Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by bvod 2979 days ago
I feel like your pricing is off. $29/week is too expensive for consumers, yet far too cheap if you plan to get reimbursed from insurers. Especially considering you'll need a lot of people and show improvements for them if you want insurers to pay - this pricepoint won't let that happen.
3 comments

If you compare that to paying for a dietitian, it's actually not TOO bad. BUT, I think churn will be high due to price.

I could see a declining fee model. Just a thought.

We are trying a low FODMAP for my wife. I could see her paying for it for 2-3 months, then we would probably find that expensive at $29/w...but, if after 3 months, it went down to say $29 per month, then it would totally make sense as we would use it a lot less, I think.

At least if we compare to when she stopped gluten, lactose and a few other things 6 years ago...the worst was the first 2-3 months.

A dietitian is a different service though. Registered dietitians are trained, accredited professionals that can legally give you medical advice. This service will not give you medical advice.
Also good thought on a pricing model that declines after the first several months - definitely something we're considering introducing.
> If you compare that to paying for a dietitian, it's actually not TOO bad. BUT, I think churn will be high due to price.

Could the high pricing be because this is really a guide to a solution -- once customers have need for a guide, they'll stop using the service; that is, churn is naturally built in due to the nature of the service.

Same thoughts here. I don't have too much time to chit chat with the trainer there, I know it's required but for example I would keep exchanges to a minimum.
We've actually toyed with having a version without the coach that's quite a bit cheaper (~9/month) - is that something you'd find more compelling?
My gf has lots of problems with various foods and manages to keep on top of it fairly well - although she has very little concrete evidence about what it actually is that is causing the problems.

I could see her trialling a comprehensive ($30 a week) package for a few weeks, then dropping to a less intensive (~$10 a week) package that kept her on the right track.

I personally don't think she would pay $30 a week unless the service gave her a significant material difference in lifestyle (which I certainly imagine it could have the potential to do).

What would it do? I looked (probably too) briefly...and thought the the main value was mostly the coach. Or at least, the value I saw that I was "OMG, we need this in French _now_".
It would have some expanded functionality to take the place of the coach - it would give turn-by-turn directions each day on what to eat, and educate the user on how to avoid FODMAPs / other eating options. But it would have less customization (at least at first), and the user obviously wouldn't be able to get questions answered in the same way
Gotcha. So that could make sense. Someone could start with the coaching, then downgrade to this option instead of just cancelling due to price once they don't use the coaching services enough.

i.e., it would help you with churn a bit, I think.