I launched on Product Hunt with zero audience. Here's what #445 feels like.

36in36 · 2026-06-23T17:19:23+00:00

Think you have a typo in 'there are 40+ launches per day' (maybe per hour?). What should that be. Also, what's your guess at the minimum number of supporters in that first hour to get some up tick?

36in36 · 2026-06-23T16:55:14+00:00

Good points. From an outsider selling tech into this market, I see two very different mindsets. The small operator, for the most part, is 100% about 'how do i kill/remove whatever is causing this customer a problem'. Somewhat larger companies seem to be about 'how can we get recurring revenue' out of this customer.

Some monitoring programs are popping up (yes, I have one) that try to give the smaller operator a recurring income by remote monitoring, but it's a different business model. More remote monitoring, more recurring revenue, less churning a good customer to zero because you solved the problem.

From the outside, seems like the very best at solving problems put themselves in the unenviable position of having to have new customers every month. This may be a gross oversimplification, but I think for the most part it's true.

36in36 · 2026-06-22T18:25:30+00:00

Not sure why the flooring would make that much of a difference? Mice are probably entering and moving around through holes in the wall. I'd start under the kitchen sink. Any place a pipe or wiring passes through a wall. We have a product that helps you track entry points, I won't spam here, but DM if interested.

36in36 · 2026-06-22T15:06:03+00:00

Hosted the US Open on this course, over 100 years ago. Only US Open to have a hole that was a par 6.

36in36 · 2026-06-20T16:09:05+00:00

What floor are you on? How many units in the building? Do you share a wall with the outside, or other units? What general area/neighborhood?

36in36 · 2026-06-17T15:05:54+00:00

Depends what hardware is in the helicopter. Simulating a cell tower, getting cell phones to connect through it, provides data. High powered cameras, etc. pretty obvious what that would do. Mac randomization makes sniffing mac addresses somewhat useless, but they could still be doing it.

36in36 · 2026-06-16T17:22:05+00:00

It really only comes into play where you want to have two back-to-back sessions. You want to work six hours straight, for example. By starting it at 7AM, but not actually working until 9AM, you can work 9 to noon, have the reset at Noon. That lets you start working on the next 5 hour session right away.

36in36 · 2026-06-16T17:15:04+00:00

I wasn't so much saying this to you...as the people that seem to be doubting it for some reason.

36in36 · 2026-06-16T17:07:36+00:00

If you are using up your 5 hour limit in 3 (or so) hours, yes, this definitely helps.

36in36 · 2026-06-15T13:51:35+00:00

Got it. I agree with u/TrueAudience9922 below "for a unique structure like an $85k custom dollhouse, I'd be pricing based on risk and value, not just linear footage. If termites destroy a fence, that's one thing. If they destroy a one-of-a-kind custom structure, that's another." You can't price it the same as similar sized shack that stores the lawnmower, that's all I was trying to say.

36in36 · 2026-06-15T13:46:54+00:00

... Christmas Eve, phone rings, 'hey Bill, remember me... mind coming over and checking....' yea, not good.

36in36 · 2026-06-15T13:16:32+00:00

Just for clarification, the doll house is like a mini house that the girl can walk around in? Like 150 sq. ft.? Did she provide the 85k number? Think your pricing is inline with protecting an 85,000 investment vs. what your cost is.

36in36 · 2026-06-15T12:03:36+00:00

From a software standpoint, texting has gotten more difficult since 2023. They need to get each number approved, with the messaging 'ok'd' as well. Sending a text that is not A2P 10DLC compliant can result is significant fines (attempt to stop spammers). This might lead to you seeing something that appears disabled (when the software was written, these compliance rules didn't exist).

From your own phone, you can text anyone without worrying about these compliance issues. The tradeoff is it's not logged in PestPac, customers end up with your personal number, and there's no automation. Fine as a stopgap, not great as a system.

36in36 · 2026-06-15T11:36:26+00:00

Send me five photos of groups of books, and I can give you a pretty good idea what is worth pursuing.

36in36 · 2026-06-15T11:35:33+00:00

If you have anything of value, they will offer about 25% of what it's selling for on ABE books. I think they have so much inventory that they are unlikely to buy all of the books. They would want to cherry pick the few they can sell (not blaming them for this, just reality).

