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Ask HN: So, what is your problem?

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Ask HN: So, what is your problem?

#1
We're all aware that if we're going to spend time building software, it should actually solve someones problem.

We also know that ideas are easy to come by, but solvable problems are harder.

So, what is your problem that needs solving? Either you'll get a response to something you didn't know existed that solves your problem, or someone might start working on a solution for it.

Re: Ask HN: So, what is your problem?

#3
Is there a Twilio alternative where I can send SMS without controlling the number? I've seen some android apps that allow you to call from somebody else's number, but if I want to do it through SMS is there a suitable API?

This is for a legitimate purpose - we would verify ownership first, but we want the person to continue using the number (e.g. their iPhone) without hinderance.

Re: Ask HN: So, what is your problem?

#4
Probably not worth solving, certainly not something I would solve myself but...

I'm up late all the time working. True nightowl you could say. The earliest I'd go to bed is 6am. I sleep during the day and wake up around noon at the latest. I don't lack sleep, this schedule works for me. Point is, I'm up late and I'm sure there are others like me.

I get hungry often. I don't cook. Few places if any are open. Those that do are unknown (what little and inccurately Yelp tries to cover with hours filtering) and certainly don't deliver.

Broken solution, I'd like a list of all places open late, what they serve, and a way to get it delivered. I'd pay premium for it. I would task rabbit it or something but I don't know many rabbits working that late and certainly not a good enough resource to figure out what places are open. Not changing my sleep schedule either, f that.

Re: Ask HN: So, what is your problem?

#6

Probably not worth solving, certainly not something I would solve myself but... I'm up late all the time working. True nightowl you could say. The earliest I'd go to bed is 6am. I sleep during the day and wake up around noon at the latest. I don't lack sleep, this schedule works for me. Point is, I'm up late and I'm sure there are others like me. I get hungry often. I don't cook. Few places if any are open. Those tha…

What does "I don't cook" mean? You don't like to cook? You don't know how to cook? You don't have the physical means of cooking?

To me that sounds like the real problem to solve.

Re: Ask HN: So, what is your problem?

#7
I pay $X for clothing (I haven't calculated it, but assume it's relatively average for a man who doesn't wear suites). I'll pay $2X if you can make me well dressed.

Key point: I need to trust that your decisions are correct. What I want to pay for is not thinking about this and knowing that it's handled.

Re: Ask HN: So, what is your problem?

#8
I have a major frustration with payment providers — even contemporary players like Stripe — that can't offer a 3rd party payments system. That is, anything resembling a "marketplace" where you sell things on behalf of someone else, take a cut and pass on the rest to the content creator requires the integrator to come up with a half-assed payout pipeline. This often results in sending cheques and/or making PayPal payments.

My dream would be a product offering that offered pass-through payment processing, so my vendors have an account and give my store a key. Payments go directly to the vendor, and a pre-negotiated amount or percentage is automatically collected and sent to me. Both me and the vendor pay the same processing rate.

I have several concepts I'd love to build and launch, but all of them fall down because I can't easily justify a 2x2.9% transaction fee.

Re: Ask HN: So, what is your problem?

#9
I would like more users to register my side project (http://getmousetrack.com), but I can't seem to convert anyone who visits the project site. At this point, I think I would pay for some service that gives me honest feedback on my landing page and maybe suggest ways to improve conversion rates.

Re: Ask HN: So, what is your problem?

#10
post #6

Probably not worth solving, certainly not something I would solve myself but... I'm up late all the time working. True nightowl you could say. The earliest I'd go to bed is 6am. I sleep during the day and wake up around noon at the latest. I don't lack sleep, this schedule works for me. Point is, I'm up late and I'm sure there are others like me. I get hungry often. I don't cook. Few places if any are open. Those tha…

What does "I don't cook" mean? You don't like to cook? You don't know how to cook? You don't have the physical means of cooking? To me that sounds like the real problem to solve.

The commenter will have to come to that conclusion on his/her own, if ever. You projecting your values on to them in a patronizing tone that doesn't answer his challenge is not a helpful contribution to the conversation.
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