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Didn’t Homejoy Shut Down?

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Re: Didn’t Homejoy Shut Down?

#241

Post by [deleted] »

ericsidelis wrote: post #111
thaumaturgy wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is this a new policy? Because the company that prompted me to start the list, Zenefits, is still a Paul Graham darling: https://twitter.com/paulg/status/654377298234224640 Or, might be that our definitions of unethical don't match up 100%. I consider spam to be unethical, maybe you just mean more serious offenses.

I guess we all have different views on ethics, maybe I'm just used to seeing spam and tossing it out. I find it harmless now because I'm so used to getting it...but its interesting to see how offended people get when they see unsolicited virtual mail which can be deleted with a click of a button. I'm actually more concerned about the actual spam in my real world mailbox that USPS dumps 3 times a week, no opt-out butt…

[deleted]

Re: Didn’t Homejoy Shut Down?

#242

Post by nommm-nommm »

ericsidelis wrote: post #111
thaumaturgy wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is this a new policy? Because the company that prompted me to start the list, Zenefits, is still a Paul Graham darling: https://twitter.com/paulg/status/654377298234224640 Or, might be that our definitions of unethical don't match up 100%. I consider spam to be unethical, maybe you just mean more serious offenses.

I guess we all have different views on ethics, maybe I'm just used to seeing spam and tossing it out. I find it harmless now because I'm so used to getting it...but its interesting to see how offended people get when they see unsolicited virtual mail which can be deleted with a click of a button. I'm actually more concerned about the actual spam in my real world mailbox that USPS dumps 3 times a week, no opt-out butt…

You can opt out of some forms of real life "spam."

Info here - http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0262-stopping-unsolicit...

Re: Didn’t Homejoy Shut Down?

#243

Post by zero-rated »

aarontcheung wrote: post #125

I'm one of the founders of Homejoy. I'm still very passionate about the home service space. After leaving Homejoy, I started FlyMaids, where we're exploring a few different angles on the space. We recently acquired the customer and service provider data from Homejoy. We're a small team that has been focused on moving quickly while bootstraping. We tried to quickly test different approaches, but we realize now that we…

I recently listened to the Audiobook called "$2.00 a Day". It described how an extremely impoverished young mother in Chicago worked for a startup cleaning service, and what an unfair, laborious job it was.

From what I've read about Homejoyy the past few days, it sounds like that is where she was working. I don't expect the ex-founder to confirm though.

The audiobook was a heart-rending listen, but I recommend it: http://www.audible.com/pd/Nonfiction/200-a-Day-Audiobook/B01...

Re: Didn’t Homejoy Shut Down?

#244

Post by paulcole »

andy_ppp wrote: post #154
aarontcheung wrote: post #125

I'm one of the founders of Homejoy. I'm still very passionate about the home service space. After leaving Homejoy, I started FlyMaids, where we're exploring a few different angles on the space. We recently acquired the customer and service provider data from Homejoy. We're a small team that has been focused on moving quickly while bootstraping. We tried to quickly test different approaches, but we realize now that we…

I'm actually tempted to write a response so harsh I'd probably be banned from hacker news. Instead I genuinely hope that YC will force companies taking the 7% into a no selling on data policy; I'm not saying that is easy to write but I am saying this situation without response smears YC, something I'm sure could be avoided in future.

Isn't the ability to collect and sell data a hedge against the huge percentage of companies that are for all practical purposes worthless?

Kind of like a store selling its shelves as it goes out of business. May as well get money for anything that's not nailed down.

Re: Didn’t Homejoy Shut Down?

#245

Post by marincounty »

crabasa wrote: post #156

I think it goes without saying that there is nothing remotely legitimate happening here. The fact that Aaron posted this comment and expected anybody to believe it is remarkable. That being said, I spent 5 minutes researching Aaron Cheung and I was astonished by what I found. He has a Twitter account, but has posted exactly 0 times [1]. He has an HN account, but has posted exactly 0 times [2], and only commented twic…

No offence, but don't become a detective, and decline any jury service. A lot of people use pseudonyms.

There's a multitude of good reasons why this poster didn't want to use his real name. In all honestly, if I was hiring, or deciding to do business with an individual, if they used their real name, and had a plethora of comments on Twitter; I don't think I would hire, nor trust that individual with information.

(To the HN community. Does HN offer a way to delete comments? I just assumed they did? Maybe they don't? I do know I can delete briefly after I make a comment, but that privilege dies pretty quick. Why?)

