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The rent it forward strategy can be completely resolved through just completely selling the items each time. This resolves the issue of value depreciation and items getting worn out by using the free market.

For low cost items (i.e. the items on this site)- the price of space exceeds the cost of the item. In this way goodwill/salvation army could be seen as a place where you can rent items indefinitely and just pay for the shelving space.

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Selling the item each time requires each party to research the resale value based on current condition. It's easier to agree on a rental rate than a resale value. Also, the original owner might not want to sell it but instead make a little money renting it when he's not using it. I assume in a tent it forward system the original owner could request to have it returned at any point if they needed it.

The cost of space differs greatly per area. In some areas the cost of space exceeds the cost of certain items but in others not so much. In the Midwest, for example, a 2500 sq foot house only costs 200k.

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