I know I'll just sound like another grumpy Android user here, but why launch with an iPhone app only? Why wouldn't you start off with e-mail and a mobile-responsive web site? I can't imagine what functionality a native Luna app could provide that couldn't be done over the web.
I know that being in the App Store is a status symbol and so on, but most of my online shopping is still done on the web, and I sit in front of a computer at work - so most of the time I want to interact with Luna I'll probably be wanting a desktop experience.
I'm in NYC, so I can't use the service right now anyway. But if it launches here I'd be an absolute sucker for it, except that I won't be able to use it.
I don't mean to be a downer, but stuff like this bums me out. There are so few people working on important things yet half the town is working on delivering food and packages to tech workers who can afford what is genuinely a pretty insane price to pay for these services. I know that this is a pretty awesome convenience, but its just so meh. This is what we're doing with all these resources? Building online delivery service number 45248923942?
I don't think it's particularly "meh". I live in NYC, in a building without a doorman. Because of that, "package delivery" is not in my vocabulary (well, Amazon Locker has helped a bit with that), and therefore I spend less money online because it doesn't make sense to ship them to my apartment.
Would I pay $6.99 for it? Probably not. But is it "meh"? No, I think it solves an actual problem, possibly in enough of a way to build a sustainable business.
I can empathize, but unless you're growing your own food and meat, you're not in much of a position to complain. Offloading the logistics of resource delivery to allow us to do other things is a massively important part of any advanced society. Do we really need to take it to this level? Probably not. But it's not right to dismiss "unimportant" things like this out of hand either.
I think improving the efficiency and logistics of delivery services actually qualifies as 'an important thing'. It might not be as sexy as curing cancer or eliminating poverty, but it provides a service that allows individuals the opportunity to maximize their own productivity, which has both economic and quality of life impacts.
While this service isn't exactly revolutionary, it could put pressure on competitors to improve their customer experience. I think the end game (as does Amazon apparently) is sub-30 minute deliveries done using energy-efficient and autonomous technology, but that is a ways away, but at the very least, incremental improvements by upstarts will put pressure on the industry as a whole to improve their services (think about it, why doesn't Fedex/UPS already offer evening services to residential areas, they should have been doing this years ago).
I also agree, but I think the key here is balance: as pointed out above, convenience services such as these are wanted (i.e., people pay), and perhaps allow for more important things to take place -- however, we should think in terms of social responsibility and greater good as well.
In this case, Luna could actually cut down the number of delivery attempts per package, and potentially reduce the carbon footprint of the delivery.
I think there are a few things at play here that should help you to feel better. Firstly, you're reading a website that is targeted at affluent tech workers. Who's most likely to market their product here? Second, the whole world is transitioning to online sales. Those people will go from stocking shelves at the grocery/department store to delivering it directly to you. I'm sure there are plenty of people working on important things that you just haven't heard about lately.
Real problems are hard to solve and no ready way to pay for them. Convenience services have less challenges, and a ready market waiting to pay for them.
If this service was in Seattle (and I didn't live in an apartment complex that essentially provides this service for free) I'd use it.
Going to a UPS, FedEx, or USPS location to get a package can easily kill the better part of an hour just doing it, nevermind the wider effects of any interruption.
Meanwhile, one delivery guy can probably handle 10+ deliveries an hour. One guy can easily save us a work-week every night.
The guy who delivers lunch to a company can be delivering the lunch of 100+ people every day. Even if it only saves 10 minutes per person, he's just saved 16 man-hours.
What does it take to qualify as "important" to you?
Awesome! I think the landing page could do a slightly better job at explaining the problem Luna solves.
"Delivering your packages when you're home for the night" sounds nice, but why would I want my packages delivered at night?
I looked at the blog and it perfectly explained the problem: "How many times have you anxiously awaited a package only to come home and find that dreaded little slip hanging from your front door?"
Now this business is a breath of fresh air. No "social". No "you are the product, not the customer". No "ads as a business model". In fact, I see a clear business model. And having the price on the site? On the front page? holy cow that's awesome.
