Ask HN: I have an idea that solves a problem, I hope someone does it

Why not simply put a QR code at the back. People scan it, open a URL and RSVP there?

I wonder if it would be possible to create a QR code that only differs for very few black squares, and tell people to blacken said squares depending on their reply. It could be a see-through card - the first page shows the QR code, with holes where the answer dots go. The second page only shows the answer dots to blacken out.

Would at least be geeky fun.

Or just have different QR codes for different replies.

That is a possibility, although since it seems like making a phone call or sending an email to RSVP is already hard enough, the chances of people scanning a QR code and RSVP through the URL would be slim (in my opinion). I just feel like people look at the invitation and say "oh I'll respond later" and they forget to do it.

Another idea is to have an SMS code people send to a predefined number. Each card has a "code" (think bit.ly shortened URLs) which you send to a number printed next to it. It's fast and easy to implement (with Twilio).

This could work as well. The idea I had (buttons in the card) was supposed to be a universal idea that anyone could use. I know that if my grandparents got my invitation with a code to send a text to they wouldn't because they don't have cell phones.

It's a bit too geeky, most people would prefer to text you back with some personal message and most people would like to read them more than just observe blank confirmations on a website.

I believe the real problem is that people forget to RSVP and it is difficult to reach them with a reminder without calling them all with mandatory chit chat what wastes a lot of time.

This sounds like something that would make a nice feature on an existing invite/event product. You could also offer it as a white-label service to print shops.

RFID tags might also work for fancier things, like wedding invitations, and be less ugly to boot.

You mean a device that automatically connects to a WLAN or mobile phone network and sends a message, and is small and cheap enough to be included in hundreds of postcards? Is that even technically feasible yet?

Or would it be a recycling postcard - people would press a button on the card, then send it back? But if they can walk to a mailbox, presumably they could also send a normal RSVP?

It would be the first part, but I don't know if it is technically possible yet.

Possible? Sure! Cheap enough to make it worthwhile? Hells no.

Maybe you could get the cost per invitation down to ten bucks if you really had economies of scale and the cooperation of the cell phone networks. But who wants to pay ten bucks just to invite someone somewhere? For that money I'd rather provide two more free drinks to everyone at the party.

I guess that a quick follow-up from your side asking for final RSVP will always be more effective than any other solution located on the guest's side.

Yes, that is entirely true, although such a pain to have to follow up with people who you are inviting to your event. I had this problem, so I was just thinking of the easiest way possible for people to respond without having to put much effort into it.

I'm just afraid they will forget to press your button just as they forget to call you back with RSVP confirmation. I don't think the problem is with "RSVP transmission mechanism" but with procrastination and bad memory which is part of us - our human nature.

Your problem, as a host, is that it's PITA to call all these people just to confirm their presence. I would think of an automated service that will somehow force final confirmation - you are uploading list of your guests along with their e-mails and phone numbers, and the service will track their confirmations and follow-up the rest with automated phone calls and customized voice message intro from you with simple tone-based choice: 0 - can't make it, 1 - I'll be there!, or it will just send out reminding text messages. This could work.

I think you hit the nail on the head. This seems like it would be the best possible solution. An automated message that you can setup with your name/family name that just reaches out to everyone who has yet to respond. I really hope someone tackles this, seems like a great idea.

It is deadly easy to be built, especially based upon text messaging.

MVP would be: You register the event (name, date/time and final confirmation deadline), upload/insert the names and phone numbers of invited guests, the service generates a set of links - one for each guest - which you should put on invitations, so once they click their RSVP will be logged. On the final confirmation day the service will text the remaining guests with a remainder.

That's it. Working solution is doable in 5-10 hrs of coding including integration with sms gateway.

But here a more difficult question comes: would you pay for such service? Hmmm?

I think texting or a phone call is a better solution. Also, I think the technology behind it is more important than getting people to pay for an entirely new service. This can be sold to current card companies who could integrate this into their products.

But what about your party then? You would have to buy these special cards to invite your friends, and with generic solution you can put these invite links on your custom made postcards, in your e-mails, etc.

On the other hand I'm just curious how many wedding parties are now organized using Facebook's Events feature ;) (interesting to note: FB Events do not remind to confirm your attendance as well)

One thing that facebook has taught us is that people hate RSVPing for things even when it's completely painless. Pretty much any event you'll find ten confirmed yeses, twenty confirmed nos, fifty confirmed maybes and about four hundred invitations awaiting reply.

We've had 99%+ RSVP rate for any wedding, bridal shower, or graduation party that we've either thrown or been part of planning in the past decade. These are the types of important events that the OP is referring to and necessitate a physical invitation (he also cites them).

+1, this is the nitty-gritty

The thing is though, I never check my events on facebook (I'm sure many don't either).