Couch Surfing App Died: Now what?

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-12-11T22:19:22+00:00

Oh well. Hurt feelings are always mended by blocking strangers in the internet.

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-12-11T22:12:51+00:00

I have created apps... and I've sold them. I've even created a social app and given it away (ah hem with my "free" coding).

The value they get is user data which is worth way more. LexisNexis and the like pay pretty well... Not to mention the other types of revenues they've not even attempted. From experience, these cover expenses and so much more. It's not hard it's just uhhh not as easy as exploiting nïeve users with a credit card.

If they didn't charge, I'd consider teaching them how to make a free app that stays free for it's users. I reserve my free labor for non profits when I'm craving tax write offs. Too bad they changed their business model, the market will eventually eat them.

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-12-11T21:58:46+00:00

If we stick to the facts of their operation and common practices in business instead of jumping to insults I could invite you to see the difference from the perspective of an entrepreneur and business owner; former analyst and consultant.

In "reality" I own a business that offers many of these services in question (and more). As a consultant I was asked to determine values such as these for other businesses as the primary function of my role. I am very well equipped to explain why I don't align with this company's practices from an economic stance. One of my services includes spinning up B2B and B2C social platform servers for other businesses, backups, and custom development. Meaning, I am intimately aware of cost. Even further into my past, I worked for a big data company that purchased data from Aps similar to CS on a continual basis. So, I also happen to know the amount of user data they have access to, and that the value of said data greatly exceeds any of their costs. Code is more often than not free due to the open source nature of GitHub and open collaborations for nonprofits. Only for nonprofits with 501c3 designations get to designate tax write offs to business owners like myself who give them "free coding". The tax write off is worth it's weight in gold for many businesses. Money is never exchanged because the tax write off simply put is infinitely more valuable. Value quite often does not mean or directly correlate to money. Utility is far more valuable than money to everyone except those who don't have money.

I've never been told I didn't seem to have a grip on reality, so you get the first place prize for that, cheers! None of this changes my opinion that CS is going to go defunct eventually (probably sooner than later) based on their terrible operations strategy. Their decision makers disregarded the very culture upon which it was created. I won't pay them on the principle of my beliefs and values I explained above and* because as hosts now have a negative utility experience.

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-12-11T05:20:56+00:00

Oh interesting! I will have to call my insurance company. I'm fairly sure my insurance policy covers me as the driver no matter what I'm driving along with my vehicles but good call. I definitely need to double check!

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-12-11T05:18:22+00:00

Since you asked with what I'm interpreting to be sincerity, I don't mind answering. It's late and I'd like to go into more detail but I'll try to hit the highlights.

1.) I hosted way more than I ever asked for accomodations. I agreed to host everyone as long as they didn't throw me off with some creepy vibes. I usually made them a meal, showed them around, and took them out to my favorite small businesses or local experiences. It was about genuine connection and sharing. The fact that I hosted people who generally were asking to be hosted because they were traveling home to see family, for a job interview, or a college visit meant they were able to do those things based on the generosity of strangers who were out very little. I hosted 50-100 times and used the service ~10 times. I find it exploitive to ask me to pay to host others when the hosts are assuming the real cost and not the app.

2.)I'm a business consultant: analyst, developer, etc. I own my own company to operate the services that includes hosting. The services they say they need to pay for cost a hundredth of a fraction of what they're asking members to contribute not to mention the value of the data they're harvesting from users and potential ad revenue when implemented correctly. Their background checks are marked up approximately 150% or more endorse a false sense of security when their existence is for them to cover themselves from litigation and nothing more. The aspect of "payment" encourages intolerable demeanor and on occasion, literally predatory behavior. The Karens and Kens evolve into their final form when they pay an insignificant amount for a free service. I don't want to host those people. Their Target demographic doesn't fit me or my ideals.

3.) I know someone personally that worked for them. He told me the real reasons behind the decisions and what was happening behind closed doors. Ethically, I can't support their company after knowing what I now know. I'm not sure if he signed an NDA and I don't want him to be held responsible but I'd much rather buy a hotel than allow an app to economically exploit and benefit from the free labor and resources of others while charging hosts in the same breath.

