{"id":38589,"date":"2021-05-06T10:37:48","date_gmt":"2021-05-06T08:37:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/repaircafe.org\/faq\/"},"modified":"2024-10-29T13:36:21","modified_gmt":"2024-10-29T12:36:21","slug":"faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.repaircafe.org\/en\/faq\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row el_class=”faq”][vc_column width=”1\/2″]

For Visitors<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>

For Donors<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>

About ordering our materials<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″]

For Organisers<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>

About Repair Caf\u00e9 Foundation<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>

Other Questions<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_id=”faq-1″ css=”.vc_custom_1620293281343{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”]\n

For Visitors<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_toggle title=”What kinds of things can I bring to the Repair Caf\u00e9?” style=”simple”]You can bring the following to the Repair Caf\u00e9: electrical appliances, clothing, furniture, crockery, housewares, bicycles, toys etc. Anything that\u2019s broken (and which you can manage to carry on your own to the Repair Caf\u00e9) is welcome and has a good chance of getting properly repaired. If you wish to know for sure whether someone will be available to help mend your broken item, please get in touch with the organisers of your local Repair Caf\u00e9. You can find them in the\u00a0visit overview<\/a>\u00a0on this site.[\/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”My TV\/mixer etc. is broken. Can you mend it?” style=”simple”]The Repair Caf\u00e9 Foundation is, unfortunately, unable to answer questions about whether broken objects can be mended. However, most things do stand a good chance of getting properly repaired. Drop in to the Repair Caf\u00e9 in your neighbourhood where a repairer can help you mend the broken item. You don\u2019t need to make an appointment first (see question 6 also). If you wish to make sure that a specialist repairer will be at hand on the day you intend to drop by, please get in touch with the organisers of the Repair Caf\u00e9 of your choice. You can find them in the\u00a0visit overview<\/a>\u00a0on this site.[\/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”Is there also a Repair Caf\u00e9 in Boone (Iowa, USA) \/ Newark (Ohio, USA) \/ Warrnambool (Australia) etc?” style=”simple”]All Repair Caf\u00e9s across the globe can be found listed in the\u00a0visit overview<\/a>\u00a0on this site. If the place you are looking for is not listed, then there is no Repair Caf\u00e9 as yet in that municipality.[\/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”When will the Repair Caf\u00e9 London\/Palo Alto etc. be open again?” style=”simple”]Information about opening times of all Repair Caf\u00e9s can be found in the\u00a0visit overview<\/a>\u00a0on this site. If no current opening times are listed on our site for the Repair Caf\u00e9 of your choice, it means that we have not yet received this information.[\/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”Can I also drop by at times other than the given opening times?” style=”simple”]No, Repair Caf\u00e9s are not open every day. They are neighbourhood gatherings that only take place on certain days at arranged times. If you drop by at other times you won\u2019t find any repairers at hand.[\/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”Do I have to register if I wish to visit the Repair Caf\u00e9?” style=”simple”]No, generally speaking, you can visit Repair Caf\u00e9s without registering first. If a Repair Caf\u00e9 does require registration, the organisers have to clearly state that in their communications. If registration is not mentioned in the announcement about the Repair Caf\u00e9 you wish to visit, you can drop by the Repair Caf\u00e9 without registering or making an appointment.[\/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”I have a broken toaster\/pannier etc., but there isn\u2019t a Repair Caf\u00e9 close to where I live. What can I do?” style=”simple”]There are several options. If needs be, you can travel by car, bus or train to a Repair Caf\u00e9 being held further away. You have to bear in mind, however, that any reduction in your ecological footprint gained by repair will be cancelled out the further you have to travel. You can also try, without the help of the Repair Caf\u00e9, to find a volunteer repairer in your own neighbourhood. Tell as many people as possible around you that you have a broken item that needs mending. You never know, maybe a handy neighbour will volunteer to lend a helping hand. Even better, it goes without saying, would be if you start a Repair Caf\u00e9 where you live. Not only would you solve your own problem, but also your neighbours\u2019, who are in the same boat as you because they can\u2019t mend their own toaster\/pannier etc. either. The Repair Caf\u00e9 Foundation\u00a0is happy to show you the way<\/a>.[\/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”I have a broken washing machine\/armchair etc. that is too heavy to take to the Repair Caf\u00e9. Do you also make house calls?” style=”simple”]No. Repair Caf\u00e9 is not a repair service, but a meeting place where people come together to mend broken items. What you can do when you visit a Repair Caf\u00e9 in your neighbourhood is to approach one of the repairers at hand and ask the same question. Who knows? Maybe somebody would be glad to help you out.[\/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”How much does it cost to mend things in the Repair Caf\u00e9?” style=”simple”]To keep the threshold for visitors to a bare minimum, advice and help from experts in the Repair Caf\u00e9 is free of charge. But a voluntary donation is appreciated! In the Repair Caf\u00e9, tip jars and piggybanks are on a table so satisfied visitors can make a donation. The organizers can use these donations to cover some or all of their costs.[\/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”I’m looking for a Repair Caf\u00e9 I know exists, but I cannot find it using your search function. What should I do?” style=”simple”]Are you sure you are using the right search field? The small search box at the top of every page in the big blue area searches articles and web pages. To find Repair Caf\u00e9 locations listed on our map, go to the \u201cVisit\u201d page<\/a> and use the large search field BELOW the map. Above this search box, it says: \u2018Enter the name of your hometown’. Can you still not find the Repair Caf\u00e9 you are looking for? Then try again without a blank space after the city name. Still no success? Then this Repair Caf\u00e9 is not (yet) a member of our network. Perhaps you can point this out to the organisers. They can easily join by registering with us<\/a>.[\/vc_toggle][vc_column_text el_id=”faq-2″ css=”.vc_custom_1620293289132{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”]\n