Re: Didn’t Homejoy Shut Down?

#246

Post by crabasa »

mjmsmith wrote: post #208
crabasa wrote: post #156

I think it goes without saying that there is nothing remotely legitimate happening here. The fact that Aaron posted this comment and expected anybody to believe it is remarkable. That being said, I spent 5 minutes researching Aaron Cheung and I was astonished by what I found. He has a Twitter account, but has posted exactly 0 times [1]. He has an HN account, but has posted exactly 0 times [2], and only commented twic…

Can you explain what exactly "astonished" you about the results of your 5 minute research project?

Sure. He created a Twitter account in 2009 and hasn't tweeted once in 6 years. He was the founder of a YC company and never posted a single submission to Hacker News. He was the founder of of a company that raised $38M+ in venture capital and never once used these two massive audiences to let the world know about his product or his team. That is, to me, astonishing.

Re: Didn’t Homejoy Shut Down?

#247

Post by 7Figures2Commas »

aarontcheung wrote: post #125

I'm one of the founders of Homejoy. I'm still very passionate about the home service space. After leaving Homejoy, I started FlyMaids, where we're exploring a few different angles on the space. We recently acquired the customer and service provider data from Homejoy. We're a small team that has been focused on moving quickly while bootstraping. We tried to quickly test different approaches, but we realize now that we…

1. From http://cleanerconnect.com/, which appears to be connected to your new venture:

> Cleaner Connect is not an employer, but simply connects independent service professionals with customers

Your Homejoy co-founder stated lawsuits over worker misclassification were the "deciding factor" in the decision to wind Homejoy down[1]. Assuming cleanerconnect.com is indeed part of your new venture, the above suggests your "testing" involves the same flawed contracting strategy that contributed to Homejoy's demise.

2. Your email to former Homejoy customers encourages them to use a "partner" service. You fail, however, to disclose that you are actually a principal of the "partner" business. Additionally, your comment suggests that FlyMaids is not actually a partner of a company that is supposedly winding down but rather is the acquirer of certain Homejoy assets.

3. As far as I can tell, neither FlyMaids or Homeaglow were ever featured by Oprah, The New York Times, etc., yet this claim is/was being made on their sites.

4. There are multiple sites (http://www.dazzlingcleaning.com, http://www.homeaglow.com/ and http://www.flymaids.com/) that appear to be connected to your new venture. Each of their terms of service refers to Delaware corporations that don't seem to exist.

Humble advice: you might want to rethink your passion for the home service space. And make sure you have a good attorney on retainer.

[1] http://recode.net/2015/07/17/cleaning-services-startup-homej...

Re: Didn’t Homejoy Shut Down?

#248

Post by SomeCallMeTim »

bigtones wrote: post #141
aarontcheung wrote: post #125

I'm one of the founders of Homejoy. I'm still very passionate about the home service space. After leaving Homejoy, I started FlyMaids, where we're exploring a few different angles on the space. We recently acquired the customer and service provider data from Homejoy. We're a small team that has been focused on moving quickly while bootstraping. We tried to quickly test different approaches, but we realize now that we…

And when I say "testing different approaches" I mean: * completely ripping off competitor business websites * throwing PCI compliance and SSL encryption out the window * generally treating our VC money purchased customers from our old firm like commodity dirt. This one is gonna be a winner for sure.

>throwing PCI compliance and SSL encryption out the window

If they were using Stripe or similar, then they don't have access to your credit cards. Only the last four digits and expiration.

Re: Didn’t Homejoy Shut Down?

#249

Post by jpatel3 »

revelation wrote: post #13
pavornyoh wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a bit brazen to make those claims on the site. They can get into trouble for that and also ruin their own reputation. So I am thinking the site is a little joke? When you click on help and go to FAQs, it labels questions as "HOT". I think it is a joke.

Did you notice they literally copied their competitors site? Testimonials are the least of their worries.

User of private data is really concerning. How easy someone can take liberty of using the private data for a ride :( When I read the post about someone go crazy to protect their data and communication, I feel they need to have little faith in fellow people. But this kind of instance move my confidence and make me think that we are racing against time and we will see more and more kind of this situations.

Re: Didn’t Homejoy Shut Down?

#250

Post by paxtonUX »

codezero wrote: post #227
chris_wot wrote: post #214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nit picking is fine. I think I was a little bit unfair in my tone towards you in a few of my comments, for which I apologise!

No. I opened this up with a contrarian tone, you were completely civil. Thanks for that!

get a room you two ;)
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