Terms of Service

1. About BorrowGears

BorrowGears operates at borrowgears.com (the “Service”) as a listing and communication platform only. We connect individuals who want to rent out their tools (“Lenders”) with individuals who want to rent them (“Renters”). We do not own, manage, inspect, or take possession of any tool listed on the Service, and we are not a party to any rental transaction between users.

The Service is owned and operated by Forces LLC (フォーシス合同会社), a Japanese limited liability company (合同会社) registered at 2-16-22 Shiratori, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Company website: forces.jp. In these Terms, “BorrowGears”, “we”, “us”, and “our” refer to Forces LLC.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and able to enter into a legally binding contract in your jurisdiction to use the Service. By creating an account you represent that this is true.

3. Accounts & verification

Accounts are authenticated via WorkOS AuthKit. Identity verification is handled via Stripe Identity and is optional but recommended for users who wish to display a verified badge.

4. Fees

BorrowGears charges Lenders a flat subscription fee of $4.99 per month to publish unlimited listings. We do not take a commission on any individual rental — Lenders keep 100% of rental income. Renters do not pay any booking fees to BorrowGears.

5. Rentals & damage

All rental transactions, agreements, handoffs, and disputes are handled directly between Lender and Renter. Before a tool is handed over, both parties digitally sign a rental agreement on the Service that records the agreed-on dates, rate, and replacement value for the listed item.

BorrowGears does not provide damage insurance or a security-deposit escrow. If a tool is damaged, lost, or not returned, liability is governed by the rental agreement signed by the two parties. The built-in check-in / check-out flow uploads condition photos visible to both parties on the booking page — use them as evidence. For high-value equipment, consider a short-term homeowners or renters insurance rider.

6. Prohibited conduct

You agree not to list counterfeit or stolen items, list items you do not own or have the right to rent, use the Service to harass other users, circumvent the subscription fee by listing the same tool under multiple accounts, scrape the Service, or interfere with its operation. We may suspend or terminate any account found in violation.

7. Intellectual property

You retain ownership of the photos, descriptions, and other content you post. By posting, you grant BorrowGears a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, display, and index that content for the purpose of operating and promoting the Service.

8. Disclaimers

The Service is provided “as is”. BorrowGears makes no warranties, express or implied, about the availability, condition, safety, or legality of any tool listed by a Lender. We are not liable for any property damage, personal injury, or financial loss arising from a rental transaction between users.

9. Termination

You may close your account at any time. We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms. Active bookings at the time of termination must still be honored between the parties.

10. Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Japan, without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms or your use of the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Tokyo District Court (東京地方裁判所) as the court of first instance, except where mandatory local consumer-protection law gives you the right to bring a claim in your home jurisdiction.

11. Contact

Questions about these Terms? Email account@borrowgears.com, or write to Forces LLC (フォーシス合同会社), 2-16-22 Shiratori, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, Japan.