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I just got back from Brazil. There is a startup ride sharing service called 99 that is interesting. As a comparison, a ride that costs 40 R$ (~$12 USD) on Uber

by xrd 8y ago

I just got back from Brazil. There is a startup ride sharing service called 99 that is interesting. As a comparison, a ride that costs 40 R$ (~$12 USD) on Uber will cost half that on 99. And, I heard while I was there that incredibly 99 pays the drivers more. I don't know if this is a technical advancement that 99 hasn't needed to make the massive investment that Uber did now that lots more is understood about the ride sharing market, or if Brazilian VCs are pumping money in, or what. But, I experimented with 99 and it was much cheaper. I stopped using them when a driver let the fare run for an hour after I got out of the vehicle. Unlike Uber there is no cancel button. I'm not sure if this was fraud or he turned off his phone or what, but the experience was terrible trying to get it resolved for an hour. The most interesting thing is that there are startups attacking the incumbents (Uber and Lyft). The exciting thing is that Uber demonstrated incredible growth patterns like no company we've ever seen. I wonder if it will demonstrate shrinkage like nothing we've ever seen. I have no loyalty to them but Lyft isn't in Brazil and after that experience with 99 I stopped using it. Fun times.

maximente 8y ago
in Colombia, there's an app that allows the person soliciting the ride to offer a price, then various drivers can either counter offer or take the fare as bid
- sam1r 8y ago
  Sounds pretty similar to Flywheel
- xrd 8y ago
  As a foreigner, I would hate that choice. I want to use an app that makes me feel like the parties are aligned on the agreement. When the driver didn't cancel my fare, it made me suspect he was needing to cheat me to make it fair, and I stopped using 99 completely since I started to assume everyone would need to do something like that to make money. A poor marketplace if that is the case.
malandrew 8y ago
99 was purchased by Didi and are heavily engaged in a price war to gain market share. Since they are much smaller, they can afford to sell at a loss, but as they scale, it becomes increasingly expensive to pay more while charging less.

by xrd 8y ago

maximente 8y ago

in Colombia, there's an app that allows the person soliciting the ride to offer a price, then various drivers can either counter offer or take the fare as bid

sam1r 8y ago
Sounds pretty similar to Flywheel
xrd 8y ago
As a foreigner, I would hate that choice. I want to use an app that makes me feel like the parties are aligned on the agreement. When the driver didn't cancel my fare, it made me suspect he was needing to cheat me to make it fair, and I stopped using 99 completely since I started to assume everyone would need to do something like that to make money. A poor marketplace if that is the case.

malandrew 8y ago

99 was purchased by Didi and are heavily engaged in a price war to gain market share. Since they are much smaller, they can afford to sell at a loss, but as they scale, it becomes increasingly expensive to pay more while charging less.