The coming rainy season in China’s eastern cities has inspired one company to launch an umbrella-sharing service, Thepaper.cn reported after the first batch of shared umbrellas was spotted along a pedestrian guardrail in Shanghai's Pudong district.

Users must first download the app and then scan the QR code printed on the handle of each shared umbrella to obtain a password. After paying 20 RMB as a deposit, users can unlock and release an umbrella. The whole process takes no more than one minute, according to the report.

Priced at 1 RMB per day, the shared umbrellas have so far been less popular than initially expected. Li, a Shanghai local, said she would not use the service because of its required deposit.

“A new umbrella costs no more than 20 RMB. Why not just buy a new one?” Li mused.

Lu, a company official, said that they have lost many umbrellas since the sharing service was launched. But with the coming rainy season, they will continue putting out umbrellas for customers to share. Compared with shared bikes, umbrellas are much cheaper. In addition, companies are expected to enter the market soon, which will bring intense competition, Lu said.

Lu’s company has now distributed more than 500 umbrellas around Shanghai. More shared umbrellas will soon appear at bus stations, subway stations and shopping malls, Lu promised.