A wise businessman I know used to say "Think like a customer, always anticipate, and have fun!" Take that to heart and you'll do just fine. Good on you for getting this far, and best of luck for the future!
You tell Luna when you'll be home, and the delivery will happen between that time and midnight.
I'm sure there are a ton of folks who wouldn't mind a midnight delivery -- I used to be one of them -- but there are probably a fair amount who would like to get a package at 7 p.m. but would definitely not like to get a package at 12 a.m.
Perhaps as Luna expands, it might consider shifting to a model that allows a smaller time window for the folks who get home earlier. For instance, it might use a two-hour window, so people who get home at 7 will receive their delivery by 9 and people who get home at 10 will receive their delivery by midnight.
I wonder why the big delivery companies (UPS, FedEx) have not bothered with a service like this (I am aware that you can schedule delivery windows and the like, but we can assume that no current delivery company offers this exact, concierge like service). I can only come up with 2 possible points that would render offering this service not worth their time.
First, On initial glance, this appears to be a niche luxury service that skews towards a relatively young demographic. That user base may just be too small to make it worth the big delivery companies time. Also, This business model probably only works in a metro area (I can't imagine the price points needed to make this company viable Batavia Ohio being very palatable to the average consumer).
There may also be other concerns, but these are the ones that I would first worry about as an investor. Either way, it will be interesting to see how this pans out. It really is a solution to one of those problem that in retrospect, was so damn obvious.
UPS can't because of union agreements. FedEx can't because of contractor agreements. This is a service targeted towards busy professionals. We're definitely urban focused right now
I've wondered the same. Less traffic on the roads after the peak rush home so couriers/vans would be able to zip around more quickly. Deliver groceries at 6am, packages at 7pm and onwards, etc.
Simple and a life saver. I'll be signing up as soon as this comes to NYC.
I get most things shipped to the office to avoid sitting around at home, but sometimes you get an item that's just too big - those items also tend to be more expensive, making the $6.99 thing more palatable. I hope their numbers account for this effect (i.e., disproportionately large packages).
Dealing with USPS pickup slips is the sort of pain I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.
I'd just like to point out to all the downers out there: the pricing on this service is easily justified if you compare it to the cost of having to drive all the way to a Fedex facility, wait in line behind other similarly inconvenienced human beings, and drive all the way back. Even if you work for minimum wage, the cost of gas plus the value of your time far exceeds the $7 delivery fee.
Seems a bit pricey for me. I think the future is Amazon's storage drop lockers in every Super America (insert your regional chain here). Works for we city dwellers (there's one every 3 blocks), and even suburbanites.
There's no way Luna will work for those many millions are trapped in the suburbs (though of course, that's not a prerequisite for success either). That being said, i'd definitely use this service in Minneapolis proper.
It will combine perfectly with drones. One of the things I think is going to be really hard for drone delivery is the last ten feet - once there's a drone outside my locked apartment building, what's it going to do? Knock and hope the manager is there to let it in? Leave my package on the city street? (fuck no). But combine it with this, delivery at a reasonable hour when I can be home to receive it, and it's perfect.
I like the idea. Though the $6.99/package is more than I'm wiling to spend. I order most of my stuff online and packages delivered to my apartment during the day will be stolen. I currently have to get all my packages delivered to work, but for some people that may not be an option.
This is great. Online shopping is so much less convenient because I can't have packages delivered to my apartment. Instead I must ship packages to my office, and either muscle them on MUNI or get a cab (which costs more than $7).
Is there any way for you to act as a proxy for users, and pick up their packages from the will-call window at the local UPS warehouse for same-night redelivery? It would be an easier sell at $7+ if you can save your customers a drive across town and a wait in the UPS line. Folks also wouldn't have to plan ahead to delivery to Luna.
Ideal user interaction would be: open the Luna app and scan the InfoNotice.
Perhaps you could hack/co-opt/use carrier services like UPS' MyChoice service, which allows customers to electronically sign for pacakges, and give special delivery instructions.
