In the summer of 2021, I decided to renovate my garden with a new patio and seating area. A quick Google search revealed that I needed a lot of equipment: a plate compactor, mini digger, angle grinder, wheelbarrow, trowel, cement mixer, and a skip. For a summer DIY project, this required much more planning and administration than I had anticipated. After calling several companies, I discovered that hiring all the necessary equipment would be complicated. No single company had everything I needed; some items were not in stock, while others were already hired out.

Eventually, the missing equipment was delivered, and I could finally start the project. Despite the setbacks, I completed the renovation in a few weeks, and my garden looked fantastic—quite an achievement for someone with little DIY experience. Then came the task of paying for the hired equipment. I received three separate invoices, each with detailed pricing before and after tax, including additional charges for a few extra days of hire. I had to call each company to make the payments over the phone. While this wasn't an insurmountable task, it was far less convenient than booking and paying online.