Discussion on:

Can Yerdle redefine consumerism?

Sounds like more CA trying to reinvent the world in their image.
The Freecycle Network is made up of 5,079 groups with 9,207,628 members around the world. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by local volunteers (them's good people). Membership is free.

This is done in The Netherlands since the 1920's regarding medical tools like walking stick, crutches etc. No one buys theme there. Rent is in quarters per day.

These are just a few of the many I have encountered.

http://childrensorchard.com/

http://www.recycledkidssale.com/

http://www.gumdropswap.com/

http://www.thredup.com/

http://www.cheapkidsnh.com/

http://www.gentlylovedbaby.com/index.html

Ah, there's "play it again sports" for the person who wants to sell their old sports equipment -- why give it away as they say in this article? Back in the 1800s this was a good idea, neighbor helping neighbor, but now? Hey, if you want to give your neighbor or sports acquaintance something, sure, go ahead; but on a broad scale this won't work. It would take a municipality to do so, such as a city adopting a bike-exchange for the free usage of bikes for commute.

Nice try, it's a complete wast of time. Remember, people like "new" and they like to shop. I'm not talkin' grunge here, i.e., the 19 year old going to good will for a used pair of jeans, nope, I'm talkin' about being a real human who wants "new" , and who doesn't? The automobile is the only area I can think of where buying new is not a good idea, maybe here I would go three years out, after depreciation has taken its' course. And if you do go this route you'll be always known by your kids as "Mr. or Mrs. Cheap Skate", especially if mommy or daddy work for the government, with all the freebies they're already getting, of course bottom-feeding is a complete and other topic.

God save America.

...how this fills any gap that eBay or Craigslist doesn't already accommodate.

consumerism and, dare i say it waste, drives the greatest consumer engine the world has known. waste may very well be the thing i hate most. right up there with ignorance which, of course, is a waste of brain and sensitivity.
so, without waste, will the consumer engine stop? no, but it will slow considerably and unemployment will follow. life's a funny old think, ain't it.
i'm not advocating waste nor mindless consumerism but rather, passing along an observation. idealists crave a perfect world; nature slaps down that idea.

The problem with those advocating "sharing", is that they usually aren't the folks who worked to obtain the objects in the first place, and when they "borrow" from their "friends", they fail to take proper care of said object.

Private property rights are a good thing - they encourage someone to take stewardship, rather than shrugging and expecting someone else to do the care, feeding and maintenance.

I'm all for renting in lieu of buying, for intermittent needs, and we buy used where practical. But communal ownership always disappoints.

I think the big difference between Yerdle and the other sharing/selling sites mentioned is that Yerdle seeks to share and sell through your social network. It feels good to give things away but it feels even better when you know and like the people to whom you're giving. Plus, buying or receiving free stuff from your friends feels safer because you assume they wouldn't give you junk or bedbugs, AND they won't assault you when you meet. As a woman, I know I always worry a little when I drive to a strangers' house to pick up something I found on CL.

I use my Facebook account to ask for or offer things a few times a month but I don't want to do it too much lest my friends tire of it. I look forward to trying Yerdle if it ever makes it eastward so I can get down to sharing a lot more.