How much should a paddle rental be?

I did feel like a dumbass for forgetting my paddle.   

-Allen

I was wondering when you were going to mention that 

When you can get a wetsuit, float tube, boots, gloves, ab iron, gauge, mask, hood and snorkel for $35 for twenty-four hours, $25 for a paddle for a day seems exhorbitant. JMO.

Yeah but the paddle hasn't been marinating in pee 

Forgot about the idiot tax.
BTDT way too many times, but usually don't have options.
What story did you give when you went to rent?
I wonder if you said, "I've always wanted to try a 240cm paddle. I have a 230 right now and I wanted to compare the difference between the two" as opposed to, "Oh man I just drove hundreds of miles, got all the way up here and forgot my paddle. I'm up $#!T Creek without it. How much to rent?".
The first scenario you don't need the rental so you have the option of walking away without your trip being ruined if you're not satisfied with the price.
The other scenario the renter knows you're either going to pay or make round trip drive for nothing. Who's not going to pay $25 to save the day.
He's got ya by the nads.

No matter what math you use, to me $25 to rent a paddle is to much.  I would have not rented it either.

Shouldn't rental gear be inexpensive, wouldn't the rental company will recoup full retail new price if you loose their stuff? We see it a lot here, good will and future patronage is lost over $5.

I guess it just depends on what their goal is... Make $25, or make a customer for life?

Any input from any of the shop guys on here? What's a fair price? I'm curious now.
I might have gotten ripped off two years ago when I paid 25!

Shouldn't rental gear be inexpensive, wouldn't the rental company will recoup full retail new price if you loose their stuff? We see it a lot here, good will and future patronage is lost over $5.

Why should it be inexpensive?  A rental shop makes their money .... by renting!

Do you all think $25/hour is too much to rent a kayak (including PFD and paddle)?

-Allen

I never considered the idiot tax.  I still think $10 or $15 a day would be more reasonable.  If they paid $100 for the paddle, it would only take 10 rentals to get back to even.  I ran a video rental program several years ago and it took about 10 rentals to get the investment back.  There were usually a lot more rentals than the 10 and at some point the videos would be sold for about 1/2 of their cost.  The key to a successful rental program is getting the merchandise off the shelf and into the paying customer's hands.  Merchandise that isn't priced right simply doesn't move and creates no opportunity for the retailer to turn a profit.  I'm  sure paddle rentals are not too common and I doubt that all their paddles are ever rented out mid week.  If I were running the business, I would view a paddle rental as a goodwill opportunity as opposed to a one time maximum profit.  Fair pricing and good service are often the keys to success in a retail business.  Thanks for all tbe opinions.  I have learned my lesson.  The spare paddle is now a permanent fixture on my trailer.  Enough said.