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Avista Audio Video Rentals
Category: Shopping Electronics Electronics [Edit]
25 Stillman StSte 101
(between 3rd St & 2nd St)
San Francisco, CA 94107
Neighborhood: SOMA
(415) 869-8582
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 9 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
42 reviews for Avista Audio Video Rentals
Review Highlights
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"...knowledgeable staff and simple plug and play equipment." In 19 reviews -
"Their staff has great customer service, equipment, and a..." In 4 reviews -
"I needed some stuff last minute to take to Austin for SXSW..." In 5 reviews
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42 reviews in English
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Review from Abby S.
3/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
These guys rock!
From the initial phone call requesting a rental to the pick up process to dropping off a few days later, Avista's staff are pro's!
I've looked into renting audio equipment before and have gotten some seriously ridiculous quotes ($400 for speakers and a mic? really?) along with strange hours and rental processes. Makes you not want to deal with a rental company at all!
But after a co-worker recommended Avista, I gave it a shot. Prices are VERY reasonable, $150 for the equipment I mentioned above. And it's across-the-board legit stuff. AND they have tech support available for you if whatever it is you rented doesn't work. That, combined with the fact that they'll help you load it into your car? Solid 5-stars.
Since my rental was on a Friday and they're not open on weekends, I had to keep everything in my trunk for a few days. Luckily, I park in a very secure garage and this isn't a problem. But for those of you who park on the street, definitely take it inside! Drop off Monday morning was a breeze, too.
Everyone here is so what's up, I'd recommend Avista to anyone in SF or San Jose, as they have two offices!Listed in: Life Savers
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Review from Alyssa Z.
San Francisco, CA
2/13/2012
I am the owner of Proposal Perfect, a business planning and coordinating marriage proposals (visit http://www.proposalper...), and I had the pleasure of teaming up with Avista for a recent event.
David and his team managed to deliver and set up a 55" TV in the arrivals lobby of SFO so that a prospective groom-to-be could enact his vision of the perfect marriage proposal. Communication leading up to the event was excellent and all logistics were handled perfectly so that everything went off without a hitch. The guys were great to work with, the equipment was ideal, and the technical implementation (i.e. sound quality, image) was perfect.
I would absolutely work with Avista again and wholeheartedly recommend them for audio/video rental needs, no matter how "out there" (as this certainly was!), in the Bay Area. -
Review from ray c.
San Francisco, CA
9/4/2011
I used them for a outdoor movie night and got their equipment with a great Tippr deal. Easy service and easy check in and check out. Friendly knowledgeable staff and simple plug and play equipment.
Service is superb. I had an issue with my credit card being charged again. I noticed it on Sunday and called the after hours number to figure out what occurred. I received a call back from the manager within 5 minutes. He profusely apologized for the mix up and stated he would do the refund on Tuesday morning since Monday was labor day. I apologized for interrupting his weekend. Once I get my credit back I will be 100% satisfied. -
Review from S K.
San Francisco, CA
1/8/2012
I usually don't write Yelp reviews. However, the Avista team was phenomenal and I feel compelled to write them a stellar review
We were hosting a New Year's party and on the day of the event, our DJ bailed. I called Avista @ 5pm (it was a Saturday on New Year;s eve this past year). They found someone to come into the store, open it and spend an hour with me to get me the equipment I needed at the right price! I had called 5-7 other places and none as willing to even consider re-opening a store for me.
Thanks Avista!
Sam -
Review from Kali C.
San Francisco, CA
10/24/2011
I rented the iPlay sound system for my sister's wedding reception. The Avista staff is professional and knowledgable--they walked me through the set-up and also have an instructional video for the system on their website. Set-up was a breeze, and the reception was a big hit!
Bonus points for contacting me via email and phone when their 24/7 tech support line was down. No tech support was needed, but it was comforting to know that I had an alternate number to call just in case. I will definitely be contacting Avista again for future A/V needs. Thank you, Avista Rentals! -
Review from Angie C.
