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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]

224 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] 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

No, conflating them doesn't make any sense. You bring home the tool from the tool library, and you bring it back when you're done. It's one extra trip vs. going to the hardware store to buy the tool. The concerns about mismeasurements and extra trips don't apply.

You'd have a point if the thread were about maker spaces, I'll give you that. As it stands, though, I'd say your concerns are misdirected.

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

You cut the first piece, realize you actually need a different type of saw for the next cut, it's booked out, now your project is indefinitely delayed.

They are similar because in both cases you are sacrificing resiliency (multiple copies of a resource), for efficiency (a singular shared copy).

A tool library is still a great idea / resource for when you're doing a project and need one weird tool that youll never use again, but most people who do any real amount of DIY over their lives will want their own set of tools that cover most of the bases.

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

Counterpoint: You go to the store to buy the saw you think you'll need, come home, cut the first piece -- boom, same realization. Same time-sink to go back to the store. I don't think that's a concern unique to tool libs.

need one weird tool

Well, yeah. We're talking more expensive things that you only need for one project, or maybe a couple of times. Not the screwdriver set that you use for everything from box-cutting to adjusting the screws on your cabinet doors when they seem wonky.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Counterpoint: You go to the store to buy the saw you think you'll need, come home, cut the first piece -- boom, same realization. Same time-sink to go back to the store. I don't think that's a concern unique to tool libs.

Yes, except that when your buying tools, that only happens once. The next project that happens you have that tool sitting there waiting for you.

Well, yeah. We're talking more expensive things that you only need for one project, or maybe a couple of times. Not the screwdriver set that you use for everything from box-cutting to adjusting the screws on your cabinet doors when they seem wonky.

By basic DIY tools I don't just mean screw driver, I mean probably something along the lines of: screwdriver set, socket set, hammer, wrench set, drill / driver, circular saw, multitool, jigsaw, tape measures, clamps, level, plus basic painting tools, basic drywalling tools, basic electrical tools.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

The next project that happens

If you're doing multiple projects where you need that same tool, that does tilt the scale towards buying. Rentals are best for one-off things.