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Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

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Re: Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

#21

Post by jermaustin1 »

iskander wrote: post #5
jedberg wrote: post #2

Here's why I'd never invest in the Uber for dog walkers: Once someone finds a walker they like, they'll just do a deal with them. Dog walking isn't like needing a ride. Usually when you need a ride, you need it now, and you don't care who provides it. With dog walking, it's usually at a scheduled time each day, and you care a lot about who is providing the service. Dog walking is not a good candidate for the Uber mod…

Dog boarding, on the other hand, is pretty irregular. So rather than Uber I think the correct analogy should be AirBnB.

At the place I board my dog, there are plenty of regulars the he gets to play with. Seems like a lot of people around me will board their dog(s) every other weekend or so.

Re: Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

#22

Post by PatientTrader »

This business model will fail horribly. Unlike Uber where you provide rides from random people at random locations each time. Dog sitting/walking is a pretty consistent endeavor. Walkers/Sitters will just build up a clientele of about 5-10 consistent dog owners and go to them directly. They bypass the app, removing the fees that they otherwise would have to pay to the company.

Re: Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

#23

Post by PatientTrader »

jedberg wrote: post #2

Here's why I'd never invest in the Uber for dog walkers: Once someone finds a walker they like, they'll just do a deal with them. Dog walking isn't like needing a ride. Usually when you need a ride, you need it now, and you don't care who provides it. With dog walking, it's usually at a scheduled time each day, and you care a lot about who is providing the service. Dog walking is not a good candidate for the Uber mod…

This business model will fail horribly. Unlike Uber where you provide rides from random people at random locations each time. Dog sitting/walking is a pretty consistent endeavor. Walkers/Sitters will just build up a clientele of about 5-10 consistent dog owners and go to them directly. They bypass the app, removing the fees that they otherwise would have to pay to the company.

Re: Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

#24

Post by brianwawok »

sbilstein wrote: post #18

It's been a mixed bag with Wag. The app quality is not great, buggy and major usability issues...but also the walk report card warms my heart. I was worried about trusting my dog to strangers but it wasn't too bad with Wag. Overall most of the people were decent but I'd occasionally get some really bad walkers who wouldn't fill out the report card, or walk the dog for 90 minutes instead of 30. My partner and I decide…

My dog got abused at doggy daycare. Paid to play, but instead locked in a cage all day, and multiple shock collars put on his neck to try and get his barking to stop (not approved by me).

So not sure this really applies to wag vs not.. but double and triple check the references of your doggy daycare..

Re: Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

#25

Post by schwap »

ghaff wrote: post #16
pryelluw wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same with cleaners, car wash, landscaping, etc. These are all services that people put more scrutiny into.

Landscaping, maybe. Cleaners and car washing are pretty commodity though. I agree with the broader point that there are a lot of tasks you don't want done by a random person who signed up with an app but those aren't the best examples.

> Cleaners and car washing are pretty commodity though.

You'd just let a random person who signed up with an app into your house to clean?

Re: Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

#26

Post by ghaff »

schwap wrote: post #25
ghaff wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Landscaping, maybe. Cleaners and car washing are pretty commodity though. I agree with the broader point that there are a lot of tasks you don't want done by a random person who signed up with an app but those aren't the best examples.

> Cleaners and car washing are pretty commodity though. You'd just let a random person who signed up with an app into your house to clean?

Ah. I read that as dry cleaning. You're right. At worst, I'm going to use a franchised service--and the period I did that I never had a real problem but I wasn't very happy with it either. Now I use someone I hired privately.

Re: Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

#27

Post by CamperBob2 »

jaclaz wrote: post #12

Random idea, but here (Italy) it is common enough for hunters to have dogs fitted with a GPS locator when they go in the woods hunting, those are often costly, but there are simpler/cheaper versions intended for use where there is good coverage of cellular networks. I wonder why - since this service is so innovating/high tech - they don't simply provide their pet walkers with a number of such devices, I believe they…

Good application for LoRaWAN, maybe. Potentially a lot cheaper than cellular.

Re: Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

#28

Post by BinaryIdiot »

minimaxir wrote: post #7
jedberg wrote: post #2

Here's why I'd never invest in the Uber for dog walkers: Once someone finds a walker they like, they'll just do a deal with them. Dog walking isn't like needing a ride. Usually when you need a ride, you need it now, and you don't care who provides it. With dog walking, it's usually at a scheduled time each day, and you care a lot about who is providing the service. Dog walking is not a good candidate for the Uber mod…

Sounds like the same reason Homejoy failed: https://techcrunch.com/2015/07/31/why-homejoy-failed-and-the...

To be fair Homejoy spent WAY more per customer than what they were making. Combine that with the finding someone you like and it was DOA.

Re: Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

#29

Post by ryanwhitney »

I've used Rover a couple times. Don't ever use Rover. But if you do, be sure to vet the person as you would a random craigslist ad offering to walk your dog. They do no screening, and any qualifications that appear cannot be trusted.

My dog survived with a handful of punctures after being attacked by an off-leash dog at a park. The rover walker neglected to inform me, even when asked if anything happened.

You want your dog walker watching your dog, not their phone to tap a button every time your dog pees. Hire a professional.

Re: Wag, the ‘Uber for Dog-Walking,’ Is Drawing Uber-Like Scrutiny

#30

Post by CamperBob2 »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #20
minimaxir wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In fairness, becoming a Wag Walker has more vetting (pun present on original page and likely intended) and requires taking exams. https://wagwalking.com/dog-walker

I'm unsure if I should laugh or cry that more vetting goes into a dog walker than an Uber driver.

Well... I can demand that the driver pull over and let me out if they turn out to be some kind of reckless bozo. Or worst comes to worst, call the police. A dog has no such option.
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