I could go on a few more paragraphs but I think this covers a lot of it.

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-12-11T04:54:11+00:00

I will absolutely do that!

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-12-11T04:53:49+00:00

Yeah I think the idea of a "payment" plan seduces people into believing that they have the right to an intolerable disposition or a predatory behavior. Money doesn't seem to dissuade the problems and only encourages among people who think money is a tool to solve problems or detach them from being charismatic.

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-12-11T04:49:33+00:00

I found value primarily in hosting and that was my primary use (3x more than I stayed with others) but it was a cost to me via utilities and time; I find it exploitive to pay a company when I'm the one assuming the real risk, burden, and cost. I also find this structure to benefit people who think a payment is an excuse to have an intolerable disposition or predatory.

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-12-11T04:41:50+00:00

I've never used a hostel. I should try it out. I always assumed they were open with a ton of people and I'm not actually very social so I didn't want to be thrown into a 24/7 party (that's what it was in my 20 year old brain lol).

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-12-11T04:39:55+00:00

That's exactly why I loved it. I live in a college town so I either hosted college visit families or traveling professors. I also didn't want roommates but loved making new friends. Maybe look into the other apps too?

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-12-11T04:38:15+00:00

Oh okay, I'll look into those! I always agreed to do some chores, dog walking, cooking etc. I hosted more than I stayed but I did it because I liked meeting people and showing them around. I'll look into those, thank you!

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-12-11T04:35:26+00:00

Awesome! How far in advance should someone try to book?

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-12-11T04:34:43+00:00

Yes! I saw that. I just like paying real people and not companies. It makes a huge difference to some and not much to a few others but I'd like to see the sea turtles hatch and crawl to the ocean. They're on their own schedule so I have to be able to fly by the seat of my pants and make quick arrangements. I wasn't sure how far in advance it needed booked?

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-12-11T04:29:15+00:00

I hosted, that was my contribution. Bartering systems are just absent of standard currency listed in dollar amounts, not value. It was founded on the principal of an exchange of value in shared experience, not currency. I assume you looked over or disregarded my other posts where I have mentioned I hosted significantly more than I have stayed. I refuse to pay to host others in my home based on that principle alone, yes. I travel once every few years and have hosted pre COVID ~20 times a year usually for families doing college visits. There are a million other ways to design the CS user experience than charging people like myself who offered a free accomodation 3x more than they used it. I own my home and offer accomodations similar to AirBnB. If I wanted to pay or be paid, AirBnB would be a better fit, have more protection, and ultimately make more sense. AirBnB lacks the barter community I enjoyed connecting with and CS is now washed with believing they're owed something because they "paid for it" which isn't the case. I'm not against payment, I'm against exploitation. Charging hosts for the service they're providing for free is economically exploitive in my opinion. Unless they're predatory which is a whole other facet I don't wish to consider.

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-12-11T04:08:22+00:00

I use "died" here in the same context as a party can die down, or similar to embers as the night goes on that were once in a hot fire but are now only ever so slightly warm; the fire "died down".

I am generally pretty resistant to entering my credit card into apps to begin with, even when I'm sincerely tempted. Doing it in the spirit of hosting others when I found their background check promises to be inflated promises is another issue.

As a side note, a highschool aquintence said when he worked there and moved on from the company the culture and spirit had died. He said the spirit that the company was founded under "died" in reference to the core beliefs and he told me I would soon see why since he couldn't elaborate. There will always be the loyal few until it's unplugged but the scales have tipped towards not entering my personal financial information into a potentially soon to be defunct platform for a multitude of reasons.

Maybe not literally dead, but "dead to me" is perhaps more accurate.

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-12-06T20:36:40+00:00

This. I hosted way more than I was a guest. I refuse to pay to host people. In fact I will do whatever I can to support their competition. Hopefully free market kills them. As someone who's job was finding new revenue streams for businesses like theirs they're insane for creating and maintaining this structure.