11/7/2010
Wow - what great service. We rented some speakers and microphones from Avista Audio Video Rentals on Thursday, and during tests in the morning, we found that one of the microphones had a small problem.
After calling Avista Audio Video Rentals, they sent a person out to replace the piece for us in 15-20 minutes. Speedy and professional, and best of all, very affordable. Will be coming back to Avista Audio Video Rentals in the future for all sound support and sound rental equipment! -
Review from Kathleen B.
San Diego, CA
8/1/2009
I needed a projection screen for my friend's wedding on friday. It was going to be about 250 people and our problem was a) we didn't have a projection screen and b) we were flying up from Orange County.
Luckily, the yelp page for Avista came up in my google search and I booked one of the 8x8 screens to pick up (it was about $40).
We BARELY got this thing to fit in our nissan altima rental but the avista peeps helped us out and the screen was PERFECT for the wedding. Every seat in the tent was a GOOD seat.
Since they aren't open on weekends - I had to have the groom drop of the screen before noon on monday so total days we had this screen was three but I only paid one day's price :)
We probably should've played some massive wii on it! lol.
Anyway, I wish they had an avista down here! but all you bay-area peeps - I definitely recommend avista!
It's a little bit hard to find on stillman .... but location is about 15 min away from the airport and in the center of the city. I lucked out and it was only a few blocks from st patricks where I attended the wedding. -
Review from Scott S.
12/2/2009
I found Avista from you, my fellow Yelpers! Making a reservation was easy. Clayton, took my order and made useful suggestions like having two speakers is better than one so your audience isn't blasted by overcompensating and having a mic stand even if you're using a handheld wireless mic.
I arrived to pickup the gear. I was told that it wasn't ready. Huh? I had ordered it well in advance. The SF office is downtown and not that easy to get to, so I said I'd wait. The man who assembled the equipment was friendly enough, but the woman processing my order was giving me major attitude.
After the equipment was tested and I given a quick overview, off I went.
That evening the setup went well enough until I tried turning on the microphone. It didn't work. Hmmm...80 people are coming for a major fundraiser and the mic isn't working. What to do? Panic?!?
I did call the tech support line and was told to replace the batteries.
I was lucky enough to be downtown and able to run out and get some AA batteries. However, I'd been SOL if stores weren't close. Either Avista should put a backup pair of batteries in the case, or let you know that you should have some. They do tell you that extension cords aren't included, so I had brought those.
It was $185 for two speakers, wireless microphone and related gear. Not cheap, but worth it. Be sure and check the batteries and have spares to boot.Comment from Doug Watson C. of Avista Audio Video Rentals 12/13/2009
Our policy is to send fresh batteries out with all our… More » -
Review from Patrick M.
Emeryville, CA
2/28/2011
Clayton was SO HELPFUL! Not only did he help me when I called late on a Friday, but he actually went to the location and made sure everything worked despite the restaurant having their own technical difficulties. I did not expect the level of service he provided, and I was very happy with the quality of the rental and especially of the service.
Great company! -
Review from Jim G.
Felton, CA
6/16/2008
I contacted them because I needed a flat panel TV, DVD player, extension cord and power strip for a public event at The Cannery on Fisherman's Wharf. They delivered exactly what I needed, arrived exactly when they said they would and made it the easiest part of pulling off this event.
They're absolutely the best folks to contact if you want something done right so that you don't have to worry about anything. -
Review from Seth S.
San Francisco, CA
8/17/2009
If you have any audio/visual technology needs Avista is the place to call. I've used Avista several times for my job and have had a great experience every time. David and Doug are extremely personable, helpful and professional.
In fact, my organization no longer debates where to rent A/V services and equipment from any longer, it's automatically, "Call Avista." You should have no qualms about relying on them for your most important events. My boss used Avista for a their wedding as a matter of fact.
