Terms and Conditions

Our rental agreement. Please read before you book.

BJR Rental Agreement / Terms and Conditions

By renting or buying from By Jess Rentals (byjessrentals.co.nz), you agree to these Terms and Conditions. They apply to everyone who uses our site, including renters and buyers. We may update these terms from time to time, and changes take effect as soon as they're published here. Placing an order means you agree to the latest version.

Contents

  1. Rental agreement
  2. Rental fees
  3. Order cutoffs and delivery
  4. Care and damage
  5. Cleaning
  6. Issues when you receive your rental
  7. Unreturned garments and unpaid charges
  8. Changing your order
  9. Cancellations
  10. Returns
  11. Late fees
  12. Extended rentals
  13. Payment
  14. Ex-rental and for-sale items
  15. Your responsibilities

Refunds and store credits at a glance

You're eligible for a refund if:

  • your garment arrives damaged (see Section 6)
  • the garment you booked becomes unavailable because of a previous renter
  • we cancel your booking, unless we agree on a swap

You're eligible for a store credit if:

  • you cancel with at least 7 days' notice before your booking date
  • your postal order is delayed by NZ Post for reasons outside both of our control, and you booked before the cutoff (minus postage)

Refunds and credits are not available for:

  • change of mind, or not liking the garment on
  • sizing or fit issues
  • cancellations made with less than 7 days' notice
  • late deliveries on orders placed after the cutoff or less than 3 working days before your rental start date
  • postal orders that were delayed because the delivery was redirected or the tracking was changed
  • damage claims that don't follow the process in Section 6

Once your order is booked, we hold the garment from other customers and prepare it for you, including cleaning, steaming and packing. That's why we can't offer refunds in the cases above.

1. Rental agreement

When you rent from us, you're paying to wear one of our garments for your agreed rental period, shown in your confirmation email. By Jess Rentals always remains the legal owner of the garment. The garment is for your use only and can't be lent or shared.

Your booking is confirmed once payment has gone through and you've received a confirmation email. No email, no booking. If you think you've booked but haven't received an email, contact us as soon as possible by email or phone.

You're responsible for the garment from the moment it's delivered (as shown on the tracking) or collected, until it's back in our drop box or marked as delivered on the return tracking.

If you're under 18, a parent or legal guardian must agree to these terms before you rent.

All prices are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD).

2. Rental fees

The rental fee is shown on each garment and at checkout. By placing an order, you authorise us to charge your payment method for the rental fee and shipping. We don't hold garments before payment.

3. Order cutoffs and delivery

We ship on weekdays only, with postal orders sent out Tuesday–Wednesday. Mondays are our cleaning and returns day.

Postal orders must be placed at least 3 working days before your rental start date. For Friday or weekend events, the cutoff is 1pm Wednesday of that week. Orders placed after the cutoff or with less than 3 working days' notice are sent at your own risk and aren't eligible for a refund or store credit if they arrive late.

If you need the garment early (for example, you're travelling the day before your event), please select the date you need it by, not your event date.

Please select the right shipping option for your address (rural or non-rural). We send rural orders earlier, so choosing the wrong option may cause delays.

If there's a disruption to your booking, we'll contact you at least 1–2 days before your event.

Pickups: Please wait for an email saying your order is ready before coming to collect it. Pickup times are listed on our Pickup Times page, so please check it in the week of your event. If the times don't suit, contact us to arrange something else.

4. Care and damage

Please treat your rental as if it were your own. Don't wash, clean, alter or attempt to repair the garment.

If a garment is damaged, stained, lost or not returned, you're responsible for the cost of fixing or replacing it. This may include:

  • cleaning or repair costs, even if the attempt isn't successful
  • the full RRP of the garment if it needs replacing and is still available from a retailer, plus import taxes and shipping
  • 150% of the replacement cost if it's no longer available to buy, to cover lost future rentals
  • a permanent damage fee of up to the RRP if the garment can still be rented but has been permanently devalued
  • loss of income for any future bookings affected

If you pay to replace a garment, you're paying for the replacement, not buying the damaged garment, so it stays with us.

