FAQ

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About Equipment

How long do I get to use the equipment?

Let us know in the request form what time your event starts and what time its ends, usually our rentals are 4 hours long. If you need more time there will be a small fee added per hour. Please let us know at the time of booking if you will be needing more time. 8:00pm is normally the cut off time but if you need the inflatable overnight let us know. 

We always try to deliver about 30 minutes before the event for smaller events. For larger events, setup time can vary depending on the equipment and time of the event. You are only charged for the time you use the equipment. Setup and takedown does not count in the hours of use. If you need your event setup well before the start time (several hours), there will be an additional charge. 

How much room do I need?

The amount of room you need depends on the size of the equipment. That's why we list the dimensions of the equipment on each equipment web page.

For bounce houses, we only need about 2-3 feet additional space on all sides.

For other inflatables, more space will be needed because of entry and exit methods. Please be sure and consider height as well.

What types of surfaces do you setup on?

Grass is almost always the preferred surface.  Almost any surface will work as long as we know what it is at the time of booking. If it's grass, we'll normally use stakes to secure the equipment. If it's a hard surface, then we use sandbags. We need to know the type of surface so we can bring stakes or sandbags as required.

We do not setup on sand or dirt. The fine particles get into and cause excessive wear on the seams of the equipment. Rocks are also prohibited surfaces but gravel is okay. 

How much electrical power do I need?

Adequate electrical power is a must. Just like the dimensions, we list the electrical requirements of each piece of equipment on its web page. Please pay close attention to those needs. When the power requirements call for a certain number of separate electrical circuits, we must be able to access that number of separate circuits. We cannot operate two blowers on the same circuit.

Two different electrical outlets on the same circuit only counts as one circuit. If we use two outlets on the same circuit, a circuit breaker will most likely trip and the equipment will slowly deflate. The outlets we use must be within about 65' of the equipment setup location. Our blowers come with 75' of 12 gauge cord. State law prohibits the use of extension cords beyond that 75'.

Do you deliver and setup the equipment?

Yes! We deliver and setup up all inflatables. At the end of your event, we'll return and take it down. You never have to manhandle heavy equipment. When we setup your equipment, we will go over all the details and safety rules with you. 

Rental Agreement/Liability form you will be asked to sign before the crew takes off.

Until further notice, there is a delivery fee applied to every order. 

*islands are not included into our delivering range

***If there are stairs anywhere where we are transporting the inflatable there will be an additional $50 applied. These inflatables weigh hundreds and hundreds of pounds and we will need additional staff to transport the inflatable there and back if stairs are involved. 

Can I pick up the equipment from you?

We allow customers to pick up food machines, carnival games, and party/picnic accessories. For safety reasons and to comply with Washington state law, we do not allow customer pick up inflatables. Professional setup is the first step towards a safe event. Inflatables can weigh between 200 and 1,000 pounds. Handling equipment that heavy is a job for those trained to do it. State law requires inflatables to be setup by a properly trained installer. 

What kind of supervision is necessary?

Adult supervision is required whenever kids are using the equipment. Attentive adult supervision is the single most important safety factor. Some of the larger pieces such as slides and obstacle courses require at least two adult supervisors. We cannot over emphasize the importance of adult supervision. Our delivery staff will make sure you know the safety rules.

If you prefer Party Hoppers  to supervise the equipment, we have staff available for a game host fee.

Is the equipment safe?

Inflatable rides carry about the same risk as playground equipment. Quality adult supervision significantly reduces the risk of injury. Our inflatables are inspected annually by an independent inspector authorized by the Washington Department of Labor & Industries. In addition, we inspect the equipment at setup as well.

Safety rules are posted on the equipment and our delivery team will go over those rules with you.

What if it rains?

As much as we always hope for warm sunny days, we don't always get our wish. Most of our equipment can operate in the rain. If it becomes too wet to use, the equipment should be closed and kids not permitted to play. Many of our bounce houses and combos have rain covers.

Unfortunately we do not do weather refunds, so if it happens to rain on the day of then it is what it is. If you would like to reschedule because of the weather then we would need to know the day before your rental to accommodate that change, the morning of would be too late as our trucks will already be en route.


General Information

What areas does Party Hoppers serve?

Mostly Snohomish county and some King county areas. 

Until further notice, there is a delivery fee applied to every order. 

*islands are not included into our delivering range 

Are you insured?

Absolutely! We carry $1 million of liability insurance, which meets the requirements of almost every municipality including Bellevue and Seattle. 

What laws and rules apply to inflatables?

