Rent to Impress

Clothing, Gadgets, and Cars – Oh My!

Turns out a single stem rose and reservations at the city’s most expensive restaurant aren’t enough to woo the opposite sex on a first date in 2013. A recent study from the Hertz Corporation, one of the largest car rental brands in the world, found that nearly one-third of British men rent or borrow items to impress prospective partners. High-end clothing and accessories and fast cars – think Ferraris, not Fiats – top the list of most commonly rented or borrowed items which also includes homes, pets, and expensive gadgets.

Pathetic, right ladies? Apparently, not all of you think so. Findings from the same study revealed that about 20% of women also rent or borrow items to look the part. Additionally, 40% of women polled admitted the car a person drives can make them more attractive, while nearly 60% said they would be impressed by a well-dressed man – proof these blokes might actually be on to something. No wonder James Bond gets so much action.

All You Need Is Love. Or Were The Beatles Wrong?

Interestingly enough, the study also revealed this particular trend is most common among younger respondents. In fact, 40% of those surveyed between the ages of 18 and 25 admitted to renting or borrowing items to help close the deal. Maybe young people just don’t understand how love works. Then again, maybe the older folks learned a long time ago you could go broke using these tricks before you figure it out.

Lesson for the Day: Fake it ‘til you make it. Or you can take your chances with the flower and a table for two.

Hertz is the largest worldwide airport general use car rental brand and the number one car rental brand in the United States. The Hertz Corporation – now in its 94th year of delivering quality car rental solutions to leisure and corporate customers – operates over 10,000 corporate, licensee and franchisee locations in North America, Europe, Asia, and several other countries across the globe.