Frequently Asked Questions

General

How does Goodshuffle work?

Goodshuffle is a marketplace that brings together renters and rental companies. We help anyone from a Do It Yourself renter to a professional event planner find and book the items they need for their upcoming event from local rental companies. We work with some of the best rentals companies to bring their inventory online and help you rent what you need in a fast and simple process.

What kind of items are on Goodshuffle?

Our goal is to help you find any (and every) thing you need to make your event a success. From dinnerware and catering supplies, to carnival games and canopy tents; Goodshuffle is the source for event rentals. You can even find vintage decor which are perfect for theme parties and styled shoots. Here’s a small sample of what you can expect to find on Goodshuffle:

Bars & Buffets
Concessions
Decor
Dinnerware
DJ Equipment
Flatware
Generators
Glassware
Lighting
Linen
Photo Booths
Radio & Communications
Seating & Chairs
TVs & Projectors
Tables
Tableware
Tents & Canopies

Keep in mind we’re adding hundreds of items each week so if you can’t find what you’re looking for now be sure to check back as we’ll likely have it very soon. Need extra help? Send us an email to [email protected] and we’ll help you in any way we can.

What kind of companies are on Goodshuffle?

Goodshuffle features a variety of different rental companies in our marketplace. You can find everything from small niche rental companies to specialty companies, to more general rental companies. Know a rental company you think would benefit from joining Goodshuffle? Send us an introduction email at [email protected] and we’ll reach out to them as soon as possible.

Does it cost anything to use Goodshuffle?

Accounts are free to both the renter and rental companies. Renters will find the exact same prices on our marketplace as they would if they called the rental company directly.

For rental companies, we only charge a fee when you successfully process a rental through our marketplace; we’re not a fee-for-lead service. That makes us a risk free way to grow your business and gain market exposure. Click here to learn more about our fees.

How long before my event should I request my items?

If you know the date and the location, then you’re ready to start reserving your rentals. Everything you find on Goodshuffle is subject to availability and is rented on a first-come, first-served basis so be sure to get your rental requests in as early as possible.

I can’t find what I need, what should I do?

Sometimes you have a very particular item you're looking for and other times we just don’t have the right rental company on our site to supply what you need. You are more than welcome to reach out to us at [email protected] to see if we can help you find something.

Know a rental company that you think should be on Goodshuffle? Send us a note to [email protected] and we’ll get right on it.

Does Goodshuffle process payments?

We sure do. Goodshuffle uses Stripe.com, an industry leading, PCI compliant payment gateway, to process all of our payments. As part of our promise to make renting as fast and simple as possible we support a variety of payment methods. You can add a credit card, pay via e-check, or send a payment request to a third party. Click here to learn more about how Goodshuffle processes payments.

Does Goodshuffle deliver and/or setup the items?

Goodshuffle does not deliver or set up rental items. We help you specify your delivery and setup preferences so that the rental company you’re renting from will be able to provide you the best possible customer service.

Please see the Delivery & Setup section of our FAQ page to learn more.

Rentals & Events

How do events work?

Every rental on Goodshuffle is grouped into an “Event”. Not only are events fun, but they’re a great way to organize all your rentals. You can create (and edit) your event in a number of different ways, but the premise is the same:

Name the event
Enter in the start and end dates and times
Add a location (optional, but helps speed things up a bit)
Set the expected number of attendees (optional)
Let us know what kind of event it is (optional)

Once you have your event filled out, you can fill it with 1 or 1000 different items. We’ll keep everything saved for you on your Events Page in case you need to continue shopping later.

PRO TIP: You can create multiple versions of the same event (Wedding Look #1, Wedding Look #2) to help you shop for different looks and different budgets.

Can I rent from multiple rental companies per event?

You certainly can! You can rent 1 item from 100 rental companies, or you can rent 100 items from 1 rental company.

Can the dates of my rental and the dates for my event be different?

Yes, you can rent items for dates that differ from your actual event date. Let’s say you were planning a big event but needed a few things for your VIP event the day prior. Just specify the dates you need when selecting the quantities and you’ll be all set.

Please note that we auto-fill each item’s “from” and “to” date with the dates that correspond to your “active event” dates. This is the event that you see in the top right corner of your browser window in the orange button. To switch between events or create a new one, use the controls at the top of the expanded panel.

What are some things I should know before renting?

