from Hacker News

Show HN: my new project, an app to tell your friends what you need

by lolizbak on 4/22/11, 1:44 PM with 29 comments

  • by localtalent on 4/22/11, 3:19 PM

    In response to patja's comment, I a) don't like doing cash business with my friends and b) rarely will ask enough to make it worth my time.

    Say my friend needs help fixing her bike, something I know how to do. She puts the call out and I volunteer. How much do I ask for? $20? $30? Not really life-changing sums, and getting much more than that makes it awkward. This is why that the currency for bike nerds is 6-packs.

    What would be a lot more interesting for me is skill swapping: I'd be happy to teach someone to fix their bike if they gave me help learning the guitar. Then not only do I learn a new skill (which is worth a lot more than $20), I get to spend more time with a friend (or associate, or stranger).

    Consider the value exchange that's going to take place between your users, and I think it gets a lot more compelling.

    And I'm not really feeling the name either, I also thought of the Grapist.

  • by baberuth on 4/22/11, 2:35 PM

    Great idea, awful name.

    Grope + People = Grople ?

    Obligatory Grapist video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqq051BU2MY

    Sort of reminds me of zaarly.com

  • by andjones on 4/22/11, 2:58 PM

    I love the idea, however there is a fundamental problem with the way we ask for things that must be overcome:

    Only those that think they deserve what they're asking for will ask. The problem boils down to self worth. If I truly believe that I am worth (a million dollars|to be funded|a beer|a lesson in rails), then I will get it [1]. In this sense, this tool does a great job of connecting a need to those who can possibly fulfill that need within your social network.

    Those without the confidence to ask will be left in the dust. They will see this as another divisive tool between the haves and have nots.

    If you can solve the problem of self worth, that is a billion dollar problem [2]. Its not a problem many of us in the start-up world consider. I think you must have a relatively high enough self worth to with stand failure and keep self promoting a start-ups.

    We all deserve the very best in life. Some of the unhappy people I know are afraid to ask for the very best, or just don't think they deserve it. I think your tool is a step in the right direction.

    [1] Within reason. If I ask for a trillion and believe I'm worth a trillion, I will get what I asked for. That is, my peer group will let me know that is silly.

    [2] Also cooler than a million dollar problem

  • by JonAtkinson on 4/22/11, 2:18 PM

    That name is terrible. I'm sure it's a clever portmanteau, but I'm just seeing 'grope', which is not a pleasant association for your brand.

  • by patja on 4/22/11, 2:50 PM

    Doesn't anyone else find the whole idea of putting a price tag on a request to your "friends" a little off-putting?

  • by TamDenholm on 4/22/11, 2:11 PM

    Might want to fix the grammar of the biggest bit of text.

    "Tell your friends what your need" should be "you", not "your".

  • by Void_ on 4/22/11, 3:22 PM

    Why couldn't I just use my Facebook status, or Twitter to tell my friends that I need something?

  • by lolizbak on 4/22/11, 1:44 PM

    Hi fellow HNers, I wanted to show you my new project: Grople.com .

    This is my 1s rails project, and I was looking for best learning practices. So I asked around (twitter, facebook) and got 2 types of responses: friends who also wanted to learn, and friends who could help out.

    So this is actually what I built: an app to tell your friends what you need. Your friends can "+1" (they have the same need) or help out (commenting, offering their help).

    I would love your feedback as much on the concept than on the execution. I built this in about 2 weeks, and will iterate based on your comments!

    Thank again!

  • by duiker101 on 4/22/11, 2:16 PM

    this seems interesting but i do not want it with twitter. you should make it open with your login system and give the option to connect twitter, or to choose what service to use, yours or twitter.

  • by unshift on 4/22/11, 2:58 PM

    not being a jerk but i don't actually get it -- i can post something that i need and a price and then what? people people can say they need it too? why do i care?

    a few nits:

    - your URL scheme is no good (/projects/<number>), should be something more readable

    - the footer should read, "bear with us, we have cool things brewing" and not "we got"

    - your homepage doesn't actually explain what effect "gropling" something has, if any

  • by evoltix on 4/22/11, 2:12 PM

    On the main page it says: "Tell your friends what your need." It should be: "Tell your friends what you need."

  • by jeggers5 on 4/22/11, 3:27 PM

    Never do business with friends!!!

  • by lewispb on 4/22/11, 2:32 PM

    Bounced at 'voila'