Rent-to-Own Stores Thrive During Recession

Both chains say they work with consumers who can no longer make payments. If they have to take the product back and the customer is later able to make payments, the payment plan can be picked up where it left off.

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Ed Mierzwinski, consumer program director of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, says rent-to-own should still raise red flags in this economy.

Rent-to-own companies, he says, should "never" be an option because the products cost too much.

"The math just does not add up," he says. "People should ... look and see if in fact they can get a better deal somewhere else."