You're happy to let your best friend borrow your mountain bike, but would you be willing to loan it out to a total stranger if you could make some money off the arrangement?
You
're
happy
to
let
your
best
friend
borrow
your
mountain
bike
,
but
would
you
be
willing
to
loan
it
out
to
a
total
stranger
if
you
could
make
some
money
off
the
arrangement
?
That's the idea behind peer-to-peer (P2P) renting, a new model conducted by sites such as eBay and Craigslist.
That
's
the
idea
behind
peer-to-peer
(
P2P
)
renting
,
a
new
model
conducted
by
sites
such
as
eBay
and
Craigslist
.
Instead of selling an idle thing, you loan it to people in your town, get paid a small rental fee and get it back when the borrower's done with it.
Instead
of
selling
an
idle
thing
,
you
loan
it
to
people
in
your
town
,
get
paid
a
small
rental
fee
and
get
it
back
when
the
borrower
's
done
with
it
.
In the past few years, almost a dozen websites have popped up piwmsing to connect lenders and borrowers.
In
the
past
few
years
,
almost
a
dozen
websites
have
popped
up
piwmsing
to
connect
lenders
and
borrowers
.
For instance, you can use GetAround to rent out your car or motorcycle, SnapGoods to rent out electronics and gadgets, ToolSpinner to rent electric drills and lawnmowers, Zaarly and Knb to rent out a little bit of everything else.
For
instance
,
you
can
use
GetAround
to
rent
out
your
car
or
motorcycle
,
SnapGoods
to
rent
out
electronics
and
gadgets
,
ToolSpinner
to
rent
electric
drills
and
lawnmowers
,
Zaarly
and
Knb
to
rent
out
a
little
bit
of
everything
else
.
Old as it may sound, P2P renting is more high-tech than before, with websites that avoid cash for credit cards.
Old
as
it
may
sound
,
P2P
renting
is
more
high-tech
than
before
,
with
websites
that
avoid
cash
for
credit
cards
.
A user creates an online listing for the item she wants to rent out, choosing her own rental fee.
A
user
creates
an
online
listing
for
the
item
she
wants
to
rent
out
,
choosing
her
own
rental
fee
.
When someone wants the item, he keeps it on an online calendar, and the two arrange a time and place for pickup.
When
someone
wants
the
item
,
he
keeps
it
on
an
online
calendar
,
and
the
two
arrange
a
time
and
place
for
pickup
.
Each site operates a little differently, but all use technology to make renting easy, safe and relatively inexpensive.
Each
site
operates
a
little
differently
,
but
all
use
technology
to
make
renting
easy
,
safe
and
relatively
inexpensive
.
Why rent your stuff? You may not make a ton of money, but it is a good way to get some use, out of idle things.
Why
rent
your
stuff
?
You
may
not
make
a
ton
of
money
,
but
it
is
a
good
way
to
get
some
use
,
out
of
idle
things
.
The people who rent those goods are able to save thousands of dollars by renting instead of buying new.
The
people
who
rent
those
goods
are
able
to
save
thousands
of
dollars
by
renting
instead
of
buying
new
.
There may be other benefits.
There
may
be
other
benefits
.
"It brings convenience, security and adventure," says All Hart, JustSharclt's spokesperson.
``
It
brings
convenience
,
security
and
adventure
,
''
says
All
Hart
,
JustSharclt
's
spokesperson
.
"But, more important, we're really connecting people and building community, too."
``
But
,
more
important
,
we
're
really
connecting
people
and
building
community
,
too
.
''
Get to know your neighbors and make a few bucks in the process? Sounds like a good deal.
Get
to
know
your
neighbors
and
make
a
few
bucks
in
the
process
?
Sounds
like
a
good
deal
.
You're happy to let your best friend borrow your mountain bike, but would you be willing to loan it out to a total stranger if you could make some money off the arrangement?  That's the idea behind peer-to-peer (P2P) renting, a new model conducted by sites such as eBay and Craigslist. Instead of selling an idle thing, you loan it to people in your town, get paid a small rental fee and get it back when the borrower's done with it. In the past few years, almost a dozen websites have popped up piwmsing to connect lenders and borrowers. For instance, you can use GetAround to rent out your car or motorcycle, SnapGoods to rent out electronics and gadgets, ToolSpinner to rent electric drills and lawnmowers, Zaarly and Knb to rent out a little bit of everything else.  Old as it may sound, P2P renting is more high-tech than before, with websites that avoid cash for credit cards. A user creates an online listing for the item she wants to rent out, choosing her own rental fee. When someone wants the item, he keeps it on an online calendar, and the two arrange a time and place for pickup. Each site operates a little differently, but all use technology to make renting easy, safe and relatively inexpensive.  Why rent your stuff? You may not make a ton of money, but it is a good way to get some use, out of idle things. The people who rent those goods are able to save thousands of dollars by renting instead of buying new.  There may be other benefits. "It brings convenience, security and adventure," says All Hart, JustSharclt's spokesperson. "But, more important, we're really connecting people and building community, too."  Get to know your neighbors and make a few bucks in the process? Sounds like a good deal.