1. Hire Form
a) A MyTurn Hire Form must be completed for each carrier you borrow with your full name, address and contact details, loan charges, deposit values, return method and return date. Please provide current, accurate contact information.
b) Your personal details will be kept in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation 2018, and will only be used to contact you in relation to your loan and occasional Sling Library events or promotions. (Please inform us in writing if you wish to opt out at any time).
2. Loan Cost and Duration
a) All carriers are hired out subject to availability, condition, and suitability.
b) Subject to availability up to 2 carriers may be borrowed at one time. This may be limited to no more than 1 of each carrier type depending on demand and availability. Once a carrier is returned another loan may be made.
c) The standard loan period is 2 weeks. Each carrier loan costs £8 for non-membership holders and £6 for membership holders for up to 2 weeks. The minimum charge for any sling or carrier loan is £6.
d) At our discretion, you may arrange to borrow a carrier for a shorter or longer period. For additional days beyond the normal 2 week period that have been fully agreed on the loan form in advance, we charge £0.80 per day (10% of the 2-week rate) or £4.80 per week (60% of the 2-week rate).
3. Deposit
a) A fully refundable deposit is required for each hired item for non-membership holders. The deposit amount is dependent on the value of the carrier or accessory being borrowed and will be returned in full following the timely return of the carrier or accessory undamaged with all instructions and any additional accessories.
b) The replacement of any lost carriers, accessories or instructions will be paid for out of your deposit. Charges for missing instructions will be between £2 (for photocopied instructions) to £12 (for the most comprehensive booklets). Charges for lost components will be equal to replacement cost (including any postage costs). Charges for items damaged beyond normal wear and tear will be judged on a case by case basis.
c) At our discretion, deposits may be reduced or waived for regular reliable library users or for active members of babywearing groups or forums, depending on membership length, number of posts/contributions and forum feedback.
4. Payment Methods
a) Loan costs are payable by cash, card or PayPal (gifted) payment. For renewals, bank transfers are also acceptable.
b) Deposits may be given as cash, cheque or PayPal (gifted) payment (or bank transfer if made in advance), and are refunded by the method given.
5. Postal Loans and Reservations
a) At our discretion, you may be able to hire by post. For postal loans the standard loan period is for 2 weeks, loan fee and deposits are the same. An extra non-refundable charge will be made to cover postage and packaging. A MyTurn hire form will need to be completed. Fees and deposits may be paid by PayPal or bank transfer; please contact us for these details.
b) Under special circumstances only it may also be possible to reserve a carrier. You will be asked to complete a MyTurn hire form and pay the hire fee for 2 weeks in advance. The carrier will only be reserved if this payment has been received and acknowledged by us. You will be able to collect the carrier subject to when it is next available and as agreed in advance. We cannot offer guarantees for when carriers will become available but will do the utmost to provide you with the best information available. If you cancel a reservation, your loan fee will not be refunded but can be used as credit towards any future carrier loan.
c) Postal loan and reservation services are made available entirely at the Library’s discretion and these facilities may be withdrawn or unavailable at any time without notice.
6. Late Returns and Loan Extensions
a) It is possible to renew your loan for an additional 2 week period (unless the carrier is in high demand), with payment made by PayPal, card or bank transfer. Please email info@slingandmeet.co.uk to arrange a loan extension.
b) If you return your carrier after the agreed date we will charge £1 per day for every day past the agreed returns due date until the date that you contact us and agree on a resolution. These fees will be deducted from your deposit or payable under membership.
c) Under adverse or unforeseen circumstances we may reduce or waive fines for late returns as long as the late period is less than 7 days and has been agreed by us before the end of the loan period (this allows for things like postage delays).
d) If we do not hear from you within 30 days from the end of your original loan period, we will consider the carrier lost and keep your full deposit or pursue cost of hire fees and carrier via small claims court.
e) If you are unable to return your carrier by the agreed date due to Library staff illness, we will extend your loan period for free and agree on a new return due date with you.
