Frequently Asked Questions

At Toy Hermit, you can borrow toys and games from our library to keep your kids entertained and learning. We are building the largest online library of curated toys and games for children of all ages and you can even request to add more toys of your choice! We deliver and pick-up toys and games from your home (currently serving families across San Diego). Simply sign-up for our membership (starting $15/month) to start borrowing today!

There's no limit to the number of toys you can get in a month. Based on your membership level, you get a credit of 100 or 200 Shells, which you can use to borrow multiple toys at a time (worth up to $100 or $200 in retail value). You can keep each toy for as long as you want or replace toys as often as you want.

You can replace borrowed toys and games as often as you want – we encourage replacing at least twice each month to keep kids engaged and learning. We are continuously working on adding more toys and games to our library to give you a wider selection to choose from.

Sign-up for our FREE Trial Month, create an account, and you can immediately start requesting toys on our website.

You can cancel anytime by contacting us at support@toyhermit.com or 858-800-2357 or messaging us through our chat on the website! Any borrowed toys must be returned before you can cancel your account. Please allow us at least 24 hours to process your request – ahead of your new billing cycle so that you are not charged for the next month.

Yes, we understand that families have travel plans over holidays and throughout the year. We offer you an option to pause your membership for up to 2 weeks at a time – twice each calendar year (at least a quarter apart). Just email us at support@toyhermit.com to request a pause! You do NOT need to return any borrowed toys before pausing. Please allow us at least 24 hours to process your request.

We operate out of a warehouse to keep costs low for our customers. You can browse our toys and games on our website, request items to borrow or return, and we deliver and pick-up all toys and games directly from your home.

Browse our growing library of toys and games here. You can filter by age group, toy type, skills, and more—from educational wonders to award-winning favorites!

Once logged in as an active subscriber, you will see the Borrowing Widget on the library, search, and product pages. To borrow a toy/game, add it to the Borrow Request list and then click the orange "Confirm and Submit Request" button.

There are two ways:

1. Move items from your wishlist to the Borrow Request list.
   
2. Click the "Add to Requests" button on the library, search, or product page.
   
   

We use Shells – our fun currency for borrowing. Each account is allotted 100 or 200 Shells based on membership level. Your available Shells are shown at the top of the Borrow Request list. Each product’s Shell value (typically matching its retail price) is displayed next to its name.

We process all borrow requests within 1 business day and schedule delivery within 2–3 business days. In some cases, delivery may take longer if additional inventory needs to be ordered—we will notify you of any delays.

Absolutely! We use UV lamps, ultrasonic water baths, and eco-friendly anti-bacterial solutions to clean each item. Our process meets CDC cleaning standards to ensure 99.9% of germs are removed.

We’re continuously expanding our library to offer more variety. If you don’t find a specific toy/game, let us know! You can request new additions by messaging us at support@toyhermit.com or calling 858-800-2357.

When logged in, you’ll see the Borrowing Widget. In the “Currently Borrowed” list, mark items for return. Once you’ve marked returns and added any new borrow requests, click the "Confirm and Submit Requests" button. We process all requests within 1 business day.

No. We actually recommend submitting borrow and return requests together. We even pick up returns when delivering your borrow requests so that you always have fun toys on hand!

No. We clean and disinfect every toy and game we receive, so simply send them back once your playtime is over. Our cleaning process meets CDC standards to remove 99.9% of germs.

Please let us know about any missing pieces by messaging us at support@toyhermit.com or calling 858-800-2357. You can send the missing pieces at your earliest convenience so that we can complete the return process.

No worries – accidents happen! Reasonable wear and tear is included in our membership. In the event of excess damage, you might need to cover a replacement cost or handle the repair. Please contact us at support@toyhermit.com or 858-800-2357 for assistance.

Yes, we welcome all donations. We use the toys and games that meet our selection criteria in our library, and find new homes for the rest of your donated items.

Please send or drop off your donations to:
Toy Hermit, Mailbox #577, 7770 Regents Rd, Ste 113, San Diego, CA 92122

Thank you for considering a gift! A Toy Hermit Gift membership brings endless fun and creativity. There are two options for gifting:

1. Buy a membership using the recipient’s email.
2. Buy a gift card.

Go to the sign-up page, choose the membership option you’d like to gift, and add it to your cart. In the cart, you can add a gift message under "Order Special Instructions" and use the recipient’s email at checkout. Note: An account is not required to complete checkout.

Yes, we offer a gift card option in various denominations. You can purchase multiple gift cards as needed. Each gift card generates a unique code for the recipient to use toward membership.

Yes, our gift cards expire 1 year from the date of purchase.