Sharing economy goes hyperlocal with household items

New York

WHEN vandals broke into Stephanie Ciancio's Land Cruiser in 2014 and stole her car stereo, she did not have the time and money to replace it. It was particularly vexing for Ms Ciancio, a 34-year-old San Francisco resident, because she had been planned to take a four-day road trip to Fern Canyon, California, over the long July 4 weekend, and the idea of making the eight-hour drive without music was depressing.

So she logged onto Peerby.com, typed in her predicament, and within 40 minutes was connected with someone willing to lend her a Beats wireless Bluetooth speaker for her car trip. "I thought, 'Oh, my God, it's so easy,' and it was free!" she said. "It was easier and faster than buying one or ordering one on Amazon."