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"The word disruption is thrown around way too much." I agree. What has Hipmunk disrupted?
by absconditus 16y ago
"The word disruption is thrown around way too much."
I agree. What has Hipmunk disrupted?
- nickconfer 16y agoI can't stand the HipMunk interface. I get its not for me, and am glad they are successful, but HipMunk is not a disruption at all. I agree with you completely. A disruption is a service like RedBox, a program like Napster, etc... They are rare businesses or actions that come along that almost instantly change the playing field for their market. Usually for such a disruption to occur the industry itself already needs to be having troubles brewing.
- absconditus 16y agoI just want to be clear. Hipmunk may be a great service and many people may prefer it, but it has not disrupted the industry. I do not know of anyone who even knows about it outside of people familiar with YC and HN.
- ekanes 16y agoGreat article, but Hipmunk is the latest in a chain: Travel agents > Expedia (DISRUPTION!) > Kayak (improvement)> Hipmunk (improvement) If you had to credit anyone with the disruption, it should go to Expedia or a similar site. Each of the above has improved the customer experience, but aren't truly disruptive.
- kin 16y agoI concur. I'm a big fan of Ohanian and what he's trying to do with Hipmunk, but as of now there is no disruption, more like a cult following. One thing to point out on their efforts is that they managed to work out a deal with AA while AA removed themselves from Orbitz, Expedia, and the lot. I'd consider that progress towards disruption.
- realitygrill 16y agoYou mean Huffman, right?
- kin 16y agoAh, right. Although technically, both are there now.
- marknutter 16y agoAnd I really hope "hipmunk" doesn't become a verb.