Frequently Asked Questions

The frequently asked questions below are grouped by topic. Clicking on a question will reveal its answer. Clicking on the question again will hide its answer.

General Questions

What makes MJ Memories unique?

MJ Memories makes high end camera lenses affordable for every photographer enthusiast.  We offer a wide variety of quality lenses and accessories and are continuously gathering input from our customers so we can better serve their needs as we expand our rental options.  All of our lenses are shipped in customized, hard cover cases that serve as a great carrying case and reduce the amount of worry while you handle the lens.  In addition, we do not incorporate an averaging cost on shipping into our rental prices.  Our customers only pay for the shipping cost of their lens based on the shipping options they choose.  We also provide our customers with a complimentary micro fiber lens cleaning cloth that is theirs to keep as a token of our appreciation for selecting MJ Memories for their lens rental needs.

How do I care for the lens during my rental period?

The equipment all comes clean and ready to use.  We understand that during use you may need to clean the lens.  We have included a complimentary micro fiber lens cleaning cloth for this very reason.  We ask that if the lens needs cleaning, please use the provided cloth.  You may keep the cloth as a token of our appreciation for using MJ Memories for your lens rental needs.

Do you have a privacy policy?

Our privacy policy is available online and can be accessed on this website.

What if I have a question that isn’t covered by the FAQ?

Send us an e-mail at matt@mjlensrentals.com and we would be glad to answer any questions you may have.

Rental Questions

What standard rental periods are available?

The minimum rental period for local customers is three days.  The minimum rental period available to all customers outside of our Wichita metropolitan area is 1 week.  Additional rental options are available in 2 - 4 week increments.  A week is defined as seven consecutive days.  Lenses are rented on a first-come, first-serve basis via e-mail notification.

Do you offer custom rental periods?

If the standard rental periods do not meet your lens rental needs please contact us at matt@mjlensrentals.com to discuss the availability of the lens and other rental options.

May I extend my rental?

If a lens remains available it may be possible to extend your rental contract.    Arrangements must be made before the original rental contract period expires. Contract extensions are subject to the same minimal rental requirements and owner approval.

When does the rental period begin and end?

When using the preferred method of shipping as stated in FAQ #35, the rental period begins when the first attempt is made to deliver our lens and ends on the day as defined in your rental agreement.  (EXAMPLE based on a 1 week contract:  If you order the lens on a Monday and the first attempt to deliver is made on Wednesday then the lens must be postmarked for return by the following Wednesday).  When using an alternate method of shipping that does not guarantee delivery times your rental period automatically begins three days from the postmarked date on the package.  (EXAMPLE based on a 1 week contract:  If you order a lens and it is postmarked on Monday your rental period begins on Wednesday and must be postmarked by the following Wednesday for return).  PLEASE NOTE, since we require a signature in order for the lens to be delivered, it is important that someone be present to sign for the lens. 

What if my return date falls on a holiday? 

If your rental period ends on a holiday you will have until the next business day to return the lens.

Can I rent more than one lens at a time?

There is no limit on the number of lenses you can rent at one time. All lenses are subject to availability.  Please note, since our lenses are shipped in individually customized hard protective cases we will not be able to combine lens orders and shipping will be charged on each lens.  Also, MJ Memories may require a copy of your drivers license and/or a security deposit with multiple lens rentals. 

Can I reserve a lens?

You can reserve a lens provided the rental period is 1 week or longer.  Due to the high demand for our lenses, we currently do not accept reservations for rental periods less than 1 week.  If you would like to reserve a lens, please send an e-mail to matt@mjlensrentals.com that includes the following information:  the desired lens, the preferred rental dates, and your contact information. 

Do you charge a deposit?

Our standard policy is that no deposit is required to reserve or rent a lens.  We believe that our customers are avid photographer enthusiasts or professional photographers who are trustworthy and share our enthusiasm in offering a quality product or service.  Please help us maintain this policy by following through with your reservation requests and taking proper care of the lens while it’s in your possession.  Though it is standard policy to not require a deposit, MJ Memories may charge a deposit if deemed appropriate by one of our employees following company procedures.

Do you charge late fees?

In order to provide assurance to our customers on the availability of a lens a quick turn around time with our lenses is critical.  Consequently, we must charge a late fee on rentals not returned as stated in the rental contract.  The late fee is determined based on the time stamp of the return shipment and is 25% of one week's rental fee per each day it’s late. In order to avoid a late fee we encourage our customers to utilize the option to extend their rental (see FAQ #7).

