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>> the final price would now be calculated at the end of a trip, “based on the actual time and distance traveled.” Well that sucks big time. One of the main re

by smsm42 7y ago

>> the final price would now be calculated at the end of a trip, “based on the actual time and distance traveled.” Well that sucks big time. One of the main reasons I used Uber was I know what it's going to cost me, upfront, no matter what, I just click, get in the car, get out and that's it. Now I have to gamble, risk that I get stuck in traffic and my price suddenly doubles, worry that the driver "took the scenic route", and so on, and so forth. It becomes just a taxi with a nice app.

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
t34543 7y ago
I completely agree. It should be a fixed price, incentivizing the driver to take the most efficient route. I also don’t want my driver to see where I’m going, because not all rides are big fares. Sometimes I must get somewhere close and I don’t want a hassle. Uber has gotten a lot of bad press lately and I think unfairly so. What’s worse is Amazon’s gig program. Let’s say your doing jobs like assembling BBQs and Treadmills for customers. They don’t pay trip time to the job, so you can drive 40 miles only to find out half the screws are missing. You must get the customer to request the parts, come back, only to find it’s wrong again. You take a big hit refusing the job but you have to take all the shitty work to get the chance of a real profitable gig. Much worse than ride share semantics, IMO. Anyway - another reason to use Lyft.
- busymom0 7y ago
  Don’t the same laws apply to lyft too?
  - takeda 7y ago
    It does, but Lyft might respond to the law differently.
    - Balgair 7y ago
      > but Lyft might respond to the law differently. Well if that's filling my oligarchy quota for the day, I don't know what is!
akerro 7y ago
>Well that sucks big time. One of the main reasons I used Uber was I know what it's going to cost me, upfront, no matter what, I just click And I can't care less about this change, when estimate was for £5-£7 but actual price was £8.80. Estimate never worked for me, only once in several trips in last 2 years actual price was in range of the estimates.
- austhrow743 7y ago
  The change makes Uber work in California how it already worked in the UK. As in, the way youre complaining about.
  - m_t 7y ago
    Surely by now they can upgrade their estimate algorithm, given how many trips they can analyse.
    - wutbrodo 7y ago
      This isn't how Uber, or indeed any competently-written service, works. I'd be beyond shocked if there was some hard-coded algorithm for estimating fares that they do one-off manual upgrades on. It's far more likely that they have a statistical method for doing so, that's constantly doing the equivalent of the "upgrade" you're describing. Such systems have nonzero error.
magicalhippo 7y ago
Indeed. When I was visiting the US, this was one of the prime reasons I used Uber over regular taxis. In Uber I just added my destination and then I could decide if the price was acceptable to me or not. With a taxi you end up at your destination and pray the price isn't too bad.
- e12e 7y ago
  Maybe for taxi apps. But usually with taxis, if you hail one, or call an operat you can ask for a quote? Or doesn't that work in the US?
  - chrisseaton 7y ago
    > But usually with taxis, if you hail one, or call an operat you can ask for a quote? They can give you a quote but there's no telling if it's going to be accurate or not, as the final price is based on a meter for hail taxis in almost all locations within a defined area. When you get to your destination what you were quoted is irrelevant, you just have to pay the price. So what's the point in the quote?
    - e12e 7y ago
      I'd expect the driver to stop the meter, if it's on its way over the given quote. I'd also be prepared to pay the quote, even if the meter shows less. If not, what'd be the point in getting a quote?
      - chrisseaton 7y ago
        > I'd expect the driver to stop the meter That’s not allowed in most jurisdictions - the driver would lose their licence. They have to drive on the meter and can't barter separately unless it's outside the region. > If not, what'd be the point in getting a quote? There isn’t one! That's what I was saying!
        e12e 7y ago
Figs 7y ago
They were already doing that! Last year, I needed a ride to get home and was quoted $11.88 in their app, but we got stuck in an unusually bad traffic jam for an hour and they billed me $28.26 instead -- that's more than double what they quoted me!
- agotterer 7y ago
  Playing devils advocate here. I prefer the predictability as well. But assuming an honest driver, it’s not usually their fault you got stuck in traffic or the ride took longer than expected. Should he/she not get paid for the extra time they drove?
  - umanwizard 7y ago
