I'll tell you a story - I wrote a message to let you know about a new service I've come across that I thought the sheddi might like. But when I read it back it sounded too slick, like advertising copy. So I deleted it and I'll tell you about it a different way.
I get a dozen emails a week from people who want me to write about something on Bean Sprouts. Most of them get deleted straight away. But I got one today that sounded pretty cool so I had a look.
It's called Zilok which I reckon is a rubbish name unless you're a Dr Who baddie. It's like Ebay for renting. So if you've got some equipment in the shed that doesn't get much use - a pressure washer perhaps or a drill press - you can offer to rent it out and it can earn you money. You can hire stuff from other people and save money compared to HSS rip-off prices (why aren't HSS open on SUndays and Bank Holidays anyway - when do people do most of their DIY? I think it's part of the rip-off so you have to pay to rent it an extra day). And hiring is better for the environment than buying. Everyone in your street probably has a lawn mower, but if you shared them you could probably get away with two or three for the entire street and just take turns.
It's just launched so there's not much there yet. There's a reputation system like on Ebay but that will take a bit of time before it's useful, so you can use it to tell who is a reliable hirer/hiree and who is a Johnny-come-lately. Already I can see it's not just tools that are being offered but fancy dress clothes, games consoles, musical instruments, roller skates, poker chip sets, all sorts of weird stuff.
Anyway, I thought the shed might be interested. I certainly want to play with it when it gets up and running properly.
> (why aren't HSS open on SUndays and Bank Holidays anyway > - when do people do most of their DIY? I think it's part of the rip-off > so you have to pay to rent it an extra day)
The ones local to me are either open on a Sunday or let you hire over the weekend with Sunday free. They also are happy for you to return the equipment at 10am, so you get extra time to finish the job if you get up early. Particularly handy when you're playing with big toys like this - <http://gpdods.com/v-web/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=461>
The message <bvSdndLCjLh7R7fVnZ2dneKdnZydn...@pipex.net> from Melanie Rimmer <m...@timelord.org.uk> contains these words:
> Anyway, I thought the shed might be interested. I certainly want to play > with it when it gets up and running properly.
I wonder how they get round the problems with liability. If money changes hands there's an implied contract, if an accident happens as a result of a fault someone's going to get their bottom sued off.
-- Skipweasel Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
The message <ae0e431a-35a5-4782-80c2-2daf85688...@d45g2000hsc.googlegroups.com> from bobharvey <roberthar...@my-deja.com> contains these words:
> On 14 May, 13:53, Graeme Dods <graemed...@gmail.com> wrote: > > you get extra time to finish the job if you get up > > early. > Sorry, old chap. You lost me there.
Get up early and you have extra thyme to hfr it before you have to return it to renter.
-- Rusty Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk Separator in search of a sig
> Anyway, I thought the shed might be interested. I certainly want to play > with it when it gets up and running properly.
Doesn't sound like a bad idea, a few of years ago I gooved of a "tool library" idea wot was similar, dunno how yvnoyr you'd be if you uverq out a tool what turnded out to be dangerous thobut.
In message <3130303034323739482C47B...@zetnet.co.uk>, Guy King <guy.k...@zetnet.co.uk> writes
>The message <F_OdnfVqhsSn8rbVnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@plusnet> >from Andy Burns <usenet.april2...@adslpipe.co.uk> contains these words: >> > Get up early >> No, sorry, you've lost me there too, say again? >He was telling you to get an old bloke from the East End with shiny >buttons sewn all over his clothes.
Melanie Rimmer's best pigeon dodged hawks and farmers' guns to bring me the following:
>You can hire stuff from other people and save money compared to HSS >rip-off prices (why aren't HSS open on SUndays and Bank Holidays anyway >- when do people do most of their DIY? I think it's part of the rip-off >so you have to pay to rent it an extra day).
I don't think they're really all that interested in the DIY market, I suspect the majority of their business is trade.
