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Is this surprising at all? Most "sharing" apps are now overrun by professionals in their field. The apps help the professional (or company) achieve zero cost cu

Is this surprising at all? Most "sharing" apps are now overrun by professionals in their field. The apps help the professional (or company) achieve zero cost customer acquisition cost. In case the apps do catch up, these guys end up being "promoted" because they are a good fit. The pros make for much better "sales target" for these sharing apps.

kasey_junk 9y ago
It's not zero cost it's fixed cost as they pay airbnb for it. But that's still a good deal as customer acquisition is tricky.
- user5994461 9y ago
  They have about 20% comission, plus another 5-10 if you pay in a foreign currency.
- thisisit 9y ago
  My bad, it is not zero. I dint account for the commissions platforms charge for using the service.
camus2 9y ago
A lot of occasional hosts underestimate the risks of subletting through Airbnb. If a guest starts a fire or a flood unless you have a professional insurance you're fucked for instance, and lying to your insurance will make things worse if you get caught. If the neighbors file a complain about your guests you can get evicted, if you sublet behind your landlord's back as well. So it was just a question of time before most offers in the west get fulfilled by professionals, especially when Airbnb is starting to cooperate actively with local authorities when it comes to things such as the legal status of the host and taxes. The whole grass-root share economy thing is just a PR farce.
tootie 9y ago
Uber started out as ride sharing, now it's an international taxi service.
- x220 9y ago
  And an international regulation avoidance service.
  - Rjevski 9y ago
    Which I couldn't care less about as long as they improve my daily life. I can book and pay an Uber in two clicks and it arrives on time. Why should I care about an idiot politician not getting their pockets filled because Uber aren't complying with regulations forcing them to fill his pockets?
    - FridgeSeal 9y ago
      Right sure, because the regulations are only there for a politician to fill their pockets and for no other reasons, and fuck consumer protections let's just let corporations do whatever they want because "fuck you I've got mine, and I got it on time".
      - Rjevski 9y ago
        Well if Uber doesn't provide consumer protection then you're not forced to use them. But personally I'd rather take the risk and give up my customer protection (and be fine 99% of the time) than deal with a conventional taxi. Judging by Uber's popularity it looks like I'm not alone.
    - dx034 9y ago
      Because it also means that you don't care if your driver doesn't have proper insurance or basic rights that workers fought for a century ago. Most regulation is not the result of "idiot politicians", it's the result of customers demanding protection.
  - matt4077 9y ago
    And an international bro-themed VC party, currently in the phase where you're already throwing up, but still buzzed enough to kinda enjoy it–if only you didn't know from experience that you'll soon be suffering a terrible headache, will have to deal with the fallout of some rather bad decisions you made, and will generally swear to yourself and your spouse that you'll never do it again.
jackcosgrove 9y ago
Any sort of market gradually becomes consolidated over time, until 2 or 3 big firms dominate it. Professionals practice specialization, which will always give them an advantage over amateurs. Sharing platforms at least don't lock out amateurs with high entry costs.
CamelCaseName 9y ago
This is only true if the professional has the ability to scale. In other words, if they are selling a product (a place to rent) vs. a service (driving someone somewhere e.g. Uber)

kasey_junk 9y ago

It's not zero cost it's fixed cost as they pay airbnb for it. But that's still a good deal as customer acquisition is tricky.

user5994461 9y ago
They have about 20% comission, plus another 5-10 if you pay in a foreign currency.
thisisit 9y ago
My bad, it is not zero. I dint account for the commissions platforms charge for using the service.

camus2 9y ago

A lot of occasional hosts underestimate the risks of subletting through Airbnb. If a guest starts a fire or a flood unless you have a professional insurance you're fucked for instance, and lying to your insurance will make things worse if you get caught. If the neighbors file a complain about your guests you can get evicted, if you sublet behind your landlord's back as well. So it was just a question of time before most offers in the west get fulfilled by professionals, especially when Airbnb is starting to cooperate actively with local authorities when it comes to things such as the legal status of the host and taxes. The whole grass-root share economy thing is just a PR farce.

tootie 9y ago

Uber started out as ride sharing, now it's an international taxi service.

x220 9y ago
And an international regulation avoidance service.
- Rjevski 9y ago
  Which I couldn't care less about as long as they improve my daily life. I can book and pay an Uber in two clicks and it arrives on time. Why should I care about an idiot politician not getting their pockets filled because Uber aren't complying with regulations forcing them to fill his pockets?
  - FridgeSeal 9y ago
    Right sure, because the regulations are only there for a politician to fill their pockets and for no other reasons, and fuck consumer protections let's just let corporations do whatever they want because "fuck you I've got mine, and I got it on time".
    - Rjevski 9y ago
      Well if Uber doesn't provide consumer protection then you're not forced to use them. But personally I'd rather take the risk and give up my customer protection (and be fine 99% of the time) than deal with a conventional taxi. Judging by Uber's popularity it looks like I'm not alone.
  - dx034 9y ago
    Because it also means that you don't care if your driver doesn't have proper insurance or basic rights that workers fought for a century ago. Most regulation is not the result of "idiot politicians", it's the result of customers demanding protection.
- matt4077 9y ago
  And an international bro-themed VC party, currently in the phase where you're already throwing up, but still buzzed enough to kinda enjoy it–if only you didn't know from experience that you'll soon be suffering a terrible headache, will have to deal with the fallout of some rather bad decisions you made, and will generally swear to yourself and your spouse that you'll never do it again.

jackcosgrove 9y ago

Any sort of market gradually becomes consolidated over time, until 2 or 3 big firms dominate it. Professionals practice specialization, which will always give them an advantage over amateurs. Sharing platforms at least don't lock out amateurs with high entry costs.

CamelCaseName 9y ago

This is only true if the professional has the ability to scale. In other words, if they are selling a product (a place to rent) vs. a service (driving someone somewhere e.g. Uber)