For Organisers<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_toggle title=”I would like to start a Repair Caf\u00e9 in my neighbourhood. How do I go about it?” style=”simple”]The Repair Caf\u00e9 Foundation helps local groups set up their own Repair Caf\u00e9. Simply ask for\u00a0support<\/a>. Do it as soon as you come up with the idea to start your own Repair Caf\u00e9! This prevents overlaps and makes it possible for us to, for example, put you in touch with other people in your neighbourhood who are interested in starting a Repair Caf\u00e9.[\/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”I already organise repair gatherings where I live. Can I post information about them on your website?” style=”simple”]You can! The Repair Caf\u00e9 Foundation would first like to make a few\u00a0agreements<\/a>\u00a0with you though. Preferably, you also order the\u00a0Repair Caf\u00e9 starter kit<\/a>. With these materials, you will be well equipped and we will be happy to mention your Repair Caf\u00e9 on our website.[\/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”I organise a repair event under a different name than Repair Caf\u00e9. Can I announce this on your website?” style=”simple”]Repairing, of course, is always a good thing no matter what name you use for that event. However, the Repair Caf\u00e9 website is solely used to announce events with the name Repair Caf\u00e9. That way we avoid confusion and make sure the concept is clear. We do heartily invite you to\u00a0join our global network<\/a>. Once you start organising your repair event with the name Repair Caf\u00e9, we will gladly announce your event on our website.[\/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”I agreed to the condition to always use the Repair Caf\u00e9 logo, but I don\u2019t find your logo very attractive and would rather design my own. Am I allowed to do that?” style=”simple”]We regret that you do not like our logo, and we understand that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Still we think that for the recognition \u2013 and therefore also the strength of the Repair Caf\u00e9 concept \u2013 it is important that the logo is used in the communication and publications regarding your Repair Caf\u00e9, if necessary in combination with your own designed logo. That way everyone will know that your Repair Caf\u00e9 is part of the global Repair Caf\u00e9 movement and that the same activities take place as at other Repair Caf\u00e9s.[\/vc_toggle][vc_column_text el_id=”faq-3″ css=”.vc_custom_1644418142697{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”]\n

For Donors<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_toggle title=”Can I support Repair Caf\u00e9 Foundation financially?” style=”simple”]Please do! We really need your support (see the answer to the question \u2018What kind of organisation is the Repair Caf\u00e9 Foundation and how is it funded?\u2019 as well). Thanks to your donation, we can give support across the globe to local groups wishing to start their own Repair Caf\u00e9. Via our website we can inform about current Repair Caf\u00e9s and link them to one another. In addition, we can actively promote the Repair Caf\u00e9 concept globally, so even more people get involved on a local level. That\u2019s good news for the environment as well as for mutual contact in neighbourhoods all over the world. You can transfer your donation directly to our account:<\/p>\n

Account name: Stichting Repair Caf\u00e9
\nLocation: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
\nAccount number: 390470333
\nBank name: Triodos Bank
\nIBAN: NL11 TRIO 0390470333
\nBIC: TRIONL2U<\/p>\n

