"Rent VS Own" is one of the most common dilemmas people face in life. Should we be tenants or home owners? Should we lease this car or buy it? Should I just rent this movie or buy a copy? In most cases, there isn't a right wrong answer with this dilemma, as it truly relies on the unique situation you find yourself in. Believe it or not, this is actually the case when it comes to communication and two-way radios.
If you are looking into improving your communication with wireless technology, you've probably come across information about two-way radios. You may even be completely sold on them already, but you just aren't sure if you should rent them or own them. To help you make that decision, here is a quick look at some of the most popular reasons to buy or rent radios.
Reasons to Rent Two-Way Radios
You have an event: This is especially popular in the summer as people flock outdoors for festivals, concerts, parades and sporting events. In this case, renting radios is probably the best idea as you aren't using them on a year-round basis, but more for just a few events over the course of the year. However, if you are running the event every year, buying could make the most long-term financial sense.
You have a project: Again, this may or may not be most relevant in the summer months, but for those who have remodeling, construction, or maintenance projects, renting radios is a great option. Since your project may only take weeks or months, you might not need to buy the radios. But, just like with events, if you have multiple projects throughout the year, buying may be right for you.
You just want to try them out: Let's say you have an event or project coming up, or, you just have a staff of people you want to better equip for communicating with each other. If you are unsure about how two-way radios will fit with your team, you can rent for a specified time and then become owners if it works well for you (you can always try a free demo too).
In short, if you are looking at a one-time project or a series of events/projects spaced far apart, renting radios could be the best bet for your budget.
Reasons to Own Two-Way Radios
As you could imagine, the reasons to own radios are essentially the opposite of the reasons to rent (you don't have an event, you have an ongoing need). So instead, here are some of the most popular industries that use two-way radios. If you fall into one of the categories, buying may be the right fit for you.
Education: Your goals are to keep students safe and your staff informed. And, since most schools are in session from September through June, owning your radios makes the most financial sense. You can read all about using wireless technology (like two-way radios) in the educations sector here.
Public Safety: Serving your community is a 24/7 job, so purchasing your two-way radios is typically the best fit for police departments, fire departments, and EMS crews.
Manufacturing: Downtime and inefficiency: the last two words a plant manager wants to hear. Since your plant is working year-round, renting radios wouldn't be ideal.
Healthcare: Hospitals have a life of their own, and are constantly staffed throughout the day (and year). These buildings need to have sound security and quality communication, so administrators often look to two-way radios.
If you are still unsure about if you should rent your two-way radios or own them, contact Chicago Communications today to learn which is the best option for you - and why!
