Tamps@feddit.uk 2 days ago
People used to rent their televisions because the technology was too expensive to own outright. It’s weird that this business model is becoming viable again, and specifically for hardware that’s been in circulation for a while. I appreciate that Sony are just looking at ways to expand their player base, and i’d presume some of the economic drivers are out of their control, but I don’t think this should be encouraged or tolerated.
It’s viable again because well… gestures vaguely at everything
HP just launched a laptop ‘subscription’ service too. It’s a rather disgusting sign of the times. Companies would love for this to become the norm, because renting is a highly profitable game. Get that sweet money coming in month after month. And you are right; we must not encourage them.
I’d rather save up and go to the second-hand marketplace than line a corpo’s pocket by renting.
People are buying takeout on credit. Pushing small recurring fees (and interest) for things consumers can’t afford to buy outright has sort of been the name of the game for the consumer economy for the last 20 years or so.
Maybe more interesting that there is enough of an overstock to do this.
mrnobody@reddthat.com 2 days ago
Hell, at least when I did this for my Series X & GP, it was 0% interest and I kept it at the end of the 24 month period! Granted it was $35/mo not $13.50, but that’s crazy to lease a console without the option to buy after. 13.5x36=486 so you should buy outright for, say, $150 after?