Tennis Machine Rentals: an equipment rental marketplace

Tennis Machine Rentals was founded by Jonathan Padilla, founder of Exonome.

The Tennis Machine Rentals home page with its find machines near you search — Live The Tennis Machine Rentals home page.

The problem it solves

Jonathan saw how hard it was for players to get access to a ball machine while volunteering with tennis communities in San Francisco. He bought a machine and started renting it, so players could practice without buying their own. People also began coming to him for advice on which machine to buy and how to fix one that wasn't working.

Tennis Machine Rentals grew into a marketplace where players can rent machines from local owners.

How it works

For players

Browse machines by location.
Check each machine's model, what comes with it, and where to pick it up.
Request or book rental dates online.
Meet the local owner for pickup, and return the machine at the end of the rental.

For owners

Join the partner program to have their machine listed.
Control their own pricing and availability.
Approve rental requests.

A Tennis Machine Rentals listing for a Tennis Tutor ProLite Plus in Berkeley with pickup area, dates and duration — Live 1. A renter opens a machine: model, what's included, the general pickup area, and the owner's pickup hours.

The same listing with a Saturday start and a 3 day duration, estimated at 100 dollars — Live 2. They choose a start date and how many days. Here a Saturday start for three days.

Checkout itemizing one weekday at 30 dollars and two weekend days at 35 dollars, with tax and total — Live 3. Checkout applies the owner's rates: one weekday at $30 and two weekend days at $35. The card is authorized and charged only when the owner approves.

How it runs on Exonome

Tennis Machine Rentals runs as an Exonome Marketplace:

Owners are the providers. Each one manages their own machine, prices and availability.
Rentals have booking rules, not a free-text listing.
Players book and pay online, then arrange pickup with the owner.

What it shows anyone planning a rental marketplace

Put the practical details before the booking. Model, what's included and the pickup arrangement are what a renter needs to decide. Show them on the listing, not in a follow-up message.
Let owners control availability. Ask owners to keep availability current, since they know when their equipment is free.
Make the return clear. Say when and how equipment comes back before anyone books.
Trust can start with advice. Answering questions about machines gave players a reason to come to Jonathan before they booked.

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