HN Tees
Web and SaaS
subscription merchandise
SHOW HN2012
53points
57comments
#447of 1,677 in 2012
Top 27%of 2012 by points
How HN took it
MixedNo clear lean
4 positive, 14 neutral or asking, 3 mixed, 16 critical, out of 37 comments about the project. Thread score -0.33.
Idea: 2 for, 8 againstPricing: 0 for, 4 againstDesign: 2 for, 2 againstDocs: 0 for, 1 againstExecution: 0 for, 1 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Clean, simple landing page design
From 2 comments
Beautifully designed site. Straight, Simple and to the point.
twog on HNNice site. If I had to nitpick, I'd say put the FAQ above the order form, and would've liked to get at least some sort of representation of what sort of tees I'd be getting. The…
__chrismc on HN
Idea is interesting as a startup signalling concept
From 2 comments
I would. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signalling_(economics). For example, if I see someone wearing a YC t-shirt over here in China, I'd most likely strike a conversation. I…
olalonde on HNThis is what's interesting to me. The concept of advertising for other companies is something the majority of people do on a daily basis. There's not many name brands that hide…
mstefanko on HN
Objections
Paying to wear a startup's logo feels like advertising for free
From 4 comments
I gave out thousands of shirts during my time at Twilio and never once sold one. You got one because we met you or you did something cool and wanted to thank you for the modicum…
johns on HNWhy would anyone pay to advertise a company? It's bad enough people pay large sums for clothing with their manufacturer logo (eg Nike clothing).
driverdan on HNI'd be willing to wear them if you gave them to me for free :-)
Tichy on HNExactly. What's next, paying to have a huge display on your car that shows Google Ads?
creativityhurts on HN
Price too high for a single shirt
From 2 comments
Most days I will wear a t-shirt that I have been given either though a conference or other means. I wear them mostly because I like them and want to be identified as a developer…
DIVx0 on HNIs it still "swag" (stuff we all get) if you pay for it (and eventually for the shipping)? I bought a couple of tees and stickers from Github because I love everything about them…
creativityhurts on HN
Credit card form looks untrusted
From 2 comments
I see what you did there. A meta/piggy-back business on top of the YC buzz, but i'm ok with it. As much as I stay away from wearing unknown texts on my clothing, I'd be fully ok…
tudorizer on HNThe CC form should have a stripe badge or something, I don't feel like entering my credit card info on a random website.
ricardobeat on HN
Shirts from unknown startups are unappealing
From 2 comments
What if I get a tee from a startup of which I don't necessarily like? The only tees of startups I wear are ones I use/really support. I don't want to be a walking advertisement…
mikerice on HNAs commented by other people there's a few similar places to get this sort of thing (a monthly start-up branded tshirt), but is there nowhere that maybe releases a new one each…
corin_ on HN
Requests
Show example tees or a gallery
From 4 comments
I'd really like a gallery of previous tees so I can see what sort of thing I would be getting. You say they won't be logo shirts, so what will they be? I'm interested but confused.
whatshisface on HNDitto. An example tee or two would do a great deal to convince me that I'd be buying something I will want to wear.
kennywinker on HNAny example shirts?
grantjgordon on HNNice site. If I had to nitpick, I'd say put the FAQ above the order form, and would've liked to get at least some sort of representation of what sort of tees I'd be getting. The…
__chrismc on HN
Let subscribers pick companies
From 1 comment
Expand beyound YC and you might have a great business. Allow me to pick a list of companies I like and use (very important) So i will certainly be happy with the selection each…
OoTheNigerian on HN
Expand beyond YC companies
From 1 comment
Expand beyound YC and you might have a great business. Allow me to pick a list of companies I like and use (very important) So i will certainly be happy with the selection each…
OoTheNigerian on HN
Questions
Is the money going to YC companies or covering costs
From 2 comments
Two things: 1. bitsweet, your post below in this thread seems to be marked as [dead] 2. If the cost is solely to cover shipping / production, it would be a good idea to put this…
someone13 on HNI gave out thousands of shirts during my time at Twilio and never once sold one. You got one because we met you or you did something cool and wanted to thank you for the modicum…
johns on HN
Which startups have agreed to participate
From 1 comment
Is the first set of shirts shipping October 15? Do you have a list of some of the startups you already have agreement with to do this?
mstefanko on HN
Alternatives named
StartupThreadsMonthly
From 3 comments
This seems really similar to StartupThreadsMonthly (https://www.startupthreadsmonthly.com/), except that StartupThreads uses higher quality American Apparel shirts and have both…
sethbannon on HNTake a look at www.StartupThreadsMonthly.com - they've been running for awhile and do a great job. American Apparel, stickers in the bag, etc. They've taken what we did with…
rrival on HNAre you aware of https://www.startupthreadsmonthly.com/?
citricsquid on HN
StartupSchwag
From 2 comments
I paid more than this to get a Twilio shirt from StartupSchwag when I was a subscriber.
dangrossman on HNThat was my inspiration, along with Startup Schwag, which ran the same service (with the same printer) as mine for a few years.
frankdenbow on HN
Valley Schwag
From 1 comment
Nice site. If I had to nitpick, I'd say put the FAQ above the order form, and would've liked to get at least some sort of representation of what sort of tees I'd be getting. The…
__chrismc on HN