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Re: undefined

#141

Post by TZubiri »

CodingJeebus wrote: post #76
il-b wrote: post #58

Beware of drug and cash traffickers. Unlike ride sharing, where the end user, the passenger, is responsible for everything.

Also sounds like something Ted Kaczynski would've been interested in using back in the day. It has all of the elements of a literal bomb delivery service: operates outside of the mail security apparatus, probably built on a shoestring budget so no background checks for the senders.

The conclusion would probably be that the supply side would need to be trained and certified as courier operators.

Are the legal liabilities way more serious than those that Uber faced? To be fair, Uber founder faced a lot of legal issues and stress.

Re: undefined

#142

Post by harel »

I've not built one, nor have I got a better solution than those offered here, but I did use a service like that before to transfer the contents of a storage unit from Romania to London. It was called clicktrans.com, and they do something similar. You say what you want to move from where to where, and people effectively send you offers. They are all vetted by the company, which charges them like 70 euro for the chance to bid on my delivery.

Re: undefined

#143

Post by dpark »

TZubiri wrote: post #140
Freak_NL wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This whole idea is dead on arrival because of this. Most nations actively warn their citizens never to carry packages from someone you don't know, and never to carry packages you didn't pack (or saw opened) yourself even for people you do know. And still people agree to carry sealed packages for someone they had a few nice nights with on holiday before boarding the plane back home. That tends to end in a little room…

Isn't this fixed by: A: unpacking and inspecting the packages? B: The company assuming the risk and liability. C: The company collecting evidence through KYC and cooperating in the case of crime? Probably too much hassle to save some bucks when compared to a courier service, though.

A. Maybe. Are you going to ship with someone who is going to open your package and rifle through it, though? I would personally also not feel confident in my ability to check fully for hidden illicit material if I were the courier.

B. No. Absent laws indemnifying the courier, a company saying “I’ll take the heat for those drugs you’re carrying” is not a meaningful act.

C. No. This seems like more of B.

This is all surmountable if the laws allow it. I assume FedEx drivers don’t go to jail of a package unknowingly contains drugs. But I don’t know what needs to be in place for random Joe to be acting as a casual courier without taking on legal liability.

Re: undefined

#144

Post by Eridrus »

alegd wrote: post #3
leros wrote: post #2

You need to cheat to kickstart one side 1) Incentivize people on one side to join without the other side. For example Uber paid early drivers money just for signing up even though they had no riders. 2) You provide one side of the marketplace to kickstart the other side. This would be like Uber hiring drivers in the beginning. This is why starting a two sided marketplace often requires significant capital. They're ve…

[flagged]

The only real example I can think of being bootstrapped is Airbnb, and even that wasn't bootstrapped for long.

Unless you have a good go to market strategy, you might want to try something easier.

At the risk of being overly critical, the cost of shipping packages is pretty low unless you're trying to do same day delivery, in which case Uber already lets you get your package delivered.

Re: undefined

#145

Post by rescbr »

bombcar wrote: post #91
Freak_NL wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This whole idea is dead on arrival because of this. Most nations actively warn their citizens never to carry packages from someone you don't know, and never to carry packages you didn't pack (or saw opened) yourself even for people you do know. And still people agree to carry sealed packages for someone they had a few nice nights with on holiday before boarding the plane back home. That tends to end in a little room…

Even just going to the Apple Store when you're in NYC for someone and bringing back a brand new Mac can get customs officials interested. I'd be hesitant taking anything from anyone, even a child handing a letter to be postmarked in Florida.

Yeah, but bringing back a brand new Mac that I personally bought at an Apple Store for a friend won’t ever land me in jail - worst case scenario is that the friend would have to pay me back for whatever import duties the customs officials levy on the computer.

Now, carrying a random package from somebody on the Internet? There are more productive ways to get into jail than this!

Re: undefined

#146

Post by subhobroto »

dpark wrote: post #137
subhobroto wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Would you agree to do this job? And if not, would you trust your package with someone who would? You're absolutely right BUT I do want to point out a situation where the answer is "Yes" because the model is entirely different. Last mile delivery is expensive because it does't enjoy the economies of scale. I'm increasingly seeing increasing number of random personal vehicles drop off my retail packages that were shi…

> I'm increasingly seeing increasing number of random personal vehicles drop off my retail packages that were shipped via UPS/FedEx to a central hub I have also seen this, but I’m pretty sure these people are essentially employed as delivery personnel, and their cars are acting as small delivery trucks. I’m not sure how the cost for this work out. Maybe FedEx/whoever is closing the gap when they can’t get everything…

> I think last mile is an interesting problem but OP seems to be intending to build full transit logistics infrastructure built on casual labor, which seems unlikely to pan out.

