Repair Cafe Palo Alto
Frequently Asked Questions
1) What exactly is the Repair Café?
Repair Café Palo Alto is a volunteer-driven nonprofit patterned after the Repair Café movement that started and now flourishes in the Netherlands. The aim of the Repair Café movement is to reduce the amount of “stuff” that ends up in the waste stream by helping you fix items that you might otherwise throw away.
2) What have been your experiences so far?
Hundreds of people have brought their broken household items to our events where repair volunteers worked with them to help restore their items to working order. Visitors and volunteers have worked on bicycles, sewing projects, lamps, jewelry & crafts, small household appliances like toasters, irons and vacuum cleaners, luggage, furniture, small mechanical things like lawnmowers and weed whacker, electrical appliances like clocks, dvd and cd players, and computes and computer-related items. Our fix it success rate runs over 65%, but depends heavily on the item.
3) What do we pay for this service?
Repair Café doesn’t charge for repairs. If the purchase of repair parts is required, and they are available, you will be asked to pay for them. For convenience, our partner, Hassett Hardware in Palo Alto, is on hand to fetch small parts you may need. (Of course, donations to help cover other expenses, like miscellaneous supplies and spare parts that we keep on hand, are always appreciated.)
4) Can you tell me in advance if you can fix my broken item?
Unfortunately, it is impossible for us to know whether we can fix your broken item unless you bring it to the Repair Café.
5) Where and when is the next Repair Café?
The Museum of American Heritage (www.moah.org) at 351 Homer Avenue in Palo Alto hosts the Repair Café. There is street parking near the Museum.
See home page for the current schedule.
Events run from 11am to 3pm. Please show up before 2:30, as this increases the likelihood of our having enough time to fix your item.
6) What should I expect if I come to the Repair Café?
If demand is high, do expect a wait; come equipped with reading material and be ready to enjoy the community spirit of the Repair Café.
7) Do you only service items for Palo Alto residents?
Repair Café Palo Alto is open to everyone. However, it just doesn’t make good ecological sense for you to drive a long way to repair your broken toaster. Please consider accessing one of the following resources if they are closer to you or let us know if you would be interested in starting a Repair Café in your hometown!
Fix It Clinic - https://www.facebook.com/FixitClinic
Santa Cruz - email: repair@greybears.org or call 831- 479-1055
Mountain View — Facebook
8) Can I make an appointment for a set time?
We may introduce an appointment system in the future but not just yet.
9) What if you cannot help me fix my broken item?
Often, if our volunteers can’t fix your item, they can offer advice on what you might need to fix it yourself. If an item is beyond repair, did you know that in Palo Alto most broken items can go straight into your recycling bins? Check with your local waste hauler or city utilities department to see what to do with broken items.
10) How can I support the Repair Café movement?
Volunteer - Send us a note from our Contact page
Donate - The Repair Cafe Palo Alto is a California Non-profit corporation. We operate on the energy of our volunteers but some of what we do costs money. Contributions of any size would be greatly appreciated and will help us expand our efforts to fulfill our mission. To donate, please make checks out to Repair Cafe Palo Alto, Inc. and send to 1150 Guinda Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301.
Organize a Repair Cafe in your own hometown - We would love to see more Repair Cafes and will gladly help you get started.
1) What exactly is the Repair Café?
Repair Café Palo Alto is a volunteer-driven nonprofit patterned after the Repair Café movement that started and now flourishes in the Netherlands. The aim of the Repair Café movement is to reduce the amount of “stuff” that ends up in the waste stream by helping you fix items that you might otherwise throw away.
2) What have been your experiences so far?
Hundreds of people have brought their broken household items to our events where repair volunteers worked with them to help restore their items to working order. Visitors and volunteers have worked on bicycles, sewing projects, lamps, jewelry & crafts, small household appliances like toasters, irons and vacuum cleaners, luggage, furniture, small mechanical things like lawnmowers and weed whacker, electrical appliances like clocks, dvd and cd players, and computes and computer-related items. Our fix it success rate runs over 65%, but depends heavily on the item.
3) What do we pay for this service?
Repair Café doesn’t charge for repairs. If the purchase of repair parts is required, and they are available, you will be asked to pay for them. For convenience, our partner, Hassett Hardware in Palo Alto, is on hand to fetch small parts you may need. (Of course, donations to help cover other expenses, like miscellaneous supplies and spare parts that we keep on hand, are always appreciated.)
4) Can you tell me in advance if you can fix my broken item?
Unfortunately, it is impossible for us to know whether we can fix your broken item unless you bring it to the Repair Café.
5) Where and when is the next Repair Café?
The Museum of American Heritage (www.moah.org) at 351 Homer Avenue in Palo Alto hosts the Repair Café. There is street parking near the Museum.
See home page for the current schedule.
Events run from 11am to 3pm. Please show up before 2:30, as this increases the likelihood of our having enough time to fix your item.
6) What should I expect if I come to the Repair Café?
If demand is high, do expect a wait; come equipped with reading material and be ready to enjoy the community spirit of the Repair Café.
7) Do you only service items for Palo Alto residents?
Repair Café Palo Alto is open to everyone. However, it just doesn’t make good ecological sense for you to drive a long way to repair your broken toaster. Please consider accessing one of the following resources if they are closer to you or let us know if you would be interested in starting a Repair Café in your hometown!
Fix It Clinic - https://www.facebook.com/FixitClinic
Santa Cruz - email: repair@greybears.org or call 831- 479-1055
Mountain View — Facebook
8) Can I make an appointment for a set time?
We may introduce an appointment system in the future but not just yet.
9) What if you cannot help me fix my broken item?
Often, if our volunteers can’t fix your item, they can offer advice on what you might need to fix it yourself. If an item is beyond repair, did you know that in Palo Alto most broken items can go straight into your recycling bins? Check with your local waste hauler or city utilities department to see what to do with broken items.
10) How can I support the Repair Café movement?
Volunteer - Send us a note from our Contact page
Donate - The Repair Cafe Palo Alto is a California Non-profit corporation. We operate on the energy of our volunteers but some of what we do costs money. Contributions of any size would be greatly appreciated and will help us expand our efforts to fulfill our mission. To donate, please make checks out to Repair Cafe Palo Alto, Inc. and send to 1150 Guinda Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301.
Organize a Repair Cafe in your own hometown - We would love to see more Repair Cafes and will gladly help you get started.