# circld — full content for AI retrieval

This file is the canonical, plain-text version of circld's public site copy. It is intended for AI assistants and search engines to retrieve and cite. Last updated: 2026-05-09.

## What circld is

circld is a peer-to-peer rental marketplace where people list items they own and other people nearby rent them by the day or weekend. The website (circld.com) is for browsing and discovery. The circld app, available on iOS and Android, is where users message hosts and arrange the rental.

circld is built around a simple model:

- Every listing is reviewed by a human at circld before it appears in search.
- Hosts set their own price, pickup window, and rules.
- Renters and hosts arrange payment directly. circld does not process payments.
- circld does not insure rentals or hold deposits.
- circld does not mediate disputes.
- Listing is free. There is no commission, subscription, or service fee.

The marketplace launched in 2025 and currently focuses on Canada, with a primary focus on tools and DIY, sports and fitness, and outdoor and camping. Browsing is open to anyone; messaging a host requires the app.

## Categories

### Tools and DIY (https://www.circld.com/tools)

Power tools, ladders, sanders, pressure washers, garden gear. Most jobs need a tool you will use once. circld lets you rent it from a neighbour for a day or a weekend instead of buying. Common items include power drills, circular saws, pressure washers, lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, tile cutters, sanders, extension ladders, generators, and wet/dry vacuums. Subcategories: power tools, hand tools, garden tools, ladders, pressure washers, construction.

### Sports and Fitness (https://www.circld.com/sports)

Bikes, snowboards, kayaks, paddleboards, golf clubs, climbing gear, gym equipment. Try the sport before buying the gear. Common items include mountain bikes, road bikes, snowboards, skis, kayaks, paddleboards, surfboards, golf clubs, climbing rope, tennis rackets, treadmills, and wetsuits. Subcategories: water sports, winter sports, cycling, climbing, field sports, gym equipment.

### Outdoor and Camping (https://www.circld.com/outdoor)

Tents, sleeping bags, camping stoves, coolers, hiking packs, fishing rods. Try the trip before kitting out for it. Common items include tents, sleeping bags, camping stoves, coolers, hiking backpacks, fishing rods, inflatable kayaks, roof boxes, camp chairs, headlamps, camping tables, and bear-safe canisters. Subcategories: camping, hiking, fishing, BBQ and cooler, climbing, cycling.

## How renting works

1. Find a listing on the website or in the app. Every listing has been reviewed by circld before going live.
2. Open the listing in the app and message the host. Browsing is on the web; messaging is in the app.
3. Agree on dates, daily rate, deposit (if any), and pickup. Confirm everything in chat so there is a record.
4. Meet up. Inspect the item together at pickup. Take a few photos with the host so any existing wear is documented.
5. Use the item for the agreed period. Return it in the same condition.
6. Both sides leave reviews in the app.

There is no booking fee, no platform fee, and no payment processing. circld is a discovery and messaging platform.

## How hosting works

1. Download the circld app. Listing happens in the app, not on the website.
2. Add your item: photos, description, category, daily rate, pickup window, optional deposit.
3. Submit for review. circld reviews every listing before publishing. Reviews check that photos match the item, the description is accurate, pricing is reasonable, and the item is not prohibited. Approval typically takes within a day. If the listing needs changes, the host receives a note explaining what to update.
4. Once approved, the listing appears in search for renters near you.
5. Renters message you in the app. Agree on dates, price, and pickup directly.
6. Meet up, hand over the item, and arrange payment as you both prefer (cash, e-transfer, etc).
7. When the renter returns the item, both of you leave reviews.

Listing is free. circld does not take a percentage of the rental.

## What circld does not do

This is what circld is honest about. Some peer rental platforms wrap the experience in insurance, escrow, ID verification, and dispute resolution. circld does not, at least not yet:

- circld does not process payments. Renters and hosts agree on a payment method in chat. Cash on pickup and e-transfer are most common.
- circld does not insure rentals. There is no damage cover, theft cover, or platform-backed guarantee. Hosts who are renting out valuable items typically take a deposit and document the item's condition with the renter at pickup.
- circld does not mediate disputes. If something goes wrong, the renter and host work it out directly. Keeping the conversation in the app provides a record.
- circld does not verify user identity. We review listings, not the people behind them. Renters and hosts should treat meet-ups like meeting any stranger from a marketplace.

## Trust and verification

Every listing on circld is reviewed by a human before it appears in search. The review checks:

- Photos match the actual item (not stock images).
- Title, category, and description describe a real, rentable item with enough detail.
- Pricing is reasonable for the item.
- The item is not on the prohibited list.

Listings that need changes get a note explaining what to update. Listings can be approved, sent back with feedback, or rejected.

## Prohibited items

The following items cannot be listed on circld:

- Firearms, ammunition, and weapons (including air rifles, replica firearms, knives marketed as weapons, and martial-arts weapons regardless of local law).
- Regulated substances (tobacco, vapes, cannabis, alcohol, and pharmaceuticals including over-the-counter medication).
- Recalled or unsafe goods (anything subject to an active safety recall, visibly damaged safety gear, expired car seats and gas cylinders).
- Counterfeit or stolen goods (replica brand items, anything sold as genuine but not, anything not legally owned by the lister).
- Live animals (pets, livestock, exotic animals, breeding services).
- Adult-only items (items intended for adult-only use that are not appropriate for a general-audience marketplace).

