For some TaskRabbit type tasks, especially the last minute or one-off tasks, it make a lot of sense because the transaction may not have happened otherwise. However, for these kinds of specialized labor type tasks, isn’t there some harm done to the service market through lower wages for the cleaner and inconsistent service for the customer?
Also, how does Pathjoy maintain customer loyalty? If service is a kind of “on-demand” how can you maintain consistent work for the cleaner? What is to stop the cleaner or customer from doing an “under the table deal”?
I think there could be an opportunity to “Disrupt” these older services but I’m sure lowering the price is NOT the way to a sustained business, even at scale.
I have cleaners from a notable SF-based cleaning firm come every two weeks. Sure, I have to call them up if I want to reschedule or whatever but it's really no big deal.
Interacting with a human being who knows me by name isn't necessarily a bad thing, esp for something so personal like cleaning my home.
Thinking about cleaning, the issues I care more about are thing like are they using quality products like Method, are they bringing their own equipment, do they do do stuff like change my bed, is it the same person who comes every time who therefore gets to know my place and what I like.
Whether I can book an appointment on my iPhone isn't high on the list. Unlike something like Uber, I don't see how the addition of high-tech is really helping here.
I think this is actually potentially constructive feedback, since if other people are feeling this way then it might signal a need to think about TC write-ups differently. That said, the comment received effectively zero votes, so I'm probably in the minority and can be safely ignored.
At any rate, I certainly didn't mean to dismiss Pathjoy at all. I'll be much more careful next time I comment on YC/TC.
A little personality can go a long way.
The front page is perfect and if it only said "First cleaning is on us. No upsells. No commitment. No kidding" or something I bet you'd get tons of people to try it and the LTV would make up for the acquisition costs.
My message would be "a better housecleaning experience, at a better price".
You cannot get any cleaning person around here for less than $30/hour. I don't think it would be possible to pay people the legal minimum wage and make profit at $20/hour.
A quick look at maid services in Seattle - even from agencies showed typically $15-25/hr, certainly none charging $40/hr.
And in any case, do people really think the "value-add" of an agency for housecleaning amounts to $20/hr?
Edit: not to mention, Pathjoy's $20/hr doesn't include the $5-10 "supplies fee".
* there will be refunds (grubhub gives a lot of refunds for bad food)
* they will need insurance (remember airbnb?)
* there will be legal challenges - like Uber, this kind of startup walks a fine line - if you employ 50 maids, you would usually have to provide workers comp at least, and maids seem more prone to file a claim than lots of professions
* there needs to be a margin for pathjoy
I believe you can possibly scale 20/hour maid service in parts of the country, but in the Bay, it will be at a loss or the price will rise. I really don't see how the math works any other way.
Grubhub's strategy was to raise delivery fees after they got traction, and it wouldn't surprise me if thats what pathjoy does. They will need to differentiate on something other than price though.
Not to be crass, but do you think that your cleaner is both a legal alien, and pays income tax? Do they prefer to be paid in cash?
One thing about PathJoy-type services is they will not be able to skirt the laws that an independent contractor can. I have hired cleaners, yard workers, handymen, etc, and for whatever reason they like getting paid in cash, and they will often even discount the services if you agree to do so.
On the topic of working elsewhere. Large urban areas provide the best opportunity for lower cost and more efficient operations. Two things limit growth for this kind of service in smaller less dense areas. Travel and population. Both limit the number of jobs that can be requested or completed.