UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
     Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934



                        April 25, 2000 (April 21, 2000)
                        ------------------------------
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)


                                 Rent-Way, Inc.
                                 --------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


      Pennsylvania                  000-22026                   25-1407782
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 (State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number)      (IRS Employer
            of corporation)                                 Identification No.)



One RentWay Place, Erie, Pennsylvania           16505
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(Address of principal executive offices)       Zip Code



Registrant's telephone number, including area code:        (814) 455-5378
                                                     --------------------------





Item 5.           Other Events

     SAN DIEGO and ERIE, Penn. - April 21, 2000 - Gateway,  Inc. (NYSE: GTW) and
Rent-Way,  Inc.  (NYSE:  RWY) today  announced  that  Rent-Way  will  become the
exclusive rental purchase supplier of Gateway computers and technologies.  Under
the  agreement,  which calls for an initial term of three years,  Rent-Way  will
offer Gateway computers,  complete with Internet access exclusively to customers
on a weekly rental basis. Also as part of the agreement, Gateway Companies, Inc.
will invest $7 million in Rent-Way.

     In  addition,  Rent-Way  will  integrate  Gateway  computers  and  services
throughout  its network of 1,100 stores across the country,  and is  subsidizing
Gateway computers for its 1,100 managers and 150 regional managers.

     As the nation's second largest operator of rental purchase stores, Rent-Way
services hundreds of thousands of recurring customers each year providing access
to a range of  furniture,  appliances  and  equipment  for the home on  either a
weekly rental or rent-to-own basis. More than 70 percent of Rent-Way's customers
return  to  their  neighborhood  store  to take  advantage  of the  service  and
immediate access to furniture and appliances for their home.

     "We  believe  every one of our  customers,  as well as  millions of others,
desire the use and access of a high-quality  computer and  first-class  Internet
service," said William E.  Morgenstern,  chairman and CEO of Rent-Way.  "Without
extensive  credit  delays or the  requirement  of a credit  card,  we will offer
Gateway  computers and Internet  service on a cancelable  weekly lease for about
$20 per week - half of the weekly rental price the rest of the industry offers."

     Gateway will train  Rent-Way's  sales  associates  on Gateway  products and
services, provide in-store merchandise to explain its products and services, and
offer  on-line  training  to  Rent-Way  customers  to  enable  them to take full
advantage of the technology.

     "By  working  with  Rent-Way  we are able to reach a unique  segment of the
consumer  market we were unable to reach  before," said Todd Bradley,  executive
vice  president,  global  operations,  Gateway.  "The financial  flexibility and
immediate  access to products  Rent-Way offers allow customers to take advantage
of technology and the Internet to change the way they live, work and play."

     Rent-Way  customers will have access to Gateway PCs and services  beginning
in May. The companies anticipate the final closing of the agreement by April 28,
2000.




For more information, contact:              William E. Morgenstern, CEO
                                       (800)736-8929 or visit www.rentway.com













                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  and Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.





                                                      Rent-Way, Inc.
                                             -------------------------------
                                                      (Registrant)





Date      April 25, 2000                          /s/ William A. McDonnell
- ------------------------------------         --------------------------------
                                                       (Signature)
                                                      William A. McDonnell
                                     Vice President and Chief Financial Officer






 Date      April 25, 2000                         /s/ Matthew J. Marini
- ------------------------------------          -------------------------------
                                                         (Signature)
                                                       Matthew J. Marini
                                       Controller and Chief Accounting Officer