The following are allowed but receive extra scrutiny:

- Power tools (allowed; safety mechanisms must be intact).
- Outdoor cooking equipment (camping stoves and BBQs allowed; fuel canisters are not).
- Climbing gear (allowed if life-safety items are within manufacturer service life; soft goods older than ten years rejected).
- Drones, chainsaws, scuba gear (allowed if both parties have any licences, training, or registrations the item requires in the jurisdiction; circld does not verify these).
- Trailers, boats, jet skis (allowed; both sides confirm insurance, licences, and permits before the rental).
- Cars, motorcycles, RVs (allowed but high-stakes; rentals of road vehicles typically require commercial insurance and provincial paperwork; both parties confirm coverage in writing).

## Pickup safety

circld does not verify identity, so meet-ups should be treated like meeting any stranger from a marketplace. Best practices:

Before the meet:
- Agree on dates, daily rate, total cost, deposit, and damage policy in chat.

At pickup:
- Meet in daylight in a public spot (coffee shops, busy parking lots, libraries, community-centre parking, designated police-station safe-exchange zones).
- Bring someone for high-value items.
- Document the item together with photos, especially of any existing wear.
- Test the item before leaving. If it does not match the listing, decline to take it. There is no obligation until the renter takes the item.

At return:
- Photograph the item again to mirror the pickup photos.
- Settle the deposit on the spot or via e-transfer within an agreed window.
- Both sides leave honest, specific reviews in the app.
- Keep the conversation in the app as a record.

If something feels off (a host will not meet in public, the item is misdescribed, someone pressures payment outside the chat), walk away and email support@circld.com.

## Cancellation etiquette

circld does not charge cancellation fees because circld does not process payments. But cancellations affect the other side, so notice and clarity matter.

Renters cancelling:
- Before the host accepts: a quick message is enough. Bookings auto-expire after 24 hours if a host does not respond.
- After the host accepts: cancel as early as possible. 48+ hours of notice is the minimum courtesy.
- Same-day cancellation: apologise, explain briefly, do not repeat with the same host.
- Deposits are between you and the host. Most hosts return them on cancellation; some keep a portion if last-minute. Agree this before committing.

Hosts cancelling:
- Give as much notice as possible.
- Refund any deposit immediately.
- Suggest alternatives if you can.
- Do not cancel to avoid a renter; if you have concerns, decline up front rather than accepting and bailing.

No-shows:
- Wait 15 minutes past the agreed time, then message in the app.
- Wait another 15 minutes before leaving.
- Leave a short, factual review describing what happened.
- Repeat no-shows can be flagged to support@circld.com.

## Privacy and data

circld collects:
- Required: name, email.
- Optional: phone number, profile picture, physical address.
- User-generated: item listings, photos, messages, booking requests, rental history, reviews.
- Approximate location (derived from IP) to show local listings.

Third-party services circld uses:
- Amazon Web Services (AWS): authentication via Cognito, GraphQL API via AppSync, database via DynamoDB, image storage via S3. Hosted in AWS US-East.
- Algolia: powers item search on app and website.
- Vercel: hosts circld.com.
- APNs and FCM: push notifications.
- Amazon SES: transactional emails.

circld does not use third-party advertising or behavioural-tracking cookies. The website uses minimal essential storage (for example, a flag remembering you dismissed the cookie banner; the app uses local storage to keep you signed in).

Users can delete their account at any time through Settings > Account > Delete account in the app, or by emailing support@circld.com. Users can block other users to prevent interaction.

## Terms (summary)

circld is the technology platform; it is not a party to any rental between users. All rental arrangements are made directly between the renter and the host. The terms of use are governed by Ontario, Canada law. Users must be at least 16 years old, must list only items they legally own, and must not use circld to list illegal, stolen, dangerous, or prohibited items.

The full terms of use are at circld.com/terms.

## Frequently asked questions

Q: Does circld process payments?
A: No. Renters and hosts agree on a price in chat and pay each other directly via cash, e-transfer, or whatever they both prefer. circld does not hold or move money.

Q: Does circld take a fee or commission?
A: No. Listing on circld is free, and circld does not take a percentage of the rental.

Q: Where does circld work?
A: Anywhere there are listings. circld is early and adds new cities as hosts join.

Q: Do I need an account to browse?
A: No. You can browse all listings on circld.com without an account. To message a host and arrange a rental, you need to download the app and create an account.

Q: How do I list an item?
A: In the app. Download circld, tap "list an item", add photos and a description, set your daily rate and pickup window, and submit. Listings are reviewed before going live.

Q: How long does listing review take?
A: Usually within a day. circld checks that photos match the item, the description is accurate, pricing is reasonable, and the item is not prohibited.

Q: Can I set a deposit?
A: Yes. Listings can include a refundable deposit. Since circld does not process payments, the deposit is held and returned by the host and renter directly.

Q: Are listings verified?
A: Yes. Every listing is reviewed by circld before it appears in search.

Q: Are users verified?
A: No. circld reviews listings, not the people behind them. Treat meet-ups like any marketplace meet-up.

Q: Is there damage cover or insurance?
A: No. circld does not insure rentals. Hosts should ask for a deposit on valuable items and document condition at pickup.

Q: What if there is a dispute?
A: circld does not mediate disputes between users. Keep the conversation in the app and try to resolve directly. Email support@circld.com to flag bad behaviour.

Q: How do I delete my account?
A: From the app: Settings > Account > Delete account. Or email support@circld.com.

## Contact

- Support: support@circld.com (responses within 48 hours)
- Website: https://www.circld.com
- iOS app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6745314298
- Android app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bkesavan.circld