Comment on How rental ‘libraries of things’ have become the new way to save money

• john89@lemmy.ca ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Hmm. It sounds to me you just don’t want to acknowledge when you’re being taken for a ride.

  But hey, to each their own.

  Businesses want a lifeline to our wallets, which is why subscriptions and renting is also pushed on useful idiots.

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  • Aatube@kbin.melroy.org ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I feel like digital software subscriptions have stigmatized subscriptions in general. Subscriptions are great for things that require constant investment to be meaningful. One subscribes to news and receive constant reporting on the latest news; one subscribes to a tool library and get access to nearly every tool one can need. Plus a large part of the article is about non-profit libraries anyway.

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    • john89@lemmy.ca ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      The problem is that you’re renting access to something you’re not actually consuming.

      Once you stop paying, you lose access and have nothing to show for it. They still have your money, though.

      This is different than, say, paying for electricity which is consumed and no longer available for either party after consumption.

      Sorry bud, you’re defending being scammed.

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      • turmacar@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        This isn’t new, everything has it’s place.

        We rented a trench digger for the day from Home Depot in the 90s instead of buying one for thousands of dollars. That trench didn’t magically go away when we returned the tool. That we didn’t have access to the tool anymore was the plan.

        Renting a U-haul for a move is incredibly more efficient than daily driving a giant box truck. Somehow, the things stay moved once the truck is returned.

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      • Aatube@kbin.melroy.org ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        The problem is that you're renting access to something you're not actually consuming.

        But you are effectively consuming them. Just like renting books and movies, you nearly always don't need it again after you return it.

        Nice talking point just to cover your bum from shilling.

        Nice talking point just to cover your bum from shilling.

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  • andrewth09@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    “We can share books if you pay me to maintain the book sharing system via a non optional tax.” Universally loved system.

    “We can share tools if you pay me to maintain those tools via a non optional tax.” A niche program most libraries have.

    “We can share tools if you pay me to maintain those tools via an subscription where I have a profit incentive.” Literally 1984 and late stage capitalism.

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    • john89@lemmy.ca ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Yep.

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