    How much Uber pays their drivers is not the customer's problem. If Uber has to take a loss because they quoted too low a price, so be it.
    - syshum 7y ago
      That is the entire point, they are not "Ubers drivers", that is what most people do not want to accept You are hiring a contractor to pick you up, and drop you off, not a "uber driver" This is no different than going to Angie's List to find a Contractor to fix your broken pipe Now Uber has been attempting to talk out of both sides of their mouths on this topic, but I find it hard to believe people do not understand the reality here. Maybe I have too much faith in the intelligence of people
      - agotterer 7y ago
        Not sure why this is comment is being downvoted. This is literally the point Uber is trying to make. They are a platform to connect drivers with passengers.
        syshum 7y ago
        Too many people want to believe in the Myth that Uber is this evil company stealing all the money from the Drivers.. Most of them are Uber Customers that believe that if Uber makes the drivers employee's the drivers would be treated fairly, well compensated, and they will still get Cheap rides Of course this is all a delusion, because as always "Price, quality, or service: Pick 2" They believe they can "have it all" but reality does not work that way
gpvos 7y ago
In that case, there should be a market for an original-Uber-like service that does comply with the law (so it will probably have to charge more, but at least you know in advance how much).
- syshum 7y ago
  The entire market for Uber was because it cost less then Taxi's People have this mythical believe that prices are infinitely elastic and that all uber drivers can magically make 100K a year with out causing the company to fold That is not how any of this works, as service like you are talking about has been around for decades, they are called black car services. They employ professional drivers at reasonable wages, they DO NOT however have a mass market because the costs of those cars are $$$$$$ and only people in the Upper income levels can affords to use such a service
  - gpvos 7y ago
    If you can automate part of it with an app it could be cheaper. Maybe it won't work out cheaper than a taxi, but pretty likely cheaper than those black car services. And since there is a market for the latter, there might be enough market for something in between; I don't know how large.
    - syshum 7y ago
      So you believe the booking is the most expensive part of running a professional car service? and that by automating the booking they would cut costs significantly? Really?
      - jen20 7y ago
        In the UK, they have already automated it. Many cab companies allow booking by app, with a _similar_ experience to Uber (though with worse service, usually). Importantly, they charge the full meter price as set by the licensing authority, and engage in the usual cab of tactics arguing about credit cards, taking sub-optimal routes and espousing disagreeable politics for the entire trip.
dheera 7y ago
So honest question ... "in response to California worker law". - How did this law get enacted? - Why wasn't I, a resident of California, asked to vote on it? - Was the law buried under some legalese and just slipped past the eyes of 39 million Californians? And nobody made any noise about it?
- syshum 7y ago
  >>>- How did this law get enacted? the same way all other laws do, passed by the legislature and signed by the governor >>> Why wasn't I, a resident of California, asked to vote on it? because neither the US nor the State of California is a Direct Democracy, it is a Representative Constitutional Republic >>> Was the law buried under some legalese and just slipped past the eyes of 39 million Californians? And nobody made any noise about it? No there have been several thousands of News reports about it, even I as a Midwestern knew about this law months ago (I think I first heard about it mid 2019), if you did not then I would recommend you update your news sources you are in some kind of Bubble or echo chamber
  - okcando 7y ago
    Do you think it was necessary to be this hostile? The poster didn't claim to be an American and even if they are American, there are lots of different opinions on what things are important to spend time on and not everyone agrees that it's following the news or reading up on various ways places structure their government.
    - syshum 7y ago
      >>the poster didn't claim to be an American they claim to live in the state of California, and are concerned about voting so that would imply they are at minimum a Naturalized Citizen of the US... >> there are lots of different opinions on what things are important to spend time on True, however they are the one acting shocked about a new law being passed, if they do not believe new laws in their state is something important to spend time on, they should then not be shocked when a law passes they were no aware of.
  - 7y ago

