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Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

indiehackers.com

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Re: Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

#91

Post by breakingcups »

bkidwell wrote: post #86
jwong_ wrote: post #78

One thing I'd like to vent about is that Scott seems to be making a lot of money selling e-mail addresses. I signed up for a couple different contests using unique e-mail addresses generated specifically for the contest (Yes, they were separate e-mails for separate contests; No, I did not double-dip my entrees). I was then signed up for 2-3 e-mail lists for 3rd party companies over the course of a couple weeks. These…

Hey, I'm just going to post the same response I used in the IndieHackers comment section for someone with a similar concern. Here's what I said: "Our subscribers are too important to us to ever sell their information to someone else. We never have and never will sell users information like that. Our only source of income is subscriptions and occasional advertisements in the free emails. Ruining our reputation to make…

What an incredible response, have you not read it yourself?

"Our subscribers are too important to us to ever sell their information to someone else. We never have and never will sell users information like that. Our only source of income is subscriptions and occasional advertisements in the free emails. Ruining our reputation to make a few extra bucks would be an extremely stupid decision on our end."

Is at complete odds with:

"With that said, we do run promotions with partners where we give away awesome vacation packages (Mexico and Tokyo recently). If anyone signs up for one of these promotions they are agreeing to the terms and conditions, which clearly state that by signing up for the giveaway the email address will be distributed to all of the partners involved in the giveaway (typically 4-5 other companies)."

You literally sell their information to advertisers (oh no, sorry, your "partners") to make a buck. Acknowledge it, don't preface it with PR bull. What do you see as the difference between the first and the second paragraph? The fact that you only do it with people entering your promotions? Because that's still your users information.

Yes it's in your TOS, you are still selling personal information to third parties and their unknown partners.

Re: Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

#92

Post by flanbiscuit »

jmarbach wrote: post #72

Disclosure: I built a competing tool for finding cheap flights, https://concorde.io . I think the secret of Scott's success is his incredible writing ability. Finding the cheap flights is the easy part. Communicating with users in a way that consistently wins over their hearts and minds takes a high level of consideration and creativity. This writing ability combined with his co-founder's understanding and applicatio…

I replied to one of his emails and we had a nice back and forth even laughing at a pic response I sent him. He seems like a good person and I signed up for his premium service. I was already very interested in his premium svc but that interaction really sealed the deal for me.

Re: Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

#93

Post by amelius »

rflrob wrote: post #76
amelius wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also, I'd like to filter at least on departure airport (!)

Then perhaps you'd like to pay for the premium subscription. https://scottscheapflights.groovehq.com/knowledge_base/topic...

That wasn't clear at all when I subscribed.

Anyway, I'm off writing a mail filter.

Re: Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

#94

Post by bkidwell »

jwong_ wrote: post #89
bkidwell wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hey, I'm just going to post the same response I used in the IndieHackers comment section for someone with a similar concern. Here's what I said: "Our subscribers are too important to us to ever sell their information to someone else. We never have and never will sell users information like that. Our only source of income is subscriptions and occasional advertisements in the free emails. Ruining our reputation to make…

I don't know if you've looked at what gets sent out, but the e-mails sent for the Giveaways are extremely spammy. I get that you probably added it somewhere in the giveaway text, but from a post somewhere, it was indicated the giveaways were more to garner attention, not as a profit-making venture. It turned me off completely when I started getting those. It gave me a negative impression on both Scott's Cheap Flights…

Yeah I hear you. I really appreciate the feedback as well.

We only try to partner with high quality companies. For example this Tokyo one were running right now is with journy, ProductHunt, theSkimm, The Wirecutter, and Conde Nast Traveler. All legitimate companies. It's unfortunate that their emails are seen as spam because that's not good for anyone.

We'll keep this in mind moving forward. Thank you again :-)

Re: Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

#95

Post by jwong_ »

breakingcups wrote: post #91
bkidwell wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hey, I'm just going to post the same response I used in the IndieHackers comment section for someone with a similar concern. Here's what I said: "Our subscribers are too important to us to ever sell their information to someone else. We never have and never will sell users information like that. Our only source of income is subscriptions and occasional advertisements in the free emails. Ruining our reputation to make…

What an incredible response, have you not read it yourself? "Our subscribers are too important to us to ever sell their information to someone else. We never have and never will sell users information like that. Our only source of income is subscriptions and occasional advertisements in the free emails. Ruining our reputation to make a few extra bucks would be an extremely stupid decision on our end." Is at complete…

Thanks for putting my feelings into words.

And their partners are extremely spammy at best. They're all trying to force engagement and word of mouth.