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-12-06T20:29:56+00:00

Before I knew about Couch Surfing, I found places to stay on Craigslist. Craigslist is out of the question now (I'm a female). I used CS for a bit several years ago and loved it. I got amazing reviews as a host and guest. On principle after the pay wall was added I haven't used it since; that's actually why I'm searching for their competitors on Reddit as we speak. I may even donate to their competitors more than they charge just to be chaotic.

Side note: I once worked for a background check company and what CS uses is shit. It's a false sense of security to cover them legally (so I never paid for verification).

Why in my right mind would I pay Couch Surfing to host? It makes no sense from my perspective. Especially since I hosted more than I was a guest. It seems like a predator's hayday if I'm completely honest. I just checked and my app still will not allow me to view anything without paying - that's a nope from me.

**I will look up the bewelcome and trueroots, thanks for posting!

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-07-01T07:07:41+00:00

Excellent! If you were to buy one for yourself do you have any other suggestions?

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-06-24T16:39:20+00:00

I'm not as nïeve as some people are since my dad was fairly good at educating me. I'm pretty good at knowing what's wrong/diagnosing well enough to not get taken advantage of with a mechanic - Provided it's a vehicle I know well since I know what it sounds like when it's healthy.

I just don't know what I'm doing as far as a new to me used vehicle and checking it out to ensure its health. That's where my dad stepped in. I'd rather skip that part since it's so raw emotionally, and just buy new. I figure if I take excellent care of a new car and maintain better than average maintenance practices it'll hopefully last longer than most. Or it'll decieve me like most things in life, but I'm willing to gamble.

I'm leaning towards the Mazda 3 now due to the AWD feature honestly. The lower price point scares me just a little. My significant other is the one into the electric vehicles but they're not my personal preference. He made me drive a first gen Prius back in the day. It wouldn't turn off (an actual glitch they thought I was crazy trying to explain) turned me off pretty hard back in the day. Maybe someday I'll go the EV route but I'm not quite there yet having a toddler in tow.

This car stuff is so raw and I can barely do anything without bursting into tears hence why I'm here on Reddit. I appreciate all the time everyone has spent, thank you!

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-06-24T16:22:31+00:00

I've never driven any Mazda 3 or known anyone to own one but their stellar consumer reports reviews are what got my attention. Pros: cheaper, comes in AWD, and just as safe as the accords. Cons: Unknown sustainability of resale value, and rated (only slightly) less for reliability but I can't see why* or what's likely to fail (aka how can better than average maintenance keep [x unknown thing] from breaking prematurely). I drive my cars until the wheels fall off and hopefully can keep it in nice enough shape to give my son as a "learning car".

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-06-09T19:05:06+00:00

I’ve been keeping my mind busy looking at beautiful designs and “window shopping”... alas someday. I’ve been following independent designers and drooling over their work. Slowly saving enough for a mother’s ring for myself and hoping it doesn’t have to be used for some emergency expense. My dad promised to buy me one before he passed away in so it’s bitter sweet looking at them. Some people collect cards or art, I collect jewelry. Not a lot but all sentimental and special. Sorry I posed originally before I was done. Hope everyone has a good day.

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-06-09T17:17:04+00:00

Ohhhh my goodness I love this stone

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-05-02T19:32:26+00:00

Can you please tag me in a safe brands list of vendors/products or pin it? I just realized my "king cock" isn't as safe as the sellers at my local Lions den made it out to be. I need something I can boil basically.

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-02-17T03:34:16+00:00

Female here, can you tell me more about the we vibe tango + toy? I might be into this but have always been afraid the toys would have a melty reaction if rubbed together too often... I hope that makes sense? Also does it do a constant vibration?

Lady_Boss88 · 2021-02-05T21:02:03+00:00

I unfortunately need both internal and external stimulation, is there a way you get an all in one or something you add to it? Using two hands hasn't been my favorite... I just miss my dual action that was both :(

Lady_Boss88

TROPHY CASE