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Uber really shines in countries with a culture of haggling and gouging tourists. Landing in Cairo, step one was to buy a local sim and check the price for a ri

Uber really shines in countries with a culture of haggling and gouging tourists. Landing in Cairo, step one was to buy a local sim and check the price for a ride into town. When the local taxi tout quoted me triple that price, I showed him the app and said I’d pay that. He pulled out a laminated card with his tourist rate printed on it explaining that this was the “official price” and that here was no way anybody could get a cheaper one. 50 feet further toward the exit, he tried pulling out a different laminated card, explaining that it contained the “old price”, which was now only double ubers price. So I hit the “go” button on the Uber. He never went lower double Ubers price, and followed me all the way to my driver before giving up. It’s the ultimate travel “screw remover”.

beckman466 6y ago
> Uber really shines in countries with a culture of haggling and gouging tourists. > It’s the ultimate travel “screw remover”. So why do you think this is? Are you aware that western capitalist firms fuck/screw these countries up, before their citizens fuck (with) us? [1] [2] Their dishonesty is based on having to survive to survive this original (and ongoing) exploitation. Do you really look at the global south and not see this? I'm not saying Uber doesn't help serve as an attempt at a digital system that helps sustain reputation (although it is one that can grossly exploit the driver). [3] [1] https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2017/jan/14/aid-in-reverse-how-poor-countries-develop-rich-countries https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals... [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkV-eeXrlUg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkV-eeXrlUg [3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9abrZwnPThE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9abrZwnPThE
- cko 6y ago
  The OP said these apps are a practical way to not get screwed as an individual traveler. I didn't read any negative generalization about the citizens of these countries. Also there are many posts here about taxi drivers of developed countries (the "oppressors" if you want to be reductionist).
- jasonkester 6y ago
  Individual people are still awesome for the most part. We're on the subject of Egypt, which is a perfect example of this. Walk around Cairo and you'll meet amazing generous people who will go out of their way to help you with no expectation of reward. Just folks proud of their country. Let your guard down a little at the right time and you'll find yourself invited into people's homes and having amazing experiences. But you also get to see the bad part of human nature. This last trip, I had walked my family well off the beaten track on a market street, past all the tourist junk and deep into the hammer and fish head district. There was a busy little tea house on a side alley, so we headed over to sit down. Before we could cover the 50 feet down the alley, a guy hopped up from one of the tables, ran over and directed us the last 10 feet to the table. Thus appointing himself our middleman for the transaction (as I'm sure anybody who's been to Africa or the Mideast has experienced). After our 2 teas and the kids' 2 Karkade, he presented us with the bill: 80 Egyptian Pounds. The price you'd expect to pay at the Hilton in downtown Cairo. As it happened, our table was right in front of the sign with the cafe menu printed in Arabic. I pointed at the top line: "This says "tea." And this is the number "two" next to it.", and offered a £10 note. Oh no, there has been a mistake. This is the old sign. A quick back and forth between middleman and Actual Waiter, then the bill is settled and the middleman disappears into the back, never to be seen again. I don't really mind the dishonesty and Tourist Prices in Tourist District. But it's grating when you can't escape it. Still, the good people and experiences always find a way of balancing out the bad. It's well worth going.
  - specialist 6y ago
