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Google acquires BufferBox (YC S12)

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Re: Google acquires BufferBox (YC S12)

#91

Post by stevoski »

relix wrote: post #58

Slightly offtopic tangent: So by now we're all aware that these are already ubiquitous in Europe. The question I have is why it took so long to reach the US? Why didn't the main shipping companies there like FedEx and UPS step up and use their existing infrastructure to build something like this, much more easily than a startup could do.

It works well in high-density cities, and where a large proportion of the workforce pass through major train stations every day.

In cities where people live mostly in suburbs, it is not quite so affordable to supply enough of these pack stations.

Re: Google acquires BufferBox (YC S12)

#92

Post by derda »

alexsb92 wrote: post #76
eik3_de wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How does the security of BufferBox/Amazon Locker compare to Packstation? To get your packet out of a Packstation, you need both the (magnetic strip) card that they send you on signup and a one-time PIN they send via SMS (not email). This might not sound "easy", but there has been a lot of abuse in the past years so that DHL was forced to step up security. How do the US systems compare? Have there been reports on abus…

For Bufferbox, when the package is delivered to the box, they send you an email with an access code, and you have to enter the access code. As far as build quality and strength, they seem pretty solid, and I haven't heard of any abuse stories from the Bufferbox guys.

For Packstation they had some serious problems with phishing. At first you only needed your Packstation User Number and the PIN. They then disallowed logins with user number and required the membership card. But it seems they started skimming those, so starting from last month they send you a TAN to your cellphone when the package arrives and you need card+TAN.

From what I see Bufferbox right now only has a few locations, for Packstation its over 2500 locations and a wide userbase, as with software: the wider the user-base the bigger the profit for bad guys.

Re: Google acquires BufferBox (YC S12)

#93

Post by citricsquid »

relix wrote: post #58

Slightly offtopic tangent: So by now we're all aware that these are already ubiquitous in Europe. The question I have is why it took so long to reach the US? Why didn't the main shipping companies there like FedEx and UPS step up and use their existing infrastructure to build something like this, much more easily than a startup could do.

If we assume it's intentional I would guess the problem is the majority of US places are either too population dense or not dense enough. There's a finite amount of parcels that can be stored by these sort of systems; if the city is too dense (and too many people opt to use the system) it will become a gamble on if there's a place for your parcel there and the value of this system is you don't need to organise your day around deliveries.

I suspect the reason BufferBox can work is because they're not a delivery company, so they have no obligation to try and fit it in to their current business model. Although then a pre-existing delivery company could have always gone with the BufferBox model... so, maybe it's just not that profitable in big places like the US?

Re: Google acquires BufferBox (YC S12)

#94

Post by derda »

stevoski wrote: post #89
frb wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With Germany being notorious for its copycats, it's funny to see this in reverse. Who would have thought that an idea that exists in Germany for almost 10 years would still be great for a startup in the US/Canada.

Notorious for its copycats? Can you explain this? I don't know what you are referring to.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_Internet

Re: Google acquires BufferBox (YC S12)

#95

Post by prayag »

OoTheNigerian wrote: post #39
tptacek wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh! Sorry, I stand corrected. BOOO, BUFFERBOX. BURN IN HELL!!

I do not think your response is appropriate. He just pointed out what seems to be a fact that the idea is not new. Maybe you expected him/her to be excited about the exit but that not being the case does not mean you should have repled with 'rude sarcasm'. You could have used the opportunity you used to respond to learn about competitors in the space however you chose this route. I have noticed several senior (by kar…

I think he was joking.

Re: Google acquires BufferBox (YC S12)

#96

Post by RandallBrown »

relix wrote: post #58

Slightly offtopic tangent: So by now we're all aware that these are already ubiquitous in Europe. The question I have is why it took so long to reach the US? Why didn't the main shipping companies there like FedEx and UPS step up and use their existing infrastructure to build something like this, much more easily than a startup could do.

Amazon has been doing this for a few years in the US.

Bufferbox is actually only in Canada.

It's not a service I need, and definitely not one I'd pay extra for. I live in an apartment. The apartment office signs for and stores my packages.

If I lived in a house, in an area where people would steal the package left on my doorstep, then I might use something like this. It would have to be really convenient though.

Re: Google acquires BufferBox (YC S12)

#97

Post by jessriedel »

stevoski wrote: post #88
jessriedel wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, well, P.O. boxes have been around since time immemorial too. In this case, the hard part isn't the idea of "a place where people can have stuff shipped that isn't their home address". It's handling the logistics, interfacing with online retailers, etc. It would be a lot more interesting if you could show BufferBox copying some specific, non-obvious technique.

A German packstation is not a PO box. It is exactly like a buffer box.

Yes, I understand that well. That doesn't conflict with anything I said unless you think that the crucial insight of the German packstation was to share boxes.

Re: Google acquires BufferBox (YC S12)

#99

Post by Evbn »

derda wrote: post #92
alexsb92 wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For Bufferbox, when the package is delivered to the box, they send you an email with an access code, and you have to enter the access code. As far as build quality and strength, they seem pretty solid, and I haven't heard of any abuse stories from the Bufferbox guys.

For Packstation they had some serious problems with phishing. At first you only needed your Packstation User Number and the PIN. They then disallowed logins with user number and required the membership card. But it seems they started skimming those, so starting from last month they send you a TAN to your cellphone when the package arrives and you need card+TAN. From what I see Bufferbox right now only has a few locat…

Amazon and Bufferbox did the sensible thing from the start: one time use access codes.

Re: Google acquires BufferBox (YC S12)

#100

Post by mtrimpe »

frb wrote: post #52
revelation wrote: post #9

This is a german Packstation: http://images.computerwoche.de/images/computerwoche/bdb/1841... Welcome to the future, America. I'd be happy to see what a startup under Google can do, but the competition isn't exactly asleep.

With Germany being notorious for its copycats, it's funny to see this in reverse. Who would have thought that an idea that exists in Germany for almost 10 years would still be great for a startup in the US/Canada.

The Germans are the leading industrial nation of the world, so it's not surprising that for a startup in this field US is the copy-cat.

P.S. I'm defining industrial as 'the manipulation and enrichment of physical goods' for the purpose of this comment.

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