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You're sample is simply not representative. If we could go back in time to 5 years before Uber's founding, I could show you the taxi system on the entire west c
by mftb 5y ago
You're sample is simply not representative. If we could go back in time to 5 years before Uber's founding, I could show you the taxi system on the entire west coast of the US was non-functional, from San Diego to Seattle, service, pricing, availability were all abysmal.
FWIW, I actually agree that the "Gig Economy" is riddled with problems, but at least in the case of Taxi's where Uber started, the existing system was rotten and in need of replacement.
- simonbarker87 5y agoSure, but like I said - solving a problem in the US and then rolling it out across the globe just “because” doesn’t mean the rest of the world needed it, just mean you had enough money to outcompete even if your service is worse.
- cuteboy19 5y agoMost other countries have different companies like Ola DiDi etc which have localized models more suitable to the country theyre in. Uber actually failed to replicate its model in these countries
- mftb 5y agoIt would seem that many other folks in this thread disagree that Uber's service in the area you referenced is worse. I've never been to the UK, so I can't offer an opinion.
- simonbarker87 5y agoYeh either I got lucky here in the UK or they have been unlucky.
- unmole 5y agoWhy did people take to Uber outside the US if there wasn't a need?
- amelius 5y agoBecause Uber subsidized the rides.
- simonbarker87 5y agoThis, they used their VC money to undercut the local market. Everyone complained when China did it with steel but not when Uber did it with taxis
- a-dub 5y agoas a counterpoint, there were places like nyc where the cabs and black cars were very reliable, fast and cheap and there were both drivers and family owned black car bases that were keeping the overheads rather than see them sent elsewhere. many drivers were first generation immigrants.. owned homes in queens, were putting kids through college, looking at their name come up on the medallion wait-list in a few years as a retirement. all that stopped with appcars.
- cultureulterior 5y agoThe fact that medallions were so expensive that you could retire off owning one was the problem. There weren't enough taxis.
- Ekaros 5y agoThe insanity was that medallions had monetary value in first place. Just imagine that you couldn't start software company unless you bought medallion from someone already operating one. Or any other business for that matter... As for each type of business there is very good reasons to limit amount of those...
- anticensor 5y agoBusiness licensure is a thing, despite not every business licence is a medallion type of licence.
- a-dub 5y agothat insanity was why there were professional drivers who were making a good living at the trade. but i suppose if the only constituents you really care about are customers, the people getting rich writing dispatch/billing software and the people facilitating the construction of a massive venture capital fueled duopolistic takeover of an entire industry, this works too i guess.
- a-dub 5y agoagain, in the nyc market, it was fine, if not very good. most drivers i spoke to seemed to like the medallions as they offered some long term investment potential and a sort of seniority reward. there was of course big capital at play, but drivers could have complained to the tlc... what can they do now? file a support ticket?