Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by upon_drumhead 665 days ago
No, I think this is greedier than that.

> The company's founder, Harvey Karp, said the pricing change was necessary to "bring in revenue," noting that the company was not underwritten by a university or the government, and must survive on its sales alone. He said his ultimate goal would be to see the Snoo paid for by the government or by insurance companies, but it's unclear if there has been any substantive movement toward achieving that end.

They want the government/insurance to buy them in bulk and then rent seek for everyone using them. There's zero reason why for the price this couldn't be done completely local and not cost Snoo a cent to run. They just don't want to because the long term strategy is to collect revenue forever.
3 comments
johnnyanmac 665 days ago
The government can't even subdize child care. What interest would they have in buying a bunch of high tech baby rockers?
link
nickff 665 days ago
Your quote doesn't contradict the parent comment. Snoo may need to "bring in revenue" because they're losing money. They may, simultaneously, want to have their product purchased in large quantities, as that would be another way to "bring in revenue".
link
idatum 665 days ago
I wonder too if the data collected via that subscription is useful to monetize somehow? Maybe like health data from your watch?
link
clintonb 665 days ago
We had a Snoo for our kid. I cannot see how anyone knowing our kid was a poor sleeper when he was born, and improved over six months, would be worth anything to anyone. “Parents are sleep-deprived” is a pretty well-known fact at this point.
link
s1artibartfast 665 days ago
I think that would be pretty good data for advertising to desperate parents.

Hell, the fact alone that they have a $1700 bassinet probably makes them a valuable target

link
atoav 665 days ago
"Your kid is a worse sleeper than most other kids, for only 999,99 USD you can learn more a out the possible causes"
link
rolph 665 days ago
a rocking basinet is a pendulum, thus mass of the child may be determined on a day to day average, thus inference may be made, such as when larger clothes are a good ad to push.
link