    > But it's grating when you can't escape it. Utterly exhausting. Subscriptions, MITM, fees, advertising, loyalty programs, ... All these unnecessary transaction costs absolutely deter me. Mitch Hedberg captured it nicely: I give you cash, you give me donut. And done. No paper receipt needed.
- f6v 6y ago
  While there’s some truth to what you’re saying, the taxi drivers at the train stations/airports are the worst parasites. They’ll stay there all day waiting for somebody naïve enough to pay triple the regular price.
- mrmrcoleman 6y ago
  Pre Uber the taxi drivers in Amsterdam were similarly as awful and I don’t remember the Dutch being exploited any time recently.
esperent 6y ago
Even in countries without haggling cultures - in Ireland where taxis are strictly regulated and always have a meter, I several times have found myself forced to listen to the views of the driver, usually extremely racist/sexist/bigotted views, and as a frequent cyclist I've been nearly hit by taxis on many occasions, including one where I can only conclude the driver was intentionally trying to knock me off the bike. I pulled up next to him at the next light and told him through the open window that he nearly hit me, and he jumped out of the taxi and started pushing me and shouting at me (this happened in Dublin, of course). Crazy experience, now that I look back on it. This kind of thing doesn't tend to happen with uber drivers, but it does seem that taxi driving attracts a certain type all over the world. Of course, I've had plenty of taxi rides with lovely friendly drivers too.
- cforrester 6y ago
  I wonder what kind of regional variations there are on that; where I'm from, the anecdotal impression I've gotten is that sexual harassment is more common from Uber drivers than from drivers for local taxi companies. My guess is that, at least where I'm from, Uber employment is more volatile than local taxis; an Uber driver is more easily fired, but the barrier for entry is lower, so significant damage can be done before a harassing driver is let go.
  - searchableguy 6y ago
    Yeah, ride sharing apps can be more safe if the alternatives in the market are not regulated properly. That is the case where I live (India) for rickshaws and to some extent, cab services.
  - DyslexicAtheist 6y ago
    South France: taxis have a manipulated meter installed which they can alter the price via a button next to their leg or the gear stick. The route starts with normal meter speed and in the last 1 or 2 miles the prize often doubles or triples!! They will _always_ do this when picking up tourists from the airport. Or if they realize you don't know the system. Being a taxi driver in Nice is like being part of an organized crime ring (petty crime for sure but still crime). It's "organized" because they even has/had lobbyists engaging in local politics. Not sure if Uber actually fixed this problem in the region but I recall when the first Uber's started driving they would sometimes end up in physical fights with the taxi drivers who unlike Uber drivers were in radio contact with each other and happy to help fight an unruly customer (or competitor). They're so convinced that they're entitled to this scam that reasoning with them is impossible. I ended up with an argument at 2 AM because the taxi driver refused to acknowledge that he was actually manipulating the meter. That was even after I showed him the wiring and the button with which he did it. I made the same trip many times so I knew the fare was ~€65 but certainly not €250 (!!). From all the sh1tholes I've visited and been ripped off by taxi drivers in 5 decades on this planet nothing has ever come close to how blatant they go about it in the South of France. :chefs_kiss:
el-salvador 6y ago
Reminds me of Costa Rica taking advantage of their tourists with high prices. For example their main airport (SJO) blocks Uber access on their WiFi network by dropping packets and serving bad DNS records. Normal tourists don't realize this is done in purpose, and they'll stand puzzled checking their phone screens unable to open Uber. The official airport taxi price is three times more expensive than a normal taxi or Uber.

