Club rental program?

[Workaholic]

So, This is something i've been tossing around for a bit and thought I would run this by the members before it actually went into action.

What do you all think about a program run by the club where people can rent pieces of equipment (just like a tool rental shop) The first thing that came to mind would be a reef fraggin bandsaw. With the cost of this tool being over $300 rarely will you find anyone but the avid and regular "fragger" or "farmer" justify purchasing this. There are however quite a few folks that could use something like this as infrequent as once or twice a year which is where this program would really shine. For something like the bandsaw I was thinking current card holding members would get a rate of say %5 of the cost of the tool new rental price per day and non members would pay %7.5 of cost of the tool new per day to rent. For example a $300 tool for a member would cost $15 a day to rent and a non member would pay $22.50/day. Obviously this wouldn't be the only thing available but it would be a good start I feel.

So what do you all think?

 

[Workaholic]

I guess I should clarify, if there are things you don't like about this idea please say what they are! otherwise it makes it tough to implement a program where everyone (or at least the most possible) are happy

Thanks

 

[eww]

Tom, great idea but I have a few...

Devils Advocate Questions...

1.) Who will monitor the equipment, as in check it out and check in back in and charge for accordingly?
2.) Why are non-members able to rent? I'm not necessarily against this but I am playing DA here.
3.) What happens if a piece of equipment is broken, stolen or lost? Who pays? The renter, the club, both?
4.) Who is going to beat on doors if something is not returned?
5.) Who cleans the items? I would assume the renter but some people just don't get it and will return things dirty. Would there be a cleaning charge if this happens?

These are just a few things that popped into my head that people may ask after reading this. I think it could be a great program if it is used and the maintenance and accountability are held to a high standard. It's just like anything else, if you let it slip and go easy people will take advantage of the situation in a bad way. Again, these questions are really meant to be devils advocate questions and not necessarily what I believe.

 

[returnofsid]

Make sure the club is insured, in case someone cuts off their finger.

 

[Workaholic]

Eric, First off I'd like to say FANTASTIC input! and much appreciated (even if you are playing DA) to make answering your questions easier i'll just answer in the quote.

Tom, great idea but I have a few...

Devils Advocate Questions...

1.) Who will monitor the equipment, as in check it out and check in back in and charge for accordingly?
This would be responsibility of the current BOD for the club, so in this years case... ME

2.) Why are non-members able to rent? I'm not necessarily against this but I am playing DA here.
Non members being able to rent was just something I tossed in there and was more for possible revenue generation for the club than anything else. Hence why it was at a higher price bracket, which also gave a further incentive to join the club.

3.) What happens if a piece of equipment is broken, stolen or lost? Who pays? The renter, the club, both?
The way I had thought about handling this was to treat it just like any rental company would. Before the piece of equipment is rented a deposit is given, weather it be paypal, cashiers check, cash etc. Upon return of the still functioning clean tool the deposit is returned. Deposits I was thinking to be the replacement cost of the tool, until such time that they get some age and wear/tear on them, at which time the deposit amount would go down.

4.) Who is going to beat on doors if something is not returned?

This is why I would have the deposit, no door beating necessary. Just depositing their money after a predetermined time.

5.) Who cleans the items? I would assume the renter but some people just don't get it and will return things dirty. Would there be a cleaning charge if this happens?
This is something I hadn't thought of, a cleaning charge would something I could see to be very fair if returned dirty.

These are just a few things that popped into my head that people may ask after reading this. I think it could be a great program if it is used and the maintenance and accountability are held to a high standard. It's just like anything else, if you let it slip and go easy people will take advantage of the situation in a bad way. Again, these questions are really meant to be devils advocate questions and not necessarily what I believe.

Michael: The insurance is a good thought, something i'll have to look into. All though I would think with the signature of a disclaimer that the club and its BOD aren't responsible for anyone causing harm to themselves I would think that would release them of any liability?

 

[smoknreefr]

sweet i can use copper/heavy meds then pass to unsuspecting members that they will use this in there reef sounds like a disaster waiting to happen def not in favor

 

[Workaholic]

sweet i can use copper/heavy meds then pass to unsuspecting members that they will use this in there reef sounds like a disaster waiting to happen def not in favor

Really? please explain how copper and meds would be absorbed by a PLASTIC bandsaw to then introduce them to someone elses tank?

I guess my clarificaion of my desire for input needs further clarification. Said input should be CONSTRUCTIVE.

 

[eww]

I think he is talking more about if the club got into renting tanks, heaters, pumps, etc. Those could definitely create problems if someone used copper with them and then returned them to the club without saying anything. Unfortunately there would have to be some trust involved in some of this as well as some of the honor system and not everyone is going to trust something like that. To each their own and renter/borrower beware. Just my .02.

 

[Workaholic]

I think he is talking more about if the club got into renting tanks, heaters, pumps, etc. Those could definitely create problems if someone used copper with them and then returned them to the club without saying anything. Unfortunately there would have to be some trust involved in some of this as well as some of the honor system and not everyone is going to trust something like that. To each their own and renter/borrower beware. Just my .02.

True, in those cases. Those would definitely be concerns. All though the rental program would then be overlapping with the emergency equipment loaner program which in that case I would just leave the tanks, heaters etc to the members only emergency situation.

 

[smoknreefr]

Really? please explain how copper and meds would be absorbed by a PLASTIC bandsaw to then introduce them to someone elses tank?

I guess my clarificaion of my desire for input needs further clarification. Said input should be CONSTRUCTIVE.

as quoted by workaholic Obviously this wouldn't be the only thing available but it would be a good start I feel post #1. I guess I should clarify, if there are things you don't like about this idea please say what they are! otherwise it makes it tough to implement a program where everyone (or at least the most possible) are happy post #2.... idk skimmers sumps pumps plastic can absorb toxins !!!! want to barrow my tank i never used copper in it will be fine to set up a reef while you find a replacement oh in the mean time your inverts croak corals die hee hee hee no i didn't use anything in this tank i swear !!!

 

[Workaholic]

as quoted by workaholic Obviously this wouldn't be the only thing available but it would be a good start I feel post #1. I guess I should clarify, if there are things you don't like about this idea please say what they are! otherwise it makes it tough to implement a program where everyone (or at least the most possible) are happy post #2.... idk skimmers sumps pumps plastic can absorb toxins !!!! want to barrow my tank i never used copper in it will be fine to set up a reef while you find a replacement oh in the mean time your inverts croak corals die hee hee hee no i didn't use anything in this tank i swear !!!

Well from what i've managed to decipher from this giant garbled run on sentence is that you are concerned about copper/meds being absorbed by tanks, skimmers, pumps etc. Somehow I fail to see where this was conveyed in your first post on this subject. All be it a genuine concern that I understand. this has been addressed in reference to EWW's most recent post. Now if there is something else with this program that you would like to discuss please keep it not only constructive but in a manner that can be understood.....I dont read minds and have no aspirations too.....