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Uber isn't a monopoly. For all the scummy things that Uber has done, they have avoided the most scummy thing they could do to become a monopoly: driver lock-in,
by danielweber 10y ago
Uber isn't a monopoly. For all the scummy things that Uber has done, they have avoided the most scummy thing they could do to become a monopoly: driver lock-in, making their drivers commit to only drive for them and not for Lyft.
Susan Fowler's post has me pretty fed up with Uber, but for some reason greyballing doesn't bother me at all.
- dragonwriter 10y ago> Uber isn't a monopoly. Like every startup (and most companies), it aims to be; a moat is pricing power is an absence of substitute is monopoly.
- danielweber 10y agoSure, they want to be a monopoly. But they're not. Seriously, how do they get lock-in of riders or drivers? Installing a second app is a really really low bar. You can't do predatory pricing forever.
- TeMPOraL 10y agoThey don't have to. Drivers are dime a dozen for them.
- exolymph 10y ago> they have avoided the most scummy thing they could do to become a monopoly: driver lock-in, making their drivers commit to only drive for them and not for Lyft. Arguably the only reason why is because it would mean they'd have to classify the drivers as employees rather than contractors.
- usrusr 10y agoLook up "uber driver incentives". They are clearly working on it, just without going all "second commandment" to protect their "not an employer" status.