The basic rules and regulations applicable to our industry are issued by the Department of Labor & Industries. L&I's Electrical Division oversees the inflatable industry. Here some of the pertinent laws and regulations:

  • All amusement riders must be inspected annually by an authorized independent inspector. (Partyhoppers uses International Leisure Consulting to perform our inspection. International Leisure performs inspections and advises amusement companies all over the world.)
  • Amusement rides must display an operating permit issued by the Department of Labor & Industries. 
  • All operators must carry $1 million of liability insurance.
  • An operator's insurance certificate must be made available to its customers.
  • Amusement rides must be setup by trained persons.
  • Amusement rides displaying the L&I operating permit are exempt from onsite electrical inspections.
Does Party Hoppers follow those rules?

Yes. We believe following the rules is good for all us. It certainly costs us more, but we believe in doing things the right way. When you find someone offering substantially lesser prices, there is a good chance they are operating outside the rules or taking safety risks. We will not do that.

Can I book online?

We DO NOT take phone calls to make reservations, that can be done HERE online directly through the inflatable or item that you would like to reserve. Just click on the item that you want to reserve, then "Add to estimate" and check out like you would anywhere else. If you have a specific question you can email us as well. 

Due to the amount of phone calls we currently receive (March-October busiest time), we will not be able to answer calls. 

Sorry for the inconvenience. 


Reservations and Payment

Where are the prices?

Our pricing is included in our website's listings. At Partyhoppers, we pride ourselves on reasonable prices for the service and quality of equipment we provide. You might be able to find a slightly better price, but you will not find better equipment or service. Do not let a slightly better price spoil your event. In any case, be sure the operator is fully licensed and insured and that they will be there on time with quality equipment.

Unlike most of our competitors, we do not continue to add on charges until a bargain price becomes a nightmare. When you're getting a competing quote, be sure you ask about all add-ons including delivery charges, setup fees, time and distance additions, insurance fees, etc. 

How do I pay?

We accept VISA, MasterCard.  We require full payment at the time of booking.

A deposit is only offered on orders that meet $2,000 or more. Sorry for any inconvenience. 

All payments are nonrefundable. If you cancel your event, we will work with you to reschedule and apply all or a portion of your prepayment to that event. 

Can I return unused food supplies?

Food supplies such as cotton candy sugar, sno cone syrups, popcorn packets and non-food supplies such as paper cones, sno cone cups, syrup pumps and popcorn bags cannot be returned for a refund.

Is a deposit required?

No deposits if its under $2000, full payment at the time of reservation. 

All prepayments are nonrefundable. If you cancel your event, we will work with you to reschedule and apply all or a portion of your prepayment to that event. 

Are reservations really necessary?

First and foremost, we will do our best to get you the equipment you want when you want it even if you book very near your event date. But, advance reservations are a huge help - especially if you need the equipment delivered at a specific time.  

Delivery routes get assembled and delivery staff assigned several days in advance. We do that so we can determine the number of delivery routes and staff we will need and to give our staff an opportunity to plan ahead. However, we are always more than willing to work in last minute bookings. By reserving your equipment ahead of time, you will get a better selection of equipment and a more desirable delivery time.

How do I make a reservation?

We DO NOT take phone calls to make reservations, that can be done HERE online directly through the inflatable or item that you would like to reserve. Just click on the item that you want to reserve, then "Add to estimate" and check out like you would anywhere else. If you have a specific question you can email us as well. 

Due to the amount of phone calls we currently receive (March-October busiest time), we will not be able to answer calls. 

Sorry for the inconvenience. 

What if I need to cancel?

We do understand that a cancellation might be necessary. Kids get sick and plans change.

All prepayments are nonrefundable. If you cancel or reschedule your event, we will work with you to reschedule and apply all or a portion of your prepayment to that event. 

What if I want to change my order?

We are happy to make changes subject to equipment availability. If you are adding equipment or services, an additional prepayment could be required. If you are cancelling equipment or services or changing it to something else, we do not do price match. 

Do I have to pay sales taxes on my rental?

Washington Residents. Unless you provide us with a current and valid Washington State Reseller's Certificate issued by the Washington Department of Revenue, we must charge, collect, and remit state and local sales taxes on rentals. Some items classified as services such as artists and entertainer fees are not taxable. Please note, reseller's certificates can be issued only by the Department of Revenue and must be used in accordance with Washington State regulations.  501c3 is NOT exempt from sales and use tax.

Native Americans and Military Rentals. We are not required to charge sales tax on rentals by Native Americans or by the military if we deliver the equipment to the reservation or base. This exemption does not apply to personal rentals by military personnel.

Out of State Deliveries. We no longer deliver outside of Washington state.

Churches, Cities, and Nonprofit Organizations. In Washington, no entity is exempt from sales tax because of a federal tax exemption. Cities, counties, schools, nonprofits, churches, companies, and individuals must pay sales tax.  501c3 is NOT exempt from sales and use tax.


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