They're solving an issue that's been slowly building over the last 10 or so years. I love online shopping, but the fatal flaw has always been the delivery process, which is heavily geared towards those who work at home, or have a partner/family member available in the house during the day.
Most of the time I get stuff delivered to work, but quite often we get angry emails from postroom staff who are swamped with packages and can't determine what's "business critical" post and just people ordering personal items off the web. I can sympathise with that a bit.
A good idea and it illustrates the growing trend of proxy-services. That is, traditional services are so inflexible or inconvenient that the best way to deal with them is to decouple them from the individual and insert a proxy that buffers the service.
I've noticed this with banking too, people decoupling the payment mechanisms ( card accounts, direct debits etc ) from their main accounts.
Edit: I wonder what non-IT people make of such patterns.
Over here in Germany we have solved that problem with the Packstation. They're everywhere and you can just go there and fetch your packets whenever you want: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packstation
And there's no additional fee and I think sending a packet using them is cheaper than doing it the traditional way.
Australia Post is currently doing this with Parcel Lockers, but they're degrading the service to a point where it's less useful (no courier deliveries, limited international deliveries, no paid option, no API to access pending packages)
Amazon has been testing Amazon Locker for this, which is similar. The problems with both services are: 1) limited to boxes of the appropriate size (from the pictures of the Packstation, maybe 10-20% of my Amazon orders would not fit) and 2) You still have to go get it.
Going to go get it may not seem like a big deal. But, if you're, say, walking home with a 2 year old, or it's pouring rain and you don't have a car (I don't here in NYC), or any number of other reasons, actual home delivery can be a really nice thing to have.
I've wanted this so badly for so long. Why am I paying such inflated costs for last-mile delivery when it's magnitudes more convenient to just pick up my package at a nearby depot on my way home from work?
I've always wanted online retailers to just allow me to ship to a local affiliate for the same or less cost, and notify me when it's ready to pick up. This takes it a step further.
I just spent 10 days playing Whack-A-Mole with UPS to get my "Signature Required" package. Just one issue with them after another. I was even thinking of asking them to direct me to where the driver was on his route, and I'd go meet him somewhere.
So $6.99 to ensure I got the package when I was home? Yes, I'd pay it. Luna: Come to Austin next.
I'm not sure that people will go through this app and pay another $6 on top of the original shipping fee, and enter an oddball shipping address. They may pay it if it's an option at checkout, as at that point they are weighing the shipping costs as a total and looking at things like overnighting a package, or two-day shipping etc. If it was a markup for nighttime delivery at checkout, and you just enter your home address one time, that would be the most painless implementation. To get there, that means they'll need to partner with Amazon, UPS, FedEx, etc, rather than acting as competitors. If these companies are not interested in night-time delivery or unable to do night-time delivery for labor reasons, they may be quite willing to earn a markup by partnering with Luna. They already have similar relationship with USPS which handles last mile deliveries, which is what it looks like Luna is going for.
Excellent Idea! My Amazon Prime account makes me automatically turned off by delivery charges. $6.99 is too steep per package for me (mainly due to the low cost of the items I purchase), but I would definitely enroll in some tier type pay package. $X for Y total deliveries or $1.75X for 2Y total deliveries.
Speaking of which, does Amazon batch Amazon.com deliveries with Amazon Fresh deliveries? Might make sense if you don't mind waiting an extra day for a package to get routed through Amazon Fresh's warehouse in exchange for knowing it'll be out in front of your door in the morning.
Looks like it's $6.99 per delivery, not necessarily per package. Perhaps they can accept & store packages for a couple days, if you know you've got a string of them coming, and can wait until they're all at the luna wearhouse?
This is a cool idea, and one that I would definitely pay for in certain circumstances (basically any situation where I end up having to drive to the UPS facility). However, I'd want to be sure that I can actually use the service under those circumstances.
My difficulty is when a company like Apple sends a package as "signature required." First, will I be able to specify the Luna address, or will I be required to have the billing and shipping addresses match up? Second, will the Luna representative's signature be counted as an authorized signature for UPS's purposes?
