I got an email last week about a new online service that helps people lend things to one another. It's called Lendaround.com and was founded by Tim Jackson, who is a "venture capitalist, entrepreneur, not-for-profiteer, and writer." I was immediately curious...
Rather than buy things online (Amazon) or sell stuff you don't want (eBay), Lendaround.com has greener, less commerical and, ultimately, more positive mission: to promote sharing over buying. It's starting with DVD's and then plans to move on to other items. This is from Jackson:
“Coming back from Rwanda or Lesotho and looking around my home, I was struck by how much stuff we all own and take for granted,” he said. Wouldn’t it be great if instead of leaving things to gather dust on shelves, we could lend them to our friends?”
“It’s like Netflix meets Facebook,” said Jackson, founder of LendAround.com. “You list some DVDs you own, invite some friends you like, and start browsing their collections. The web site helps arrange loans, and keeps track of where everyone’s DVDs are. And nobody pays anyone anything.”
I think this is a great idea, and I'm even more curious to see how it all works out in the day to day. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Jackie from LendAround has set up a special email for AT readers to get invited to the private BETA. To join, email: apartmenttherapy@lendaround.com and ask to be subscribed. They'll get right back to you with a notification that will allow you to sign up.
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Perhaps someone should have checked to see if this website was actively accepting new users before this was published.
view pantonechip's profile
LEND our DVD's??? Are you MAD?!
view SherryBinNH's profile
re: pantonechip's comment--I signed onto the waiting list yesterday and within a couple of hours, had received an invitation to join. I'd also sent a comment noting that although I only own a handful of DVDs, I do have an enormous quantity of books, mostly fiction, and hoped the service would expand beyond DVDs soon. Tim wrote back to me himself, and a lively exchange of ideas ensued. So...although it may seem like the site is not accepting new users, it is, and Tim seems to be a lovely guy. In any case, seems worth checking out lendaround. Will report back once I have.
view LiliZ's profile
umm NYC has something like this already in place... it's called the library. It's freeee you can borrow stuff up til 3 weeks and you return it and someone else gets to borrow it. No fines or fees if you return them on time. They have up to date dvd's, cd's and books. You can reserve items and they'll put them on hold for you.
view Minanina's profile
Yes, I too use this very interesting institution called the "public library." Its collection of books, dvds and cd's is very large, it has a searchable database, you can order just about any publication you want and they'll hold it for you. They also have free internet access, a service that is increasingly important to job seekers, since help wanted ads can no longer be found in print. The only entry requirement is an ID. That's right, it costs nothing to join --except what you already pay in tax dollars. Unfortunately that source of income is shrinking at the moment, so these lovely civic institutions are in peril. Please support your local library.
view hhbklyn's profile
Minanina and hhbklyn--having moved from Brooklyn to Oakland, I can say that though the libraries are amazing in NYC, they're mostly pretty sad in Northern California. I really miss my weekly pilgrimage to the Grand Army Plaza branch, coming home with a pack full of movies and novels, even music. So, if you live in NYC, count yourself lucky and definitely hit the library. For the rest of us, time to find other ways of filling this void without paying an arm and a leg.
view LiliZ's profile