by smsm42 7y ago

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

t34543 7y ago

I completely agree. It should be a fixed price, incentivizing the driver to take the most efficient route. I also don’t want my driver to see where I’m going, because not all rides are big fares. Sometimes I must get somewhere close and I don’t want a hassle. Uber has gotten a lot of bad press lately and I think unfairly so. What’s worse is Amazon’s gig program. Let’s say your doing jobs like assembling BBQs and Treadmills for customers. They don’t pay trip time to the job, so you can drive 40 miles only to find out half the screws are missing. You must get the customer to request the parts, come back, only to find it’s wrong again. You take a big hit refusing the job but you have to take all the shitty work to get the chance of a real profitable gig. Much worse than ride share semantics, IMO. Anyway - another reason to use Lyft.

busymom0 7y ago
Don’t the same laws apply to lyft too?
- takeda 7y ago
  It does, but Lyft might respond to the law differently.
  - Balgair 7y ago
    > but Lyft might respond to the law differently. Well if that's filling my oligarchy quota for the day, I don't know what is!

akerro 7y ago

>Well that sucks big time. One of the main reasons I used Uber was I know what it's going to cost me, upfront, no matter what, I just click And I can't care less about this change, when estimate was for £5-£7 but actual price was £8.80. Estimate never worked for me, only once in several trips in last 2 years actual price was in range of the estimates.

austhrow743 7y ago
The change makes Uber work in California how it already worked in the UK. As in, the way youre complaining about.
- m_t 7y ago
  Surely by now they can upgrade their estimate algorithm, given how many trips they can analyse.
  - wutbrodo 7y ago
    This isn't how Uber, or indeed any competently-written service, works. I'd be beyond shocked if there was some hard-coded algorithm for estimating fares that they do one-off manual upgrades on. It's far more likely that they have a statistical method for doing so, that's constantly doing the equivalent of the "upgrade" you're describing. Such systems have nonzero error.

magicalhippo 7y ago

Indeed. When I was visiting the US, this was one of the prime reasons I used Uber over regular taxis. In Uber I just added my destination and then I could decide if the price was acceptable to me or not. With a taxi you end up at your destination and pray the price isn't too bad.

e12e 7y ago
Maybe for taxi apps. But usually with taxis, if you hail one, or call an operat you can ask for a quote? Or doesn't that work in the US?
- chrisseaton 7y ago
  > But usually with taxis, if you hail one, or call an operat you can ask for a quote? They can give you a quote but there's no telling if it's going to be accurate or not, as the final price is based on a meter for hail taxis in almost all locations within a defined area. When you get to your destination what you were quoted is irrelevant, you just have to pay the price. So what's the point in the quote?
  - e12e 7y ago
    I'd expect the driver to stop the meter, if it's on its way over the given quote. I'd also be prepared to pay the quote, even if the meter shows less. If not, what'd be the point in getting a quote?
    - chrisseaton 7y ago
      > I'd expect the driver to stop the meter That’s not allowed in most jurisdictions - the driver would lose their licence. They have to drive on the meter and can't barter separately unless it's outside the region. > If not, what'd be the point in getting a quote? There isn’t one! That's what I was saying!
      - e12e 7y ago

Figs 7y ago

They were already doing that! Last year, I needed a ride to get home and was quoted $11.88 in their app, but we got stuck in an unusually bad traffic jam for an hour and they billed me $28.26 instead -- that's more than double what they quoted me!