I think we are unloading a lot of expectations on the OP. Maybe this was just an interesting thought experiment to them - "how would I solve the cold start?"

> Maybe FedEx/whoever is closing the gap when they can’t get everything onto real delivery trucks and this is more cost effective than buying more trucks and hiring more drivers?

Ah fascinating! This could explain why I see this behavior across multiple retailers. My initial hypothesis of "the retailer wants to see me happy" is now supplemented by "UPS/FedEx wants to see their retailer customer (not I) happy".

Free markets are fascinating and Thank You for offering this new perspective.

Re: undefined

#147

Post by pjc50 »

devilbunny wrote: post #112
pjc50 wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Check-in explicitly asks you "have you packed your bags yourself", and then you have to either say "no I have this random package from a stranger which might contain anything" or lie to customs. TBH, I can't really think of a market for this that isn't contraband. The "last mile" looks really annoying as well. Edit: I think it's a legit marketing question for OP. Name three different kinds of item someone might want…

The only way in which this makes sense in international is something like courier flights. I don't know if this even really exists in the form it used to, but there used to be small-scale services that would buy regular airline tickets (in advance but transferable) and then resell the seat but not the luggage allowance for major city pairs like NY-London. A person who can fly on short notice with no baggage allowance…

Surely that's dead now airlines are charging to have hold luggage at all.

Re: undefined

#148

Post by dpark »

subhobroto wrote: post #146
dpark wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'm increasingly seeing increasing number of random personal vehicles drop off my retail packages that were shipped via UPS/FedEx to a central hub I have also seen this, but I’m pretty sure these people are essentially employed as delivery personnel, and their cars are acting as small delivery trucks. I’m not sure how the cost for this work out. Maybe FedEx/whoever is closing the gap when they can’t get everything…

> I think last mile is an interesting problem but OP seems to be intending to build full transit logistics infrastructure built on casual labor, which seems unlikely to pan out. I think we are unloading a lot of expectations on the OP. Maybe this was just an interesting thought experiment to them - "how would I solve the cold start?" > Maybe FedEx/whoever is closing the gap when they can’t get everything onto real de…

> Maybe this was just an interesting thought experiment to them

Possible, though OP says they are “About to launch the MVP”.

> ”UPS/FedEx wants to see their retailer customer (not I) happy"

Just to be clear, that was my guess. I’ve done no research on this specific thing so maybe some other factor is in play with these packages delivered from private vehicles.

Re: undefined

#149

Post by devilbunny »

pjc50 wrote: post #147
devilbunny wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only way in which this makes sense in international is something like courier flights. I don't know if this even really exists in the form it used to, but there used to be small-scale services that would buy regular airline tickets (in advance but transferable) and then resell the seat but not the luggage allowance for major city pairs like NY-London. A person who can fly on short notice with no baggage allowance…

Surely that's dead now airlines are charging to have hold luggage at all.

I would agree, but I suppose there might be somewhere out there that still does this, which is why I said I wasn't sure it existed anymore instead of just saying "30 years ago you could..."

Re: undefined

#150

Post by peterabbitcook »

If you decide to pivot based on the comments in this thread about this turning into UberDrugz, an underserved market adjacent to this space is LTL freight.

For an example of this look for items on eBay whose shipping method is “freight.” As a buyer (or sometimes seller, if your buyer is clueless) of one of those items, it is your responsibility to arrange an LTL freight carrier (flatbed or liftgate truck). Fastenal and Uber freight will accept 1 pallet, up to a certain weight limit; you may even be responsible to bring it to a freight hub yourself. Above that size you’re on your own calling trucking companies, and renting a forklift or crane when you actually find a trucker.

It’s a smaller market than small packages, but more revenue per transaction. And if you figure it out and get it up and running, eBay (e.g.) might allow buyers and sellers to automatically select your service as the shipping method instead of black box “freight.”

Source = my personal experience 1. selling a metal building kit on eBay that the local zoning board would not let me erect. 2. Buying a large greenhouse kit online

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