IE Photo Rentals is a camera, lens, lighting, and production equipment rental house serving the Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange Counties from our location in Pomona, California. Because we rent equipment rather than sell it, this policy explains how cancellations, refunds, returns, late returns, damage, and lost equipment are handled. Please read it carefully before completing a reservation.
By placing a reservation or picking up rental equipment, you agree to the terms of this Refund and Returns Policy and our Rental Agreement.
1. How Reservations and Payment Work
Reservations placed through iephotorentals.com hold equipment for you on the dates you select. Payment is collected at the time of pickup, not online. At pickup, we will:
- Verify your identity using a valid driver’s license
- Inspect equipment with you and confirm the rental period
- Charge the rental fee to your credit or debit card
- Place a refundable security hold on your card equal to the full retail value of the equipment, or apply an approved deposit waiver or insurance coverage in place of the hold
The security hold is released after the equipment is returned and inspected. Release timing depends on your card issuer and is typically a few business days but can take longer.
2. Cancellations and Reservation Refunds
a. Before Pickup
Because payment is collected at pickup, you can cancel a reservation any time before pickup at no charge. To cancel, log into your account, reply to your confirmation email, or call us at 909-706-6176.
b. No-Shows
We hold equipment for you on the reserved dates and may turn down other customers as a result. If you do not pick up your reservation and do not contact us to cancel or reschedule, we may decline future reservation requests from your account.
c. After Pickup
Once equipment has been picked up and the rental fee has been charged, the rental period is in effect. Rental fees are generally non-refundable for early returns, including if your shoot is cancelled, postponed, runs short, or the gear ends up unused. We may, at our discretion, offer a partial credit toward a future rental for early returns; this is not guaranteed.
3. Minimum Rental Period
Our standard minimum rental period is three (3) days. Shorter pickup-to-return windows are still billed at the three-day minimum unless a different arrangement has been agreed in writing. Some specialty items may have a different minimum, which will be shown on the product page or quoted at reservation.
4. Returns
a. When and Where to Return
All rental equipment must be returned in person to our location at 558 W 2nd St., Pomona, CA 91766 by the close of business on the agreed return date, unless a different return time has been confirmed in writing. We do not currently provide shipping for outbound rentals. If you arranged to ship gear back to us, you are responsible for return shipping costs and for any loss or damage in transit until the equipment is received and inspected at our facility.
b. Condition on Return
Equipment must be returned in the same condition as it was at pickup, with all original cases, caps, cables, batteries, chargers, memory cards, and accessories. We strongly recommend keeping the original packaging and accessory pouches with you during your shoot.
c. Inspection
On return, we inspect every item. If items are missing, damaged, or returned dirty enough to require professional cleaning, applicable fees may be charged to the card on file or deducted from your security hold. We will notify you of any charges and provide a description of the issue.
5. Late Returns
If equipment is returned after the agreed return date and time, late fees will apply at our standard daily rental rate per item, per day, until the equipment is returned. If equipment is more than five (5) days late and we have not been able to reach you, the equipment may be considered lost or stolen and the full retail replacement value (and any related costs) may be charged to the card on file. You may also be reported to law enforcement and to industry rental databases.
If you know you will be late, contact us as soon as possible. We will do our best to extend your rental, subject to availability and additional rental fees.
6. Damage
a. Customer Responsibility
You are responsible for the equipment from the time of pickup until it is returned to us and inspected. This includes loss, theft, damage, water damage, drops, mishandling, sensor damage, missing parts, and damage caused by third parties to whom you give access to the equipment.
b. Damage Charges
If returned equipment is damaged, you authorize us to charge the cost of repair to the card on file or to deduct it from your security hold. If the equipment cannot be reasonably repaired, the full retail replacement value will be charged. Charges may include parts, labor, diagnostic fees, shipping to and from the manufacturer or repair facility, and the loss-of-use fees we incur while the equipment is out of inventory.
c. Insurance
We strongly recommend protecting yourself with rental equipment insurance. We have partnered with Athos Insurance and can be added as an Additional Insured and Loss Payee on a policy. Maintaining a qualifying insurance policy can also reduce or waive the security hold required at pickup. Insurance coverage is between you and the insurer; claim acceptance and payout terms are determined by the insurer, not by IE Photo Rentals.
7. Security Holds and Deposit Waivers
A refundable security hold equal to the full retail value of the rented equipment is placed on your credit card at pickup. The hold is released after the equipment is returned and inspected, subject to your card issuer’s processing times. The hold itself is not a payment; it is an authorization that temporarily reduces your available credit.
You may request a waiver of the security hold by providing supporting documentation, such as:
- A recent pay stub
- A current mortgage statement
- A qualifying insurance document
- A current college class schedule (for student renters)
Approved waivers may apply to rentals up to a combined retail value of $5,000. Submission of documents does not guarantee a waiver, and we may still require a hold or deposit at our discretion.
8. Defective or Misrepresented Equipment
If equipment fails to function as intended due to a defect that is not the result of customer use, contact us right away at 909-706-6176. We will work to provide a comparable replacement when one is available, or, where appropriate, issue a credit or partial refund of the rental fee for the affected portion of the rental. Refunds or credits for defective equipment are not provided for issues reported only after the rental period has ended.
9. Refund Method and Timing
Approved refunds are issued back to the original payment method. Once issued, refunds typically appear within 5–10 business days, depending on your bank or card issuer. Security hold releases are processed by your card issuer, not by IE Photo Rentals, and may take additional time to reflect on your statement.
10. Disputes and Chargebacks
If you have a concern about a charge, please contact us first so we can resolve it directly. We document each rental, pickup inspection, and return inspection, and we are happy to walk you through any charges. Filing a chargeback without first contacting us may delay resolution and may affect your ability to rent from us in the future.
11. Used Gear and Accessory Sales
From time to time we may sell used equipment or accessories. Unless explicitly stated as new and unopened with a manufacturer warranty, used items are sold “as is” and are not eligible for return or refund. Any return or warranty terms applicable to a specific used item will be confirmed in writing at the time of sale.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Refund and Returns Policy from time to time. The version in effect at the time of your reservation applies to that reservation. We will post the current Effective Date at the top of this page when changes are made.
13. Questions
We want every rental to go smoothly. If you have any questions about cancellations, returns, fees, or this policy, reach out before your rental
