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Yoshi (YC S16) launches “set it and forget it” vehicle re-fueling service in SF
131–140 of 281 posts
Re: Yoshi (YC S16) launches “set it and forget it” vehicle re-fueling service in SF
#132I'm curious about trademark issues WRT the company having the same name as a well-known Nintendo character. IANAL, and I know that the context in which a name is used affects whether or not the name is protected, but I've got to think that if (for example) I started an extremely not-video-game-related company named "Pikachu" that I would likely get some heat for it, even if it was just a toothless nastygram from a la…
Yoshi is an actual Japanese name.
Re: Yoshi (YC S16) launches “set it and forget it” vehicle re-fueling service in SF
#133Seems like there's potential for partnerships with car-sharing companies like Zipcar, Getaround, etc. Do they currently outsource refueling?
Yes, to their customers. With Getaround you need to go to a gas station and refill the car to a specified level (typically full) every trip, no exceptions ever, even if you only used it to move your groceries 10 blocks. OTOH, the hourly price is lower. With Zipcar you must return the tank at least 1/3rd (maybe it's 1/4th) full, but there is a gas card in the visor. They're apparently using some kind of fleet manageme…
I guess I'm just lucky, I've never gotten a Zipcar that was close to the minimum fuel level.
For some reason I thought at least Zipcar augmented customer refueling with trucks that refueled the fleet.
Re: Yoshi (YC S16) launches “set it and forget it” vehicle re-fueling service in SF
#134I've never owned a car in a city as dense as SF or New York so maybe it's different in places like that, but this strikes me as yet another example of the "Uber-For-X" SV startup that doesn't solve any real problem. Stopping by the gas station once a week on my way home is simply not a big enough annoyance for me to subscribe to yet another service. I'm also skeptical of the long-term prospects of this business model…
Additionally, what about liability? Even though the chances of a static electricity induced explosion from metal to metal contact during refueling is infinitesimal, it exposes all the other cars in the area to that risk unwittingly.
Re: Yoshi (YC S16) launches “set it and forget it” vehicle re-fueling service in SF
#135I've never owned a car in a city as dense as SF or New York so maybe it's different in places like that, but this strikes me as yet another example of the "Uber-For-X" SV startup that doesn't solve any real problem. Stopping by the gas station once a week on my way home is simply not a big enough annoyance for me to subscribe to yet another service. I'm also skeptical of the long-term prospects of this business model…
Furthermore, Uber solved a problem in a market with inefficiencies and use regulation arbitrage to do it. This is just an on demand service betting on the fact that people are lazy enough to not want to put gas into their car. IMO, there are bigger (or actual) problems to solve. Honestly, I wonder why they didn't launch in Chicago or Boston in the winter when weather would make people not want to bother going outside…
> Furthermore, Uber solved a problem in a market with inefficiencies and use regulation arbitrage to do it.
What is "regulation arbitrage?"
Re: Yoshi (YC S16) launches “set it and forget it” vehicle re-fueling service in SF
#136Earlier quoted context omitted.
Furthermore, Uber solved a problem in a market with inefficiencies and use regulation arbitrage to do it. This is just an on demand service betting on the fact that people are lazy enough to not want to put gas into their car. IMO, there are bigger (or actual) problems to solve. Honestly, I wonder why they didn't launch in Chicago or Boston in the winter when weather would make people not want to bother going outside…
> Furthermore, Uber solved a problem in a market with inefficiencies and use regulation arbitrage to do it. What is "regulation arbitrage?"
Ignoring regulations and using your influence to try to force governments to change regulations when they finally come calling.
Re: Yoshi (YC S16) launches “set it and forget it” vehicle re-fueling service in SF
#137Having started driving in the age of 99¢/gal gas, I am highly sensitive to price differences between stations, and I choose between 3 stations that are always within 5¢ of each other. I am typically not so price sensitive (with other purchases), but with gas I make minor schedule/route deviations to save Having a service like this would save me some amount of time, I suspect that if I significantly relaxed my fueling station choices, it would cost me much less than $15/mo, and the inconvenience of filling up would be diminished nearly to zero. There are stations very near where I live, so route deviations would disappear, and the lines are never very long.
Basically, I think part of the allure of a service like Yoshi is it removes the decision paralysis that results from having many different gas stations available, and having to choose when/where to fill up. Ultimately not a game-changer for me, but I appreciate that it makes me consider alternatives!
Re: Yoshi (YC S16) launches “set it and forget it” vehicle re-fueling service in SF
#138This article from a few months ago comes to mind: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-02/gas-delive...
I'm adding gasoline delivery to the list of startups which should absolutely not "move fast and break things" or "beg for forgiveness rather than ask for permission" > "We haven't talked to them. I don't know about that. It’s news to me" > "You can never ask for permission because no one will give it"
That "We haven't talked to them" line is pretty ridiculous. Of course you haven't talked to them, you know they would flip out about transporting extremely flammable liquid around the city (I'm guessing with questionable methods) and fuelling cars just wherever.
Re: Yoshi (YC S16) launches “set it and forget it” vehicle re-fueling service in SF
#139Even if this never nets a profit on the service, big Gas has deep enough pockets to make it worth a potential sell out exit
Re: Yoshi (YC S16) launches “set it and forget it” vehicle re-fueling service in SF
#140Hi, I'm one of the founders. Happy to answer any questions!
Hey, love the website! Nice, clean, and straightforward.
Just a heads up, I noticed a typo on the membership page: "No need to even look at the gas gauage anymore"