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Hackers, do you think this startup can beat/compete with Amazon?
Hey everyone,
I'm working on a startup that allows people to order products online and pick them up within an hour at the stores they want, e.g. Best Buy, Target, Walmart or Apple Store. It's much better than shipping, because it's free, faster, and returns are easier. Also it is a competitive adventage that Amazon cannot match, for that reason I think we can beat them.
All the user has to do is place an order and set where to pick it up, is kind of Amazon with Uber. The startup is currently available in San Francisco, New York, Boston and Chicago with over 70 stores. But I have to say that it's working more like a MVP than as a truly developed product, due the lack of a technical founder.
What are the stores I am working with and how are they distributed?
- San Francisco (9 stores) : 3 Apple Store, 2 Best Buy, 4 Target
- New York (33 stores) : 9 Apple Store, 13 Best Buy, 11 Target
- Chicago (24 stores) : 2 Apple Store, 6 Best Buy, 12 Target, 4 Walmart
- Boston (11 stores) : 2 Apple Store, 4 Best Buy, 5 Target
I take this opportunity to say that I am looking for a great hacker/CTO/co-founder to take it to the next level. Once I get the co-founder I'll apply to YC. Please consider that I'm not a developer, so I think we can complement our skills well.
If you're interested feel free to hit me up at grandboro@gmail.com for any question you have, equity will be agreed between us :)
Cheers
- Bedon292 10y agoI have to ask, and if you have solid answers I think you can compete: Why would someone choose you over just going to BestBuy.com and buying the product for in store pickup? And why would they choose you when prime now is (I believe) available in those same cities with <= two hour delivery? Which also means no time / gas spent going to the store.
- Mallbey 10y agoThanks for replying! First question: Because on our startup you can see not only the prices of Best Buy, but also the ones of Apple, Target and Walmart for the same product in the same website, you don't have to visit store by store anymore. Second question: Pickup is just the beginning, our plan is to allow your order to be shipped from the store you choose, using on-demand delivery networks like UberRUSH or Instacart, or also let the user schedule an uber once his order is ready to be picked up. The participation of physical stores open a new world of opportunities, with this principle, we can even fulfill orders worldwide without international shippings.
- ggggtez 10y agoSounds bad. So instead of paying shipping, I have to ship myself to the store and back.
- Mallbey 10y ago"Pickup is just the beginning, our plan is to allow your order to be shipped from the store you choose, using on-demand delivery networks like UberRUSH or Instacart"
- Bedon292 10y agoHow often do people really care about the comparison? If its an electronic get it from Best Buy, if its clothes Target or Walmart depending on personal preference. There is not a whole lot of overlap in those stores, and if there is they are likely price matched anyways. (Or I could be a dumb consumer and be wasting money.) And can any of that really compete with Prime Now pricing? $8 for it to be at your house in an hour. Rather than who knows how much for the uber / instacart / whatever and they get to start delivering it in an hour. My time to and from the store, plus transportation costs cannot even compare. Maybe its better when the store is right around the corner, but not very good for my location.
- sharemywin 10y agoA lot depends on your margin and CAC.