Offering Control provides precise management over what you offer for rent, as well as when and how it's available.


When you navigate to Settings > Online > Offering Control, you'll encounter a setup resembling the following:


Time Limits

This setting enables you to establish the minimum and maximum rental periods allowed, along with the minimum notice required before an online booking can commence (lead time).

  • Min rental & Max rental: Clearly define the shortest and longest rental durations.
  • Lead time: Determine how much advance notice is necessary before an online booking can begin.



Booking Slots

These can be toggled on or off. When deactivated, customers have the freedom to select any pickup and drop-off time within your operational hours. Conversely, when activated, you can specify valid pickup times and rental durations. 


  • No: Customers have flexibility with rental times within your booking hours.
  • Yes: Customers are restricted to pickup times and durations set by you.



Booking Mode

This setting determines the type of bookings you'll accept. Instant booking ensures that bikes are available at the time of booking. Booking requests, on the other hand, don't confirm the reservation immediately; they send a request to the store operator for approval.



Registration Mode

Choose how you want customers to register online. Account mode allows them to create an account, streamlining the process for returning customers. Alternatively, Guest checkout mode doesn't require account registration but may lead to duplicate customer records..


Options:

  • Guest Checkout: Customers simply provide their details.
  • Client Account: Customers create an account for future logins.



Auto Cancel

This feature automatically cancels provisional bookings made online if the customer hasn't paid or provided card details within a specified timeframe. It's particularly useful for busy shops, as it frees up inventory for paying customers. The minimum timeout duration is 30 minutes. If you do not have a payment processor set up, do not turn on auto cancel as it will result in all your online booking being cancelled.


Multi Location

This allows you to show you store locations when you are using Multi-location mode. Show stores so customers can select store to choose item from. And select A2B Rentals if pickup and drop off can be two different locations.


Payment

Set a booking deposit anywhere between 0% and 100% of the total rental cost. This deposit may be required for confirmation, especially for instant bookings. Payment options include Stripe or PayPal, provided you've connected either of these in the payments page.


Please note - capturing credit card data is no guarantee the card can subsequently be charged because if the card-user is acting with bad faith they could prevent a transaction going through in a variety of ways.
However for the average user we have found it makes them take the booking more seriously.