5 ms·

BlaBlaCar [0] operates/ed only with community reviews (for drivers and passengers) and is doing just fine in EU... It is in fact so successful, that govs and pr

by joeyspn 10y ago

BlaBlaCar [0] operates/ed only with community reviews (for drivers and passengers) and is doing just fine in EU... It is in fact so successful, that govs and press always talk about "services like blablacar and uber" (they're classified as basically the same kind of service) [0] https://www.blablacar.com/ https://www.blablacar.com/

tom_mellior 10y ago
As far as I understand, BlaBlaCar has some centralized controls on your identity since payments go through them and changing your payment info is not quite as easy as making up a new nickname. That's a big difference to an anonymous-by-default cash-only network.
- timlod 10y ago
  You used to be able not to use any of their payment services. Also identity verification processes that they offer/ed are/were not obligatory. So in many cases references were all people used to trust someone. (I have been using the service for years)
- slowmotiony 10y ago
  They operated for years without accepting payments, the payment is a recent thing.
  - yoz-y 10y ago
    Their business model is to first expand to a territory by providing a simple connection between passengers and drivers. Then, when their user base is large enough, they introduce the payment system. However, when I was using the service it was quite common to get the drivers number and contact them directly for the "next" time.
    - slowmotiony 10y ago
      My point is that since the payments are a recent change, previously the rides were in fact completely anonymous.
- joeyspn 10y ago
  > That's a big difference to an anonymous-by-default cash-only network. I haven't used it recently but in 2013-2014-2015 it was as an anonymous-by-default cash-only network. (edited original post to reflect it) Overall I had zero problems, very nice experience, and I met interesting people
paglia_s 10y ago
Not sure about other EU countries but here in Italy Blablacar and Uber are completely different. For example the price you're allowed to ask is calculated to ensure it's only a cost sharing without any income for the driver.
- fiatjaf 10y ago
  So it is stupid.
- joeyspn 10y ago
  > without any income for the driver What? It doesn't make sense... Then why would any driver want to provide services via the app? Also, I'm not talking about the specifics of the payment or reward systems, I'm just pointing out that they're both considered to be "on the same level" and in the same "difficult to tax" tech service (carpooling, ride-sharing, etc)... just google "blablacar uber" and see the results...
  - vmsplice 10y ago
    At least here in Finland, you are only allowed to share the expenses and not profit from it (unless you're a registered taxi driver and have the permit). There is a small incentive for the driver if he/she is heading the same direction anyway but otherwise you're right, it doesn't make any sense for the driver. So it's quite different from Uber in that sense.
  - te_chris 10y ago
    Because it reduces their cost on a route they were already going to take. It's the actual sharing part of the so-called 'sharing economy'.
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
  - ogig 10y ago
    > Then why would any driver want to provide services via the app? The incentive of the driver is sharing the cost of the gasoline/roads with the rider. Cost of gasoline in EU is higher than in US.
rovek 10y ago
I've literally never heard anyone outside Spotify ads 3 years ago even mention blablacar, let alone in the same breath as Uber.
- rplnt 10y ago
  It's used for longer distances, city to city, country to country. I wouldn't see it as the same market as Uber is in. Plus it's ride sharing, not "taxi" (as in driver rides only because you told him to).
- joeyspn 10y ago
  Then you live disconnected from the european news... googled in 3 seconds: [FRANCE] http://www.capital.fr/bourse/actualites/blablacar-uber-sont-ils-aussi-menaces-par-le-proces-heetch-1192120 http://www.capital.fr/bourse/actualites/blablacar-uber-sont-... [SPAIN] http://www.elmundo.es/comunidad-valenciana/2016/04/14/570f66f146163f045f8b45bc.html http://www.elmundo.es/comunidad-valenciana/2016/04/14/570f66... [UK] http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/605860/Blablacar-Hitching-Hiking-Car-Share-App-Billion http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/60586... [NETHERLANDS] http://www.nu.nl/internet/4268012/autodeeldienst-blablacar-wil-niet-vergeleken-worden-met-uber.html http://www.nu.nl/internet/4268012/autodeeldienst-blablacar-w... etc...
  - Cozumel 10y ago
    Paid media coverage is a far cry from regular people actually using/talking about it. I've never heard of them.
    - coriny 10y ago
      Loads of people use it for going to/from UK-France as it's generally the cheapest method (both for drivers and passengers).
    - tschuy 10y ago
      it's super popular in France, at the very least.

