how much should i rent my skeleton for?

September 22, 2010 7:47 PM

I own a really great skeleton. A company wants to rent it from me for 10 days. What is a fair price to charge for it?

For studying purposes, I bought a skeleton 2 years ago for about $850. I was recently contacted by a friend at a small but successful company who was looking to rent a skeleton and thought I might know where to rent one. I don't know anywhere else, but I offered mine; they were thrilled! Now they want to know how much I'm renting it for.

They're using it for a workshop that is expensive to attend, and I know they have a budget for this kind of thing. They want it for two weeks. I tried to google skeleton rental (and other permutations) but I got nothing.

So, here's my thinking. I don't want to overprice it: I am friends with the people who work there and it's possible that if it works out this time, it could be an ongoing thing. Also, I'm broke, and they have money, and they'd be willing to pay a fair price.

Is $15 per day too much? too little? I was thinking I could suggest either $150 in real money or offer it in trade for their services (it would work out to be $300 worth of services). This way, they could choose the option that works best for them.

Again, I don't really know what to do here and I don't want to rip anyone off (not even myself). Any help or insight would be great, thank you!

posted by andreapandrea to Work & Money (21 answers total)

Whatever you charge on it, I suggest you require a refundable deposit in the amount of at least $850 so that if it is damaged or lost, you don't lose your initial expense.
posted by thorny at 7:53 PM on September 22, 2010

I'd go with $500- it's still cheaper and much easier than them tracking one down to buy, and if they're charging a decent sum for the workshop, that cost would barely be a blip on their radar.
posted by emd3737 at 7:53 PM on September 22, 2010

This is a pretty cool post and I have no real idea...would guess about $30-$50 per day? But definitely get it insured somehow. Maybe you can include it under your current homeowners / renters plan but it seems like a lot could happen to a skeleton that was "out of the closet" (HA!) for two weeks so definitely look into insurance.
posted by pearlybob at 7:54 PM on September 22, 2010

Anything more than $350. That way, you'll come out on top when you give away your 300-350 bones.
posted by 3FLryan at 7:55 PM on September 22, 2010 [4 favorites]

Man I was so eager to make this joke I screwed it up twice. Mods, feel free to delete these ridiculous answers.
posted by 3FLryan at 7:56 PM on September 22, 2010

It strikes me that even getting $1.00 would be a dollar more than you had before, so I wouldn't worry too much since "skeleton rental" is not likely to be the kind of thing you end up comparing notes with other skeleton renters about.

Having said that, the replacement value of a real human skeleton is around 3,000 to 5,000 dollars. In my experience, they are fragile, and they also can become dirty if handled a lot and then are difficult to clean. Further, people may have a strong, inexplicable desire to steal a baby toe or something. So a damage deposit and/or insurance is something you might want to think about.

If there is a bartering option then the above might not be relevant, and of course bartering is good because no taxes, etc.
posted by Rumple at 7:57 PM on September 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'd say $300 - $500. Where else are they going to find someone to rent a skeleton from?
posted by esnyder at 8:04 PM on September 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

My high school rented a skeleton. Someone stole the left hand. There was a huge deal and, a few days later, someone inflated a latex glove and tied it to the wrist. My biology teacher had a sense of humor and decided to leave it be; needless to say, the rental service was not amused.

So yeah, definitely get it insured or have a deposit. Beyond that, charge whatever you feel like since it's basically free money.
posted by wayland at 8:06 PM on September 22, 2010

Before you agree to rent your skeleton, you would be wise to get it appraised. Find out exactly how much it is worth (hint: probably not what you paid for it), and add it to your renters' or homeowners insurance policy right away if it's not already.

Then you can draft up a rental agreement stipulating handling instructions, etc., and a deposit, along with specific language related to the value of the skeleton and the renter's obligation to repair or replace in the event of damage. Since you have a complete skeleton, language indicating that if even one part is missing upon return the whole thing must be replaced, as its' value plummets to zero, is also necessary. the more I type this, the more you might consider paying a lawyer $100 to draft up the agreement.

Then again, if you aren't studying it anymore and don't really care... you know, whatever. My above advice is relevant if and only if you are interested in protecting your investment. A complete skeleton is really cool but also quite valuable, and can be rented out again and again with the right contract.

