“We do a ton of qualifying our customers, but I don't really have any horror stories or routine problems. We've worked hard to establish what those are and put procedures in place to prevent them,” said Josh Nickell, owner of Nickell Rental headquartered in Newnan, GA.
“The first thing we want customers to do is tell us about the project, instead of telling us about the piece of equipment they come into the store to rent. We consider ourselves to be the equipment expert and it works best for them and us if we can match the right equipment to the job.
“Sometimes, it requires a little creativity. For example, they may want a small chipper. One of the first questions we ask is ‘are you chipping small limbs and branches that are 1½ inches in diameter or less?’ The question implies that ‘smaller stuff' may be the correct answer. If they say yes, then we direct them to the appropriate small chipper instead of one they may have had their eye on, one that chips limbs from 2 to 6 inches in diameter. The assumption could be that if the machine chips large limbs it can certainly handle smaller ones, not knowing that the smaller material would jam the unit."
Nickell continued, “It’s not just about renting the right equipment but also making sure they know how to operate it. Another example would be stump grinders. We keep two teeth on display, one that had received normal use and another that was buried too deeply. The point is to illustrate just how little to grind on each pass versus the damage that occurs when pushing the machine past its limitations.
“Of course, we get the occasional ‘stuck in the mud,’ but rarely do customers purposely mistreat equipment if educated properly. On the other hand, we have had some impressively well-thought-out thefts!”
Nickell Rental has four locations in the South Atlanta market. The company employs 70 people and serves a customer base comprised of 65 percent small to mid-size contactors and 35 percent homeowners.
