassis rental business.

THAT is how the world is made a better place. See a need. Fill it. Make money doing it. And then have the gov't confiscate it in taxes, while demonizing you as a rotten, evil greedy basdid. :) And for good measure, have one of your renters sue you, and get a judge that hates gun companies make sure you get screwed.

YES, I most definitely AM a "Debby Downer." But THAT is the world liberal elites and Marxist presidents have created for us. Where good business ideas get shot to hell with over-regulation, and success is penalized.
 
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The manufacturer could always allow a 30 day return policy with a refund minus a percentage. The way I see it is the buyer pays full price with the option of return. The manufacturer can use the returned chassis as a "rental" per say or sell it at a discount that reflects the previous return payment. The buyer gets the satisfaction of at least trying it and if returned the manufacturer still gets his price in the end. I know it's more work for the manufacturer, the shipping and records keeping, but that's just my take.
 
So many Debby downers here. I have never rented stuff, but this can't be that difficult. The company can easily cover their ass by having a deposit placed on the credit card of the person renting the chassis for the entire purchase price of the chassis. If they don't get it back or the person who rented it jacks it up you are covered by the deposit. Let's get real here, these chassis are not fragile and it is highly unlikely they will be damaged by someone renting it for a week. I have the XLR and really like it. I just want to try some other options. I have been behind just about all of them at competitions, but that is just not enough to make an informed decision.

If there is enough interest in this I may consider opening a chassis rental business. I just figured it would be much more beneficial to the builders if they did it. I would imagine it would be great for sells.

They're not being debt downers its just too much of a pain in the ass for a manufacturer.

Now on the other hand if you think you can make it you should start a chassis/stock rental business. Make lots of money, stock these long wait time chassis' for consumers to buy. Manufacturers MAY sell at reduced cost since you will be advertising and "selling" their stock for them. Others may not be wiling to sell to you at all. I'd start with the 700SA then move to LA then to Savage SA LA(only AI, XLR and McCree available I think).
 
I think renting is a terrible idea. This sport gets expensive but then again there are stocks/chassis that come in at lower pricepoints for the shooter with less cash. From my experience something that is LNIB. i.e You buy it from manufacturer throw your rifle in there and try it out and not like it. You could easily recoup 90% of your funds in the classifieds on this site. Not even factoring in what you could get for a well-placed gunbroker ad.
 
Maybe not renting, but the only thing that's stopping me from buying an XLR chasis is I have never been behind one. I have been behind an AICS Thumbhole, and absolutely hated it. The AX model however I would also like to get behind. I think stores should have 1 of each to let buyers get behind em and see what suits them best. For me it's between an XLR, RACS, Whiskey 3, and a JP. But my main problem is I live in a tiny town, with a cpl FFL's that have never carried any chasis. I used to do T&E's for many Co's when working for a magazine Co. but that's come to an end. So I'll shoot my McM, and HSP's until I can get the actual feel for one. Be nice to be rich, I'd just buy one of each,lol.
 
I was finally able to take the Rock Solid Chassis out to distance this weekend and I have to say I am impressed.

It's a very simple design, but comfortable and effective.

I was thrilled when an Older Style Bighhorn Action dropped in and fit without any modification. I used a Huber Trigger so I cannot speak to others, but it had no clearance issues.

I did apply a very tiny about bedding to the rear of the lug, I filled about an 1.25" space with some Brownells Arca Bedding Compound. The results are fantastic. The accuracy on the rifle is top notch.

I moved my Robert Gradous Build in 6.5CM from the milled and modified AICS to the RS Chassis and it was a perfect fit.

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It's smooth, adjustable cheek, well constructed, and accurate. I was really impressed with it.
 
As long as you are using a mainstream action you can buy a chassis, install it, shoot it, and re-sell it here with maybe a $100 loss if you take a hit on shipping. Just take care of it while you are shooting it and you won't have any problem re-selling it.