Examining temporary disposition and acquisition in peer-to-peer renting

Abstract

This study examines the nature of temporary disposition and acquisition in the context of online peer-to-peer (P2P) renting. Although renting is becoming increasingly popular, little is known about the phenomenon as practised between peers. P2P renting is a form of non-ownership access that enables renters to temporarily access goods, but also provides those that rent the ability to temporarily dispose of their possessions. Theoretically driven thematic analysis identifies that P2P renting is characterised as a self-service exchange with extensive co-creation and a balanced market-mediated exchange involving short-term intermittent transactions driven by a desire for community, inspired by political consumerism. However, fear of negative reciprocity, the high-involvement nature of the transaction, limited access to products and the inflexible nature of P2P rental sites impede the practice. Having a better understanding of current attitudes towards P2P renting may help with the design of future online P2P systems.

Keywords:

• collaborative consumption
• peer-to-peer renting
• temporary disposition
• temporary acquisition

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Heather E. Philip

Heather E. Philip is a PhD student at the University of Canterbury in the Department of Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship. Her doctoral research explores collaborative consumption behaviour in the context of online swapping and peer-to-peer renting.

Lucie K. Ozanne

Paul Ballantine is a senior lecturer in marketing whose research interests include retailing, consumption behaviour (particularly the negative aspects of consumption), and social and ethical issues in marketing.

Paul W. Ballantine

Lucie K. Ozanne is an associate professor of marketing at the University of Canterbury in the Department of Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship. Her primary research interest over the past 20 years has been devoted to examining the impact of consumption behaviour on the natural environment and possible initiatives to mitigate that impact. However, in exploring alternative grassroots consumption systems, her research has begun to take a different path. In particular, her work examining sharing behaviour through the use of community toy libraries and the potential for individual and community capacity development through the use of time banks has extended her focus beyond environmental sustainability – to issues related to the family and the wider community.