Alternative Solutions
Drive to another gas station
Don't get gas
Deal with it and go inside
Use a card even though you wanted to use cash
Three Interviewees
Jessica Gall
Ava Winstead
Mark Pacheco
Jessica Gall
Jessica is one of the most impatient people that I know. She works as a server and always has ample amounts of cash along with money that she deposits in the bank (debit card). If her gas tank had more than 1/5 and she saw a long line she would just get it the next time she was out. If the line wasn't super long and she had extra time she would just go inside. She said she has gone to other gas stations before because they were too busy inside but would only do it if another gas station neighbored it or was across the street. The main alternative solution for her is using a card even though she wanted to use cash. When she has cash she prefers to use it, however sometimes she rather just use the debit card. Her purchase seemed the most right when it was conducted in the shortest amount of time. It's a service that she has to undergo in a consistent manner so that is all she prioritizes is the speed as long as the gas isn't ridiculously more expensive.
Ava Winstead
Ava said she would not get gas a lot of the time. When she sees a ton of cars at the gas station when she still in her car on the road she assumes the inside will be busy. Sometimes she would consider going to another gas station but her usually thoughts are that it would also be busy. She never uses her card when getting gas because shes very paranoid about a reader being installed on the machine that steals her information. If she needs the gas then she will ultimately bite the bullet and go inside. Ava said she would evaluate her purchase solely on the speed. Gas prices are the same if you pay with cash or card so it wouldn't be different. She just wants her weekly activity to be done in the shortest amount of time possible.
Mark Pacheco
Mark said that in almost any situation that he would just pay with his credit card instead of using cash. His financial situation allows him credit card use but he has to use his own money (cash) for gas, going out, and restaurants. He stated that its easier to just use his credit card then pay his parents later the next time he sees them. If he could tell that the gas station nearby wasn't crowded at all then he would just go to a different one but thats usually not the case. He sometimes deals with it and waits in line, however he said this is only if he thinks the line can't take more than a few minutes max. He evaluates his purchase based on the speed but also on how much gas he got. When he didn't put enough in to completely fill his truck (hard to estimate with the size of the tank) then he sees the purchase as less optimal.
The alternative solutions to this opportunity are not optimal in any way but they suffice for everyday use. The solutions get the job done but are not the way they would like it in a perfect world. Their post purchase evaluation are also very similar to what I believed I would find. Since gas prices are pretty similar on a local level (the bigger gas stations) the speed of the service is what truly matters. All the alternative solutions are slower, postpone the purchase, or are paid with non-optimal payment methods for certain people. These interviews were beneficial in seeing which solutions are more often used and they reinforced my post-purchase evaluation beliefs.
Drive to another gas station
Don't get gas
Deal with it and go inside
Use a card even though you wanted to use cash
Three Interviewees
Jessica Gall
Ava Winstead
Mark Pacheco
Jessica Gall
Jessica is one of the most impatient people that I know. She works as a server and always has ample amounts of cash along with money that she deposits in the bank (debit card). If her gas tank had more than 1/5 and she saw a long line she would just get it the next time she was out. If the line wasn't super long and she had extra time she would just go inside. She said she has gone to other gas stations before because they were too busy inside but would only do it if another gas station neighbored it or was across the street. The main alternative solution for her is using a card even though she wanted to use cash. When she has cash she prefers to use it, however sometimes she rather just use the debit card. Her purchase seemed the most right when it was conducted in the shortest amount of time. It's a service that she has to undergo in a consistent manner so that is all she prioritizes is the speed as long as the gas isn't ridiculously more expensive.
Ava Winstead
Ava said she would not get gas a lot of the time. When she sees a ton of cars at the gas station when she still in her car on the road she assumes the inside will be busy. Sometimes she would consider going to another gas station but her usually thoughts are that it would also be busy. She never uses her card when getting gas because shes very paranoid about a reader being installed on the machine that steals her information. If she needs the gas then she will ultimately bite the bullet and go inside. Ava said she would evaluate her purchase solely on the speed. Gas prices are the same if you pay with cash or card so it wouldn't be different. She just wants her weekly activity to be done in the shortest amount of time possible.
Mark Pacheco
Mark said that in almost any situation that he would just pay with his credit card instead of using cash. His financial situation allows him credit card use but he has to use his own money (cash) for gas, going out, and restaurants. He stated that its easier to just use his credit card then pay his parents later the next time he sees them. If he could tell that the gas station nearby wasn't crowded at all then he would just go to a different one but thats usually not the case. He sometimes deals with it and waits in line, however he said this is only if he thinks the line can't take more than a few minutes max. He evaluates his purchase based on the speed but also on how much gas he got. When he didn't put enough in to completely fill his truck (hard to estimate with the size of the tank) then he sees the purchase as less optimal.
The alternative solutions to this opportunity are not optimal in any way but they suffice for everyday use. The solutions get the job done but are not the way they would like it in a perfect world. Their post purchase evaluation are also very similar to what I believed I would find. Since gas prices are pretty similar on a local level (the bigger gas stations) the speed of the service is what truly matters. All the alternative solutions are slower, postpone the purchase, or are paid with non-optimal payment methods for certain people. These interviews were beneficial in seeing which solutions are more often used and they reinforced my post-purchase evaluation beliefs.
The interviews seem like they have certainly refined your business plan further! With speed as a crucial aspect in mind, I think you can certainly develop your product to meet that. Additionally, I definitely had not considered buyers like waiters and waitresses who get paid in tips and mostly have cash on hand. Just goes to show how valuable these interviews can be and it seems like yours were very thorough
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