4 ms·
This is a beautiful vision, but I think it would be hard implement in practice. I’m trying to imagine how a pitch like this might work. Do you offer the custome
by ericholscher 2y ago
This is a beautiful vision, but I think it would be hard implement in practice. I’m trying to imagine how a pitch like this might work. Do you offer the customer/members some kind of profit sharing? A discount on future services?
Given that customers often want to avoid lock-in on any purchasing decision, it seems hard to build a service that has a larger up front psychological and legal commitment. I love the idea of getting bonus points in life for building structures with collaborative ownership, but realistically most people and businesses only want a simple “buy a service that I can cancel” relationship.
That said, I'd love to see someone try it! I think it could work well in a niche environment, or something like a Kickstarter where people feel they helped bring something into being.
- jackthetab 2y agoI think my (and other) Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms would disagree with you. I buy shares in the farm per my needs. The CSA takes my money and buys seeds, fertilizer, etc. I get discounted (100% :-) products from them throughout the growing season. They also sell their goods at farmers' markets, do deliveries, etc. My CSA has been growing for years. They're a part of a larger co-op org that spans the NE US, IIUC. So yes, the "beautiful vision" can be, and is, implemented. Even in tech; I'm sure you've heard of neighbors getting together and building their own local networks because the local ISP won't service them.
- ripitout 2y agoI love it when tech people are like "this isn't remotely possible", and it's like... happening at the farmer's market already lol.
- albedoa 2y agoAnd credit unions, and mutual insurance companies, and on and on. I love this commenter who cannot imagine a customer that has an ownership stake in a business or why anyone would want that. No time to think, too much uninformed posting to be done: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42748956 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42748956
- ericholscher 2y agoWe’re talking specifically about a SaaS app in this post. I’m well aware of this working at small local levels, and even mentioned in my comment that it might work in niche environments, but I have a hard time believing it would work for a disconnected SaaS app, where there isn’t some larger form of Community bonding people together.
- ripitout 2y agoThis is exactly how Vanguard works.