What is the cancelation procedure?

Please notify us as soon as possible on the cancelation of a lens reservation.  There is no cancelation fee for notifications received at least 7 days in advance.  A $50 cancelation fee will be charged if notifications are received in less than 7 days.

What comes with a lens rental?

We ship each lens with all the accessories it would come with if you were purchasing the lens brand new. Each lens will arrive with front and rear caps, a quick reference card with care and usage instructions as well as tips for using that particular lens, and a micro fiber cleaning cloth.  Many of our lenses come with protective UV filters.  These filters can be removed.  However, the chances for damaging the lens glass become greater so we strongly encourage all our customers to leave the UV filters in place.  Everything you receive with the lens except the complimentary micro fiber lens cloth must be returned when your rental period expires.

How do I know when a particular lens is in stock?

The website contains up to date information on the status of our lens.  If you are interested in a lens that is currently out of stock you can put in a request to be put on a lens notification list.  You will be notified by e-mail when the lens becomes available.  The lens will be rented out on a first-come, first-serve basis through the website. 

Can I place an order for an item that is out of stock?

Orders can be placed for an item that is currently shown as out of stock.  However, the rental period cannot be prior to the “Anticipated Availability Date” as shown on the website.  The lens will ship as soon as it becomes available. You will receive a confirmation via e-mail once the actual availability date is known.

What does "Anticipated Availability Date" message mean?

This is the earliest date we anticipate having the lens back in stock and in rental condition.  This date is subject to change since it is based on the assumption that our lenses will be returned on time and have not been damaged during the previous rental.

Does all equipment come with manuals?

We do not include manuals with our rentals.  Currently we include a set of basic instructions and tips that will guide you in our equipment usage with some of the more complex lenses.  Eventually we plan to make this type of information available on all of our lenses.  Also, under the resource link, you can find links to Canon to download full instruction manuals in a PDF format.

What is the condition of the lens when it arrives?

We intentionally allow a day in between rentals so we can inspect and clean each lens to ensure it is in perfect working condition before it is shipped.  If any functional defects are noted during the inspection process, the lens will be removed from our stock and not be available for rent. We will notify our customers of any delays in a timely manner as well as allow you an opportunity to modify your order. 

What if the rental item becomes damaged in transit?

We pack the equipment in a customized, padded and sealed hard case to ensure its safety during the shipping process.  However, if you notice that your package has significant damage when it arrives, you must notify us within 1 hour of receiving the package and provide pictures of the condition of the box to substantiate the claim.  Upon evaluation of the pictures we will make a determination on the status of the rental.

What if a lens is damaged while it is in a customer’s possession?

The customer is responsible for any damage caused to a lens while it is in their possession.  MJ Memories should be notified and the lens should be returned immediately.  See FAQ # 44 & #45 for additional information on the customer’s responsibility and insurance options.

What do you consider damage?

We consider damage any defect to the lens that would affect lens function, performance, and/or quality.  Examples of damage include, but are not limited to, defects on: the front or rear glass, the UV filter, coupling contacts, switches, or any other part that affects the lens' performance will be considered damage. Minor scratches to the lens barrel and hood are considered results of ordinary usage and will not result in damage assessments.

What if I wish to rent something you do not currently offer?

We are constantly striving to provide our customers with the most complete and extensive rental options in the business. Please contact us with your comments and requests so we can better serve your lens rental needs in the future.

Order Processing and Shipping

When is my credit card charged?

As soon as you place the order, an authorization hold in the amount of the order total is automatically placed on your credit card. This doesn't withdraw funds from your card, but merely holds them. We will actually charge the credit card the day your order ships. IMPORTANT NOTE: This process works differently for debit cards - please see next question for details.

Why do I see a charge immediately after placing the order when using a debit card?

Debit cards work differently than credit cards. When an authorization hold is placed on a debit card, the system actually withdraws the money needed for the hold and places it in a special intermediate account, but it is not transferred to us. Once the order is shipped, the funds are transferred from the intermediate account into our account to complete the transaction.

Do you charge sales tax?

Rentals shipped to a Kansas address are subject to sales tax based on the applicable standard rate for that county.

Can I pick up the rental items in person?

Residents located in our surrounding Wichita metropolitan area may arrange to pick up their lens rental.   Please specify local delivery on your order and include your contact information so arrangements can be made.

