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As an end user, I really hope WeWork the product sticks around. It's been super helpful while traveling, and when I was more invested in spending time on side p

As an end user, I really hope WeWork the product sticks around. It's been super helpful while traveling, and when I was more invested in spending time on side projects I seriously considered getting a WeWork membership to have access to a curated environment specifically designed for getting work done on personal time.

soared 3y ago
Try spaces/regus if wework fails - more locations, some offices are nice and hip but others are just normal office buildings. I like travelling to small towns, and seemingly everywhere has a couple regus offices.
- HatchedLake721 3y ago
  I visited someone in Spaces in the UK, they didn’t have coffee or even forks. It felt so weird after being spoiled by WeWork and left a very negative impression about Regus/Spaces.
- benjaminwootton 3y ago
  I had a baffling customer service experience with Spaces where I signed up, it took 2 months to get an access card that worked, then they claimed I’d signed up to something totally different. They would be one of the last companies on earth I’d ever sign up with again.
epolanski 3y ago
I don't understand though, finding a place to work in pretty much every city is simple and doesn't require WeWork, pretty much every city in the world, even when I was visiting smaller polish towns had at least 3/4 coworking places. What's the WeWork moat? Because there's an insane operational costs that have to be passed down to the customer.
- keiferski 3y ago
  I have used both Regus and WeWork while traveling and compared to signing up for a local coworking space, both were a million times easier. Don’t underestimate how convenient it is to stroll into a foreign city’s WW/Regus, swipe your card, and be working two minutes later. Signing up for a local space always takes longer.
  - epolanski 3y ago
    That doesn't seem enough of a moat. Yes it's true that normal co-workings take a bit more, but I have never spent more than 3/4 minutes and that's not nearly enough of an annoyance to pay off for the much higher prices. Most people just want a table, a chair and internet.
    - keiferski 3y ago
      It’s as much of a moat as chain hotels have compared to local hotels. Reliability and predictability are worth paying a bit more for many people. Personally, it was absolutely worth knowing that I’d have a clean, organized space, coffee, not need to fiddle with the Wi-Fi, not need to sign contracts in foreign languages, etc.
      - epolanski 3y ago
        I think you keep stretching it. Most coworking places are clean, organized, have snacks, do not have Wi-fi issues. Most of them also have contracts in english or don't even ask you for a contract at all. I keep not seeing the moat. The customer you describe "picky and willing to pay double normal rates when travelling to foreign countries" is quite of a niche use case. Most people simply find the coworking that is closest to their hotel/train station.
        keiferski 3y ago
        Yeah, I don't think you have much experience with this, and I do. Again, it's extremely convenient to know that your coworking space will be ready and waiting for you, without the need to sign contracts, input wi-fi passwords, get a tour of the building, on and on. You just walk in, scan your card, and you're go to go. The wi-fi connects automatically at every location. It's also extremely unlikely that local coworking spaces in random countries around the world can be relied on to have robust contracts in English. People with stuff to do don't want to waste time figuring out the nuances of a dozen different coworking spots. This is the entire use case for half of the hotel industry and why chains like Holiday Inn or Marriott exist. Your cost argument also doesn't make much sense either, as if anything, using a service like Regus or WeWork is cheaper because you get both the travel benefits and the local space for the same price. You don't need to sign up for a separate coworking space and pay a separate fee for every place you visit. I get access to thousands of Regus locations around the world with my single flat fee. In terms of actual monthly prices, I pay about 1/3 more than I would at a comparable local coworking space. Not double. So yes, for a slightly larger fee (something like $150 more per month), that extra stuff is worth it.
- matwood 3y ago
  It's brand expectation. Finding X in any given city is easy, why do people go to brand Y everywhere? People like knowing what to expect, even more so in an unfamiliar place.
- lbrunson 3y ago
  There may be some places that are easier than others, but in my experience it's the consistency of knowing you'll have access to good wifi, outlets, bathrooms, and a desk which provide a moat. Otherwise it's a gamble whether the coffee-shop you stop at will have those. Local co-working office spaces are options of course, but with WeWork's brand you already know what to expect rather than gambling on something new.

soared 3y ago

Try spaces/regus if wework fails - more locations, some offices are nice and hip but others are just normal office buildings. I like travelling to small towns, and seemingly everywhere has a couple regus offices.

