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Instapainting – From $4k in debt to $32k/mo in passive revenue with no employees

indiehackers.com

231–240 of 277 posts

Re: Instapainting – From $4k in debt to $32k/mo in passive revenue with no employees

#231
post #200
post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the reason I don't charge more is it'd just be lining my pockets What's wrong with lining your pockets? This is a business no?

That's not how business works. Unless you want transitory success.

I don't think this deserves the down votes - in some markets he is correct. If you gouge on price, you encourage competitors to enter the market. If you keep your profits low, it can act as a barrier to entry. I'm not saying that you should always price low, but the OPs point is worth considering.

Re: Instapainting – From $4k in debt to $32k/mo in passive revenue with no employees

#232
post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you have agreed if it were a discount instead of an added charge? i.e. Yes is -$3?

Are you saying I either have to pay $3 to opt out or save $3 to opt in? Or are you saying the base price remains the same if I opt out, but I would get a $3 discount if I opt in? I would find scenario #2 a more suitable option. Meaning I'd happily pay the standard price in exchange for opting out, but people who choose to opt in receive a small discount in exchange for their willingness to be used as marketing collat…

This is good feedback. Just because it's equivalent in pure financial terms doesn't mean buyers will see it that way.

Re: Instapainting – From $4k in debt to $32k/mo in passive revenue with no employees

#233
post #227

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Worst case scenario, he'd have returned the money for any specific painting that couldn't be done, right?

well, worst-case scenario the customer wanted the painting as, e.g., a graduation gift for their kid, and suddenly got told at the last minute "we couldn't do it, here's a refund"

That could happen anyway even if he did have a painter ready; that's always a risk when you're custom ordering something.

Re: Instapainting – From $4k in debt to $32k/mo in passive revenue with no employees

#234
post #149
post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I read your comment and agree. I also agree it's difficult to properly articulate those benefits/interests some people have for handmade things vs machine-made things. Still just things though. Who knows when robots take over every job, maybe all that will be left is jobs where there is some demand preferences for handmade over machine made. Art, "home-style cooking" etc... Of course there are multiple ways to tweak…

> when robots take over every job My wife tries to make me dinner most nights. Honestly I feel better most times if I make it myself. I find it relaxing. I also enjoy driving a 7 speed manual transmission in my car (a 911). Most of them sold are PDK's. To me that makes it to easy, even if (as they argue) the performance is better. Most times I enjoy driving, not all of the time but I wouldn't consider it a benefit to…

I'm with you. I often write longhand with a fountain pen ($20 pen nothing fancy). And not just thank you notes, long research papers that I will eventually type up, I write it out first when I have time.

Writing slows things down and alters the thought process vs. typing. One downside is fountain pen ink seems to end up on your fingers no matter how careful.

Funny you mention a 911. I'm not really a car guy but I sit next one at work who claims the only legit Porsches are manual and just bought some special Porsche that only comes in manual, so I have been hearing a lot about this. I'd love to test drive it but haven't driven manual in years and am nervous to do so in someone else's brand new car.

Any suggestions on how one can practice driving manual without ruining someone else's clutch?

Btw Jay Leno is another manual > PDK guy "I bought the clutch and the car just happened to come with it" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0t2xia8xxs

Re: Instapainting – From $4k in debt to $32k/mo in passive revenue with no employees

#236
post #234
post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> when robots take over every job My wife tries to make me dinner most nights. Honestly I feel better most times if I make it myself. I find it relaxing. I also enjoy driving a 7 speed manual transmission in my car (a 911). Most of them sold are PDK's. To me that makes it to easy, even if (as they argue) the performance is better. Most times I enjoy driving, not all of the time but I wouldn't consider it a benefit to…

I'm with you. I often write longhand with a fountain pen ($20 pen nothing fancy). And not just thank you notes, long research papers that I will eventually type up, I write it out first when I have time. Writing slows things down and alters the thought process vs. typing. One downside is fountain pen ink seems to end up on your fingers no matter how careful. Funny you mention a 911. I'm not really a car guy but I sit…

A lesson with a good driving instructor will pay great dividends. Book one that will do you a lesson on finding the biting point and clutch control. Maybe it'll take 2 or 3 lessons. Very worth it in skill and future clutch and gearbox health.