And not only is their service top-notch and the equipment excellent, the value is stellar. We have literally saved thousands of dollars and innumerable headaches by sticking with Avista and we will continue to use them for the foreseeable future. -
Review from Dusty R.
Silver City, NM
7/23/2009
I've rented from them twice to do a video shoots at some friends' preschool. Got a nice video camera, shotgun mic, boomkit, and tripod. Both times they were very friendly and efficient, no attitude which seems to be everywhere in this town. The 2nd time I really needed some tech help on the fly over the phone once I got to the site and they calmly walked me through it step by step as about twenty 5-year olds jumped up in down in front of me, and we resolved my issue easily. They employ a cool woman there too (if a tech place only has guys, it bugs me). The parking is always easy, and they accommodated the hours I needed the equipment (I needed it from 9am on - most places I called would rent only starting from Noon, forcing me to add on an extra half day which I didn't need).
In my mind, this place exemplifies good service. -
Review from Mat W.
San Francisco, CA
1/19/2009
I've rented from Avista twice now and both times were flawless. Being able to have the rentals over a weekend, and have the equipment dropped off and picked up is a life saver. They respond to inquiries super quick and have always been able to provide anything I needed. Their website is well detailed too, which is a good plus for someone as busy as me and who has a lot of questions.
The equipment always works perfectly and they're happy to give you a "how-to" even though they also give you easy instructions.
Next year I'll go to these folks again if I need more equipment. -
Review from Tony W.
San Francisco, CA
9/12/2011
Love this place. Not only was it in my budget but they also pick up and deliver.!!!!! Shot my third film this weekend and the equiptment was great.
Tony W. -
Review from Mark M.
San Francisco, CA
9/8/2010
Awesome service, quality equipment and rental rates. Plus, they thoroughly go through the setup of each of the items you rent. They really are there to help you out. Plus, the available 24 hour tech support is awesome. With the previous place I rented from, I just rented and crossed my fingers!
Definitely going back to these guys. They got what I needed and I didn't have to worry about the equipment bonking out on me during the shoot. -
Review from Eric C.
San Francisco, CA
3/26/2010
Called on one-day notice to book two 10" speakers, receiver, and some extension cords.
Called in, explained my situation for the event, and was helped out by Clayton. Very helpful in terms of recommendation, and reasonable price for the rental.
The event was a success thanks to Avista. -
Review from Cristian G.
San Francisco, CA
7/6/2010
I called this company three times, each time speaking to a different individual, and each time the individual took the time to answer all of my questions to the best of their abilities. I had several questions about the quality of film depending on the video camera I would be using, and some more detailed questions about which camera would work best.
The prices are definitely some of the best (if not the best) out there for video rental equipment. The only drawback is that their high-end video cameras are only Firewire compatible when it comes to importing the data/video into a computer. Nowadays with USB connection becoming so popular, it's a little disappointing they don't have high-end video equipment capable of that. Luckily, my Mac has Firewire connection, but not all computers have such connection.
Overall though, great service, excellent rates, a friendly staff, and relatively fair hours for video rentals (Their post 12 pm pickup time is limiting, but they work with you in the event you need something earlier).
I'd recommend them to anyone. -
Review from maureen f.
San Francisco, CA
5/5/2010
They've got the gear I need - from prosumer level to some ENG-style goods. I reserved my gear 24 hours before I needed it - no problem. I picked it up and was served with a smile and no attitude. It's that no attitude part that I really appreciate when dealing with renting A/V equipment. When I returned the gear, i had no change to put in the meter, so risked it and the Avista staff member receiving my gear was there, checked it really quick and I was back at my car - no ticket! Amazing.
I'll be going back. -
Review from Jennifer H.
San Francisco, CA
3/9/2009
latest update:
I'm upgrading to 3 stars for their accommodating service, even though the mic didn't work out. When I called and came in to use my credit, the staffers said, "oh, I know who you are." I pictured everyone sitting around talking about that yelper who had the chutzpah to show her face there. It was ackward.
