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Start with a simple idea, and rather than work to keep it simple, parasitic add-ons! Look at gas stations. It used to be they sold gas, and maybe oil. But evid
by getpost 9y ago
Start with a simple idea, and rather than work to keep it simple, parasitic add-ons!
Look at gas stations. It used to be they sold gas, and maybe oil. But evidently there's no money in gas, so now they all sell unhealthful snacks and bottled water (itself an environmental disaster, which this kind of retail establishment has fostered). And there's not enough money in that, so now there's video advertising at every pump. Buying gas has become extremely unpleasant. Plus, distracting everyone all the time has ruined our what little social cohesion we had.
Now drivers are going to be asking you if you want any snacks. Because, research will show, if you ask TWICE, customers are 12% more likely to buy. Uber already has a parasitic burden which needs to be shed; namely, the idea that the only way to succeed is by being a criminal enterprise.
Parasitism is a deep property of ecosystems, so I guess we just can't have simple services and products that work, but it sure would be nice. Is there no better way to compete?
- lathiat 9y agoNot sure if this will be better or worse with 20-40 minute electric charge times :)
- toomuchtodo 9y agoThere’s a reason Wawa gas stations are partnering with Tesla for SuperCharger installs on their properties.
- VVyattPrentice 9y agoProTip: at ARCO gas stations, the top right button mutes the ad.
- UncleEntity 9y agoI go to ARCO pretty much daily and it rarely has the volume on when the pump starts. They also seem to be more about 'news' than advertising though I hardly ever pay attention to the thing since I can't hear it. I do get 'the word of the day' a lot (that I promptly forget) which I guess is educating the motoring public.
- ramblenode 9y agoHaving a convenience store is actually a necessity for an independent gas station. Gas stations themselves only make about 7-10 cents per gallon in revenue [0] (2008) which is less profitable than what is sold inside in the store [1]. For how much talk there is around here on how unprofitable it is to be an Uber driver, it wouldn't surprise me if a similar dynamic develops in rideshare. [0] http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/13/news/economy/gas_gallon/ http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/13/news/economy/gas_gallon/ [1] https://www.quora.com/How-do-gas-stations-make-their-money https://www.quora.com/How-do-gas-stations-make-their-money