Here's an excerpt from one of the intro e-mails I got:

  > Welcome to the #SkimmLife! Here's how it's going to work:
  > We'll meet you back here, in your inbox, bright and early tomorrow morning (PS If it's Friday or a weekend, 
  > you'll get theSkimm on Monday). We're a company that respects brunch, so we won't be with you on Saturday and
  > Sunday. Can't wait? Here's the most recent Skimm
  > Also, download our new app theSkimm for iPhone. It has a service called Skimm Ahead that makes it easier to 
  > be smarter about the future. Never again will you miss moments like when you vote in a primary or when your 
  > favorite show is back on Netflix. Best Part? It can integrate directly into your calendar.
  > Lastly, good things happen when you share theSkimm! (read: winning prizes, swag, being a Skimm'bassador). 
  > To get credit for sharing, use your unique link: http://www.theskimm.com/?r=3cbcb2df OR our fancy invite page
  > to have friends sign up. See how many people listen to you by checking this page.
  > Your morning just got better. Trust us.
edit: formatting

Re: Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

#96

Post by zild3d »

basseq wrote: post #51
triangleman wrote: post #30

So, Scott originally accumulated all those miles working for ThinkProgress? How does that work? You buy the flights and expense them back to the company, pocketing the miles?

Frequent flyer miles (and hotel points) are a massive perk for traveling employees. Most consultants I know finance annual vacations completely on points. Every once in a while, a big company will try to pocket the points for themselves, usually to great outcry--because it's akin to cutting benefits. The corporate thinking is: "Points are a reward for buying travel. And I'm the one footing the bill." The employee thi…

don't most frequent flyer programs require the name on the ticket to match the rewards account? E.g. I can't buy my sister a flight, she flies it, and I get points for it.

Re: Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

#97

Post by [deleted] »

breakingcups wrote: post #91
bkidwell wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hey, I'm just going to post the same response I used in the IndieHackers comment section for someone with a similar concern. Here's what I said: "Our subscribers are too important to us to ever sell their information to someone else. We never have and never will sell users information like that. Our only source of income is subscriptions and occasional advertisements in the free emails. Ruining our reputation to make…

What an incredible response, have you not read it yourself? "Our subscribers are too important to us to ever sell their information to someone else. We never have and never will sell users information like that. Our only source of income is subscriptions and occasional advertisements in the free emails. Ruining our reputation to make a few extra bucks would be an extremely stupid decision on our end." Is at complete…

[deleted]

Re: Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

#98

Post by _delirium »

jakub_g wrote: post #83
chrisballinger wrote: post #64

Something I've noticed that's lacking from most aggregators like Kayak and SkyScanner (my current fave), is the ability to increase the price of the ultra-budget carriers by adding their carry-on baggage fees and whatnot. I don't care about checked bag fees, but some of the carry-on fees are ridiculous ($60 per overhead item?). These budget carriers are cheating the system by looking like the cheapest option, when in…

Out of curiosity, which airlines charge $60 for cabin bag? The most passenger-squeezing-until-recently airline in Europe (Ryanair) now allows two cabin bags for free (one standard ~55cm bag and one small bag). Apparently Wizzair charges 10-20€ for "large" (aka regular) cabin bag though, only small ~42 cm bag is allowed for free.

If you're comparing round-trip ticket prices, you should double the carry-on fee for comparison purposes, since the airlines that charge fees for carry-ons typically charge it on both outgoing and return legs.

Spirit is an American low-cost carrier with fees in that range. It's $56 roundtrip for a carry-on bag if paid for at booking time, $76 if paid online after booking, or $114 if paid at the airport in person.

Re: Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

#99

Post by [deleted] »

jakub_g wrote: post #83
chrisballinger wrote: post #64

Something I've noticed that's lacking from most aggregators like Kayak and SkyScanner (my current fave), is the ability to increase the price of the ultra-budget carriers by adding their carry-on baggage fees and whatnot. I don't care about checked bag fees, but some of the carry-on fees are ridiculous ($60 per overhead item?). These budget carriers are cheating the system by looking like the cheapest option, when in…

Out of curiosity, which airlines charge $60 for cabin bag? The most passenger-squeezing-until-recently airline in Europe (Ryanair) now allows two cabin bags for free (one standard ~55cm bag and one small bag). Apparently Wizzair charges 10-20€ for "large" (aka regular) cabin bag though, only small ~42 cm bag is allowed for free.

[deleted]

Re: Scott's Cheap Flights: Growing a small side project into a booming business

#100

Post by jontas »

jmarbach wrote: post #72

Disclosure: I built a competing tool for finding cheap flights, https://concorde.io . I think the secret of Scott's success is his incredible writing ability. Finding the cheap flights is the easy part. Communicating with users in a way that consistently wins over their hearts and minds takes a high level of consideration and creativity. This writing ability combined with his co-founder's understanding and applicatio…

Tiny suggestion: I was looking at flights and it was not immediately clear to me that Santa Cruz referred to Bolivia and not California. It almost made me disregard it and not click. May want to put the country name on the homepage as well.
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