to buy one is less than $300 for the pet model which we have if you go through goodguys - then you can negotiate for cash discounts if you have the cash to pay for it. ours came with so much shampoo we've never had to buy any either - they just threw heaps in for us! it's fantastic having it right there - E spilt portello on the carpet (DOH!) and it was cleaned up in no time with no residual marking cos the shampooer was just there - i can't recall how much they are to rent the rug doctor ones, but from memory, they're about 70 plus shampoo for a weekend, so it doesn't take long to get your money back