FAQs

What is Baro?

Baro is a peer-to-peer fashion rental marketplace that makes it easy for you to borrow and lend clothing with other users. 


How does Baro work?

Download the app and make a profile to start borrowing and lending! You can follow people who you want to borrow from, and search for items based on things like dress code, brand, and more. When you want to list something, just add a couple of photos and details about the item and you’re ready to go. 


Is there a fee to join Baro?

Nope! The Baro app is available for free in the iOS and Android app stores.  


What types of items are available on Baro?

Right now, most of the items on Baro are occasion-wear pieces, meaning that they’re something you’d pull out for a special event (weddings, birthday parties, etc.). However, we plan to expand into other categories very soon! 


Why should I rent on Baro?

Renting is a great way to add constant newness to your closet, without contributing to consumption patterns that are hurting our planet. 


Why should I lend on Baro?

Lending is a great way to earn extra money on pieces in your closet that you love but that don’t get a lot of wear. 


Can I buy something that I see on Baro? 

Right now, we’re focused on rental. 


How often are new items added to the platform?

New items are listed by our Baro users every week. As we continue to grow, the frequency and number of items listed will also grow. 


Do you ship internationally? 

Right now, we’re only in the US.  


How does Baro styling work?

We know that sometimes the hardest part of deciding what to wear to an event is actually deciding what to wear it with. To help, we have an in-house stylist at your service available to message with any questions. You can find them on the Baro app at @BaroStylist—just message them directly with any questions! 


Borrowing:


Can I try something on before I borrow?

You won’t be able to try something on before you request to borrow it. If you have any questions regarding fit, we recommend chatting with the lender before you request the item to get a sense of sizing.


How long are Baro’s rental periods?

You can request to rent a piece for a 7 or 14 day period. If you’re interested in a longer term rental, please reach out to us and we can try to help accommodate. 


How do I place a request? 

Once you’ve found an item you love and want to borrow, just select the dates, enter your shipping and billing info, and the request will be sent instantly. You’ll get an email confirmation once the request is placed, as well as another letting you know if the request was accepted or denied. 


How are the items cleaned?

The lender is responsible for cleaning their items—please don’t do it yourself! The lender has accounted for the cost of cleaning in the final product price. 


What is the shipping fee?

The shipping fee is a flat fee of $18 that covers shipping both ways. This also includes tracking and insurance on the garment. 


When am I charged for my order?

You aren’t charged for the rental until it is shipped. 


How will I receive my order?

You’ll receive the garment via priority shipping on the first day of your rental period. 


What if the item I receive has issues that weren’t specified by the owner? 

The lender should have listed the item’s condition, as well as any flaws or issues. If for any reason there is an issue with the quality of the garment that was not specified and it affects your decision to borrow, please contact us within 24 hours and we will figure out a solution that works for you.    


What if my item doesn’t fit?

If you are concerned about how an item will fit, please message with the lender ahead of placing your borrow request so that you can get an accurate idea. Once you’ve placed your request, Baro is not responsible for how the item fits. 


What if I accidentally stain or damage an item?

Accidents happen. We understand that sometimes things snag or spill, and most issues are easily fixed. However, if you damage an item that is beyond repair or costs a significant amount to fix, you will incur additional fees. If you fail to return an item all together, you will be charged the full original value of the item and potentially banned from the Baro platform.


Do I need to clean the item before sending it back?

No! Please do not clean the item, that is all handled by the owner and paid for by the cleaning fee in your rental price. 


What if my size doesn’t exist in the piece I want? 

Since the items on Baro are listed by our community, we unfortunately can’t guarantee that an item will be available in more than one size. If there is a specific piece on Baro you’re eyeing and you’d like to see it added in your size, please shoot us an email at hello@trybaro.com and we can see what we can do.


How do I send back the item?

The return shipping label is included in your package. If it isn’t in there when you receive your item, please let us know immediately. The return by date is included in your order summary, and is the day the rental period ends. If the item is not sent back on the return by date, you will be charged $10 for every day that it is late. 


Lending: 


How do I list on Baro?

In order to list, you’ll first need to register with Stripe. This is a quick, one-time process that will ensure you get paid. Once you’ve registered, just choose a couple of pictures that accurately depict the item, fill out some info about the condition and fit, and you’re done! Think of it as posting a pic on Instagram, except people will be able to shop your look directly. We have separate guides for how to take great pics and price your items within the listing page.  


What types of items can I list on Baro? 

You can list anything in your closet, but we have a couple of suggestions. We suggest only listing items that are in good, wearable condition. We also recommend only listing items that you wouldn’t miss if they were gone from your closet for a week or two. These tend to be items that you’d wear for a special occasion, and not something you wear once a week.


How can you ensure my items will be taken care of? 

Each of our users on Baro has had their identity verified, and is held to our community standards. We ask that you handle all transactions and communications directly through the Baro app to avoid any potential bad situations. As a lender, you also have the opportunity to message with the borrower ahead of accepting any requests.   


Why is my payment information asked for when listing?

We ask you to provide a debit card or bank account before listing so that you can quickly and easily receive payments. 


How do I set the rental price for my items?

Pricing of your items is completely up to you. If you have any questions, check out our pricing guide for some tips.


How do I know if someone has requested one of my items?

You’ll get a notification in the app, as well as an email letting you know a request has been placed. The request will also show the send by date and the full rental duration so you can plan accordingly. We ask that you respond to requests as soon as possible so that the borrower can make other arrangements if necessary. If you don’t respond to a request within 48 hours, it will automatically be declined. 


How do I ship my item?

Once you’ve accepted a request, we’ll email you two pre-paid shipping labels. One to get the item there, and the other to get it back to you. Please include the second label inside of the package so the borrower can get it back to you promptly. 


When do I ship my item?

The ship by date is always included in the rental request before you accept. If you’re unable to ship by that date, we ask that you decline the request. Usually, the ship by date will be 2 days prior to the borrow period so that the garment has time to reach the borrower. We’ll make sure to send a notification a couple of days before so that you don’t forget! For any accepted request that isn’t shipped on time, the borrower has the right to cancel the transaction and you will be charged a $20 fee. 


How are my items cleaned?

We know everyone has their own ways of doing things, so we leave the cleaning up to you. We just ask that you make sure to clean the item in between borrows and factor that time in before resetting the availability. 


What should I do if my item has been damaged?

If something looks off with an item that you’ve received back after lending, we ask that you notify us within 48 hours and our customer service team will be in touch to figure out the best way to handle the situation. 


When do I get paid?

The funds will be released into your account once you receive the item back. You can then transfer them directly to your bank account.

 

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