Counter and rental clerks facilitate transactions - whether the transaction is a car rental, a video tape rental, or accepting shoes to be repaired or cloths to be dry cleaned. Specific duties vary, but most counter and rental clerks are responsible for answering questions about the product or service being offered, its cost, or rental agreement details. Some may receive incentive pay for selling add-ons, options, or special memberships.

Firms employing counter and rental clerks generally operate when their customers their customers are not at their own jobs, so night, weekend, and holiday work is common. Over half of all people in this occupation work a part-time schedule.

The work itself is not difficult nor well paid. Bu being a counter or rental clerk is an excellent way to learn a business, earn part-time income, and master the art of dealing with customers face-to-face, which is invaluable experience for any job.