How do I place an order for local pick-up?

Please place the order through our website like you normally would. In the "Shipping Option" section, please select "Local Pick-up”.  Submit your payment information through the website and your order will be processed.  You will be contacted so arrangements can be made. 

What will I need to pick-up my lens?

The person whose name is designated on the order needs to be present in order to pick up the lens.  We cannot release rentals to friends, family members, etc., unless their name is specified on the order.  Additionally, you (or the designated person) will need to provide a state-issued picture id. 

How fast do you process orders?

The commitment we have made to our customers is that we will process an order within the first 24 hours after it has been received.  Processing times are subject to change during peak rental seasons.  Rentals are processed in the order they are received.

Can an order be expedited?

Depending on the volume of rentals we are processing and the availability of the lens, orders may be expedited and the processing time may be accelerated to best accommodate our customer’s lens rental needs.  Please contact us at matt@mjlensrentals.com  before placing the order if you need immediate assistance.

How do I return the lens?

Detailed instructions for returning a lens are included with each shipment along with a prepaid return postal slip.  If you have questions about the return process, please feel free to e-mail us at matt@mjlensrentals.com

Should I clean the lens before returning it?

There is no need for you to clean the lens before returning it.  Cleaning and maintaining the lenses is part of the service we provide to our customers.

What shipping options are available?

The preferred method of shipment is through FedEx using a standard three day delivery.  Upon customer request shipments are also possible with the US Postal Service Priority Mail (USPS).   See FAQ #8 for additional information related to your shipping choices.   A customer may request an overnight delivery.  Please note that our processing times on an overnight delivery remain the same (see FAQ #31& #32).

What are your shipping rates?

Standard shipping rates apply as determined by the carrier.

Do you ship outside the United States?

Currently orders are limited to the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii).

Can I take the rental outside the United States?

We have no policy against taking our lenses abroad.  Please note that the lens must be shipped to a domestic address and all other conditions of the rental agreement apply. 

Will my lens deliver on date indicated on the shipping tracking?

We have chosen FedEx as the preferred method of shipping because of their reputation for quality, dependable service.  We anticipate that all packages will be shipped and received as indicated in the FedEx tracking system.  However, we have no control over the effectiveness of that system and cannot guarantee a specific delivery date. Please note there is no tracking available on lenses shipped via USPS.

How are your lenses protected during shipping?

It is beneficial to us as well as to our customers that the lenses are properly protected during the shipping process.  We ship all our lenses in customized, hard cover Storm Cases which protect our lenses from weather conditions, handling and potential shock damage. The lenses are to be returned in the same case as it was shipped. 

Insurance

What type of insurance is available?

Insurance can be purchased through MJ Memories and added on to your order through our website. 

How do I purchase insurance?

Most items we rent have an insurance purchase selection option next to the rental period radio buttons. The "Yes" option indicates how much insurance will cost for a particular item. If you forget to add insurance to your order during checkout, please contact us and we can add it to your order if it has not yet shipped.   Please note that we do not offer insurance on our electronic rentals.

What is covered by the insurance?

Most unintentional damage to the lens is covered under this optional insurance policy. Lost or stolen items are not covered.  However, your renter's, homeowner's or photographer's insurance policies might cover this kind of situation - please check with your insurance agent for details.

What if the equipment is damaged in my possession and I did not purchase the optional insurance?

MJ Memories should be notified and the lens should be returned immediately.  Once the lens is returned we will evaluate the damage.  If we determine that a repair is needed, a temporary hold will be placed on your credit card for an estimated repair amount.  Any repairs will be completed by the original manufacturer.  We will charge you only what the repair shop charges us.  A copy of that manufacturer’s invoice is available upon the customer’s request.  The customer may also be responsible for any lost revenue during the repair time as deemed necessary by the owner.

What if the equipment is damaged in my possession and I purchased the optional insurance coverage?

MJ Memories should be notified and the lens should be returned immediately.  Once the lens is returned we will evaluate the damage.  Any necessary repairs will be completed by the original manufacturer.  The customer will be charged up to the deductible amount and MJ Memories will pay any additional cost. The deductible is 15% of the lens replacement value (EXAMPLE:  if the lens’ replacement cost is $1,000 the customer will pay the first $150 of the repair cost and MJ Memories will be responsible for the balance.)