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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 [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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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[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (2 children)

It’s a for-profit service that people use to rent-out, and rent-in their tools. Not a true library so to speak but seeks to accomplish the same. Except that people charging $20/day to rent their battery-powered Ryobi drill is absurd.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago (1 children)

It’s a for-profit service that people use to rent-out, and rent-in their tools

So yes this is the same old shit as labeling Uber or Lyft a “ridesharing app” instead of calling it what it is, a taxi service.

The correct name for this type of entity would be a consignment & rental store.

This kind of thing has NOTHING to do with libraries whatsoever in structure but more importantly in intended function and community impact.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

Agreed.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Note that the featured rate in the article is "Another rented a planer at £11 a day to fix two doors in her flat after being quoted £245 for a handyman to come in and do the three hour job".

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

quoted £245 for a handyman to come in and do the three hour job

Power tools, hand tools, clothes, batteries, heavy painters cothes, gloves etc.. do not make the job.

The skill of the handyman who can quickly and efficiently deduce an effective solution (described vaguely by a couple of photos and a description over the phone by someone who doesn't know shit about the problem they need solved) to a carpentry/handyman repair and do it within 3 hours is what makes the job.

People often make the point about learning home repair as a way to save money, and true it definitely is a necessary skill to some degree as a home owner unless you have a lotttt of money... but learning to do your own home repair really isn't "saving money" so much as simultaneously devaluing your free time AND labor time to the point that all of the incurred debt is inscribed into your body and lost time with your family or friends rather than in invoices for repairman. This leaves me hesitant to call doing a significant portion of home renovation yourself ON TOP of holding down a full time job "saving" anything even if it helps keeps monetary expenses down.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

It’s not a fair comparison then is it? $80/hr is an expensive but not outrageously so handyman, plus they have their own tools to purchase and maintain and other business operating overhead (fuel and transportation maintenance) etc.

DIY—if you’re able—is always less expensive.