Why not a toy library that would lend toys for a short period of time? Many toys amuse only temporarily and could be returned for new ones. Also the library could classify toys for age groups and the librarian could recommend toys that might be appropriate for a particular child.

Cool idea, ThousandFaces!

Having a fixed-rate rental service, sounds challenging (but then again, what isn't?). Unlike Netflix, it would be difficult to justify the value of toys for a fixed figure, e.g. $29.95. With DVDs, it's much easier, since the cost of each unit is around the same price. Toys have variable $ values, but the perceived value from a kid's standpoint can always differ. A $2 yo-yo may be the hit of the decade, while a $30 Super Soaker may be a flop.

A "library" sounds workable. But I suppose that if you wanted to money-fi it, then the "librarian" would have to have a system in place to tag a value to each toy.

Unlike DVD's, the probability that the toys would end up getting damaged is significantly higher - this shortens the lifespan of each toy on the inventory.

I guess you would still be stuck with the really trendy toys, like Tickle Me Elmo, but a great idea for the rest of the toys. Kids outgrow them or just get bored all the time! My concern would be if you destroyed or lost a toy. I guess you could just pay for it, and you'd still be better off than before!

There was a toy library near me for a short while. It is closed now. The idea mustn't hrave taken off well. The probelem with places such as these is that toys get easily damaged. Toy fads move very fast, and keeping up with them is a hard task. Also, certain toys (such as construction toys) have pieces that always get 'lost' (probably stolen) and this seriously limits the range. Also, toys are extremely expensive compared to books, and most libraries wouldn't have enough money to get a particularly stunning selection.

I'm not sure this would work, but it may build on the original idea...

Most of the problems that people have been describing are related to the fact that toys are easier to damage, more variable in cost, and more faddish than DVD's a-la NetFlix.

But what if we thought of the toys in this service as "commodities" - literally. Just like oranges can rise and fall in the market when there's a storm or a good or bad harvest, couldn't there be a "spot price" for a given toy which is calcuated based on the supply and demand for the toy at a given time.

So rather than think of the toys as a static entity - with static price, supply, and demand - I think some type of variation of a real-time pricing system for these toys based on supply and demand could work.

Specialized flea-market type places is probably a better model than a library. It should be easy to acquire an inventory - advertise that you're buying old toys in good condition and you should get truckloads of toys in every Saturday from mothers looking to clean up the playroom. After that, it's buy-sell-trade.

In 2005 most of the worlds toys are mad in China, and suffer from really poor quality. This reduces the durability so that rental is not really an option. In many cases you are lucky if you get it out of the box without it falling apart.

my friend and i have always thought of this as a GREAT IDEA!!!! my mother inlaw has bought my boys tons of toys over the years and very few really get played with . my friend and i were actually looking into renting a store in town for this exact use. not only would it put a little variety in to playtime items but if a child really liked after you return the toy to the rental store you could buy it from the store knowing that it would be played with, until they get tired of it in wich case you could take to the toy rental store and donate or trade for a toy of equal quality and value all in all i guess great minds think alike!!!!!

my friend and i have always thought of this as a GREAT IDEA!!!! my mother inlaw has bought my boys tons of toys over the years and very few really get played with . my friend and i were actually looking into renting a store in town for this exact use. not only would it put a little variety in to playtime items but if a child really liked after you return the toy to the rental store you could buy it from the store knowing that it would be played with, until they get tired of it in wich case you could take to the toy rental store and donate or trade for a toy of equal quality and value. all in all i guess great minds think alike!!!!!

I have started a toy rental company for small children, ages 0-3 years. I have focused on carying unique, high quality toys. We test every toy for lead content and cary only safe toys. If you are interested go to www.babyplays.com