by joeyspn 10y ago

tom_mellior 10y ago

As far as I understand, BlaBlaCar has some centralized controls on your identity since payments go through them and changing your payment info is not quite as easy as making up a new nickname. That's a big difference to an anonymous-by-default cash-only network.

timlod 10y ago
You used to be able not to use any of their payment services. Also identity verification processes that they offer/ed are/were not obligatory. So in many cases references were all people used to trust someone. (I have been using the service for years)
slowmotiony 10y ago
They operated for years without accepting payments, the payment is a recent thing.
- yoz-y 10y ago
  Their business model is to first expand to a territory by providing a simple connection between passengers and drivers. Then, when their user base is large enough, they introduce the payment system. However, when I was using the service it was quite common to get the drivers number and contact them directly for the "next" time.
  - slowmotiony 10y ago
    My point is that since the payments are a recent change, previously the rides were in fact completely anonymous.
joeyspn 10y ago
> That's a big difference to an anonymous-by-default cash-only network. I haven't used it recently but in 2013-2014-2015 it was as an anonymous-by-default cash-only network. (edited original post to reflect it) Overall I had zero problems, very nice experience, and I met interesting people

paglia_s 10y ago

Not sure about other EU countries but here in Italy Blablacar and Uber are completely different. For example the price you're allowed to ask is calculated to ensure it's only a cost sharing without any income for the driver.

fiatjaf 10y ago
So it is stupid.
joeyspn 10y ago
> without any income for the driver What? It doesn't make sense... Then why would any driver want to provide services via the app? Also, I'm not talking about the specifics of the payment or reward systems, I'm just pointing out that they're both considered to be "on the same level" and in the same "difficult to tax" tech service (carpooling, ride-sharing, etc)... just google "blablacar uber" and see the results...
- vmsplice 10y ago
  At least here in Finland, you are only allowed to share the expenses and not profit from it (unless you're a registered taxi driver and have the permit). There is a small incentive for the driver if he/she is heading the same direction anyway but otherwise you're right, it doesn't make any sense for the driver. So it's quite different from Uber in that sense.
- te_chris 10y ago
  Because it reduces their cost on a route they were already going to take. It's the actual sharing part of the so-called 'sharing economy'.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
- ogig 10y ago
  > Then why would any driver want to provide services via the app? The incentive of the driver is sharing the cost of the gasoline/roads with the rider. Cost of gasoline in EU is higher than in US.

rovek 10y ago

I've literally never heard anyone outside Spotify ads 3 years ago even mention blablacar, let alone in the same breath as Uber.

rplnt 10y ago
It's used for longer distances, city to city, country to country. I wouldn't see it as the same market as Uber is in. Plus it's ride sharing, not "taxi" (as in driver rides only because you told him to).
joeyspn 10y ago
Then you live disconnected from the european news... googled in 3 seconds: [FRANCE] http://www.capital.fr/bourse/actualites/blablacar-uber-sont-ils-aussi-menaces-par-le-proces-heetch-1192120 http://www.capital.fr/bourse/actualites/blablacar-uber-sont-... [SPAIN] http://www.elmundo.es/comunidad-valenciana/2016/04/14/570f66f146163f045f8b45bc.html http://www.elmundo.es/comunidad-valenciana/2016/04/14/570f66... [UK] http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/605860/Blablacar-Hitching-Hiking-Car-Share-App-Billion http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/60586... [NETHERLANDS] http://www.nu.nl/internet/4268012/autodeeldienst-blablacar-wil-niet-vergeleken-worden-met-uber.html http://www.nu.nl/internet/4268012/autodeeldienst-blablacar-w... etc...
- Cozumel 10y ago
  Paid media coverage is a far cry from regular people actually using/talking about it. I've never heard of them.
  - coriny 10y ago
    Loads of people use it for going to/from UK-France as it's generally the cheapest method (both for drivers and passengers).
  - tschuy 10y ago
    it's super popular in France, at the very least.