I didn’t rent, but my brother did, TV & VCR well into the 90’s. I remember him gloating that he could swap out for a newer model every year – then him sulking because his kids stuffed jam sandwiches into the VCR and killed it, so he had to pay the inflated “list price” for it.
I bought an ex-radio rentals 26″ colour TV when I was a student at College in 1985, lovely shade of fake Sapele wood…4 button remote, pure luxury…lol. Certainly a bargain at £85 when the student association at Uni in 1987 (went to Uni after College) let me keep the VCR between their Sunday movie nights as I was the only one with a telly to use it on. Sold it on for £50 years later when I emigrated.
Paid for by working weeknights in a local pub.
In life, it's not who you know that's important, it's how your wife found out.