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Comment by Mz | Hacker News Reader

I am wondering what problem you are trying to solve. I am wondering if you even have a clear problem in mind or if this is a solution in search of a problem.

What is your so-called elevator speech for this product?

As RogerL indicated, the site does need a lot of work. But, I think a deeper problem is that I don't really see a clear business model here. I see something that looks like this type of thinking: "1) make app 2) talk to vendors 3) (something happens here 4) Profit!" and I will suggest that vendors at farmer's markets are not there to try to make you rich. You have got to offer something of value to them.

Best of luck.

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Well. Making me rich as my intention is probably a little bit too much. At least I think I am trying to help them. The idea is from neighbors helping neighbors. I am from China. Nowadays almost 99% grocery shopping is done in farmer's markets in China, India and almost most developing countries. There are countless news about farmers couldn't find buyers. This is the problem I am solving. If you think my solution is bad. There are a few startups I found out, funded, and charged vendors up to $100/month for providing their product info. I understand you are trying to help. But not happy with my intention is challenged.

Okay, so are you actually doing this in China then? Because I am American and I imagine most folks here are answering from an American or European or other more developed country perspective. So if you will clarify where your market is, that might help you get better feedback from the people here.

I am sorry you are offended. I was not challenging your intention. I was telling you what the product looks like to an outsider who has no idea what your intention is. It is your job to make it clear what the intent is by how you frame it. Bill Gates said "Your unhappiest customers are your greatest source of learning" (or something close to that). You have to learn to take constructive feedback for what it is: Useful information. If you get upset with people for trying to give you feedback, it gets less likely you will continue getting it and that is a much, much bigger problem than being told something you aren't happy hearing.

Again: Best of luck.

Well, my website is in English and I am asking a question in a English Forum so apparently I am targeting US. I understand your point. Yes, I should do my own research before I started to make an app. Tell me this is the story of facebook, dropbox, box, airbnb, etc. Not related but I am pretty new to HN. I thought the answer to a question should be related. Personally I don't get how your answer is USEFUL. From my understanding, the vendors I interviewed were happy with this solution. And You were telling me it's a wrong product. It's contradictory, isn't it?

maybe 当局者迷，旁观者清? all they are doing is telling you what they, as strangers, see and feel when they visit your site/service. you can choose to accept those perspectives or not. and some of the feedback is even actionable. and if even that is not helpful/useful i cant really imagine what is, especially considering you asked some strangers for help and they all have nothing to gain by either helping or not..they're all just..trying to be helpful?

> There are countless news about farmers couldn't find buyers.

Bigger farmer's tend to work with bigger distributors like Costco or safeway for their product. Smaller farmers go to farmer's markets to sell their goods.

For example, one of my favorite farmers is located in the central valley. They do about 6 markets a week driving to a different city every time.

Basically at least in California and in most of the nation there is some type of farmer's market infrastructure so to speak. This infrastructure makes it easier for the farmer to find buyers by only specifically targeting certain markets/cities.

In terms of farmers finding buyers specifically I don't think there is an existing model of b2c directly (at least yet). The closest thing I can think of is you are kind of similar to a CSA.

Lastly the best thing to do is put yourself in the farmer's shoes and look at it in their perspective. Is there a problem you actually are solving for them?

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