But in Avista's defense, they were very accommodating and even friendly. We had some trouble on our shoot with the mic (we rented wireless lavs) and afterwards the staffer walked me through how to use them --of course it worked fine in the store.
It turns out that at least the wireless lavalier mics they rent just aren't the greatest quality. They are probably fine if you have a quiet room and controlled situation, but we were shooting in a noisy kitchen with lots of machinery and we got all kinds of interference and static. So, lesson learned. Know what your needs are and what you're getting. Unfortunately for us, I don't think their mics are rigorous enough for my needs.
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Update: After writing this review I got an email from Avista's owner offering me an apology and $100 credit for future rentals. Importantly, he never asked me to change my review (that happened before and it feels like a bribe). I appreciate the attempt to make things right and for now I am giving them an extra star for that.
I'm also taking them up on their offer... so maybe more stars to come if the mic works out this time.
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original review:
Prompt customer service and a reasonable price.... But the microphone didn't work. We rented a wireless for our wedding in September and there was so much fuzz and interference it was unusable. Thankfully, our DJ had a backup mic, which he said was unreliable but in fact saved the day.
When we returned it we complained and were told they'd "look into it." Never heard nuthin after that. -
Review from Michael F.
Quantico, VA
4/8/2010
We needed a projector and screen for a seminar at work but I did not know who to rent from. Thankfully Yelpers! had great things to say about Avista.
Called in, explained my situation for the event, and was helped out by Clayton. Very helpful in terms of recommendation, and reasonable price for the rental & set up.
The event was a success thanks to Avista. -
Review from Luke M.
Pleasant Hill, CA
Updated - 7/16/2008
At the end of April I was in dire need of a specific camera for rental. I had two camera rentals fall through two days before the shoot.
In a pinch, I contacted Avista to see if they could save the day, and they went above and beyond anything I expected.
They didn't have the camera I needed in stock at either location, but were able to purchase an additional camera for rental, and priority overnighted it to SF in order for me to have the camera for my shoot. They took care of shipping and handling on it, and the gear worked flawlessly.
I've used Avista several times on various projects over the last year, with great success. Their staff has great customer service, equipment, and a willingness to go the extra mile to keep their clients happy. I contact them often for quotes, always with good service and prompt responses, even if I don't end up going with the product I'm quoting.
I'd highly suggest using them on your next project.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/28/2008
I've used Avista's video rental services to rent both audio and video equipment for three shoots… Read more »
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Review from Jane S.
San Francisco, CA
8/14/2008
I cannot speak highly enough of the people at Avista Rentals. I dealt with David, but I'm sure they are all as efficient and friendly as he is. Not once, but twice, I needed equipment delivered on short notice and they handled everything beautifully. Their prices are very reasonable as well and their equipment is top notch. They also know their business - I wasn't really sure what I needed and David walked me through what I was doing and helped me figure it all out.
Thank you Avista Rentals! I work for San Francisco Ballet and, as long as I am here, these folks will be our A/V providers! -
Review from Kelly W.
San Francisco, CA
3/23/2011
Awesome rates, great equipment, and the online booking process is super easy. I needed some stuff last minute to take to Austin for SXSW and it worked like a charm. I returned it late due to a flight delay and they didn't charge me. Plus, it's in a relatively easy location with free street parking. I will definitely be going back.
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Review from Liz F.
Oakland, CA
11/9/2011
Avista provided Audience Response Systems for our conference today and they worked perfectly! We had 175+ attendees and several split sessions with 3 to 6 questions apiece. Doug and Jeremy arrived at 6 a.m. sharp to setup and were endlessly personable and patient with our presenters last minute changes. This was a tough crowd too, I work for a top international law firm and our attorneys' expectations are sky high. I HIGHLY recommend Avista.
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Review from Joanna B.
San Francisco, CA
8/13/2009
We rented a microphone and speaker from them for our wedding. They were really helpful on the phone in figuring out what to rent, they delivered and picked up (for an extra fee, of course) and it all worked great with great sound quality.
