4 ms·

Show HN: Rent my library for $10/book with no due date

5 points by alenkovic 9y ago

hoodwink 9y ago
Clever way to sell used books for $10 each
pugio 9y ago
A really quick used book search for the top 3 books resulted: Sapiens: $12.87 Chaos Monkeys: $6.69 Creativity Inc: $7.50 Not sure why I'd ever pay $10 for a rental.
- bunderbunder 9y ago
  Looks like shipping is free, so there's that. Also, prices are different if you look on Amazon.ca. (Sapiens: $15.21, Chaos Monkeys: $12.86, Creativity Inc: $17.99) So, assuming that the .ca domain means this is a service that's meant primarily for Canadian users, and the rental fee is CAD$10, that makes it look a bit more attractive.
  - alenkovic 9y ago
    You're right, it is primarily meant for Canadian users, where the average price for the paperbacks listed is $20-30 including shipping. This is similar to the retail price in-store.
corvallis 9y ago
Hmm. Why wouldn’t I go to the library and borrow them for free? The max fine for overdue is $5. Edit: Also, if they are available as e-books, they auto-return so there is no fee at all. One can always re-borrow.
- alenkovic 9y ago
  Good point - None of the books I've uploaded so far are available at any of the libraries in my city. They are either not offered or currently checked out. For e-books yes, for physical books no.
hondish 9y ago
Interesting, I'm curious about the Netflix model for books, especially if it involved a nice space where you might connect with others, and where you might also make your own library available. Many enjoy reading physical books, but storage is a problem. What would a 'gym for your mind' with a subscription model look like? If you put the best bits of a café, a library, and a gym into a blender, what might come out? BTW, typo in your third slide, 'receive' not 'recieve'.
- alenkovic 9y ago
  Thanks for pointing that out! I like where your thoughts are, there is a version of this combination where I live, where most large bookstores will partner with Starbucks and have a cafe in-house. I sometimes buy a coffee just to sit for a while and read. If I can validate the demand-side, the next step could be to allow users to rent their own libraries to increase the variety available.
nztomas 9y ago
Would be interesting to do peer 2 peer book exchange and just collect fees :) BTW you can find some of the books very cheap in new condition... http://www.librarist.com/us/book/9781785041273 http://www.librarist.com/us/book/9781785041273
- alenkovic 9y ago
  Would you participate in something like that? I have thought about that idea but I wonder about the logistics of that sort of service. Thanks for the link!

5 points by alenkovic 9y ago

Clever way to sell used books for $10 each

A really quick used book search for the top 3 books resulted: Sapiens: $12.87 Chaos Monkeys: $6.69 Creativity Inc: $7.50 Not sure why I'd ever pay $10 for a rental.

bunderbunder 9y ago
Looks like shipping is free, so there's that. Also, prices are different if you look on Amazon.ca. (Sapiens: $15.21, Chaos Monkeys: $12.86, Creativity Inc: $17.99) So, assuming that the .ca domain means this is a service that's meant primarily for Canadian users, and the rental fee is CAD$10, that makes it look a bit more attractive.
- alenkovic 9y ago
  You're right, it is primarily meant for Canadian users, where the average price for the paperbacks listed is $20-30 including shipping. This is similar to the retail price in-store.

corvallis 9y ago

Hmm. Why wouldn’t I go to the library and borrow them for free? The max fine for overdue is $5. Edit: Also, if they are available as e-books, they auto-return so there is no fee at all. One can always re-borrow.

alenkovic 9y ago
Good point - None of the books I've uploaded so far are available at any of the libraries in my city. They are either not offered or currently checked out. For e-books yes, for physical books no.

hondish 9y ago

Interesting, I'm curious about the Netflix model for books, especially if it involved a nice space where you might connect with others, and where you might also make your own library available. Many enjoy reading physical books, but storage is a problem. What would a 'gym for your mind' with a subscription model look like? If you put the best bits of a café, a library, and a gym into a blender, what might come out? BTW, typo in your third slide, 'receive' not 'recieve'.

alenkovic 9y ago
Thanks for pointing that out! I like where your thoughts are, there is a version of this combination where I live, where most large bookstores will partner with Starbucks and have a cafe in-house. I sometimes buy a coffee just to sit for a while and read. If I can validate the demand-side, the next step could be to allow users to rent their own libraries to increase the variety available.

nztomas 9y ago

Would be interesting to do peer 2 peer book exchange and just collect fees :) BTW you can find some of the books very cheap in new condition... http://www.librarist.com/us/book/9781785041273 http://www.librarist.com/us/book/9781785041273

alenkovic 9y ago
Would you participate in something like that? I have thought about that idea but I wonder about the logistics of that sort of service. Thanks for the link!