How and When Is the User Charged?
How does Brick calculate how much the user is charged and when is Brick charging them? The cost of renting a powerbank depends on a few factors!
To start the rental process, users need to add a payment method such as a credit card or PayPal to their Brick account. These payment credentials are securely stored by our payment solution provider.
When a customer initiates a rental, we perform a pre-authorization on the payment method. This involves verifying the validity of the payment method and ensuring that sufficient funds are available. The pre-authorization is done for the value of the first hour of rental.
Once the power bank is returned, we conclude the transaction and charge the appropriate amount from the vaulted payment method.
Do you have to add a payment method every time to rent a powerbank?
Using the Brick App
No, the vaulted payment method will be stored for future use.
Using App-less
Yes, you will have to add it for each web browser checkout.
What payment methods does Brick accept?
You have the option to choose from multiple payment methods when renting a powerbank:
- Paypal
- Credit Card: Mastercard, Visa, American Express
- Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
How much does it cost to charge with Brick?
The cost of charging with Brick is determined by several factors. We have a fixed base rate for unlocking the powerbank, and additional costs may vary depending on factors such as the city, venue, day, and time of rental.
To find the current rental price, simply click on the venue of your choice in the Brick app.
How does the pricing model work?
Our pricing model follows a pay-as-you-go structure, where the cost increases over time in specified increments. Here are the key components of our pricing model:
- Time increment
- Price per increment
- Maximum price per day
- Total cost if the powerbank is not returned
Understanding increments
The increment defines the time interval. When a new increment starts, the rental cost increases with the price. The increment can be set to 30 or 60 minutes.
Example: If the increment is set to 30 min, then 29 minutes = 1 increment & 31 minutes = 2 increments.
Understanding the maximum price per day
As the rental duration progresses and time increments increase, the price gradually increases. However, the price per increment will never exceed the maximum price per day. Once the maximum price is reached, the price will remain fixed for the remainder of the 24-hour period from the start of the rental.
Example: Rental starts at 07:00, the price per hour is €1, and the maximum per day is €5. At 11:01, the rental initiated its 5th increment and reached €5. The user would pay €5 no matter if it returned it now or at 06:59 tomorrow. At 07:00 the next day, the price will increase by €1.
When is a powerbank considered purchased?
If a powerbank is not returned within 5 days, it is considered purchased, and the total cost of the powerbank is charged.
The complete user journey, with examples:
Let’s assume the following pricing model:
- The increment is set to 1 hour, 6 minutes
- Price per increment, €2 per initiated hour
- The maximum price is €5 per 24h
- If not returned, the total powerbank cost is €50
To start a rental, users download the app, register using their phone number, and securely vault a credit card as a payment method. When they scan the station's QR code, the system verifies the credit card by making a pre-authorized charge of the first incremental price, which is €2. Once the validation is successful, the powerbank is released to the user. They can then charge their device and later return the powerbank to any station when they are finished.
Here are some pricing examples:
Why do we charge €0 for rentals shorter than 3 minutes?
For short rentals that are less than 3 minutes, we do not charge the user. These brief rentals are often an indication of issues with the powerbank or that the user simply wanted to give it a try! In such cases, the reserved amount for the rental is released back to the user's payment method.
What if a user doesn’t return the powerbank?
If the powerbank is not returned within 5 days, we will charge the vaulted payment method the total powerbank cost. In Sweden, the total powerbank cost is set at €50.
How to end a rental if there are no open slots in the station?
To end a rental, the powerbank must be returned to a Brick station. Check the app to find a nearby station with open slots.
Become a Brick Partner
Powerbank sharing with Brick holds promising prospects for your success! A Brick Representative is ready to connect with you when you are.
