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How rental ‘libraries of things’ have become the new way to save money (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 6 months ago by Aatube@kbin.melroy.org to c/technology@lemmy.world

223 comments fedilink hide all child comments

The theory is simple: instead of buying a household item or a piece of clothing or some equipment you might use once or twice, you take it out and return it.

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[–] blazeknave@lemmy.world 8 points 6 months ago (3 children)

Priced out of living in communities where you have friends and family to share things with? Hooray! Now you can pay us for that stuff in addition to your increased cost of living!

/c/orphancrushingmachine

[–] protist@mander.xyz 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I guess it's easy to be cynical, but no, this is not at all orphancrushingmachine material

[–] blazeknave@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

I hear you. I'm not the everything sucks and nothing matters if it's not complete, type of person. This just seems like a bandaid for breaking up community. It's good to solve problems, but I'm concerned we shouldn't have this problem.

[–] Aatube@kbin.melroy.org 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I don't think all friends and family own all these stuff either. And this really does save money. The machine here is at most consumerism, incentivizing us to pay extra and own everything we'll use for like at most a month, which I think is too far of a stretch.

[–] blazeknave@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Well put. It's preventing waste and excess for sure. It just seems like a manufactured problem from pushing us apart.

Curious what goods you don't think friends would have back in the day from your perspective

[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

They pay a subscription for this... Home Depot and Lowes have similar programs that only require a deposit when you borrow the tool, which is refunded when you return the tool. And it's not even a super expensive deposit. But it is only tools.

Rent-a-Center is still a better service, since you could eventually own the thing.

The idea is nice, but the cost is ridiculous.

[–] protist@mander.xyz 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Home Depot and Lowe's charge you out the ass for tool rentals...what are you talking about

[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (3 children)

It only cost me $50, which I got back, to rent a table saw for a day. The big machines, like a backhoe, are expensive. The smaller tools ain't shit; most are under $50 for a day.

[–] KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 6 months ago

Huh? You’re getting your money back? I’ve rented things from Home Depot and there’s a security deposit you get back, but you still pay to actually rent the tool.

[–] brbposting@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 months ago

Home Depot would prolly go outta business in that case heh

Agreed w/checking the receipts per the other commenter

[–] protist@mander.xyz 2 points 6 months ago

I think you're mistaken...they refund security deposits, but there is a separate fee that scales with how long you keep the equipment. Maybe go back and check your receipts