VENDOR FAQS
HOW DOES OBANJ WORK?
INSURANCE
CLEANING
HOW DOES OBANJ WORK?
How does Obánj work?
Obánj is a rental service that lets customers rent luxury jewelry, handbags, and accessories from designers like Oscar de la Renta, Lanvin, Burberry, and Balenciaga. Our rental marketplace lets you set up your own personalized store so you can rent your jewelry, handbags, and accessories on your own terms.
In order to become a vendor:
1. Join the waitlist.
2. We will send you an invite for a Zoom call.
3. If your store is approved, you will receive a link to set up your storefront.
4. Obánj’s marketplace goes live this fall.
How does Obánj work with vendors?
We have three vendor tiers depending on how hands-on you want to be:
Tier 1: You manage the end to end experience of your personalized rental store. This means we provide the technology, but you ship, insure, clean, and authenticate the pieces on their return. We can provide recommendations for shipping, insurance, and cleaning, but ultimately sole responsibility lies with you (we charge a 15% fee per transaction for this option).
Tier 2: You set up a store so you can market to your followers, clients, and customers, but Obánj insures, warehouses, ships, authenticates and cleans your accessories (we charge a 35% fee per transaction for this option).
Tier 3: Obánj rents your accessories from our closet on a consignment basis. This means we handle everything-- we market your items to our membership base, as well as, insure, warehouse, ship, clean, and authenticate the items (we charge a 50% fee per transaction).
How long can my customers keep a piece?
You set the terms! You have the freedom to determine your price and time restrictions, however, our team is more than happy to provide you with pricing and marketing recommendations based on our market knowledge and experience.
What condition should my items be in?
The vintage pieces might show more wear, but most of your pieces should be in new or like-new condition. Your photos should be accurate representations of each item’s condition.
How do I guarantee authenticity when my items are returned?
We have partnered with Real Authentication, a luxury authentication service that verifies the authenticity of new and used luxury goods. Every time your item is returned to you, upload the requested pictures of your item to Real Authentication’s app to authenticate your item.
Do you provide packaging?
If you are a Tier 2 or 3 vendor, we will ship your items in Obánj’s packaging. If you are Tier 1 vendor, you ship your items in your own packaging. We encourage you to either purchase packaging from us or purchase DIY customizable packaging services in order to attract and retain satisfied customers. Companies like Packlane offer DIY customizable package design services at cost-effective prices.*
*note: we have no official relationship with Packlane and cannot be held responsible for any mishaps or issues that may arise when doing business with them.
What shipping courier should I use?
For Tier 1 vendors, our platform allows vendors to enter shipping and tracking information from FedEx, UPS, and USPS.
What types of accessories can I rent?
You can rent designer jewelry, bags, and accessories (sunglasses, belts, etc.) from iconic fashion houses, as well as, emerging and established artisan jewelers.
How many pieces should I have in my store?
In order to be approved, stores need a minimum of 5 rental pieces.
Do I have to pay for customer’s shipping costs?
You are in full control of your customer’s shopping experience (meaning you determine whether the customer pays for shipping or whether it is covered by you as the vendor).
How much should my items be worth?
You set the terms. Some items retail for over $5,000 but nothing is worth less than $250.
How do I price my items?
Rentals are price per day. After you have been onboarded, our team is more than happy to provide you with per day pricing recommendations based on our market knowledge and experience.
Does it cost anything to be a vendor?
1. While there is no charge to sign up as a vendor, we do charge a processing fee per transaction.
For Tier 1 vendors: You manage the end to end experience of your personalized rental store. This means we provide the technology, but you ship, insure, clean, and authenticate the pieces on their return. We can provide recommendations for shipping, insurance, and cleaning, but ultimately sole responsibility is with you (we charge a 15% fee per transaction for this option).
For Tier 2 vendors: You set up a store so you can market to your followers, clients, and customers, but Obánj insures, warehouses, ships, authenticates and cleans your accessories (we charge a 35% fee per transaction for this option).
For Tier 3 vendors : Obánj rents your accessories from our closet on a consignment basis. This means we handle everything-- we market your items to our membership base, as well as, insure, warehouse, ship, clean, and authenticate the items (we charge a 50% fee per transaction).
2. For credit card processing, Obánj passes on the fees charged by Stripe, which are currently 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction.
How do I cancel my vendor account?
We hate to see you go, but you are free to cancel your account anytime. We recommend making sure you have received all of your outstanding items from customers before cancelling your vendor account.
INSURANCE
Do you cover insurance?
If you are a Tier 2 or 3 vendor, we will insure your items while they are in our warehouse, as well as, while they are en route during shipping and while they are with a customer. If you are a Tier 1 vendor, at this time, we do not cover insurance. However, you may want to look into a Personal Articles Insurance Policy. On average it can cost anywhere from $15 to $100 for a year’s worth of coverage. We highly encourage you to do your own due diligence before purchasing any insurance policy, including a Personal Articles Insurance Policy. Obánj cannot be held responsible for any mishaps or issues that may arise with your insurance policy.
What happens if a customer loses or damages an item?
If you are a Tier 2 or Tier 3 vendor, we will cover the costs of general maintenance for normal wear and tear. If an item is damaged beyond repair or lost, our insurance policy will pay for the item at its market value cost.
For Tier 1 vendors, for minor and normal wear or tear, we recommend you cover general maintenance. We also recommend insuring pieces during transit in case anything is lost or damaged en route. If a piece is lost, stolen, has missing gems, or is excessively damaged, we recommend resolving the issue with the customer directly.
If you are unable to resolve the issue with the customer, depending on the retail value of the item, you may seek to file a claim with your insurance provider and/or pursue legal action against the customer.
CLEANING
How should I clean jewelry and accessories?
If you are a Tier 2 or 3 vendor, we will clean your items upon every return from a customer.
If you are a Tier 1 vendor, you will have to sign a cleaning agreement in order to become active on the platform. This agreement specifies that every item should be rigorously cleaned using a biodegradable detergent that is orally nontoxic and free from added fragrances.
When an item is returned to you, pass it through a commercial-grade heated ultrasonic cleaner at 176 degrees °F (according to the CDC, flu viruses are killed by heating to 167 degrees or higher). This process ensures your members enjoy authentic, conscientiously cleaned pieces every time they order something new.
If approved as a vendor, you can purchase cleaning materials from Obánj directly.
How should I clean my bags or leather items?
The safest way to clean classic leathers is by using a dry, lint-free microfiber cloth to gently wipe the bag’s outside and inside to remove any loose dirt or dust from the hardware. Use a soft brush for hard-to-reach cracks.
For more persistent dirt, you can try a commercial yet mild leather cleanser at your own risk. At Obánj, we have a recommended cleaner we use and trust (available for purchase). Always try it on an inconspicuous corner first and see if the leather reacts to the product.
For the occasional round-up cleaning, dip a soft cloth in water mixed with a splash of our recommended cleaner. Thoroughly wring it out and clean your bag’s surface in circular movements. Remove residuals from the leather with a damp cloth after. Always let your bag or leather item dry naturally, and keep it away from direct influences of sunlight or heat (radiators, blow dryers and such). Avoid oily, alcohol- or perfume-based products and avoid scratching, especially on very smooth leather.
If approved as a vendor, you can purchase cleaning materials from Obánj directly.