Both of these things are mostly out of Luna's control, unless they enter negotiations with these companies. And while this should be a no-brainer for UPS from an efficiency standpoint, you really can't underestimate their ability to make bad decisions.
I have to say this is pretty awesome. I currently pay $8/mo for my USPS PO Box, but I'm wary to send expensive packages there since they have a tendency to misplace packages. So far, they've only lost one package, but there are many times where I'll go there and they can't locate a package. If I return several weeks later, they managed to find it.
I'm not a big fan of one time fees, but I can definitely see myself paying for a monthly subscription plan, similar to Amazon prime. Any thoughts of this in the near future?
[+] [-] untog|12 years ago|reply
I know that being in the App Store is a status symbol and so on, but most of my online shopping is still done on the web, and I sit in front of a computer at work - so most of the time I want to interact with Luna I'll probably be wanting a desktop experience.
I'm in NYC, so I can't use the service right now anyway. But if it launches here I'd be an absolute sucker for it, except that I won't be able to use it.
[+] [-] alwillis|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] stevewilhelm|12 years ago|reply
Two reasons to build a native iPhone app: your app's icon on app page, and ability to push notifications
(Yes I know you can create Website shortcuts, but most people don't know how or don't care to do so).
[+] [-] jessejkaplan|12 years ago|reply
The best part? It's totally free through January 15.
[+] [-] ryguytilidie|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] king_magic|12 years ago|reply
Would I pay $6.99 for it? Probably not. But is it "meh"? No, I think it solves an actual problem, possibly in enough of a way to build a sustainable business.
[+] [-] masukomi|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pyoung|12 years ago|reply
While this service isn't exactly revolutionary, it could put pressure on competitors to improve their customer experience. I think the end game (as does Amazon apparently) is sub-30 minute deliveries done using energy-efficient and autonomous technology, but that is a ways away, but at the very least, incremental improvements by upstarts will put pressure on the industry as a whole to improve their services (think about it, why doesn't Fedex/UPS already offer evening services to residential areas, they should have been doing this years ago).
[+] [-] nkrumm|12 years ago|reply
In this case, Luna could actually cut down the number of delivery attempts per package, and potentially reduce the carbon footprint of the delivery.
[+] [-] rebel|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] codegeek|12 years ago|reply
You are underestimating how much people are willing to pay for awesome convenience.
[+] [-] Aloha|12 years ago|reply
If this service was in Seattle (and I didn't live in an apartment complex that essentially provides this service for free) I'd use it.
[+] [-] dmishe|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] nknighthb|12 years ago|reply
Meanwhile, one delivery guy can probably handle 10+ deliveries an hour. One guy can easily save us a work-week every night.
The guy who delivers lunch to a company can be delivering the lunch of 100+ people every day. Even if it only saves 10 minutes per person, he's just saved 16 man-hours.
What does it take to qualify as "important" to you?
[+] [-] RaphiePS|12 years ago|reply
"Delivering your packages when you're home for the night" sounds nice, but why would I want my packages delivered at night?
I looked at the blog and it perfectly explained the problem: "How many times have you anxiously awaited a package only to come home and find that dreaded little slip hanging from your front door?"
Why not put that on the landing page?
[+] [-] kine|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] roberthahn|12 years ago|reply
A wise businessman I know used to say "Think like a customer, always anticipate, and have fun!" Take that to heart and you'll do just fine. Good on you for getting this far, and best of luck for the future!
[+] [-] jawns|12 years ago|reply
You tell Luna when you'll be home, and the delivery will happen between that time and midnight.
I'm sure there are a ton of folks who wouldn't mind a midnight delivery -- I used to be one of them -- but there are probably a fair amount who would like to get a package at 7 p.m. but would definitely not like to get a package at 12 a.m.
Perhaps as Luna expands, it might consider shifting to a model that allows a smaller time window for the folks who get home earlier. For instance, it might use a two-hour window, so people who get home at 7 will receive their delivery by 9 and people who get home at 10 will receive their delivery by midnight.