Here's what you need to learn:

Find quiet flat road. Maybe a carpark. Some space ahead of you in case of error.

Handbrake on.

Find biting point of clutch. You'll need a little accelerator for this too, but not too much. Trial and error for both. Fun times. Keep handbrake on to start with.

The biting point is this: left foot up until you feel some bite, the car gently trying to pull forwards.

In fact, the biting point is where the clutch is half-engaged so precisely that if you released handbrake you'd stay still, but could make tiny movements forward by letting in (foot up) the clutch a tiny bit more. Then stopping by letting it out again a tiny bit back to biting point.

The more clutch (left foot) you have in, the more accelerator (right foot) you need. But not too much. It's subtle, but very learnable. You'll stall a lot. That's why the handbrake is important. You'll use too much right foot to start with, but that's ok. You'll improve with practice.

So, when you have an idea that you've got the biting point, let out the handbrake carefully. You'll likely go forwards. Feel free to pull handbrake back on gently. And then try to get less bite. You're looking for an equilibrium.

Then iterate. Right foot nuance as well as left foot is good. Be able to creep forwards at will. Then get back to biting point, which will stop the car (from a slow creep).

After a while you'll be able to control the car with your left foot, start stop (with appropriate right foot). That's how to control the car to park too!

Brakes will be needed when you overdo it. Keep a hand on the handbrake while learning.

It's also the way hill starts work. With a hill start you just need proportionately more right foot. But learning it on the flat gives you space to learn your car's clutch characteristics and feel it.

As you get used to all this you will likely find you can make these alterations easily. But you might well stall in places. That's ok. Just don't panic. You'll be fine! I still stall sometimes, especially with unfamiliar cars. Everyone does. Better to be being near the right place than gunning things and ruining your clutch with a leaden right foot.

Basically, gentle in for clutches. They are more replaceable than gearboxes, and you'll not do harm to them learning this.

Re: Instapainting – From $4k in debt to $32k/mo in passive revenue with no employees

#237

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm interested in your thoughts on how you came about the idea. I don't want to be disparaging but do you consider it "lucky" that you had a friend point you towards selling art reproductions online? Were you already thinking of similar ideas? There's that gulf between ideas and execution, and you clearly executed well. Given that you had previous ideas that you weren't able to successfully execute on (relative to In…

The short answer is I tested hundreds of ideas. At that point, you could tell I was cutting all the bullshit. The original Instapainting.com page was just a single page with some pictures and a Stripe Checkout form after all.

Can you elaborate on your testing process and some of the other things you tested? What was your criteria for success?

Re: Instapainting – From $4k in debt to $32k/mo in passive revenue with no employees

#238
Risking to be downvoted, what do SF artists (if you know any) think about this?

I suspect if the founder had a background in art (as me) he would never launch something like this. I would feel ashamed by exploiting already a struggling market (art) and yet being 'painted' as an hero. Despite believing in capitalism, limits should exist.

Re: Instapainting – From $4k in debt to $32k/mo in passive revenue with no employees

#239

Risking to be downvoted, what do SF artists (if you know any) think about this? I suspect if the founder had a background in art (as me) he would never launch something like this. I would feel ashamed by exploiting already a struggling market (art) and yet being 'painted' as an hero. Despite believing in capitalism, limits should exist.

How is this exploitation? Just asking, I have no opinion.

Re: Instapainting – From $4k in debt to $32k/mo in passive revenue with no employees

#240

Risking to be downvoted, what do SF artists (if you know any) think about this? I suspect if the founder had a background in art (as me) he would never launch something like this. I would feel ashamed by exploiting already a struggling market (art) and yet being 'painted' as an hero. Despite believing in capitalism, limits should exist.

What sort of ethical boundary do you perceive as being crossed? He appears to be providing work to Chinese painters looking for work. Do the painters self-identify as "artists"?
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