Description
Important Information
- Your reservation is not confirmed until the equipment manager confirms it and both parties agree on and arrange specific pick-up and drop-off times. Please email two preferred dates.
- You may reserve only ONE extractor and only for ONE week at a time. Family membership does not include the right to use two extractors at the same time.
- Only members are eligible to reserve equipment.
Equipment Agreement
- Submit a completed equipment checkout agreement to beek @ toecanebeekeepers.net. Alternatively, you can print one and bring it with you.
- During pick-up and drop-off, the TCBA Equipment Manager may take photos or video of the equipment to document its condition.
- If we can’t fulfill your reservation because equipment is returned late or damaged, we will let you know, but we may not be able to extend your return date.
- Instructions for using and cleaning the equipment are available on our website. Ask if you need a printed copy.
- You are responsible for following the instructions and ensuring anyone who operates the equipment does so safely.
Other Equipment you may need
If you wish to borrow the club’s uncapping equipment, including the uncapping tank, hot knife, sieves and bucket, you must reserve the uncapping kit separately for the same period. We recommend adding both items to your cart before checking out.
Broken or improperly cleaned equipment, or delayed returns, impact the TCBA’s ability to meet member demand and place a burden on other members to fix, clean, or chase down equipment. As a result, we have had to adjust TCBA policies regarding member use of the club’s equipment. We also hope this will streamline the equipment-borrowing process.
If you return the equipment to the TCBA Equipment Manager on time and in clean, working condition, we will refund all but $10 of your deposit. The $10 we retain is an administrative fee. If equipment is broken or not clean, we will also subtract the cost of repairs or cleaning from the refund.
Equipment Pick Up and Drop Off
- All pickups are on Saturday, and all drop-offs are on the following Friday unless prior arrangements are made between the parties.
- All equipment is to be picked up and dropped off at the shed behind the Yancey County Extension office and must be done face-to-face with the TCBA Equipment Manager or a TCBA officer.
- Only TCBA members may pick up equipment. The equipment manager may require you to present ID and a valid credit card at pick up.
- Members are prohibited from picking equipment up from other members or dropping it off at other locations without permission of the club president.
- With the prior approval of the TCBA Equipment Manager, you may be able to arrange to pick up the equipment later or return it earlier, but it must be within the seven-day window from Saturday to Friday. For example, if you chose to pick up the equipment on a Monday, it still must be returned on Friday.
Penalties
- Failure to pick up the equipment at the agreed upon time may result in a cancellation of your reservation and the extractor will be lent out to the next person on the wait list. You will be charged a $25 no-show fee.
- Failure to return the equipment on time will result in a $25 late-fee per day.
- If the equipment is more than four days late, we will charge your card $50 for each additional day it is not returned.
- In the event that the TCBA equipment manager or an officer has to go to your house to pick up the equipment, you will be charged an additional $100 per trip. If you do not return the equipment and do not respond calls or emails in a timely manner, we reserve the right to take other actions, including reporting the equipment as stolen.
- Failure to clean the equipment in accordance with these instructions and return it in clean condition will result in a penalty of up to $50.
- Should the equipment be lost or damaged while in your possession, regardless of whether such damage is accidental or willful, the club will deduct the cost of repairs or replacement from your deposit with the balance billed to your credit card.
- Penalties will be subtracted from your deposit and may affect the amount of your refund. Should penalties exceed the amount of your deposit, they will be billed to your card.
Equipment Use is a Privilege
Please remember that use of club equipment is a privilege. Those who abuse the equipment, fail to return it on time, return it dirty, damaged, or broken may lose that privilege.

