I'm having fun with this latest NZXT scandal

NZXT is a computer OEM, manufacturing both components and full
computers. In my (admittedly limited) experience, it's a
middle-of-the-road provider, with varying quality. Not the worst, not
the best; usually a bit overpriced for what you get but not so bad as
to write them off entirely.

But NZXT also sells complete systems, and this is what's gotten them
into trouble recently. Or rather, it's not the sales of their PCs, but
their rental options. Now, renting a PC is never a good idea, and
NZXT's option is possibly the worst choice, since it's not
'rent-to-own' but 'rent, rent, rent and rent some more and at the end
you got nothin' to show for it.' But even that is forgivable, except
NZXT used bait-n-switch tactics; they showed one computer for sale and
then another -using the exact same model name- for rent... despite the
two machines not having the same specs. The language used on their
websites was fairly misleading too (the fine print made it clear you
didn't own the computer in the end, but language elsewhere implied
otherwise, even if it never said so outright). Worse, their contract
essentially gave them carte blanche to your data on the rented
machine, should they chose to exercise that right (there's no evidence
they ever did so and it's likely it was just boilerplate language...
but still).

When confronted with these facts, they unapologetically claimed it was
the customers who were 'confused' and that any misunderstandings were
because of language used by their paid online shills (sorry, the
people they sponsored on YouTube and told exactly what to say). No
sign of remorse or changing; just 'it's not us, it's you.'

To say that attitude is not playing well is an understatement. And I
gotta say, I just love watching companies crash and burn this way.
They so frequently avoid the simple solution of saying, "Mea culpa,
we'll fix the problem and make restitution to anyone who was wronged"
and instead double-down on their scamminess, and it never works out
well for them. It's beautiful.

Honestly, the whole idea of renting a gaming PC seems ridiculous.
Rent-to-own, maybe, but rent for the privilege of renting only screams
"I've too much money and not enough sense". NZXT defends the idea by
claiming you'll get 'free upgrades' but even with that you still end
up paying magnitudes more for the PC than you would if you just went
into a store and bought your machine. I can see why they're so
defensive of the idea, though; there are a lot of people who are very
stupid with their money, easily swayed by advertising, and the whole
thing can be amazingly lucrative. All that and it's legal too... so
long as you're very careful with how you word your marketing. Which is
where NZXT fell apart.

Ah well. I was never going to get roped into their rent-a-PC scheme.
Still, NZXT just dropped onto my 'never buy anything from these
jokers' list because of these shenanigans. I doubt I'm the only one. I
hope you made a lot of money from these rentals, NZXT, because it's
probably going to cost you a lot more in lost customers.