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Ask HN: Just finished coding my new startup; need ideas for getting traction

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Re: Ask HN: Just finished coding my new startup; need ideas for getting traction

#11

Post by Batsu »

petercooper wrote: post #3

It's safe, secure and reliable. You will seriously need to expand on these points to get customers. Looking at the idea blind, I can't see how it can be any of these things. No pretty UI stuff will be needed until it's a viable business, and addressing these three concerns strikes me as paramount.

This.

I can't imagine why I'd want to give a package to a person I've never met who has no obligation to deliver the package to it's destination. If I didn't care too much about the item being shipped... I wouldn't be shipping it.

Re: Ask HN: Just finished coding my new startup; need ideas for getting traction

#12

Post by Eddk »

kordless wrote: post #8

One of the big challenges in shipping is distribution. Even though someone may be going from place x to place y, they will have to go 'the last mile' in both the x and y locations to complete the transaction. Anything like this that adds complexity also adds both time and money. Obviously you can't have people who fly do this as the air carriers prevent bringing packages which you did not pack.

yeah... I made provision for carriers (people carrying packages) to specify by how much they are willing to deviate from their planned route. That is a key aspect in the search algorithm i developed. Say you are willing to deviate 5 miles then any package that is within 5 miles (both pickup and delivery points) of your planned route is a match. There are other issue of last mile that will be addressed only if the site grows, mainly how do you deal with receivers who aren't available to pickup their package at time of delivery, considering that carrier is traveling?

Re: Ask HN: Just finished coding my new startup; need ideas for getting traction

#13

Post by megamark16 »

Batsu wrote: post #11
petercooper wrote: post #3

It's safe, secure and reliable. You will seriously need to expand on these points to get customers. Looking at the idea blind, I can't see how it can be any of these things. No pretty UI stuff will be needed until it's a viable business, and addressing these three concerns strikes me as paramount.

This. I can't imagine why I'd want to give a package to a person I've never met who has no obligation to deliver the package to it's destination. If I didn't care too much about the item being shipped... I wouldn't be shipping it.

If you could link this idea up with a social network you may be able to increase the trust level by searching within your social network, perhaps by extending that network by one or two degrees of separation. If everyone that you know and all of their friends entered their vacation plans into a database so that you could find someone that you have a chance of trusting who could deliver your package, you may be able to make it work. On the other hand, now people have a way of finding out who's going to be on vacation and when, that could be bad.

Re: Ask HN: Just finished coding my new startup; need ideas for getting traction

#14

Post by mikexstudios »

Eddk wrote: post #9
nudge wrote: post #5

Before you get carried away with how to build the site, I think you need to think a bit about the economics of this business. 1. What would you charge someone for postage? It would have to be less than UPS etc., otherwise there's no point not using them. 2. What would a driver earn for carrying a package? Some amount of money not greater than the postage charge (otherwise you'll go broke). 3. For what amount of money…

Shipping can be quite expensive through the usual channels (UPS, USPS,FEDEX). If you have ever tried to ship a used textbook then you know what I am talking about. The application allows the carrier (ie person carrying the package) to specify a rate(per pound per mile). Obviously the intent is that such a service should be significantly cheaper than what the existing shipping companies charge otherwise no one should…

Perhaps. But shipping a used textbook via USPS Media Mail usually costs <$5. That's fairly inexpensive.

Re: Ask HN: Just finished coding my new startup; need ideas for getting traction

#15

Post by srinivasrowjee »

you can think of it as a market place for existing logistics providers who auction off leftover slots.. so if one can afford to send stuff without too much of a hurry, shipping costs would be greatly reduced, win , win for logistics provider, shipper as well. Clearance businesses would love it :)

Re: Ask HN: Just finished coding my new startup; need ideas for getting traction

#16

Post by Eddk »

megamark16 wrote: post #13
Batsu wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This. I can't imagine why I'd want to give a package to a person I've never met who has no obligation to deliver the package to it's destination. If I didn't care too much about the item being shipped... I wouldn't be shipping it.

If you could link this idea up with a social network you may be able to increase the trust level by searching within your social network, perhaps by extending that network by one or two degrees of separation. If everyone that you know and all of their friends entered their vacation plans into a database so that you could find someone that you have a chance of trusting who could deliver your package, you may be able t…

One way I intend to ensure trust is to have shippers use either Paypal or Amazon payments to accept shipment payments... By proxy, a shipper's identity will not be anonymous anymore since those services do require bank account information which is a thorough form of ID.

Re: Ask HN: Just finished coding my new startup; need ideas for getting traction

#17

Post by Eddk »

richardburton wrote: post #7

Checkout http://www.shiply.com too. I'd solve the initial chicken and egg by finding a few shipping companies and promising to find them business for free. Get some packages posted on the site. Get them delivered. Get some shipping companies some ratings. Rinse and repeat. Start charging.

sounds like a good idea!!

Re: Ask HN: Just finished coding my new startup; need ideas for getting traction

#18

Post by nudge »

Eddk wrote: post #9
nudge wrote: post #5

Before you get carried away with how to build the site, I think you need to think a bit about the economics of this business. 1. What would you charge someone for postage? It would have to be less than UPS etc., otherwise there's no point not using them. 2. What would a driver earn for carrying a package? Some amount of money not greater than the postage charge (otherwise you'll go broke). 3. For what amount of money…

Shipping can be quite expensive through the usual channels (UPS, USPS,FEDEX). If you have ever tried to ship a used textbook then you know what I am talking about. The application allows the carrier (ie person carrying the package) to specify a rate(per pound per mile). Obviously the intent is that such a service should be significantly cheaper than what the existing shipping companies charge otherwise no one should…

My point isn't that you can't undercut the shipping companies. It's that if you do so, no-one will offer to deliver things for you, because they won't earn very much.

I mean, they might. It depends on many factors. I just thought you should think about it from that end too.

Example: If you were driving from point a in city A to point b in city B, how much money would you want to first drive to point a' to pick up a parcel and to deliver it to point b' before you reach your destination. $5? $10? Just something to think about.

Re: Ask HN: Just finished coding my new startup; need ideas for getting traction

#20

Post by revorad »

Given the last mile problem which others have mentioned, could you not try a hybrid solution where people drop packages at post/courier offices in the destination towns? They can then be delivered by regular post or courier but at the local rate. So, basically you are turning passenger cars into long haul delivery vans for the postal service.

I don't know if this is economically feasible, but something to think about anyway.

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