Disruptive Use of Net: Peerflix
>
I was doing some more research on that large CD Economic analysis (mentioned previously), and I came across an interesting new variation on a theme:
PeerflixThink of it as a tangent off the development line of NetFlix, only with a communal, lending-library flavor.
Here's how it works (from the FAQ): List the DVDs you own and no longer want, add the DVDs you'd like to see, and get ready to trade on!
As soon as you send a DVD out, an item on your wish list gets mailed to you. And, it only costs you 99 cents, plus a stamp. (You get charged $4.95 for five pre-paid trades in the amount of $0.99 each). Peerflix admin operates as the central librarian, coordinating the movement o DVDs between members.
I would imagine that this is a potentially disruptive technology to the NetFlix/Blockbuster/Wal-Mart snail-mail-DVDs-for-a-monthly-fee model -- assuming they can get a critical mass of DVDs going.
Has anyone played with this yet? What's your experience been like? I'm rather curious.
>
Now for the big question: Why not do the same for CDs? Perfectly legal, since a legitimate owner has the right to sell, trade or dispose of their physical version as they see fit. And as you could imagine, the demand for CDs to rip, share or trade would be enormous -- a far greater volume than DVDs. I would imagine a far greater turnover.
PeerTunes, anyone?
>
UPDATE: April 4, 2005 10:22am
On a hunch, I checked the domain name PeerTunes.com.
Guess What?
Taken!
6 Comments:
peertunes.com redirects to peerflix.com.
Hey Ben, someone else is already doing this!!
I caught your thread and thought I'd chime in with a helpful plug of my own.
You may also find BarterBee.com to be a good alternative to the existing services you discuss. Not only can you trade-in DVD's but you can also trade-in your unwanted CDs and Video Games for the ones you really want.
All transactions are $1.00. Get ANY CD, DVD or Video Game for points and a $1 per-item transaction fee. Maximum $5 in transaction fees per month - get anything you want with no transaction fee after that.
As a Peerflix member, I can tell you that the idea was great but the implementation is poor! I'm getting out as soon as I exhaust my Peerbux credits.
I have a laundry list of issues but in short, that's my take on Peerflix.
Will the business model work for music CD's. My thought is NO. People buy music CD's to listen to them (usually) many times over. So there's less incentive to get into a trade market. I'm referring only to legal CD's not illegally burned rip-offs.
As a Peerflix member, I can tell you that the idea was great but the implementation is poor! I'm getting out as soon as I exhaust my Peerbux credits.
I have a laundry list of issues but in short, that's my take on Peerflix.
Will the business model work for music CD's. My thought is NO. People buy music CD's to listen to them (usually) many times over. So there's less incentive to get into a trade market. I'm referring only to legal CD's not illegally burned rip-offs.
PeerFlix Alternative -
Get UNLIMITED trading of DVD's, Music, VHS, & Video games.
Visit: http://www.GatorPond.com
Refered By Code: Dale Smithey
Happy trading!!!
LaLa.com is a site that does the same for CD's. I have been a member for a couple of months now. I should say I'm very happy so far.
The only issue this model has, along with all community/social networks, is that it can be difficult to find obscure content. You need a very big user base to make the obscure titles available.
To comment on Janet's idea of this having a hard time with CDs. The model does work for CDs. Nobody rents CD for some reason. I hate buying a CD and then being disappointed with it. I never buy a DVD until I've seen the movie. I try to do the same with CDs. LaLa makes it a dollar to rend a CD for as long as you want. And thusly the model works.
Post a Comment
<< Home