Thank you very much![\/vc_toggle][vc_column_text el_id=”faq-4″ css=”.vc_custom_1644418150360{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”]\n

About Repair Caf\u00e9 Foundation<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_toggle title=”What kind of organisation is Repair Caf\u00e9 Foundation and how is it funded?” style=”simple”]The Repair Caf\u00e9 Foundation is a Dutch non-profit organisation, which has mainly been financed through Dutch subsidies and donations from Dutch funds in the past few years. Thanks to these donations, the Repair Caf\u00e9 Foundation was able to offer its services free of charge until 2013. In the meantime, activities have burgeoned so greatly across the globe that we are no longer able to do so. This is why the Repair Caf\u00e9 Foundation now asks for a voluntary donation in return for support. We also extend a warm invitation to private individuals and commercial enterprises to give us financial support. Thanks to your donation we will be able to help local groups set up their own Repair Caf\u00e9 in the future. You can transfer your donation directly to our account:<\/p>\n

Account name: Stichting Repair Caf\u00e9
\nLocation: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
\nAccount number: 390470333
\nBank name: Triodos Bank
\nIBAN: NL11 TRIO 0390470333
\nBIC: TRIONL2U<\/p>\n

Thank you very much![\/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”Does Repair Caf\u00e9 Foundation also offer financial support to local groups that want to start their own Repair Caf\u00e9?” style=”simple”]Unfortunately, that is not possible. To be able to continue our work, we need financial support ourselves.[\/vc_toggle][vc_column_text el_id=”faq-5″ css=”.vc_custom_1644418796659{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”]\n

About ordering our materials<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_toggle title=”I want to order your starter kit, but my organisation needs an invoice in advance to be able to make the payment. In this particular case, could you make an exception in your procedure?” style=”simple”]To keep our service affordable, it is important that we adopt just one procedure. It is therefore unfortunately not possible to make any exceptions. When you pay for your order (via Paypal or creditcard), you will automatically get a receipt. If this procedure causes a problem for your organisation, we suggest you personally pay for the starter kit and then claim back the expenses from your organisation.[\/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”I want to order your starter kit, but my organisation cannot make the payment until we have received the materials. In this particular case, could you make an exception in your procedure?” style=”simple”]To keep our service affordable, it is important that we adopt just one procedure. It is therefore unfortunately not possible to make any exceptions. If this procedure causes a problem for your organisation, we suggest you personally pay for the starter kit. With the payment receipt which you will receive automatically you can claim back the expenses from your organisation. That way, no one will have to make an exception to their own rules.[\/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”How can I pay for your starter kits?” style=”simple”]The starter kits can be paid for in two ways: via Paypal or creditcard. After you have filled in the necessary information in an order form, you will automatically be led to a cashier\u2019s page where you can choose which method of payment you want to use.[\/vc_toggle][vc_column_text el_id=”faq-6″ css=”.vc_custom_1620293333092{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”]\n

Other Questions<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_toggle title=”I can repair things\/love organising. Can I lend a hand in an up-and-running Repair Caf\u00e9?” style=”simple”]Please do! You can get in touch directly with a\u00a0Repair Caf\u00e9 close to where you live<\/a>.[\/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”Do you also come and collect items?” style=”simple”]No, visitors are responsible for transporting their belongings to the Repair Caf\u00e9. What you can do when you visit a Repair Caf\u00e9 in your neighbourhood is to approach one of the repairers at hand and ask the same question. Who knows? Maybe somebody would be glad to help you out.[\/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”Can I donate (broken) items?” style=”simple”]No, the Repair Caf\u00e9 is not intended as a place where people can get rid of old things. The main intention is that items get repaired so the original owners can use them again. If you would like to donate tools or repair products, please get in touch with a\u00a0Repair Caf\u00e9 close to where you live<\/a>.[\/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”For some repairs, components need to be replaced by spare parts. How do you solve that problem?” style=”simple”]The Repair Caf\u00e9 does not have a large amount of spare parts in stock. Small things such as switches, plugs, wire, thread or darning wool are often available. If repairs cannot be carried out with what is available, the visitor will usually be given advice on where to buy the material in question and what standards it has to comply with. It might be possible to mend the item later on in the afternoon or else during the next Repair Caf\u00e9.[\/vc_toggle][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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