I think it would be awesome to rent it for $206. You'll certainly be remembered.
posted by juniperesque at 8:20 PM on September 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

This place seems to rent skeletons for at least $200 per week (click on 'price_sheet_2009'). You can look at their skeletons to see if they're even comparable to yours and price accordingly. Definitely get it insured or have a deposit. Take lots of digital photos of the condition before handing it off and have them agree to those photos.
posted by barnone at 8:22 PM on September 22, 2010

I would do $50-75 per day with a $850 (or current market value) refundable deposit. Because if they break it, they buy it. You may be in need of money but it doesn't mean you shouldn't be compensated fairly for renting out your property.

If skeleton rental is something you think you'll do again in the future, will you be able to afford replacing this one if it gets damaged? That's why I suggest the deposit.
posted by eatcake at 8:26 PM on September 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

Oh, and the place above doesn't include shipping. If your skeleton rental is local, factor that into your consideration. And.... we'd love to see a photo of Dem Bones!
posted by barnone at 8:30 PM on September 22, 2010

Here's a low key site in Canada with a replica human skeleton for rent at $15 per day, $60 per week.

Personally, I like the buck a bone approach that juniperesque suggested.
posted by rube goldberg at 9:57 PM on September 22, 2010

I asked an anatomy professor about the current skeleton market, and the answer I received was that skeletons are pretty damn rare. None of the professor's recent employers have complete skeletons in good condition. I was told that they used to be available (though not cheap), but over time it became apparent that they were increasingly being acquired through not-exactly-humane ways. Here is Wired's rundown on the situation.

Based on the professor's reply, I think you should consider your skeleton to be a fixed asset (IANAA) and treat it as such: Appraisal and insurance at the least, as the last few answers have recommended.
posted by clorox at 10:14 PM on September 22, 2010 [2 favorites]

As an actual data point: The Evolution Store rents bones / skulls / etc., at a monthly rate of 50% of the cost of the item (that is, 50% of whatever they normally sell the skeleton for). (Their weekly rate is 40%, so monthly is the more economical timeframe here.) They currently have two skeletons for sale, both fetal, both $3,995. I'm not sure what the demand curve for adult skeletons is like versus fetal skeletons, but renting one of the two skeletons they have in stock would cost $2,000. So there's that.

Absolutely have a rental agreement in place. One with teeth to bare if necessary.
posted by Alt F4 at 3:11 AM on September 23, 2010

(BTW, I didn't mean "as an actual data point" meaning "as opposed to the others in this thread" ... rather ... "as opposed to me making up a number, which is what I'm tempted to do". The other posts in this thread are good.)
posted by Alt F4 at 3:13 AM on September 23, 2010

(Just to be clear, this is a genuine skeleton and not a replica? I imagine there is a great deal of difference between the two, replacement and rental-wise.)
posted by maxwelton at 3:54 AM on September 23, 2010

$500? I can rent a $15,000 car for two weeks for $300. I'm sure availabilty does play a facotr in this but it seems like you guys are really high. The OP also said it was a friend.

What about your friend takes you out to a nice restaurant and you call it even?
posted by WhiteWhale at 4:41 AM on September 23, 2010

Response by poster: Hi friends, thanks for all of your fantastic feedback. I just want to be clear that (disappointingly, I fear,) it is not a real skeleton, but a medical model. I called it a "great" skeleton because it's got ligaments on one side, and muscle insertion points on the other, and the head comes off, and also it's not so fragile as to be untouchable to people who want to learn anatomy. I paid about $850 new for it - not on the black market or anything, but because that is the actual value of it.

Thank you to the web scavengers who found all these links and extra information. This was totally handy (and also actually let me see some more medical models that I want to own!)

Thanks for the feedback! I really appreciate it!
posted by andreapandrea at 11:00 AM on September 23, 2010

You could compare it with the price for renting a camera, a $5000 leica is about $60 a day, so for an $850 skeleton around $10/day would be comparable.
posted by Lanark at 1:54 AM on September 24, 2010

I rent items from our home to movies and tv shows, and used to work in stores that did so as well (why yes, that IS my cowboy wastebasket in Camp Rock II). The going rate at most stores in Toronto is 20-25% of the replacement value for the first week; and sometimes for larger and longer rentals, 10% for the following week, and then 5% for the weeks thereafter - or, a negotiated flat fee averaging those percentages.

Photograph the item carefully, and note any condition issues beforehand and inspect the items carefully in the presence of the person returning it (my taxidermied frog playing a banjo has never been the same). Also note any requirements you might have about packing and handling; whether it can withstand things like heat from lights or moisture; or in the case of movies, that antiquing spray... stuff like that.

But often, I'll ask what they'll offer first - sometimes it's more generous that what my rental charge would be.
posted by peagood at 10:39 AM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]