Core Viewpoint - The mobile rental industry is rapidly growing in China, particularly among young consumers, but it faces significant consumer complaints regarding safety and pricing issues [1][3]. Group 1: Industry Overview - The mobile rental model, "rent instead of buy," has gained popularity, with platforms like "人人租" (Renrenzu) claiming to provide a comprehensive rental service with over 30,000 service points and over 10 million users [3]. - Despite the growth, many consumers report that the total cost of renting and subsequently buying a phone is significantly higher than market prices, leading to dissatisfaction [5][8]. Group 2: Pricing and Profitability - A specific case study revealed that renting a phone for a year and then buying it could cost consumers 12,798.1 yuan, which is approximately 1.27 times the official retail price of 9,999 yuan [8]. - The platform's regulations state that the total rental cost should not exceed 1.28 times the official price, but actual profits for merchants can reach 1.47 times the cost price [11]. Group 3: Quality Control and Consumer Protection - The platform claims to conduct thorough quality checks on rented devices, but reports indicate that no actual inspections are performed before shipping, leading to potential quality issues [13][17]. - Merchants have the discretion to set rental prices and conditions, often leading to inconsistencies and lack of standardization in the rental process [15][17]. Group 4: Consumer Risks and Legal Issues - The rental process often involves the installation of monitoring software on devices, which raises concerns about personal information security and potential misuse by merchants [19][20]. - A case highlighted the transformation of mobile rentals into high-interest loans, with annualized rates exceeding 400%, leading to significant financial distress for consumers [22][24]. - Law enforcement has begun to crack down on illegal lending practices disguised as mobile rentals, with recent cases resulting in criminal charges against platform operators [33].