4 ms·

Taxi service was absolutely terrible before Uber. You couldn't order a taxi from an app, there were never enough of them, you couldn't figure out what the price

Taxi service was absolutely terrible before Uber. You couldn't order a taxi from an app, there were never enough of them, you couldn't figure out what the price was before ordering so there was no direct competition, many localities had an anticompetitive licensing scheme on top of that, and a not insignificant number of drivers would take you the long way during off-peak hours IOT inflate the price.

krapp 6y ago
>You couldn't order a taxi from an app Never needed to, I could just call them on the phone. >you couldn't figure out what the price was before ordering so there was no direct competition Sure I could, I would just ask them how much to get from point A to B. The price I was quoted was always accurate. >many localities had an anticompetitive licensing scheme on top of that Has no effect whatsoever on me as a customer. >and a not insignificant number of drivers would take you the long way during off-peak hours IOT inflate the price I've literally never had that happen.
- torstenvl 6y ago
  Calling on a phone works not so great in crowded and loud places. Quotes on the phone aren't in writing and I've never had them honored. "Oh that's just an estimate." Lack of competition has an effect on all customers. Nobody is exempt from economics.
  - krapp 6y ago
    > Calling on a phone works not so great in crowded and loud places. Sure, but it works perfectly fine elsewhere, most people aren't calling the taxi from loud, crowded areas. Having an app is convenient but not having an app is hardly a horrible experience. >Quotes on the phone aren't in writing and I've never had them honored. "Oh that's just an estimate." The price I've been quoted has always been the price I paid. It's unfortunate that you appear to live in a wretched hive of scum and villainy but your personal experiences are hardly universal. There are plenty of places around the world where taxis work just fine.

krapp 6y ago

>You couldn't order a taxi from an app Never needed to, I could just call them on the phone. >you couldn't figure out what the price was before ordering so there was no direct competition Sure I could, I would just ask them how much to get from point A to B. The price I was quoted was always accurate. >many localities had an anticompetitive licensing scheme on top of that Has no effect whatsoever on me as a customer. >and a not insignificant number of drivers would take you the long way during off-peak hours IOT inflate the price I've literally never had that happen.

torstenvl 6y ago
Calling on a phone works not so great in crowded and loud places. Quotes on the phone aren't in writing and I've never had them honored. "Oh that's just an estimate." Lack of competition has an effect on all customers. Nobody is exempt from economics.
- krapp 6y ago
  > Calling on a phone works not so great in crowded and loud places. Sure, but it works perfectly fine elsewhere, most people aren't calling the taxi from loud, crowded areas. Having an app is convenient but not having an app is hardly a horrible experience. >Quotes on the phone aren't in writing and I've never had them honored. "Oh that's just an estimate." The price I've been quoted has always been the price I paid. It's unfortunate that you appear to live in a wretched hive of scum and villainy but your personal experiences are hardly universal. There are plenty of places around the world where taxis work just fine.