beckman466 6y ago

> Uber really shines in countries with a culture of haggling and gouging tourists. > It’s the ultimate travel “screw remover”. So why do you think this is? Are you aware that western capitalist firms fuck/screw these countries up, before their citizens fuck (with) us? [1] [2] Their dishonesty is based on having to survive to survive this original (and ongoing) exploitation. Do you really look at the global south and not see this? I'm not saying Uber doesn't help serve as an attempt at a digital system that helps sustain reputation (although it is one that can grossly exploit the driver). [3] [1] https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2017/jan/14/aid-in-reverse-how-poor-countries-develop-rich-countries https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals... [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkV-eeXrlUg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkV-eeXrlUg [3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9abrZwnPThE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9abrZwnPThE

cko 6y ago
The OP said these apps are a practical way to not get screwed as an individual traveler. I didn't read any negative generalization about the citizens of these countries. Also there are many posts here about taxi drivers of developed countries (the "oppressors" if you want to be reductionist).
jasonkester 6y ago
Individual people are still awesome for the most part. We're on the subject of Egypt, which is a perfect example of this. Walk around Cairo and you'll meet amazing generous people who will go out of their way to help you with no expectation of reward. Just folks proud of their country. Let your guard down a little at the right time and you'll find yourself invited into people's homes and having amazing experiences. But you also get to see the bad part of human nature. This last trip, I had walked my family well off the beaten track on a market street, past all the tourist junk and deep into the hammer and fish head district. There was a busy little tea house on a side alley, so we headed over to sit down. Before we could cover the 50 feet down the alley, a guy hopped up from one of the tables, ran over and directed us the last 10 feet to the table. Thus appointing himself our middleman for the transaction (as I'm sure anybody who's been to Africa or the Mideast has experienced). After our 2 teas and the kids' 2 Karkade, he presented us with the bill: 80 Egyptian Pounds. The price you'd expect to pay at the Hilton in downtown Cairo. As it happened, our table was right in front of the sign with the cafe menu printed in Arabic. I pointed at the top line: "This says "tea." And this is the number "two" next to it.", and offered a £10 note. Oh no, there has been a mistake. This is the old sign. A quick back and forth between middleman and Actual Waiter, then the bill is settled and the middleman disappears into the back, never to be seen again. I don't really mind the dishonesty and Tourist Prices in Tourist District. But it's grating when you can't escape it. Still, the good people and experiences always find a way of balancing out the bad. It's well worth going.
- specialist 6y ago
  > But it's grating when you can't escape it. Utterly exhausting. Subscriptions, MITM, fees, advertising, loyalty programs, ... All these unnecessary transaction costs absolutely deter me. Mitch Hedberg captured it nicely: I give you cash, you give me donut. And done. No paper receipt needed.
f6v 6y ago
While there’s some truth to what you’re saying, the taxi drivers at the train stations/airports are the worst parasites. They’ll stay there all day waiting for somebody naïve enough to pay triple the regular price.
mrmrcoleman 6y ago
Pre Uber the taxi drivers in Amsterdam were similarly as awful and I don’t remember the Dutch being exploited any time recently.

esperent 6y ago

Even in countries without haggling cultures - in Ireland where taxis are strictly regulated and always have a meter, I several times have found myself forced to listen to the views of the driver, usually extremely racist/sexist/bigotted views, and as a frequent cyclist I've been nearly hit by taxis on many occasions, including one where I can only conclude the driver was intentionally trying to knock me off the bike. I pulled up next to him at the next light and told him through the open window that he nearly hit me, and he jumped out of the taxi and started pushing me and shouting at me (this happened in Dublin, of course). Crazy experience, now that I look back on it. This kind of thing doesn't tend to happen with uber drivers, but it does seem that taxi driving attracts a certain type all over the world. Of course, I've had plenty of taxi rides with lovely friendly drivers too.

cforrester 6y ago
I wonder what kind of regional variations there are on that; where I'm from, the anecdotal impression I've gotten is that sexual harassment is more common from Uber drivers than from drivers for local taxi companies. My guess is that, at least where I'm from, Uber employment is more volatile than local taxis; an Uber driver is more easily fired, but the barrier for entry is lower, so significant damage can be done before a harassing driver is let go.
- searchableguy 6y ago
  Yeah, ride sharing apps can be more safe if the alternatives in the market are not regulated properly. That is the case where I live (India) for rickshaws and to some extent, cab services.
- DyslexicAtheist 6y ago
  South France: taxis have a manipulated meter installed which they can alter the price via a button next to their leg or the gear stick. The route starts with normal meter speed and in the last 1 or 2 miles the prize often doubles or triples!! They will _always_ do this when picking up tourists from the airport. Or if they realize you don't know the system. Being a taxi driver in Nice is like being part of an organized crime ring (petty crime for sure but still crime). It's "organized" because they even has/had lobbyists engaging in local politics. Not sure if Uber actually fixed this problem in the region but I recall when the first Uber's started driving they would sometimes end up in physical fights with the taxi drivers who unlike Uber drivers were in radio contact with each other and happy to help fight an unruly customer (or competitor). They're so convinced that they're entitled to this scam that reasoning with them is impossible. I ended up with an argument at 2 AM because the taxi driver refused to acknowledge that he was actually manipulating the meter. That was even after I showed him the wiring and the button with which he did it. I made the same trip many times so I knew the fare was ~€65 but certainly not €250 (!!). From all the sh1tholes I've visited and been ripped off by taxi drivers in 5 decades on this planet nothing has ever come close to how blatant they go about it in the South of France. :chefs_kiss:

el-salvador 6y ago

Reminds me of Costa Rica taking advantage of their tourists with high prices. For example their main airport (SJO) blocks Uber access on their WiFi network by dropping packets and serving bad DNS records. Normal tourists don't realize this is done in purpose, and they'll stand puzzled checking their phone screens unable to open Uber. The official airport taxi price is three times more expensive than a normal taxi or Uber.