Temporary Christmas gifts?

Have any of you heard of people getting rent-a-shop gifts for Christmas? What do you think about these temporary gifts? My DH's step father is has done it a lot to my Hubby when he was growing up and just last year bought his son a lap top (he HAD to have one for college anyway) and his daughter a 360 and kinect and his wife a TV only to be returned a few months later. I couldnt ever do that to my kid if we cant afford something he will get something else not get it only to have it taken away for no reason.

No way!

That's ridiculous. I think that's extremely unfair to the gift receiver.

That's ridiculous. Our rule is if we don't have the cash we don't buy it. The only thing that DOESN'T apply to is like a car or house LMAO.

Exactly! I am really leery of him getting gifts for my boy when he gets older because he wont admit to the renting till he is taking them back!

Heck we don't even have a credit card.

Sadly I think your just going to have to assume they are rented.

We'll give limited time memberships to things--6 months to netflix, or a month of unlimited gym classes or whatever. Never physical gifts though. The only way it would be fair is if it were very clear up front--"I rented you 6 months of a video game system".

Errrr, and if it breaks, or you sell if for some reason or another?

No way would I do that! If it was like a temp. subscription to a favorite magazine or netflix that I already paid for them to get for a year or whatever.. something like that I wouldn't have a problem doing it. But if it was something like a kindle or something that was only for temp. use that would not be right to who you give the gift to!!! You wouldn't like if someone did that to you, so why do it to them? It's just mean.

I think the worst part is he doesn't tell them it's rented until he takes it back. That's just odd, awkward, and well, mean.

Yeah but if you knew the man it really isn't surprising at all