In the 1960s, Ernie Talley owned a retail company in Wichita, Kansas. He saw many hardworking customers who either did not have the cash to purchase goods for their homes or who had been turned down for credit. Seeing them leave empty-handed gave him an idea to rent used merchandise with an option to own.
The idea soon caught on with consumers. Talley opened the first rent-to-own store, Mr. T's TV Rental, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, offering new and preleased products.
A concept, born out of the desire to serve the needs of customers who lacked the cash or financing to buy the products they wanted and needed, has today grown into a $6.7 billion industry serving millions of customers.
Rent-to-own, rental-purchase or rent with an ownership option — depending on which state you live in — is a unique transaction different from other retail transactions. At RAC, we offer quality merchandise, free service and delivery, 90 days same as cash, convenient payment options, loaners if needed and lifetime reinstatement. All of this is provided with no down payment or credit report required.
Where else can you find a transaction that allows you to furnish your home with the merchandise you need and want with no financial obligation, down payment or the worry of repair bills? Today, more than 1 million customers rely on the brand-name products and services Rent-A-Center provides.
Rent-A-Center's History
Since our founding in 1986, Rent-A-Center (RAC) has grown from 16 stores to more than 3,050 in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada, through acquisitions and new store openings. Our largest acquisition was in 1998, when we bought 1,409 stores from Thorn Americas. In 2006, we acquired 782 stores from RentWay, our third-largest competitor at that time.
In 1995, our company, then known as Renters Choice, went public on the NASDAQ stock market under the symbol "RCII." Our Plano, Texas-based company is the nation's largest rent-to-own operator and employs more than 18,990 people.
The idea soon caught on with consumers. Talley opened the first rent-to-own store, Mr. T's TV Rental, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, offering new and preleased products.
A concept, born out of the desire to serve the needs of customers who lacked the cash or financing to buy the products they wanted and needed, has today grown into a $6.7 billion industry serving millions of customers.
Rent-to-own, rental-purchase or rent with an ownership option — depending on which state you live in — is a unique transaction different from other retail transactions. At RAC, we offer quality merchandise, free service and delivery, 90 days same as cash, convenient payment options, loaners if needed and lifetime reinstatement. All of this is provided with no down payment or credit report required.
Where else can you find a transaction that allows you to furnish your home with the merchandise you need and want with no financial obligation, down payment or the worry of repair bills? Today, more than 1 million customers rely on the brand-name products and services Rent-A-Center provides.
Rent-A-Center's History
Since our founding in 1986, Rent-A-Center (RAC) has grown from 16 stores to more than 3,050 in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada, through acquisitions and new store openings. Our largest acquisition was in 1998, when we bought 1,409 stores from Thorn Americas. In 2006, we acquired 782 stores from RentWay, our third-largest competitor at that time.
In 1995, our company, then known as Renters Choice, went public on the NASDAQ stock market under the symbol "RCII." Our Plano, Texas-based company is the nation's largest rent-to-own operator and employs more than 18,990 people.
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