Who would be considered a bailee?

A bailee is someone who temporarily receives possession of someone else's property for a specific purpose, usually under an agreement in which they are expected to take care of the item and return it after use. A repair shop fits this definition well, as they take possession of a customer's vehicle to repair it. During this time, the repair shop has a responsibility to care for the vehicle while it is in their possession.

In contrast, a homeowner does not typically take possession of someone else's belongings in a capacity that would qualify them as a bailee. A seller also does not act as a bailee since they are not merely holding the property for someone else's benefit but are involved in a transaction to transfer ownership. Similarly, the owner of a vehicle has ownership and does not hold someone else's property in a bailee capacity either. Thus, the repair shop is the only entity in this scenario that acts as a bailee by accepting and taking care of another person's property, fulfilling the obligations that come with that role.