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PayDragon (YC S11) raises $1.35M so hungry people can skip lines

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Re: PayDragon (YC S11) raises $1.35M so hungry people can skip lines

#21

Post by columbo »

tatsuke95 wrote: post #4

So, this is online ordering on your phone? > "Users skip to the front of the line, receive their item, and get on with their lives." How will that work in practice? I'm quite sure if I'm constantly skipped over in line by people getting priority over me because they have an iPhone app, I'll discontinue business at the establishment.

I worked right next to one of the pilot stores when Subway started order online about 12 years ago.

It worked pretty well. About 10% of the people used it and since everything was made & paid it took a few seconds to walk up and get your order.

The trick is getting the employees to encourage the behavior. The Subway workers would shout every few minutes things like "People that ordered online please come to the front" so that everyone else knew what was going on and people didn't feel to embarrassed for cutting in line.

Re: PayDragon (YC S11) raises $1.35M so hungry people can skip lines

#23

Post by kfox2010 »

binarysolo wrote: post #18
kfox2010 wrote: post #14

This is funny since one of General Assembly's first blog post was about how this concept of skipping lines wasn't a viable lean start-up idea. Take a look. http://generalassemb.ly/blog/a-case-study-on-getting-started...

Apples and oranges -- I think framing is a big issue: "I ordered 30min in advance from my phone and will take food to go" vs "I would like to pay a premium to get ahead of others waiting in line". The latter obviously stings of people's differing time value of money (or I guess more appropriately, money value of their time).

Yea you are right to some extent, but then what is the difference between seamless pickup or calling and ordering(human interaction, scary i know) and PayDragon? Seamless has a great mobile app too. I think they are entering a red sea.

Re: PayDragon (YC S11) raises $1.35M so hungry people can skip lines

#24

Post by Hominem »

The interesting thing about this is that 80% of the restaurants are food trucks. This is perfect for trucks where you inevitably wait on line to order, then stand around in the cold for your order to be ready. Couple with that fact that this can act for a discovery service for trucks, which tend to move and as of now rely on twitter to broadcast their location. But you have to know the food truck exists before you can even follow them. This is a food truck guide and order service in one.

Re: PayDragon (YC S11) raises $1.35M so hungry people can skip lines

#26

Post by citizens »

cookiecaper wrote: post #13
tatsuke95 wrote: post #4

So, this is online ordering on your phone? > "Users skip to the front of the line, receive their item, and get on with their lives." How will that work in practice? I'm quite sure if I'm constantly skipped over in line by people getting priority over me because they have an iPhone app, I'll discontinue business at the establishment.

If it makes you feel better, my typical experience with online ordering systems is arriving at the restaurant, walking up to the cashier for pickup, saying "I ordered online" and getting a blank stare while they go back and check the computer, and then waiting around for 10 minutes while they make my order (after everyone else already in line, of course). So in practice, it may not be so frustrating for non-users. :)

I'm not sure this app would save those establishments

Re: PayDragon (YC S11) raises $1.35M so hungry people can skip lines

#27

Post by citizens »

jturn wrote: post #22

>PayDragon is based on the premise that waiting in line to purchase items is neither good for the customer or the merchant. In NY when you see a place with a line you get intrigued. Sometimes a queue is a great advertisement for people walking by.

A hungrier person (from waiting in line) might also buy more food (good for the merchant).

Re: PayDragon (YC S11) raises $1.35M so hungry people can skip lines

#29

Post by FuzzyDunlop »

jturn wrote: post #22

>PayDragon is based on the premise that waiting in line to purchase items is neither good for the customer or the merchant. In NY when you see a place with a line you get intrigued. Sometimes a queue is a great advertisement for people walking by.

In the UK, you will generally avoid places that don't have a queue. They must be quiet for a reason, right?
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