To expand on this thought - i have thought exactly the same when reading another post on HN about HomeJoy folding - most of the comments discussed how cleaning

To expand on this thought - i have thought exactly the same when reading another post on HN about HomeJoy folding - most of the comments discussed how cleaning contractors were cutting out the middleman by offering a discount to the homeowner to cancel the transaction with HomeJoy and deal with the contractor directly. And back then i thought exactly the same thing - why don't they offer the service as referral subscription? Then there would be no reason for contractors to try to cut out the middleman. It seems so obvious, what am i missing?