Airpnp: Like Airbnb, but for toilets • Hacker News Board

Re: Airpnp: Like Airbnb, but for toilets

#31

Post by vqc » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 4:01 PM UTC

It's really exciting to see all this feedback on this idea. I've been holding off on sharing http://www.clnli.com until it was more mature. But now seems as good a time as any.

We're going with a totally different business model. It's really good to see another player on the block.

Re: Airpnp: Like Airbnb, but for toilets

#32

Post by memset » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 4:02 PM UTC

kyro wrote: post #17

I've joked around with this idea before, except I called it Püber. In all seriousness, this is an issue I deal with frequently in NYC. I'm out and about in Manhattan all day, get struck by the need to pee, and then run around trying to find any place with a restroom. Paying a buck or two would be a negligible cost if it meant immediate relief. If they expanded and got enough supply, I'd definitely use their service.

somewhat-related: I recently learned that there are public restrooms in Penn Station! So if you're out and about in midtown, there's an option.

Re: Airpnp: Like Airbnb, but for toilets

#33

Post by enscr » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 4:02 PM UTC

sharkweek wrote: post #18

Even Seinfeld thought this was a great idea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITluapajP4w

Which year was this shot in? (talks about iPhone)

Edit : Found it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seinfeld_(Curb_Your_Enthusiasm)

Re: Airpnp: Like Airbnb, but for toilets

#34

Post by mgrouchy » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 4:03 PM UTC

Hah, clever idea. My strategy, which works well in fairly urban areas in decently sized cities(so imperfect I know), is to just use the bathroom in Hotel Lobbies. Always clean and always available and usually no problem accessing them.

Re: Airpnp: Like Airbnb, but for toilets

#35

Post by kissickas » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 4:03 PM UTC

sharkweek wrote: post #18

Even Seinfeld thought this was a great idea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITluapajP4w

FWIW, that was from Curb Your Enthusiasm. Seinfeld was over long before Madoff and iPhones.

Re: Airpnp: Like Airbnb, but for toilets

#36

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 4:03 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Airpnp: Like Airbnb, but for toilets

#37

Post by sharkweek » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 4:04 PM UTC

enscr wrote: post #33

sharkweek wrote: post #18

Even Seinfeld thought this was a great idea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITluapajP4w

Which year was this shot in? (talks about iPhone) Edit : Found it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seinfeld_(Curb_Your_Enthusiasm)

It's from a recent season of Curb Your Enthusiasm, where the whole season is about a Seinfeld reunion episode - "to make up for the terrible original finale"

Re: Airpnp: Like Airbnb, but for toilets

#38

Post by rdl » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 4:04 PM UTC

"PNP in the public toilet" means something different in SF...

Re: Airpnp: Like Airbnb, but for toilets

#39

Post by vqc » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 4:06 PM UTC

kevinmchugh wrote: post #29

This is not a cool idea, and I would be interested in seeing what a $10/use restroom looks like. Pay toilets are illegal here in Chicago, (allegedly because a mayor once ran out of change at the airport), so I'm sure there'd have to be a fight to implement here.

There are definitely laws that deal with this issue. In California for instance, "restaurants" of a certain footage must make their bathrooms available to customers. Most likely free of charge. http://www.ada-pros.com/know-before-you-go-restroom-requirem...

Chicago definitely has a bathroom problem though. See, e.g. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-08-21/opinion/ct-per...

Re: Airpnp: Like Airbnb, but for toilets

#40

Post by vqc » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 4:09 PM UTC

epaladin wrote: post #24

I've always found Starbucks to be reliable solution. Usually clean and nearly ubiquitous.

I think from Starbucks's perspective (and any other store's perspective), they hate having to expend resources on people who don't actually buy anything from them. There were rumors several years ago that Starbucks wanted to close off bathrooms to the public because they were becoming the de facto public bathroom in NY.