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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

#2

Post by jedberg »

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 model.

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

#4

Post by pryelluw »

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…

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

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

#5

Post by iskander »

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.

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

#6

Post by iDemonix »

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…

+1

I don't use Uber, but if I did, I wouldn't really care who was arriving as it'll be a one-time interaction to get me somewhere.

I love my dog more than most of my family tree, I wouldn't just hand him over to anyone. Finding a dog walker is about meeting them and making sure you trust them, and once that relationship is in place it's going to be paid in cash or invoiced, an app is just another middleman wanting a cut.

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

#7

Post by minimaxir »

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...

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

#8

Post by the_mitsuhiko »

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…

Also regulation will not work. In Vienna for instance certain dog breeds need a “license” which is for the human/dog pair. So you can’t get any random walker, the walker needs to do a license with the dog once.
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