- Rent the Runway just released a new membership option called the 2 Swaps Plan that lets subscribers order eight items per month for $135. Right now, new members only pay $99 for their first month.
- Previously, RTR only offered the Update ($89/month) and Unlimited ($159/month) plans. The former offers four options, while the latter offers unlimited options.
- 2 Swaps subscribers can rent four items at a time and can swap any number of those items twice for a total of eight pieces.
- You can view RTR’s three membership plans here, and see our list of FAQs at the bottom of this post.
- Insider Reviews is currently testing the new membership plan against our own experiences with its other subscription plans. We’ll update this article with our perspective on the service soon.
Rent the Runway announced a new membership option for its subscribers in March of 2020: the 2 Swaps Membership for $135 per month.
For those familiar with the company's previous membership structure, it's essentially a cheaper, mid-tier option that comes with more restrictions than its unlimited membership, but most of the convenience.
With the new 2 Swaps membership, subscribers can rent eight items per month from RTR, keeping four items at a time and swapping any number of them at any point.
The new plan gives members access to the full RTR cloud closet of over 700 designers and 15,000 styles, just like the Unlimited option. You'll be able to order monthly shipments worth up to $5,000 rather than Unlimited's $10,000+, but that may be a very forgivable con for those who aren't superusers maximizing the Unlimited plan.
A breakdown of plan options:
Formerly, RTR offered two subscriptions: Update (four items per month, $89) and Unlimited (four items at a time but unlimited swaps per month, $159). Aside from being renamed, those memberships remain unchanged.
- 1 Swap (formerly Update, $89/month) still lets you rent four items per month. Choose from 450 designers and order items with a retail value of up to $350, and monthly shipments up to $1,400. Currently, new members can do a $69 trial month.
- 2 Swaps (the new plan, $135/month) allows you to order a total of eight items per month, keeping four at a time, with the opportunity to swap out any number of items twice in a month. Choose from over 700 designers and order items with a retail value of up to $5,000. Currently, new members can do a $99 trial month.
- Unlimited Swaps (formerly Unlimited, $159/month) still lets you rent four items at a time with unlimited swaps throughout the month. Choose from over 700 designers and order items with a retail value of up to $3,000, and monthly shipments worth up to $10,000. Currently, new members can get $100 off a two-month trial with the exclusive code "RTRINSIDER" at checkout. You can find our review of the Unlimited Swaps plan here.
To mitigate shipping delays that eat up valuable paid time, subscribers don't need to wait until RTR receives a returned item before ordering something new - which is the same for its 1 Swap option but not Unlimited Swaps. Instead, subscribers can order a new piece as long as they select what they're returning to open up space - and drop it in the mail after.
Unfortunately, if you already have a different RTR plan and want to switch to 2 Swaps, the company recommends waiting until the end of your billing cycle, returning all your items, canceling your membership, and signing up for the new membership option.
The new membership was a direct response to RTR subscribers who expressed interest in a middle-of-the-road option, and it's reasonable to expect RTR will continue to invest its efforts into improved subscriber offerings. According to the company, RTR's subscriptions account for 75% of its business, and its most engaged subscribers reportedly wear a rental for more than 120 days per year. Since 90% of its subscribers are working women, the company has already started to bulk up its work-ready options.
For now, subscribers can shop its thousands of designer options - from bags and jewelry to cocktail dresses and power suits. And we wouldn't be surprised to see an expansion of perks like drop-off boxes in more WeWork offices and major retailers and its direct in-closet deliveries in hotels in the future.
To find out more about RTR's subscription plans, you can view all the details here.
FAQs for RTR 2 Swaps:
1. Do you need to swap all four items at once, or can you go at your own pace?
The plan offers two swaps per month but members can use that swap however they'd like. Meaning they can swap all four items at once or hang on to any number of pieces they are not ready to return.
2. If someone ends their Unlimited membership to begin this, do they still get the special trial pricing?
Yes.
3. What if you order something and it doesn't fit? Are you out of luck, or can you exchange or replace it?
If something does not fit members have a 48-hour grace period to return for a replacement.
4. Is RTR undergoing any extra precautions during concerns over COVID-19?
Find the company's official statement below:
All our garments, accessories, hangers, and all packaging are thoroughly cleaned each time they are returned to us.
According to Harvard Health, there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted from soft surfaces like fabric or carpet to humans. In addition, our cleaning agents and practices are designed to kill viruses such as the common cold and flu. While scientific information is still developing, we have no reason to believe that our processes are ineffective against COVID-19.
The teams in our fulfillment centers use a variety of techniques to ensure that each garment is thoroughly cleaned, steamed and pressed, inspected for quality, and carefully packaged so that it arrives ready to wear. All garments go through a wet or dry cleaning process. They also go through an additional steaming process which heats items to between 248°F and 302°F with the exception of faux fur, select outerwear, leather, and faux leather garments, which still go through our standard cleaning processes. According to the CDC, flu viruses are killed by heat above 167°F. Every garment is then enclosed in plastic for protection and cleanliness, which we ask customers to return for recycling.
Find out more in the company's own FAQs to address any questions you may have about their cleaning processes.
5. Why do users need to cancel their other membership and then sign up for the new one, rather than switching seamlessly?
It's inconvenient, but Insider Reviews has reason to believe that a more streamlined and flexible option is in the works.