Event rentals can be tricky and intricate at times, but here are a few high-level tips to get you squared away:

Reserve your items as early as possible. Never wait to the last minute if it can be avoided. Some items may be reserved as much as a year or two out!
Delivery and setup services do cost extra. Sometimes setup services are included in the item price, other times they are not. Delivery will always have a fee associated with it, so be sure to factor that in when setting your budget. Click here to learn more about delivery and setup.

How do I edit my order?

Once you have added items to your event, we organize them by rental company so that you stay organized along the way. Before or after you submit your rental request, you can always add or remove items from the “Items” section of each rental page.

Please note that item removals after the rental company-specified cancellation window may be subject to cancellation fees. You can see cancellation fees on each item detail page, each vendor profile page, and on each and every rental page.

Can a vendor add/remove items from my order?

Yes, every rental company has the ability to add or remove items from your order. However, when they do we require your approval before it becomes final. So no changes will be made without your knowing it.

How do I cancel a rental?

You may cancel a rental by visiting said rental page and selecting the “Cancel Rental” button from the dropdown menu at the top of the page.

Please note: cancelling rentals after the rental company-specified cancellation window may be subject to cancellation fees. You can see cancellation fees on each item detail page, each vendor profile page, and on each and every rental page.

How do I cancel an event?

If you need to cancel an event you may do so from the event’s main page which can be found by clicking on the specific event from your event page.

What is a Damage Waiver?

A damage waiver is an optional (sometimes required) fee that covers the cost of rental items that are damaged through normal use. They do not cover loss or damage that is the result of negligence.

Please see each rental company’s “Policies” tab to see if and when a damage waiver is offered or required.

Payments

How do payments work on goodshuffle?

Goodshuffle uses Stripe.com to process all payments. Stripe is an industry leading, fully PCI compliant payment gateway that has built a suite of tools to help make online payments simple and secure.

Once you have added items to an event and selected your delivery/setup preferences, we will ask for payment information. Nothing will be charged until the rental company approves you request. If a vendor is asked to provide a quote for delivery, your card won’t be charged for anything until you review and approve/decline the set delivery price.

You can add a credit card, link a bank account, or send payment requests. (See the following sections on how to do so) We also ask for you to designate/add an incidentals card (if you haven’t already done so) in case there are additional items, fees, services, consumables added to your order.

Is my payment information secure?

Absolutely. We use a fully PCI-compliant and encrypted payment processing service, Stripe.com. Credit card numbers & security codes (CVC) are not sent to or stored on our servers.

When is my card charged?

Your card isn’t charged until the vendor reviews and approves your request. If a “Vendor Quote” is needed for delivery pricing, your card isn’t charged until you review and approve the price set by the vendor.

How do I add a credit card to an order?

Before you can add a credit card to an order, you must first select your delivery and setup preferences. Then you may add a credit card by selecting “Add Payment Method” from the options available to you on each order page. From there you can either select a previously stored credit card, or opt to add a new one.

PRO TIP: You can split payments across multiple cards, or put everything on one card, it’s up to you.

How do I link a bank account to enable e-check payment?

Before you can link a bank account to an order, you must first select your delivery and setup preferences. Once you are ready to link a bank account you select “Add Payment Method” from the options available to you on each order page and selected the Bank Account tab.

From there, the handy partnership between Stripe.com and Plaid will do the rest. See below for a list of Banking Institutions for which we currently support:

American Express
Bank of America
Capital One 360
Charles Schwab
Chase
Citi
Fidelity
Navy Federal Credit Union
PNC
SunTrust
TD Bank
US Bank
USAA
Wells Fargo

How do I send a payment request to a client / third-party?

This is one of the most powerful components of renting through Goodshuffle. Once you have selected your delivery and setup preferences, you have the option of selecting “Send Payment Request”. This will allow you to send a payment request to a third party (be it a client, sponsor, or the accounting department) specifying the name, email and amount requested. You can also select what the recipient does / does not see and even attach a message.

From there, the recipient will instantly receive notification of the payment request.

It’s important to note that you cannot submit your rental request until the third party payment request has been fulfilled. So be sure to check with the recipient and ensure they are aware they have received the request. You can also resend the request if you need to.

I have received a payment request, what should I do?

You have received a payment request by someone who has put together an order on Goodshuffle and are requesting payment from you. Please use the instructions found on the payment request page to add payment to the request so that the sender may continue with the rental.

How will cancellations be handled?

Each vendor sets their own cancellation policy. This can either be a general cancellation policy, or a category specific cancellation policy. Here is an example of a cancellation policy:

General Cancellation Policy

You may remove items from your order anytime up until 7 daysprior to delivery/pickup and no fee will be charged. If you remove items from your order within 7 days of the delivery/pickup date a 10% fee will be charged.

