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Just in case the Wayback Machine has archived the actual Uber post: https://web.archive.org/web/20140420053019/http://support.uber.com/hc/en-us/articles/201950

by jaclaz 7y ago

Just in case the Wayback Machine has archived the actual Uber post: https://web.archive.org/web/20140420053019/http://support.uber.com/hc/en-us/articles/201950566 https://web.archive.org/web/20140420053019/http://support.ub... >What is the Safe Rides Fee? >From the beginning, we’ve always been committed to connecting you with the safest rides on the road. Our new Safe Rides Fee is a $1 fee added to uberX fares in United States cities with uberX ridesharing. This Safe Rides Fee supports our continued efforts to ensure the safest possible platform for Uber riders and drivers, including an industry-leading background check process, regular motor vehicle checks, driver safety education, development of safety features in the app, and insurance. For complete pricing transparency, you’ll see this as a separate line item on every uberX receipt. It seems clear enough that it is an added fee (or price increase) by any other name. Next time - say - a Big Mac will go from 3.99 to 4.99, "for complete pricing transparency" McDonalds may add a "Hygiene and Environmental fee" to support their continued efforts to clean the premises and dispose of the plastics, etc.

rrix2 7y ago
This happens at restaurants in cities which increase minimum wage, too. "We've added a cost of living fee to your meal of 8%, don't forget to tip your waiter!"
- CaptainZapp 7y ago
  That's good. A restaurant, which does this winds up instantly on my shit list. Such passive aggressive behavior is a sure sign that they treat their staff like crap and I prefer not to give my business to such places.
EpicEng 7y ago
And then fewer people will buy Big Macs. Market forces in action.
- blub 7y ago
  Or rather in countries which are not banana republics the appropriate authority will smack them over the hands and tell them that they can't charge for self-evident things like hygiene. Maybe they'll get a series of sanitation inspections as a bonus too.
  - EpicEng 7y ago
    Why? If McDonald's is overcharging than the competition is going to beat them out. The market will select them out, problem solved. Regardless, they're free to increase prices as they see fit. your proposal wouldn't stop anything, they just wouldn't advertise why they're raising the price. you're literally proposing that the government regulate the price of a hamburger. Adding new regulations should be like adding a new software feature. There is a cost, so it should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.
    - mikelyons 7y ago
      I think that people who are eating lots of McD are probably not doing much cost-benefit analysis and anything under $20 for 10,000 calories will be where they go; to the place they have to travel the shortest distance to indulge at.
      - derp_dee_derp 7y ago
        Have you even been to a McDonald recently? Free wifi, they are super clean, cheap but delicious coffee, they offer good food above and beyond the cheeseburgers you're thinking about, and they have good ice cream cones for cheap as well. People often go to McDonald's and use it as a coffee shop and do work. McDonald's is much better than any other fast food place because they put so much effort into making them nice places to go. Maybe you shouldn't be so judgemental about people who eat there
        jaclaz 7y ago
        >McDonald's is much better than any other fast food place because they put so much effort into making them nice places to go. Exactly, and that is actually my point. Since all these features have (obviously) some costs (as well as ingredients, staff, rent, energy, etc.), the moment McDonalds need hypothetically some more money to cover them they might simply increase the prices (correct) or introduce an extra "vague" fee through some weasel words (the Uber way in this case), the end effect is the same for both sides, the customer will pay a little more and McDonalds will have a larger income.

by jaclaz 7y ago

rrix2 7y ago

This happens at restaurants in cities which increase minimum wage, too. "We've added a cost of living fee to your meal of 8%, don't forget to tip your waiter!"

CaptainZapp 7y ago
That's good. A restaurant, which does this winds up instantly on my shit list. Such passive aggressive behavior is a sure sign that they treat their staff like crap and I prefer not to give my business to such places.

EpicEng 7y ago

And then fewer people will buy Big Macs. Market forces in action.

blub 7y ago
Or rather in countries which are not banana republics the appropriate authority will smack them over the hands and tell them that they can't charge for self-evident things like hygiene. Maybe they'll get a series of sanitation inspections as a bonus too.
- EpicEng 7y ago
  Why? If McDonald's is overcharging than the competition is going to beat them out. The market will select them out, problem solved. Regardless, they're free to increase prices as they see fit. your proposal wouldn't stop anything, they just wouldn't advertise why they're raising the price. you're literally proposing that the government regulate the price of a hamburger. Adding new regulations should be like adding a new software feature. There is a cost, so it should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.
  - mikelyons 7y ago
    I think that people who are eating lots of McD are probably not doing much cost-benefit analysis and anything under $20 for 10,000 calories will be where they go; to the place they have to travel the shortest distance to indulge at.
    - derp_dee_derp 7y ago
      Have you even been to a McDonald recently? Free wifi, they are super clean, cheap but delicious coffee, they offer good food above and beyond the cheeseburgers you're thinking about, and they have good ice cream cones for cheap as well. People often go to McDonald's and use it as a coffee shop and do work. McDonald's is much better than any other fast food place because they put so much effort into making them nice places to go. Maybe you shouldn't be so judgemental about people who eat there
      - jaclaz 7y ago
        >McDonald's is much better than any other fast food place because they put so much effort into making them nice places to go. Exactly, and that is actually my point. Since all these features have (obviously) some costs (as well as ingredients, staff, rent, energy, etc.), the moment McDonalds need hypothetically some more money to cover them they might simply increase the prices (correct) or introduce an extra "vague" fee through some weasel words (the Uber way in this case), the end effect is the same for both sides, the customer will pay a little more and McDonalds will have a larger income.