Haystack App Creating Chaos in Boston Published Mon, Aug 11, 2014 | Robert Williams, Founder
Haystack Parking App Creating Chaos in Boston
An upstart mobile app company, Haystack, is creating chaos in Boston.
The app is among the most disruptive forces the city has ever had to endure. That is, if you listen to the rhetoric of lawmakers.
If the crisis isnt squelched soon, Bostonians could take to the streets.
The app has only been downloaded 5,000 times since it launched three weeks ago, but theres fear that it could become as popular as Uber.
Its easily the most hated app in the world.
So what does this app do?
It lets a person sell their parking space to someone else.
Haystack originated in Baltimore, where Wall Street Dailys headquarters reside, and it hasnt gained any noteworthy traction here. Of course, the competition for parking spots in Baltimore cant rival that of Boston.
Either way, Bostons Mayor, Marty Walsh, isnt happy
Here we have a company that wants to come in here, create an industry, and profit from it, Walsh told the Boston Business Journal.
Theyre basically squatting in publicly owned spots and selling those spots. Youre selling something thats not yours
Its just not fair.
Walsh hasnt threatened any legal action against Haystack yet, but City Councilor Frank Baker wants to impose a $250 fine on anyone who uses the app.
Predatory Apps Called JerkTech
Parking spots are selling for an average of $3, and its being reported that Haystack pockets $0.75 per transaction.
Haystack is the latest among a new breed of predatory apps that have been dubbed JerkTech. These apps seek to exploit vulnerabilities in the public infrastructure to make a buck.
According to TechCrunch, which coined the term, All of these apps are essentially tools for scalping a public good or open resource. They dont deserve to take something thats supposed to be free and first come, first serve so they can sell it.
Another JerkTech app, ReservationHop, places phony reservations at the hottest San Francisco restaurants, and then sells them for $5 or $10 apiece on its site.
The app makes it virtually impossible to book a reservation using the standard practice of calling the restaurant, since all the spots are taken.
Oh, and if ReservationHop doesnt sell the reservations it booked? Tough luck for the restaurant, which has a bunch of tables reserved for phantom diners.
Innovation is Meant to Be Painful
Pardon me if I dont jump on the naysayers bandwagon, but
The evolution of these disruptive apps will force cities and industries alike to adapt new, innovative ways to conduct business
the offshoot of which can be very profitable for savvy investors.
Take Uber, for example.
Back in April, I wrote a column describing how Uber was disrupting a long-standing industry that hadnt changed in 50 years.
In the article, I said, Its ready to push the taxicab industry into extinction
By November, I expect cabbies will be scrambling to survive.
I even recommended a backdoor way to play it, that is, since Uber is a privately owned company.
Well, were nowhere near November yet, but anyone who took action could already be up big.
Better still, the world finally has an alternative to a dirty, smelly cab.
Thank you, JerkTech!
Onward and Upward,
Robert Williams