5 ms·

A $25 hold for a fare that might be $15 doesn't sound unreasonable? Is ride-sharing that big of a cost for your day to day?

by jamez1 10y ago

Cyph0n 10y ago
It does sound reasonable, but only if you notify the user upfront. Do rental car companies charge you a $200 auth hold without telling you?
ra1n85 10y ago
When you're so broke that an extra couple of dollars will put you in overdraft territory, it's not reasonable. At least they inform you in most hotels. I have not used Lyft - I would hope they do the same.
- eropple 10y ago
  It's a hold, not a charge.
- wapz 10y ago
  Not to sound rude but someone who's that short on cash might be better off going by public transit, walking, or using a bicycle.
  - Cyph0n 10y ago
    I use public transport for my daily commute. I use Uber for shopping 2 or 3 times per month, and only on the way back. I think it's tough to save more than that. Any tips would be appreciated of course.
  - jacquesgt 10y ago
    If you find yourself starting a comment with “not to sound rude”, you might consider whether skipping the comment altogether is the best way to not be rude.
brianwawok 10y ago
Yes if you don't have $25 you really should walk or take a train. Not sure that is a big reason to pick or not pick it.
- Cyph0n 10y ago
  Uber is a 2-3 times a month kind of thing; otherwise, I take the bus. More importantly, the $25 was completely unexpected.
  - brianwawok 10y ago
    Again, if you are cutting it that close you should not be taking "luxury" transportation, barring needing to go to the ER.. in which case, maybe that hold was worth it.
- paulcole 10y ago
  >you really should walk or take a train Truly reliable and useful public transit is a luxury in the United States that isn't available to a huge majority of the country. Walking also isn't an option for many people due to safety, health reasons, scheduling, childcare needs, and not to mention just too much stuff to carry.
  - brianwawok 10y ago
    He lives in SF. He can walk or train where he needs to go.
tomc1985 10y ago
Proof that HN is out-of-touch...
- niftich 10y ago
  This here doesn't apply. Uber isn't a cash venture, and several activities in the US require either a credit card upon which temporary authorizations can be placed, or a full (and sometimes, over-)payment on a debit card, the difference being that the debit card isn't backed by a line of credit that becomes due in at least 20 days, but rather it is spent directly out of a checking account. You need this for: - gas stations - hotel stays - car rentals - sit-down restaurants or bars The SV/HN is out of touch argument doesn't fly here. Rather, there is a wide gulf in the spending ability and access to services between a US credit card owner therefore a participant in the mainstream banking system, vs. someone with only a checking account, vs. a person who can't qualify for either and conducts their affairs with cash. This is a problem much older and much more foundational than the Bay Area vs. everyone else and the techies and non-techies divide, and is a significant delineation between the US middle class and lower class.
  - dragonwriter 10y ago
    Gas stations, restaurants, and bars , IME, have no problems with cash.
  - tomc1985 10y ago
    My comment was directed specifically at this: Is ride-sharing that big of a cost for your day to day? For a lot of people, it is. The only people I have ever heard say this kind of thing, at least from my experience, are middle-class and well-off, or better. This cohort is the exception, because the norm (especially among millenials) is check-to-check living. $25 is several days' worth of food, two weeks' coffee budget, the price of a full tank of gas for a small car, or numerous other things to many, and $25 can be the difference between your card going through or being declined.

A $25 hold for a fare that might be $15 doesn't sound unreasonable? Is ride-sharing that big of a cost for your day to day?

by jamez1 10y ago

A $25 hold for a fare that might be $15 doesn't sound unreasonable? Is ride-sharing that big of a cost for your day to day?

Cyph0n 10y ago

It does sound reasonable, but only if you notify the user upfront. Do rental car companies charge you a $200 auth hold without telling you?

ra1n85 10y ago

When you're so broke that an extra couple of dollars will put you in overdraft territory, it's not reasonable. At least they inform you in most hotels. I have not used Lyft - I would hope they do the same.

eropple 10y ago
It's a hold, not a charge.
wapz 10y ago
Not to sound rude but someone who's that short on cash might be better off going by public transit, walking, or using a bicycle.
- Cyph0n 10y ago
  I use public transport for my daily commute. I use Uber for shopping 2 or 3 times per month, and only on the way back. I think it's tough to save more than that. Any tips would be appreciated of course.
- jacquesgt 10y ago
  If you find yourself starting a comment with “not to sound rude”, you might consider whether skipping the comment altogether is the best way to not be rude.

brianwawok 10y ago

Yes if you don't have $25 you really should walk or take a train. Not sure that is a big reason to pick or not pick it.

Cyph0n 10y ago
Uber is a 2-3 times a month kind of thing; otherwise, I take the bus. More importantly, the $25 was completely unexpected.
- brianwawok 10y ago
  Again, if you are cutting it that close you should not be taking "luxury" transportation, barring needing to go to the ER.. in which case, maybe that hold was worth it.
paulcole 10y ago
>you really should walk or take a train Truly reliable and useful public transit is a luxury in the United States that isn't available to a huge majority of the country. Walking also isn't an option for many people due to safety, health reasons, scheduling, childcare needs, and not to mention just too much stuff to carry.
- brianwawok 10y ago
  He lives in SF. He can walk or train where he needs to go.

tomc1985 10y ago

Proof that HN is out-of-touch...

niftich 10y ago
This here doesn't apply. Uber isn't a cash venture, and several activities in the US require either a credit card upon which temporary authorizations can be placed, or a full (and sometimes, over-)payment on a debit card, the difference being that the debit card isn't backed by a line of credit that becomes due in at least 20 days, but rather it is spent directly out of a checking account. You need this for: - gas stations - hotel stays - car rentals - sit-down restaurants or bars The SV/HN is out of touch argument doesn't fly here. Rather, there is a wide gulf in the spending ability and access to services between a US credit card owner therefore a participant in the mainstream banking system, vs. someone with only a checking account, vs. a person who can't qualify for either and conducts their affairs with cash. This is a problem much older and much more foundational than the Bay Area vs. everyone else and the techies and non-techies divide, and is a significant delineation between the US middle class and lower class.
- dragonwriter 10y ago
  Gas stations, restaurants, and bars , IME, have no problems with cash.
- tomc1985 10y ago
  My comment was directed specifically at this: Is ride-sharing that big of a cost for your day to day? For a lot of people, it is. The only people I have ever heard say this kind of thing, at least from my experience, are middle-class and well-off, or better. This cohort is the exception, because the norm (especially among millenials) is check-to-check living. $25 is several days' worth of food, two weeks' coffee budget, the price of a full tank of gas for a small car, or numerous other things to many, and $25 can be the difference between your card going through or being declined.