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I'm still not convinced this is good for companies. They think everyone will stick around and keeping paying, unwavering loyalty month-after-month, when in real

I'm still not convinced this is good for companies. They think everyone will stick around and keeping paying, unwavering loyalty month-after-month, when in reality, many people cancelled their HBO subscription after Game of Thrones was over. It doesn't really solve the volatility problem for business income. When the next downturn hits, guess what will be the first thing to go? Frivolous subscriptions.

baroffoos 7y ago
Maybe this is why they are moving to subscription furniture. You may be quick to cut your movie subscription but not your bed or fridge subscription.
- JMTQp8lwXL 7y ago
  I'm sure businesses will experiment with renting all sort of things and see what sticks. The market for less serious rentals (such as entertainment) is probably much bigger than furniture. Knowing I'm renting a sofa, and that if I spill something on it, I'd be responsible sounds far too stressful (maybe I'm not, but I'd have to find the answer to that). Also, do they deliver and pick up the furniture when I'm done with it? Do I pay extra for that? I have questions about the model. Consumers tend to steer away from things they can't understand.
  - majewsky 7y ago
    > Consumers tend to steer away from things they can't understand. Then why did/do we have a ton of financial non-experts buying financial products that they don't understand?
- apatters 7y ago
  Subscription furniture has actually been around for decades. The market is mostly corporate. It's useful for relocation packages or something and the customers aren't very price sensitive. For example: https://www.cort.com/ https://www.cort.com/
tracer4201 7y ago
We watched Chernobyl after GoT and then cancelled.
dheera 7y ago
Not all subscriptions are frivolous. I use a car subscription for example. As a startup founder I can't afford a car, still want access to one for hiking trips, and my entire monthly subscription fee including insurance is cheaper than renting twice a month from Enterprise and cheaper than renting for 3 days from Zipcar. (Also I don't believe in a long term future of car ownership -- I think one day it will be unnecessary -- just not yet.)
- JMTQp8lwXL 7y ago
  Not all subscriptions are frivolous, but some are less essential to fulfilling your everyday life than others. The company you're renting the car from is keenly aware the value of cars may diminish with time-- the risk is built into the cost.

baroffoos 7y ago

Maybe this is why they are moving to subscription furniture. You may be quick to cut your movie subscription but not your bed or fridge subscription.

JMTQp8lwXL 7y ago
I'm sure businesses will experiment with renting all sort of things and see what sticks. The market for less serious rentals (such as entertainment) is probably much bigger than furniture. Knowing I'm renting a sofa, and that if I spill something on it, I'd be responsible sounds far too stressful (maybe I'm not, but I'd have to find the answer to that). Also, do they deliver and pick up the furniture when I'm done with it? Do I pay extra for that? I have questions about the model. Consumers tend to steer away from things they can't understand.
- majewsky 7y ago
  > Consumers tend to steer away from things they can't understand. Then why did/do we have a ton of financial non-experts buying financial products that they don't understand?
apatters 7y ago
Subscription furniture has actually been around for decades. The market is mostly corporate. It's useful for relocation packages or something and the customers aren't very price sensitive. For example: https://www.cort.com/ https://www.cort.com/

tracer4201 7y ago

We watched Chernobyl after GoT and then cancelled.

dheera 7y ago

Not all subscriptions are frivolous. I use a car subscription for example. As a startup founder I can't afford a car, still want access to one for hiking trips, and my entire monthly subscription fee including insurance is cheaper than renting twice a month from Enterprise and cheaper than renting for 3 days from Zipcar. (Also I don't believe in a long term future of car ownership -- I think one day it will be unnecessary -- just not yet.)

JMTQp8lwXL 7y ago
Not all subscriptions are frivolous, but some are less essential to fulfilling your everyday life than others. The company you're renting the car from is keenly aware the value of cars may diminish with time-- the risk is built into the cost.