Streamlining your rental process starts with configuring your rental period settings. In Booqable, you can customize how customers select rental dates and times, define default order time behavior, and manage your store’s availability.
1. Default order times
Default order times allow you to predefine the pickup and return times for rental orders in the backend. These settings are especially useful when time selection (which can be enabled or disabled in rental period settings) is disabled for customers.
Where it’s used:
Back office: Default order times (pickup and return) are visible on the order page in Booqable and included in the documents related to those orders.
Customer experience: When time selection is disabled, customers select only the rental dates, while default order times define the pickup and return times.
How it works with rental periods:
Dates and times: Supports fixed default times or relative default times.
Fixed durations: Supports fixed default times only.
Fixed time Slots: Default times are not applicable as predefined slots override them.
Example: If you set default order times to 9:00 AM (pickup) and 5:00 PM (return), these times will be applied to orders that were booked using rental periods with time selection disabled.
2. Rental period
Rental period determines how customers interact with the date picker in your online store.
Note: These settings can also apply to manual orders created in the backend.
Dates and times
Customers can select any dates and times (within your operating hours) for rentals.
Options:
Enable time selection: Customers choose both dates and times.
Disable time selection: Customers select only dates, and default order times are applied.
Fixed durations
Customers choose from predefined rental durations, such as hours, days, weeks, or months.
Options:
Enable time selection: Customers select specific times for the predefined durations.
Disable time selection: Default order times define the pickup and return times.
Fixed time slots
Customers choose from predefined time slots within a single day (e.g., 9:00 AM–12:00 PM).
Default order times are not applicable here.
3. Operating hours
Operating hours restrict the days and times when your store accepts pickups and returns.
How it works:
Customers can only book rentals within your specified operating hours.
Operating hours limit the hours and days customers can pick up and return items.
Example: If your operating hours are 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, a customer cannot select a pickup at 8:00 AM or a return at 6:00 PM.
Same-day rentals
Allowed only if time selection is enabled, ensuring customers do not book too close to closing time.
4. Time picker increments
Time picker increments allow you to control the time intervals available for customers to select when time selection is enabled.
Options: 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or 1 hour.
Example: Setting increments to 30 minutes means customers can choose times like 9:00 AM, 9:30 AM, or 10:00 AM.
5. Away mode
Away mode temporarily disables bookings on your online store, making it ideal for holidays or business closures.
How it works:
Applies to all products in your inventory.
Customers cannot book rentals during the specified away period.
6. Apply to manual orders
This setting determines whether the rental period settings apply to orders created manually in the backend. This is especially helpful if a large team creates and manages orders through the backend.
Enabled: The same rules for rental periods apply to manual orders, but you can override them if needed using permissions.
Disabled: Manual orders are unrestricted, allowing full flexibility for your team.