HatchedLake721 3y ago
I visited someone in Spaces in the UK, they didn’t have coffee or even forks. It felt so weird after being spoiled by WeWork and left a very negative impression about Regus/Spaces.
benjaminwootton 3y ago
I had a baffling customer service experience with Spaces where I signed up, it took 2 months to get an access card that worked, then they claimed I’d signed up to something totally different. They would be one of the last companies on earth I’d ever sign up with again.

epolanski 3y ago

I don't understand though, finding a place to work in pretty much every city is simple and doesn't require WeWork, pretty much every city in the world, even when I was visiting smaller polish towns had at least 3/4 coworking places. What's the WeWork moat? Because there's an insane operational costs that have to be passed down to the customer.

keiferski 3y ago
I have used both Regus and WeWork while traveling and compared to signing up for a local coworking space, both were a million times easier. Don’t underestimate how convenient it is to stroll into a foreign city’s WW/Regus, swipe your card, and be working two minutes later. Signing up for a local space always takes longer.
- epolanski 3y ago
  That doesn't seem enough of a moat. Yes it's true that normal co-workings take a bit more, but I have never spent more than 3/4 minutes and that's not nearly enough of an annoyance to pay off for the much higher prices. Most people just want a table, a chair and internet.
  - keiferski 3y ago
    It’s as much of a moat as chain hotels have compared to local hotels. Reliability and predictability are worth paying a bit more for many people. Personally, it was absolutely worth knowing that I’d have a clean, organized space, coffee, not need to fiddle with the Wi-Fi, not need to sign contracts in foreign languages, etc.
    - epolanski 3y ago
      I think you keep stretching it. Most coworking places are clean, organized, have snacks, do not have Wi-fi issues. Most of them also have contracts in english or don't even ask you for a contract at all. I keep not seeing the moat. The customer you describe "picky and willing to pay double normal rates when travelling to foreign countries" is quite of a niche use case. Most people simply find the coworking that is closest to their hotel/train station.
      - keiferski 3y ago
        Yeah, I don't think you have much experience with this, and I do. Again, it's extremely convenient to know that your coworking space will be ready and waiting for you, without the need to sign contracts, input wi-fi passwords, get a tour of the building, on and on. You just walk in, scan your card, and you're go to go. The wi-fi connects automatically at every location. It's also extremely unlikely that local coworking spaces in random countries around the world can be relied on to have robust contracts in English. People with stuff to do don't want to waste time figuring out the nuances of a dozen different coworking spots. This is the entire use case for half of the hotel industry and why chains like Holiday Inn or Marriott exist. Your cost argument also doesn't make much sense either, as if anything, using a service like Regus or WeWork is cheaper because you get both the travel benefits and the local space for the same price. You don't need to sign up for a separate coworking space and pay a separate fee for every place you visit. I get access to thousands of Regus locations around the world with my single flat fee. In terms of actual monthly prices, I pay about 1/3 more than I would at a comparable local coworking space. Not double. So yes, for a slightly larger fee (something like $150 more per month), that extra stuff is worth it.
matwood 3y ago
It's brand expectation. Finding X in any given city is easy, why do people go to brand Y everywhere? People like knowing what to expect, even more so in an unfamiliar place.
lbrunson 3y ago
There may be some places that are easier than others, but in my experience it's the consistency of knowing you'll have access to good wifi, outlets, bathrooms, and a desk which provide a moat. Otherwise it's a gamble whether the coffee-shop you stop at will have those. Local co-working office spaces are options of course, but with WeWork's brand you already know what to expect rather than gambling on something new.