Rental Listing FAQ

• What is the "Ask a question" feature for?

  We all have questions at times that might not be covered by what's in front of us, which is why we have the a conversation feature. This allows you to have a private conversation with another member to clear up what you want to know about an item and is a way to get to know the other people on Open Shed before you meet and share items safely. You can converse as much as you need without ever exchanging personal details and really to get know what you need to know about a person or their item.

• Is Open Shed in my area?

  The beauty of Open Shed is it is an online portal listing what people want to share with others, so you don't have to travel to a shop or warehouse to rent anything. The more people we have sharing on Open Shed, the more fun and useful it will be for everybody!

  The easiest way to find out if there is stuff in your area is to search.

• What if I need a rental item quickly?

  So you're the intrepid kind that likes to fly by the seat of their pants, hey? You can make a rental on the day or within a couple of days of when you need the item. Just remember little fleet footer, some people don't check their email every day so it is in your best interest to allow a bit of time for the person to get back to you where you can. You might also consider using the "Ask a Question" feature to see how quickly you can get your hands on an item with a couple of members if you have a few choices.

  When you send a message to an owner using the "Ask a question" button an SMS will be sent to the owner so they are alerted as quickly as possible to your enquiry.

• How far in advance can I make a Rental Request?

  In this fast paced world, we know that some people like to plan ahead. If you want to plan your rental in advance, we recommend using the "Ask a Question" feature to let the other member know you are interested in their item and ask if it is available during the period you had in mind. Once you get closer to the timeframe, send through your rental request and your on your way.

• When is the rental fee removed from my account?

  The rental and service fees are removed from your account when you place your rental request. The funds are held securely by the platform and only transferred to the Owner when they enter the booking code you provide on pickup. If the rental request is declined, or times out without acceptance or pickup then the funds are automatically refunded in full.

• Is it safe to use Open Shed?

  We've designed Open Shed to make it as safe as possible for you to share your items with the rest of the Open Shed community. You can get an idea about someone through reading their profile, access feedback on their previous rentals and send messages privately to get to know individual members better. You are always in control, so if you don't feel comfortable sharing your stuff with someone or meeting them for any reason you don't have to.

  To find out more about how we make Open Shed safe, check our Trust and Safety page.