[+] [-] sdoowpilihp|12 years ago|reply
First, On initial glance, this appears to be a niche luxury service that skews towards a relatively young demographic. That user base may just be too small to make it worth the big delivery companies time. Also, This business model probably only works in a metro area (I can't imagine the price points needed to make this company viable Batavia Ohio being very palatable to the average consumer).
There may also be other concerns, but these are the ones that I would first worry about as an investor. Either way, it will be interesting to see how this pans out. It really is a solution to one of those problem that in retrospect, was so damn obvious.
[+] [-] kine|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] gibybo|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] prawn|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] potatolicious|12 years ago|reply
I get most things shipped to the office to avoid sitting around at home, but sometimes you get an item that's just too big - those items also tend to be more expensive, making the $6.99 thing more palatable. I hope their numbers account for this effect (i.e., disproportionately large packages).
Dealing with USPS pickup slips is the sort of pain I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.
[+] [-] untog|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kine|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] primitivesuave|12 years ago|reply
I'm pretty excited to try this out!
[+] [-] mml|12 years ago|reply
There's no way Luna will work for those many millions are trapped in the suburbs (though of course, that's not a prerequisite for success either). That being said, i'd definitely use this service in Minneapolis proper.
[+] [-] jacalata|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] doorty|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] necubi|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kine|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] chockablock|12 years ago|reply
Ideal user interaction would be: open the Luna app and scan the InfoNotice.
Perhaps you could hack/co-opt/use carrier services like UPS' MyChoice service, which allows customers to electronically sign for pacakges, and give special delivery instructions.
[+] [-] umsm|12 years ago|reply
You're suggesting as a last-minute choice to use luna? That may be harder as UPS checks IDs.
[+] [-] djhworld|12 years ago|reply
Most of the time I get stuff delivered to work, but quite often we get angry emails from postroom staff who are swamped with packages and can't determine what's "business critical" post and just people ordering personal items off the web. I can sympathise with that a bit.
[+] [-] dingaling|12 years ago|reply
I've noticed this with banking too, people decoupling the payment mechanisms ( card accounts, direct debits etc ) from their main accounts.
Edit: I wonder what non-IT people make of such patterns.
[+] [-] djhworld|12 years ago|reply
I applaud these guys for recognising a gap in the market, but it seems quite risky to me.
[+] [-] ah-|12 years ago|reply
And there's no additional fee and I think sending a packet using them is cheaper than doing it the traditional way.
[+] [-] voltagex_|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] travisp|12 years ago|reply
Going to go get it may not seem like a big deal. But, if you're, say, walking home with a 2 year old, or it's pouring rain and you don't have a car (I don't here in NYC), or any number of other reasons, actual home delivery can be a really nice thing to have.
[+] [-] peeters|12 years ago|reply
I've always wanted online retailers to just allow me to ship to a local affiliate for the same or less cost, and notify me when it's ready to pick up. This takes it a step further.
[+] [-] drstewart|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] chiph|12 years ago|reply
So $6.99 to ensure I got the package when I was home? Yes, I'd pay it. Luna: Come to Austin next.
[+] [-] minor_nitwit|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jaynos|12 years ago|reply
edit: clarity
[+] [-] bentcorner|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] fotbr|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] sirmarksalot|12 years ago|reply
My difficulty is when a company like Apple sends a package as "signature required." First, will I be able to specify the Luna address, or will I be required to have the billing and shipping addresses match up? Second, will the Luna representative's signature be counted as an authorized signature for UPS's purposes?
Both of these things are mostly out of Luna's control, unless they enter negotiations with these companies. And while this should be a no-brainer for UPS from an efficiency standpoint, you really can't underestimate their ability to make bad decisions.
[+] [-] kine|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rickyc091|12 years ago|reply
I'm not a big fan of one time fees, but I can definitely see myself paying for a monthly subscription plan, similar to Amazon prime. Any thoughts of this in the near future?