Rent the Runway Membership: How It Works and If It‘s Worth It
Overview of Rent the Runway
Rent the Runway is an online service that allows women to rent designer dresses, accessories and everyday wear for a fraction of retail prices. Founded in 2009 by business school classmates Jenn Hyman and Jenny Fleiss, the company has grown rapidly and now offers over 15,000 styles from over 650 top designers.
The premise is simple: customers select items they wish to rent from Rent the Runway‘s extensive online catalogue. These pieces are shipped to your door in reusable garment bags. You can keep the rentals for however many days your plan allows, then return them using the prepaid shipping label. Rent the Runway handles cleaning and steaming so items are ready to send to the next customer.
How Rent the Runway Membership Works
Rent the Runway offers two ways to use their service:
- Single-use rentals
- Ongoing membership plans
Single-Use Rentals
With this option, you rent 4 items at a time for either 4 or 8 days. It‘s ideal for a special event when you want something new to wear. Rental fees range from $30-$75 per piece depending on retail value.
Membership Plans
These give you continual access to the Rent the Runway catalogue. You select 4 or more items per month to have shipped on rotation. There are three tiers:
- 1 Swap: 4 items/month, retail value up to $3500. $89/month
- 2 Swap: 8 items/month, retail value up to $5000. $135/month
- Unlimited: Unlimited monthly items, value over $10,000. $159/month
Each includes free shipping, returns and cleaning. You can swap out items as often as you like within your monthly allowance.
The Good and Bad of Renting Designer Fashion
Pros
- Access high-end clothing for fraction of retail cost
- Huge selection from top designers like Gucci, Oscar de la Renta, etc
- New arrivals added frequently
- No need to dry clean – included in membership
- Convenient shipping/returns
- Can buy pieces you love at reduced price
Cons
- You don‘t own pieces (membership required for continual access)
- Availability not guaranteed for all items/sizes
- Mixed reviews of customer service
- Rental wear and tear is your responsibility
- Frequent exchanges creates packaging waste
The convenience and discounted designer access are definite pluses. But renting isn‘t owning – you sacrifice control and need ongoing payment.
Review of Rental Item Quality
Rent the Runway receives mixed feedback when it comes to rental quality and condition. As expected, items may show minor signs of wear since they are rented out continually. However some customers report receiving pieces with flaws beyond normal wear like snags or stains.
The company states they thoroughly clean and inspect everything between shipments. Some variation can occur though just as with traditional dry cleaning. Their policy is to credit your account if an item didn‘t meet expectations. You can request refund if dissatisfied with their response.
Feedback indicates quality and condition varies widely. Some renters rave about receiving items in great shape. Others feel pieces seem worn out faster than expected. Care in transit and trying items on over delicate fabrics (sequins, lace) can cause early damage.
The Good and Bad of Customer Service
Customer service seems to be Rent the Runway‘s biggest pain point according to multiple reviews. Comments describe long hold times to speak to reps as well as delays in email response. Users often vent frustration around billing questions and issues receiving account credits for damaged/poor condition items.
However the company does appear very active in monitoring and responding to social media complaints. Direct messaging their @Renttherunwayhandles on Twitter and Instagram may yield faster response. They aim to make things right by offering account credits even if sizing/condition wasn‘t ideal. But the original inconvenience remains trying.
Who is Rent the Runway Best Suited For?
Renting designer fashion makes most sense in certain scenarios:
– Special events: Weddings, galas & parties are perfect for renting a show-stopping gown or accessories. The single-use option allows you to splurge without huge cost.
– Flexible budgets: If you love high-end pieces but don‘t want to devote so much budget to them, renting gives you luxury access without draining your finances.
– Frequent style changers: For those who bore easily and love continually updating their wardrobe, rental memberships provide constant revolving variety.
– Consignment testers: If you think you may want to buy and resell certain designer items, rent them first to see if you love them enough to invest in purchasing.
– Eco-conscious shoppers: Renting stems waste from fast fashion manufacturing and overconsumption of clothing that ends up in landfills when we tire of it.
The Bottom Line
Rent the Runway offers an unparalleled selection of designer fashion at rental rates vs. luxury retail pricing. But convenience, quality and service issues stem largely from scale – they ship over 100,000 orders monthly! You must weight benefits against potential frustrations.
For occasional special event dressing or those who value constant wardrobe change over ownership, RTR provides good value. Yet for quality assurance over cost, traditional luxury consignment may suit some better. Read consumer reviews carefully before committing to their strict membership terms.