Whether a garment has been returned to its original condition is assessed by us, and our decision is final.

Not following our care or return instructions (for example, cleaning the garment yourself or using your own postage bag) may make you liable for the costs above.

Our Accidental Minor Damage Protection is paused for now. We'll announce on Instagram when it's back.

5. Cleaning

Please don't clean the garment yourself, even if it's stained. We clean every garment between rentals by machine washing in delicate bags, cold soaking or dry cleaning, depending on the care label. Each garment is steamed and sanitised before it goes out.

If a stain is significant, we may send it to a professional cleaner, and you'll be charged the cost. If the stain can't be removed, replacement costs may apply (Section 4).

Garments may have very minor marks from previous wear. We'll let you know about any visible exterior marks before you rent where possible.

6. Issues when you receive your rental

If your garment arrives damaged or stained so it can't be worn, you're eligible for a full refund if you:

  1. contact us with photos within 12 hours of receiving it
  2. don't wear it
  3. return it within 24 hours using your original return method

If you wear the garment to your event, you've accepted it in that condition and can't claim a refund. You may also be liable for any damage.

We don't offer refunds or credits for sizing or fit. Check our Size Guide before you book, and we're very happy to send measurements or photos of the garment on. You can also use our Back Up Dress deal or keep an eye out for our try-on sessions.

7. Unreturned garments and unpaid charges

If a garment isn't returned, or damage charges aren't paid, we'll invoice you for up to 150% of the garment's RRP or the cost of the damage, plus any loss of income from cancelled future bookings.

If an invoice or return is more than 5 working days overdue, or we can't reach you, we may refer the matter to a debt collection agency or the Disputes Tribunal. Any reasonable recovery costs will be added to what you owe.

If you have an outstanding debt with us, we may cancel any new orders and apply the payment to what you owe.

8. Changing your order

You can change your garment or rental dates before your order is posted or collected, subject to availability. Please contact us as soon as possible.

If you switch to a cheaper garment, you'll receive a store credit for the difference. If you switch to a more expensive one, you'll need to pay the difference before your order is sent or collected.

9. Cancellations

If you cancel with at least 7 days' notice before your booking date, you'll receive a full store credit. Cancellations with less than 7 days' notice aren't eligible for a refund or credit.

10. Returns

Please return your garment by the next working day after your rental ends (shown in your confirmation email):

  • Postal: take it to an NZ Post counter in the prepaid return bag by 1pm. Please don't use NZ Post drop boxes, as these are slower and will be treated as late.
  • Pickup: drop it in our drop box outside the grey sliding door of our try-on room by 5pm. Please don't leave garments in our letterbox or at the front door. Lost or stolen garments will be charged a replacement fee.

Please don't post back pickup rentals without checking with us first.

All pickup bags must be returned with the garment. Unreturned bags incur a $30 replacement fee.

Lost return bag: contact us first. You'll then need to buy a replacement bag and send it using an overnight, tracked service at your own cost. Returns sent any other way may incur late fees.

If your return date falls on a public holiday, return it on the next working day. If it's a regional holiday only, please let us know.

Returns are your responsibility. Passing the job to someone else (for example hall staff, a work mailroom or a family member) doesn't change the due date.

11. Late fees

Late returns are charged $20 per day from the day the garment is due. If your late return means we have to cancel another customer's booking, you'll also be charged the full value of that booking.

Late fees also apply to overdue payments for damage, cleaning or replacement costs.

12. Extended rentals

Need it for longer? Extended rentals are available for an extra fee. Contact us to arrange it.

13. Payment

We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay, UnionPay and BJR gift cards. Bookings are only confirmed once payment is made.

14. Ex-rental and for-sale items

All sales are final and can't be returned or exchanged. Any defects are noted in the listing, so please contact us if you'd like more details.

15. Your responsibilities

By renting with us, you agree to:

  • take care of the garment
  • not wash, clean or alter it
  • return it correctly and on time
  • pay any charges that apply under this agreement

If you have any questions, get in touch. We aim to reply within 2 working days.

Thank you so much for supporting a local Christchurch business. We can't wait to dress you for your next event! 💗

By Jess Rentals x