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> Right now Uber is beneficial because it brings competition in a sector that used to have none. I'd welcome competition if it was fair, but predatory pricing

by exDM69 11y ago

> Right now Uber is beneficial because it brings competition in a sector that used to have none. I'd welcome competition if it was fair, but predatory pricing by subsidizing fares to unsustainable rates (using their unicorn valuation money) and shitty treatment of drivers - no thanks. Add to that the usual tax evasion schemes of multinational corporations that Uber surely employs. I have an excellent taxi service in my home town, albeit a bit expensive. I'll stick to using it. Same goes for many places I've visited (e.g. Berlin, Stockholm). Uber itself isn't illegal here, but the drivers are required to have a taxi license. Non-compliant drivers have been fined by the police. There are places where taxi regulation is more of a racket than actual regulation (I think Paris, France would fit the bill) and that probably should be challenged by some means.

song 11y ago
Based on the prices they have in Europe, I'm not sure how predatory their prices are (I know that they operate at a loss in China and India). In term of treatment of drivers, there's also been a lot of issues before in countries with Taxi companies owning the medaillon and not treating the drivers well either. From my experience talking to Uber drivers in Paris and Lisbon, they're often employed by a separate company that hires them and provide them with a car (That's uberX, not uberPop though since uberPop is illegal in both of those countries). The few drivers I met who were independent were quite happy with the opportunity they had. In the end, the problem is that in quite a few countries, Taxis are a regulated business with rules that have been created not for the benefits of the customers but instead to guarantee the benefits and monopoly of the existing taxi owners. And Uber (and other companies that are sure to follow in it's wake if the barrier of entry are lowered) helps counter that.
- exDM69 11y ago
  There is good taxi regulation and there's bad taxi regulation, depends on which countries we're talking about. That is why the discussion is so polarized and your opinions are opposite to mine. I'm not sure what the situation is where you're from, but here Uber can't provide any advantages over the local taxi service apart from price (at the drivers' expense) and supply at some peak hours.

by exDM69 11y ago

song 11y ago

Based on the prices they have in Europe, I'm not sure how predatory their prices are (I know that they operate at a loss in China and India). In term of treatment of drivers, there's also been a lot of issues before in countries with Taxi companies owning the medaillon and not treating the drivers well either. From my experience talking to Uber drivers in Paris and Lisbon, they're often employed by a separate company that hires them and provide them with a car (That's uberX, not uberPop though since uberPop is illegal in both of those countries). The few drivers I met who were independent were quite happy with the opportunity they had. In the end, the problem is that in quite a few countries, Taxis are a regulated business with rules that have been created not for the benefits of the customers but instead to guarantee the benefits and monopoly of the existing taxi owners. And Uber (and other companies that are sure to follow in it's wake if the barrier of entry are lowered) helps counter that.

exDM69 11y ago
There is good taxi regulation and there's bad taxi regulation, depends on which countries we're talking about. That is why the discussion is so polarized and your opinions are opposite to mine. I'm not sure what the situation is where you're from, but here Uber can't provide any advantages over the local taxi service apart from price (at the drivers' expense) and supply at some peak hours.