No Fee

Over 7 days

10% Fee

7 Days

Base on the policies that apply to your rental (you may have more than one) Goodshuffle will inform you that a fee may be assessed should you choose to cancel your rental.

When are payments captured?

Payments are captured according to the rental company’s payment policy (this can be found on their profile page under the Policies Tab. This may vary, but the default Goodshuffle payment policy is below:

When RENTAL COMPANY approves your rental request, 50% of the total invoice will be processed. Full payment will be due 7 days prior to the agreed upon delivery/pickup. For reservations made within 7 days the full amount will be captured upon vendor approval. Please refer to the vendor's Cancellation Policy for refund cutoffs and amounts.

Delivery & Setup

Can I have my items delivered?

Yes, each vendor specifies whether or not their company supports deliveries (most do, very few don’t). When you checkout, we will provide you with the option of selecting delivery (if available) and a few days and times before (for drop off) and after (for pickup) of your event date and times.

Delivery during business hours is often more affordable but comes with broader delivery windows, while “Pin-Point” deliveries are often more expensive but will arrive at a more specific time. See more on both below.

What is a delivery minimum?

Delivery minimums represent the minimum dollar amount an order must meet before that rental company will offer to deliver.

What is a mileage rate?

A mileage rate is a per mile dollar amount that is calculated based on the distance from the rental company location to the delivery location. These rates are added to the base rates set by the rental company.

What is a Business Hour Rate?

This is the delivery rate charged on deliveries that occur during a rental company’s business hours. These typically have a broad delivery window anywhere from a few hours up to the whole day.

What is Off Hour Rate?

An Off Hour Rate is the amount charged for deliveries that do not occur during business hours. All delivery requests that “need a specific time” will require a quote to be generated by the rental company upon receipt of your rental request. Upon review, the rental company will provide you with a quote that you may approve or decline (without penalty) before moving forward.

What if I want to pick the items up myself?

Just like deliveries, most rental companies will allow you to pick up your rental items but some do not.

More importantly to note, there are many items on Goodshuffle that require the rental company themselves to deliver and setup. This is mainly for larger, more valuable items or for insurance reasons.

If you would like to pick up items from the store, select “In Store Pickup” when asked to make a decision between that or delivery. If it’s not presented as an option, that means the rental company does not allow for in-store pickup of items or there may be items in your order that require delivery and setup.

Who will deliver my items?

Goodshuffle does not directly handle the delivery of your rental items, the rental company will. They are the ones with the skills and expertise to ensure a safe and responsible transport and installation of your rental items.

How do I request setup of my rental items?

Setup may be requested during checkout. Each rental company specifies whether or not they have the ability to setup each item in their inventory and at what cost. For example, the setup up a table may be $1, but there may be no setup fee for silverware as that is not a common service provided by rental companies.

If in the event that you need last-minute setup (something we refer to as an on-site fee since it’s generally requested on-site during delivery) the rental company will assess the fee (ask for it before you agree to it) immediately through Goodshuffle and the payment will be charged to the incidentals card on file.

What are some things I should know about delivery and setup?

Expect delivery and setup to cost extra. It takes an incredible amount of manpower, logistics, time, and planning to insure the successful delivery and setup of items and as a result there are costs associated with those services.

If you are looking to save money, consider picking your rental items up in-store (if possible) or arrange to have the items delivered during the rental company’s business hours.

Generally, delivery only means delivery to the loading dock (or appropriate truck accessible location) and does not include transport of items beyond the back of the truck itself. If you need the items to be carried or transported beyond the truck, please contact the rental company (either by phone, email, or Goodshuffle message) and let them know your requirements and they will be happy to update your delivery price to accommodate the request.

Vendor FAQ

Are accounts free?

Yes, it’s free to create an account and post as many items as you like. You can even send out quotes using our system for free.

Do you handle the credit card processing?

Yes, we process all payments through Stripe.com, a fully secure PCI-Compliant payment gateway. Their fees are 2.9%. When you receive a rental request through Goodshuffle, we’ve already collected a payment method from the renter.

How do I get paid?

Once the rental is complete, we transfer the funds to your bank account via ACH automatically. ACH transfers are typically reflected in your bank account within 2-3 business days.

What can I rent on Goodshuffle?

