Show HN: Soothe – Uber for Massages

The problem with Uber for massages (and other Uber for _) is that the people that are searching for a new service provider aren't going to (possibly ever) go find a new provider for some services, on a regular basis. They find one they like and they stick with it. This is distinctly different than Uber's model because there's not really driver loyalty like there is with a massage or maid service. This means the contractors can just cut out Soothe after develop a reputation with clients.

Will the Uber model work for a good or service that isn't commoditized? All we ask of a transportation service like Uber is to get us from point A to point B cheaply and safely. A massage is more complex and doesn't have a two item to do list that can simply be checked off and labeled "a good massage". This means the standard deviation of quality is a lot larger. There is also a benefit of loyalty. Massages are a more personal and customized experience than transportation and there would be a greater benefit to having your masseuse know your preferences.

Seeing a lot of massage startups lately. We're at a coworking space where people book conference rooms and get massages done in them. If you use this service, please don't do this. (If you do, please pick a scented oil that doesn't smell like bacteria and pine trees.)

Seems the same as <a href="http://unwind.me" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;unwind.me</a>

I think it&#x27;s a nice concept and don&#x27;t have any problems with it (in fact, it looks quite nice), but I do wonder what distinguishes these various services.<p>Here in NYC, there are several &quot;Uber for&quot; maid&#x2F;massage&#x2F;anything else you can think of services, and apart from the design of their sites and sometimes the pricing scheme, it&#x27;s hard to tell what&#x27;s actually different.<p>Maybe the same thing could be said about Lyft, Uber, etc., but I do wonder what kind of competitive advantage these services are going for.

Interesting quirk on the website, when you click the location dropdown at the top of the page and it stays open, scrolling to the bottom of the page reveals the same open dropdown.

Can I get a massage while getting driven somewhere

Seems sort of like Priv, they let you pick your massage professional though, also have a bunch more verticals.

Looks very much like <a href="https://pinenow.com/" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;pinenow.com&#x2F;</a>

I think it&#x27;s time for an Uber for Uber for ______ service. There&#x27;s so many of them now it&#x27;s confusing and time-consuming to pick one. So why not add a crowd-sourced middleman to do it for you?

I wonder if being the &quot;Uber of Massages&quot; will mean that therapists end up making minimum wage after covering their own costs. This in particular:<p>&gt; Gratuity is on us. No need to tip<p>Is alarming.

I&#x27;ve used Soothe and the therapists were very professional. I would recommend it!

Before reading the website it seemed like uber for prostitution. After is seeme some what legit. I guess you can&#x27;t pick your messager, which I think people will want. I may not care who drives me or cleans my house but I do care who is rubbing all over me.

also see <a href="https://www.zeel.com/" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.zeel.com&#x2F;</a>

I wonder the legal implications this is going to have regarding prostitution. I don&#x27;t say this is intentional from the part of soothe&#x27;s creators, but they will have to deal with (and accepting the legal liabilities of) an issue that is already there (fake massage parlors offering sexual services).

This could create a huge underground prostitution market worth billions. I hold no political view, just a happy ending for those who pursue it.

Available 7 days a week. 9am to midnight. Including holidays.Can be there in 1 hour or schedule in advance.Anywhere you want, when you want, starting at $99.