Good point, btw but you are missing one important part of your message.. Mom's that buy Britax are not only buying because they can afford it, and were told they are the best brand, but know that they are rated all around the safest... at least that's what the studies tell you. So it's not till you research the seat itself and know what it's all about that you truly know. For me I do a ton of research and make sure it's passed all safetly testing, read all the posts about it, make sure it fits, etc..of coarse I have a few concerns with the new one not out yet due to lack of info....yet I really do trust Britax... I have 4 of them now.. (2 are extras in the inlaws car)
Please don't think I'm nit-picking, because I adore Britax just as much as you do
, but the "studies" that tell us Britax is rated safest are only Britax's own crash-testing. There is no independent testing that says Britax is, unequivocally, safest. The fact is, all seats sold in the US pass the same federal tests. Some companies (Britax, Recaro, Sunshine Kids, Compass and lately Evenflo) claim they test above and beyond federal standards.
As a tech, I have to point out these things.
All seats sold in the US must pass the same federal testing standards, and all are as safe as the next as long as they are used properly and fit properly. We can only speculate about the extra features some seat have and whether or not those seats might be safer. We truly know nothing concrete.
BTW no offense to anyone, but I would NEVER, ever, ever put my sons in any carseat not knowing the history, date and safety reports....I would never rent a carseat, buy a used one, etc.. I will and have however borrowed my sisters marathon for an extra, which I know the complete background history and DOM on...I just can't imagine putting my sons in that type of danger, not knowing is scary.
I totally agree with you there. Even if a rental company is spectacular about cleaning and maintaining carseats, I wouldn't be comfortable using a rental seat. However, most of the concerns about a used seat (missing parts, involved in a crash, recalled, expired) are addressed by the rental car company's policy on rental carseats. The fact is, many parents WILL use a rental seat, so it's wonderful this mom was able to get the rental car company to make these changes.