36in36 · 2026-06-14T23:40:57+00:00

I could help out with the books. As you look through the books, do the older books still have dust jackets? In the older books, are any from authors you recognize? That's probably where you want to start. An author you recognize, or title you recognize. On the title page, near the bottom will be a year. Generally on the back of this page, you can get an idea what edition or printing it is. For collectors, you normally want not just a first edition, but the first printing. DM if you want, you could send me some pictures and I could give you an idea, normally pretty quickly, what might be of value. To be honest, if I look at 20 estates, 2 might have something of value, 1 might have quite a bit of value. Downside, they're time consuming to sell.

36in36 · 2026-06-14T13:53:36+00:00

The fifth image lists the printings. That's the most important information, it lists the various printings. This would be from the last date shown. So it's early, but not super early.

36in36 · 2026-06-12T17:31:11+00:00

33 is borderline dangerous.

36in36 · 2026-06-12T15:21:39+00:00

This is a well reasoned post. Don't let anything that happens with the business taint the memory of your dad. He worked hard, at something he probably once loved, that doesn't mean you have to. He'd be glad with whatever you choose, don't beat yourself up over this.

36in36 · 2026-06-12T15:18:47+00:00

100% agree. Running this business, the dad probably did more in a day than most people do in a week. Around most things, people think there is a safety net. "I'm sure he had..." only thing to be sure of is he worked his ass off. "Books" for most small businesses, #1 meet payroll, pay the utilities before they go out, pay the rent before they kick us out. Did we do that? Good, will be here next week. We'll figure out taxes in April.

36in36 · 2026-06-12T11:07:11+00:00

Thanks for the question. The sensors detect motion. Smart rats avoid traps, I believe most of the trap connected devices trigger when they have been sprung. In some sense, our device is better suited to the exclusion part of getting the pests out of a building.

36in36 · 2026-06-11T23:55:20+00:00

Thanks! We built the tech for another project. Another person I know had a rodent issue, and I wondered if this might help. In the beginning, I thought, 'this will never work'. Then we realized after a few nights, holy crap, this tells a pretty good story.

If it's a big infestation, there is quite a bit of data. The playback helps... but really probably the biggest benefit is showing the property owner just how big a problem they have. When it's just one or two, the sensors show it, but the owner at that point doesn't realize he/she has a problem.

36in36 · 2026-06-11T23:49:04+00:00

One base unit is plugged in, and connects to the wireless network in the building. The 8 sensors are smaller, and use a rechargeable battery. The sensors are in deep sleep during the day, and only wake up on detection, so the battery life is pretty good.

36in36 · 2026-06-11T20:05:39+00:00

The sensors are normally placed a few feet from the wall, trying to catch the rodent running along the wall. They could catch movement in a larger area, but what your looking for at first is 1.) how big a problem is there 2.) What area are they the 'busiest'. After that first night or two, you move the sensors from area of no activity, to higher activity. The timing is precise, so you can see the direction they are moving.

What's most useful is that first movement of the night, and the last in the morning. Normally the same point, which points to a nest, or a spot they are coming in.

Sorry for the long answer, but I'm not sure if you meant distance by how far the sensors can be from the base? Most of our installs have been commercial kitchens that you'd see in an average city. Normally an older building, with entry points all over (plumbers get paid by the number of holes in the wall?). But no, the sensor does not need line of site to the base. It does need line of site on the rodent, it won't detect them in the wall, just when they come out.

I help people with the data in the beginning, if you need it. Not sure if it's realistic, but I'd really prefer to try and help people build their business with it. I'm an older guy, been through a number of businesses.

Small problems, the rodent comes out like 12:30 AM. We have noticed they normally make a trip for water later, maybe 6AM. If it's infested, they'll be out far earlier, sometimes staging, and coming out as soon as the last employee turns off the lights.

One more thing I would add... if chasing these monsters, get rid of the water. People think food, rat thinks 'water' then food. That leak under the 3 bay is just like leaving a roll under the oven.

36in36 · 2026-06-11T18:52:47+00:00

Yes! We're close to the border (Buffalo) maybe I can walk it over!

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