7. Returning and Posting Carriers
a) Returns can be made during Library open sessions or by prior arrangement to 11 Daisy Bank Avenue, Swinton, M27 5FU at a mutually convenient time. If this is not possible the carrier and instructions may be returned by post to arrive on or before the returns due date.
b) Carriers and instructions returned by post should be returned to:
Samantha Groves, Salford Sling & Meet, 11 Daisy Bank Avenue, Swinton, M27 5FU.
c) The carrier is returned by post at your own cost and risk. All postal returns are to be sent special delivery insured up to the deposit cost and retain proof of postage. Please ensure you allow sufficient time for the carrier to arrive by its return due date.
d) Please ensure that the carrier, instructions, and any accessories are packaged appropriately – we prefer that you ‘double-bag’ the carrier and enclose a covering note with your details so that we can match up the hires.
8. Membership Terms
a) Membership is charged at £20 per year. Payment is taken by Cash, Card or PayPal (gifted payment).
b) You will be notified 90 days before the end of your membership, for renewal please contact us by email to info@slingandmeet.co.uk
c) If membership is due to expire within hire period, You will be required to renew membership or pay a deposit to cover the remaining hire period.
d) Damage beyond wear and tear is due on return to the cost of deposit value on the hired item.
9. Safe Use of Carriers
a) ALL CARRIERS ARE EXTREMELY SAFE WHEN USED PROPERLY, HOWEVER MISUSE CAN CAUSE INJURY TO YOURSELF OR YOUR CHILD. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE USING THE CARRIER CORRECTLY AND THAT YOUR BABY OR CHILD IS SAFE AT ALL TIMES WHEN USING THE CARRIER. Salford Sling & Meet cannot be held responsible for any accident that results in injury or death whilst the carrier is in your care.
b) All carriers are provided with instructions for safe use. If for any reason, they are not supplied, it is the borrower’s responsibility to ask for a copy of the instructions. On occasion, we may only be able to provide you with an online link to the manufacturer’s instructions; in this case, we may also give you printed instructions for a similar carrier. For convenience, links to a web page or pdf copies of instructions for all of our carriers can be emailed upon request to info@slingandmeet.co.uk
c) The borrower must read all safety, use and care instructions provided prior to using the carrier. Carriers must only be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, though where there is a choice we may recommend particular carrying methods or positions.
d) We suggest that after familiarising yourself with the instructions given you then practice using the carrier with a doll/teddy or cushion/pillow so that you get used to the tying/fastening/adjusting methods.
e) Always ensure that you seat your child correctly in the carrier and check any knots regularly as children do not stay still and straps and wrap passes can move or become loosened.
f) If you feel any pain while using the carrier, change the carrying position or remove the carrier and contact us for advice.
g) If you are unsure about anything you read in the instructions, are not sure what you’re doing or are at all concerned, please ask us. We can point you in the direction of lots of helpful sites to give you tips to make sure you’re getting the best out of the carrier and using it safely.
10. Care of Carriers
a) Under no circumstances is smoking permitted whilst wearing or holding the carrier. Please inform us if you are a smoker, or if there is a smoker in your home as we will need to carefully launder the carrier after it is returned. Smoking is known to increase the risk of cot death for babies, and these risks have been linked to babies being in close contact with clothing or objects contaminated with smoke particles.
b) We cannot guarantee that there are no marks or hairs on the carriers we lend. Carriers are spot-cleaned, steamed and only laundered if necessary as freshly washed carriers will not be as soft or flexible as those that are not. If you would prefer to use a freshly laundered carrier please request this before you borrow.
c) Please, therefore, avoid washing the carrier, though do spot clean any marks when they occur using washing up liquid and water. If you feel it is necessary that the carrier is cleaned while on loan to you, please contact us first for advice.
d) We cannot guarantee that there are no animal hairs on our carriers, but we ask that all carriers are kept away from pets to minimise this possibility. If you are allergic to animal hairs, please request that the carrier is laundered before you borrow it to help reduce any potential reaction.
e) Food and posset marks are expected when carrying children, but please keep the sling away from anything that may stain more permanently (oil, paint, pens, etc.), or anything that might damage it (scissors, velcro, keys in your bag, fire, etc.). The cost of damage beyond normal wear and tear will be removed from your deposit or required on return if membership holder.
11. All slings, carriers, instructions and accessories remain the property of Salford Sling & Meet at all times,