PC rentals bite dust

Radio Rentals has finally pulled the plug on its PC business, bringing to an end the rental of machines on the high street.

As predicted by PC Dealer (4 March), the recent Radio Rentals product review meeting has led to the withdrawal of PCs from its stores.

Harsh market conditions and the continual drop in PC prices were the cause of the failure of the rental model. Monthly repayments on PC purchase dropped to less than monthly rental costs.

The move mirrors Granada's experiences, which crashed out of the market last year.

A statement from parent company Thorn revealed: 'After a period of review, Radio Rentals has decided to pull out of the computer market and concentrate on its core products. This is due to an extremely flat market, heightened by an industry-wide price deflation for PCs. Existing customers will continue to be serviced and will be offered the chance to purchase their machines.'

Virginia Hicks, Thorn corporate affairs manager, added: 'We're not stocking PCs anymore. There are still a few in stock, but we are not getting any new ones in.'