agotterer 7y ago
Playing devils advocate here. I prefer the predictability as well. But assuming an honest driver, it’s not usually their fault you got stuck in traffic or the ride took longer than expected. Should he/she not get paid for the extra time they drove?
- umanwizard 7y ago
  How much Uber pays their drivers is not the customer's problem. If Uber has to take a loss because they quoted too low a price, so be it.
  - syshum 7y ago
    That is the entire point, they are not "Ubers drivers", that is what most people do not want to accept You are hiring a contractor to pick you up, and drop you off, not a "uber driver" This is no different than going to Angie's List to find a Contractor to fix your broken pipe Now Uber has been attempting to talk out of both sides of their mouths on this topic, but I find it hard to believe people do not understand the reality here. Maybe I have too much faith in the intelligence of people
    - agotterer 7y ago
      Not sure why this is comment is being downvoted. This is literally the point Uber is trying to make. They are a platform to connect drivers with passengers.
      - syshum 7y ago
        Too many people want to believe in the Myth that Uber is this evil company stealing all the money from the Drivers.. Most of them are Uber Customers that believe that if Uber makes the drivers employee's the drivers would be treated fairly, well compensated, and they will still get Cheap rides Of course this is all a delusion, because as always "Price, quality, or service: Pick 2" They believe they can "have it all" but reality does not work that way

gpvos 7y ago

In that case, there should be a market for an original-Uber-like service that does comply with the law (so it will probably have to charge more, but at least you know in advance how much).

syshum 7y ago
The entire market for Uber was because it cost less then Taxi's People have this mythical believe that prices are infinitely elastic and that all uber drivers can magically make 100K a year with out causing the company to fold That is not how any of this works, as service like you are talking about has been around for decades, they are called black car services. They employ professional drivers at reasonable wages, they DO NOT however have a mass market because the costs of those cars are $$$$$$ and only people in the Upper income levels can affords to use such a service
- gpvos 7y ago
  If you can automate part of it with an app it could be cheaper. Maybe it won't work out cheaper than a taxi, but pretty likely cheaper than those black car services. And since there is a market for the latter, there might be enough market for something in between; I don't know how large.
  - syshum 7y ago
    So you believe the booking is the most expensive part of running a professional car service? and that by automating the booking they would cut costs significantly? Really?
    - jen20 7y ago
      In the UK, they have already automated it. Many cab companies allow booking by app, with a _similar_ experience to Uber (though with worse service, usually). Importantly, they charge the full meter price as set by the licensing authority, and engage in the usual cab of tactics arguing about credit cards, taking sub-optimal routes and espousing disagreeable politics for the entire trip.

dheera 7y ago

So honest question ... "in response to California worker law". - How did this law get enacted? - Why wasn't I, a resident of California, asked to vote on it? - Was the law buried under some legalese and just slipped past the eyes of 39 million Californians? And nobody made any noise about it?

syshum 7y ago
>>>- How did this law get enacted? the same way all other laws do, passed by the legislature and signed by the governor >>> Why wasn't I, a resident of California, asked to vote on it? because neither the US nor the State of California is a Direct Democracy, it is a Representative Constitutional Republic >>> Was the law buried under some legalese and just slipped past the eyes of 39 million Californians? And nobody made any noise about it? No there have been several thousands of News reports about it, even I as a Midwestern knew about this law months ago (I think I first heard about it mid 2019), if you did not then I would recommend you update your news sources you are in some kind of Bubble or echo chamber
- okcando 7y ago
  Do you think it was necessary to be this hostile? The poster didn't claim to be an American and even if they are American, there are lots of different opinions on what things are important to spend time on and not everyone agrees that it's following the news or reading up on various ways places structure their government.
  - syshum 7y ago
    >>the poster didn't claim to be an American they claim to live in the state of California, and are concerned about voting so that would imply they are at minimum a Naturalized Citizen of the US... >> there are lots of different opinions on what things are important to spend time on True, however they are the one acting shocked about a new law being passed, if they do not believe new laws in their state is something important to spend time on, they should then not be shocked when a law passes they were no aware of.
- 7y ago