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Review from Linda H.
El Cerrito, CA
7/31/2008
The folks as Avista are great. We rented a projector screeen and battery generated speaker system for our wedding. The price was great compared to what I was getting quoted from other places.
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Review from Lauren G.
Berkeley, CA
8/31/2009
My husband and I rented speakers from Avista for our wedding. The employees were helpful in making suggestions about what would work best and the speakers looked and sounded great. There have been some problems with their billing system (i.e. extra charges on my credit card), but Avista's owner quickly responded to my previous negative Yelp review, so it looks like that will be resolved. Otherwise, the rental went very smoothly and I would recommend using their services for your next event.
Listed in: Wedding Vendors
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Review from Jonah C.
San Francisco, CA
10/21/2008
These guys were spectacular - I rented a DJ package and had a friend do the audio at my wedding at 1 Fort Mason and their customer service, flexibility in altering my reservation at the last minute, and exceptionally well-maintained, brand new and very high-quality equipment positively shined! There's no better choice for the price.
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Review from Peter C.
San Francisco, CA
10/6/2008
This review will sound very much like the previous one, but iit's legit. For my wedding we also rented an iPlay system (speakers, stands, soundboard, wireless mic) and it worked out great. They had the equipment ready to go on Friday, so we were able to load up quickly which was a relief since we were short on time. Same thing with the return. Quick and painless.
Earlier I went in to the office and they gave me a nice demo on setting it up, and when we rented they had instructions printed out as well. And the price was very fair. All in all a great experience. Just look out for the microphone, people had a good time snatching it to 'karaoke' along with the music! -
Review from kathy l.
6/4/2009
I never actually rented anything for Avista (hence less 1 star), but I'm giving them 4 stars for honesty and true customer service. I'm was looking for an outdoor lapel mic system for our wedding and the person I spoke to was very honest about what they could offer, best practices, etc. As per the other reviews, the lapel mics they have are probably best in an indoor setting. I really appreciated the honesty and consideration. Will keep you in mind for future AV needs!
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Review from Joe G.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 4/14/2009
Update: After writing this review, the owner contacted me to apologize for the $25 charge and to assure me that this was not their standard procedure. He refunded the $25 charge and offered a credit towards a future rental. It was definitely frustrating to feel like I was getting gouged, but it's good to know that the owner cares enough about customer service to remedy problems once he's aware of them. It's just too bad the other employees I talked to didn't show the same enthusiasm for fixing problems.
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Original review:
As part of my rental I borrowed a cheap audio cable (the simple left/right splitter that allows you to connect an ipod, computer, etc.). When returning the equipment I forgot the cable and asked how much the charge would be if I kept it. They said since it was a cheap cable and the charge would only be replacement cost, that it would be $5, maybe $10 at most. I figured it wasn't worth making another trip, and told them that as long as it was only $5-10, they could just charge me, but if it's more please call me so I can bring the cable back. They assured me they would call if the cost was more than $10.
So Imagine my surprise when a charge appeared on my credit card for $25. I called the office and the manager (or maybe owner?) told me that not only do they charge replacement cost, but additional shipping and other charges related to the hassle of getting a new cable. He was unapologetic that his staff had assured me that the price would be less than $10 and had ageed to tell me if it was more (which never happened). He said it was now too late to return the cable, but agreed to refund "part "of the $25 charge. Of courese, this never happened.
The cable is a very cheap, thin, short basic audio cable that costs $5 at Radio Shack (not high-end wires like other in the setup). They had a huge bin of these cables in the office, and I sincerely doubt they made a special order of 1 more to replace the one I had, or that it would cost anywhere near $25 to do so. Regardless, I would definitely have returned the cable if they'd been honest about the cost, or allowed me to return it once the cost was known.
If you decide to rent from them, just know that they will apparently take any opportunity to gouge you for whatever they can. Buyer beware.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/30/2008
As part of my rental I borrowed a cheap audio cable (the simple left/right splitter that allows you… Read more »
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Review from Thad S.