All of your event rental supplies are fair game! Here's a list of some of the items we're looking for:

Bars
Barware
Bowls
Charis
Concessions
Decorations
Flatware
Food service
Glassware
Hand Washing Stations
Heating & Cooling Equipment
Linen
Music & Sound Equipment
Portable Restrooms
Sanitation
Silverware
Staging & Flooring
Tables
and more

We do have a list of excluded items for safety reasons listed in your Terms & Conditions.

How much do you charge?

We charge a 10% fee (plus credit card processing fees) per rental through our marketplace; this fee does not apply to projects created through our Wishlist Integration. We don’t charge for leads, posting inventory, or creating accounts. We don’t make money unless you make money so we’re a no-risk way to grow your business and increase market exposure.

What happens when an item is lost or completely broken?

Goodshuffle fully supports optional or required damage waivers. You can use these waivers to “insure” items for a rental. These waivers are built according to your specific policies, so visit that section of your account to set your amounts and percentages.

Our Damage Report feature lets you specify the amount and details of damage, and upload any images. Within 24 hours we process the report and use the information provided to ensure the damage is properly charged.

How do I price items?

The same as you currently do on your own website or when a customer calls. Goodshuffle supports both hourly and daily pricing.

What is hourly pricing?

Hourly pricing means that you charge a rate on a per hour basis. For hourly rentals you set a minimum hour rental period (e.g. 4 hours) and a rate. You can also set an additional hourly rate should the client need a rental for 6 hours.

What is daily pricing?

Daily pricing means that you price your items on a 24 hour schedule. Daily pricing can be structured accordingly:

Daily Rate: the price you set for a 1 day rental. If no other prices are included (3-Day, Weekly or Monthly) we will multiply the daily rate by the number of days requested.
3-Day Rate: this is the price you rent out an item for a 3-Day period. Typically this is used to account for weekend rentals. Many times rental companies will set their 3-Day price the same (or slightly more than) their daily rate.
Weekly Rate: this is the price you charge for a weekly rental. If left blank we will calculate the price based on your daily or 3-Day rate.
Monthly Rate: this is the rate you charge for a monthly rental. If left blank we will calculate the price based on your daily, 3-Day or weekly rate.

What kind of tax do you support?

Goodshuffle was built with flexibility in mind. We support sales tax, rental tax, and admissions & amusement tax. These are all configured by the rental company for each account. In short, you can specify the tax rate to collect in the states, cities, counties you’re permitted to do so.

Do you support damage waivers?

Yes, whether your business uses optional or required damage waivers, we’ve got your covered.

How does delivery work?

The simplest way to configure delivery is to set a standard business-hour rate with an optional mileage fee. In the event a rental request is outside your business hours the renter will be informed that you need to provide a specific price quote.

We also support the ability for a vendor to set starting rates by city or zip code.

Can I include setup fees?

Yes! If you would like to specify a setup fee on a per-item basis you can do so! The renter will then have to option to add set-up to their request for the additional fee you specify. If the setup is included in the price, we’ll let them know.

What if the renter requests setup while my crew is on-site or we have hold over time waiting for the renter?

With a couple clicks of the mouse you can add additional on-site fees to the invoice and we’ll automatically process those charges.

Can I sell items on goodshuffle?

Goodshuffle does allow for “Purchase Add-On’s” to be added to your inventory. This is used for items like sterno for a chafing dish, popcorn for a concession, a custom backdrop for a photobooth, or any other consumable item.

I’m worried Goodshuffle will put distance between my business and the renter.

We make it a priority to help the renter find you and then we get out of the way as quickly as possible. Our goal is to help renters find you, place their order, and streamline the process of updating their order ahead of their event.

At Goodshuffle we believe that if a diner can book a table at the Four Seasons on OpenTable, we can help renters find and book a reservation from the most boutique of rental companies. We achieve this by providing all available contact information about the renter and vendor to both parties. Great events stem from attention to detail and open communication; that’s our mantra.

When do I get paid?

We secure funds for a rental according to your Goodshuffle-configured Reservation Policy. Once a transaction completes we automatically trigger a transfer of funds from Stripe.com into your linked bank account.

What happens if a renter loses or damages my property during the rental?

With a few clicks of a button you can submit a damage report that will issue a charge against the renters payment method on file. We do ask for some details of the damage to help work with you to avoid chargebacks.

Need help finding something?

We’re specialists in helping you find exactly what you need in Washington, DC, Virginia and Maryland. Don't hesitate; we're here to make your life easier!

Email: [email protected]