A NEW WONDERFUL PROJECT TO HELP YOU SAVE MONEY

The rise of the SHARING ECONOMY in Italy

Consumerism in is for a new twist. With the recent implementation USEIT, a new model is emerging in Italy and in the world, and the market's overwhelming response to this phenomenon is a sign of the times: consumers are tired of just… consuming. Recycling, re-using, exchanging, sharing: these are the positive new solutions for a future that has tired of expenditure, and for people who are incidentally in search of a lost sense of community. 

Riding this trend is the brand-new USEIT website, which was launched just last month. This platform aims to restore lost dignity and value to all those objects and personal resources that we possess and under-use. This means: objects that we have lying around or stored away in a cupboard but hardly ever pull out, or talents and capabilities that we have, but might not think about usually. Or it might just be some of our free time that could be useful to somebody else. Why not think about making these resources available to someone who might need them? The ultimate goal is to have such a wide network of available supplies from each other that users will able to find everything they need in their own neighbourhood or whereabouts. USEIT-users deliver or retrieve their own goods personally, so it makes sense that they need not travel too far to reach the object of their desire, and thus be able to cut down on transport time and cost. 

      

How does the website work? After registering (all that is needed are a user ID, an e-mail address and a password, or else a Facebook profile page) the user can immediately start publishing ads concerning objects that he or she wants to share; it could be the lawn-mower that gets used only once a month, the sewing machine that was put in the storeroom ages ago, the popcorn machine that was bought for a party and used just once, a musical instrument that is catching dust in a corner of the room. The user can also publish a service: it might be the knowledge of a second language and the availability to practice conversation with a student, simple translation abilities, extra-time to do the shopping for someone, or drive a neighbour into town on the way to work. Now the user can alternatively search for, and rent, an object or service on USEIT. He or she then contacts the advertiser to agree on the terms of exchange. This will then be paid in u-coins, with no need at all to pull out one's wallet. The users will meet for the delivery of the goods, and when the rental period comes to an end (it could be one or several days, weeks, months, depending on the agreement), the object will be returned as previously and mutually agreed upon.

 

The u-coin is the currency used for transactions on USEIT. It allows one to rent what is desired, without the need to use conventional money. U-coins are earned though the renting out goods and services, and in turn gives the user access to all products made available through the USEIT website. U-coins are ultimately marketable and may be sold over to the USEIT platform in exchange for euros. Exchanges that occur via the USEIT website are guaranteed, and objects are covered by a warranty of up to €2000. The value of the warranty increases in proportion to the number of transactions carried out by the user, and according to the quality of his or her behaviour and reliability regarding such transactions.

Here are 10 reasons to use USEIT:

• Save on money because you don't buy things you might only need occasionally; 
• Earn euros by selling your u-coins; 
• Don't clutter up your space by not purchasing things you will rarely use;
• Try out products you're not sure you want to buy;
• Share your free time in a useful and environmentally-friendly way;
• Save on euros because many services can be paid using u-coins; 
• Be able to use things you would never even consider purchasing; 
• Save time by surfing a website that has many different product categories (of objects, services, hospitality) without having to surf different, specialized websites; 
• Find accessories to complete or complement what you already own;
• Cut down on waste and be more environment-friendly.

How do I register on the website? It's easy, just access www.useit.it and click on the  "registrati" button top right. Then fill in the registration form. Only 3 pieces of information are mandatory: e-mail address, password and name or nickname. The other fields need not necessarily be filled in. Signing up is totally free, as is the publishing of ads. Readers of this blog may use the following special promotional code to benefit from a gift bonus of 50 u-coins (equivalent to €5): simply type in RH001P in the "codice ambasciatore/community (opzionale)" box, or add it in later in your personal IL MIO USEIT>PROFILO section. Those users who register with their Facebook profile will also receive an extra 10 u-coins bonus. USEIT wants to encourage users to get to know and trust each other. Using social network profiles, participants can check each other out and identify friends (or friends of friends) in common.

For further information, check out the following brief explanatory videos:

Useit: earn through sharing: http://vimeo.com/81822544
Useit: chow it works: http://vimeo.com/81846283

Rent, and save: http://vimeo.com/81818088
What is a u-coin?: http://vimeo.com/81846285
Guarantee and protection: http://vimeo.com/81846284

It is now possible to restore value to our dormant resources, by making them available to others. What a remarkable opportunity, what immense potential. Perhaps it's time to start caring about sharing.