San Francisco, CA
9/30/2008
We recently hired Avista to help provide the A/V equipment for our wedding reception. They provided us with a time for delivery and pick up of the equipment and showed up on time for both, which is rare these days when companies usually show up 30 minutes after their 2 (or 4) hour "window". This allowed us to get set up with no hassles!
We rented a 7X10 rear projection screen, the iPlay system (which is EXACTLY what we needed for this), speakers, and a projector. Everything came with reasy to follow instructions and well marked cables and cords. The equipment was top quality and worked GREAT!
David is also very professional and responsive. Although I never actually spoke to him, each and every one of my frantic emails was answered immdediately and accurately.
I recommend Avista for anyone who would like to have a hassle free equipment rental experience. Way to go, Avista!! -
Review from CI P.
San Francisco, CA
9/10/2007
I called avista at 3:30 on a Thursday and they were able to deliver what I needed (a rear projector screen for a work event) by 9:00 am Friday. Great customer service and the product was exactly what we needed. The price was almost half of the quote I got from another place. I would definitely call this place again.
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Review from mayme c.
San Francisco, CA
11/5/2010
i tried to rent a microphone for our outdoor wedding. i called and spoke with someone (can't remember name) and told them what i needed. i booked and reserved a microphone and was told that was all i would need. the price was reasonable. when i went to pick it up the day before my wedding (stressed and in a rush), i waited 10 minutes to be helped only to find out that my reservation was only for a microphone, not the speaker. they had assumed i already had a speaker. nope. they didn't have any speakers left, so i walked out empty handed. fortunately, last minute, our musician had an extra microphone and speaker we were able to use for the ceremony. i wasted a lot of time with this and added more stress to an already stressful wedding. i was fully refunded which kind of made me feel better.
Comment from Doug Watson C. of Avista Audio Video Rentals 11/7/2010
We apologize for your not being satisfied with our service,… More » -
Review from Laura P.
San Francisco, CA
6/4/2010
These people really went above and beyond the call of duty. We had reserved a sound system for our wedding, and in all the last-minute chaos we forgot to pick it up. One of the employees actually called to remind us ahead of time, but we didn't get the message until it was too late. He then arranged for us to pick it up at a different location the next day, which saved us an incredible amount of hassle. The person who met us was super friendly and explained how to use the equipment very clearly. It sounded excellent. I highly recommend them!
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Review from aly e.
Oakland, CA
12/15/2008
Great customer service! David really helped us when we were down to the wire and needed a projector for our company benefit party. So much so that I'm sure they will be our "go to place" when we need electronic equipment again. The slide show on the wall looked great :-)
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Review from Jesse S.
Sacramento, CA
6/2/2008
Called them at 5:00pm the day of the event after one company bailed on us. They handled our sound situation at a very reasonable price...it saved our event.
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Review from White M.
San Francisco, CA
4/29/2010
Picked up two 15" speakers and a wireless mic from Avista and everything worked out great. Equipment was in good condition and worked fine. People were easy to deal with. I would go back.
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Review from Heather R.
Atlanta, GA
6/26/2008
These guys absolutely saved the day for me back in May. My company was attending a conference and we forgot our projector. We went to our hotel to see if we could rent one by the day and they wanted to charge us $900 A DAY! I called Avista on a Sunday night and it rang through to an employee's cell phone (David) and he was able to meet me at the office the next morning at 8:00am. I walked out 10 minutes later with a projector (that was even better than the one we forgot) at a price that was absolutely reasonable. I wish there was an Avista in every city!
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Review from Felix F.
San Francisco, CA
8/18/2008
I have rented from Avista several times (close to 10 times now). Found them on the internet and b/c of their reasonable prices, ease of pick-up/drop-off, and last minute availability. Ryan and David there are pros. As a club and commercial DJ (at times), these guys have helped out alot!
