5 ms·

>Having taken a $30 Uber to drive 15 minutes lately, when a taxi would’ve cost $10 or so, I don’t think they’ve ultimately created much value with their ridesha

>Having taken a $30 Uber to drive 15 minutes lately, when a taxi would’ve cost $10 or so, I don’t think they’ve ultimately created much value with their rideshare service. They’ve basically just moved the entities around, and now it takes a lot longer to get a taxi. You forget just how terrible the taxi industry was prior to Uber. I would walk for miles rather than take a taxi. I would gladly pay 2-3x more for an Uber than taking a taxi. There are signs that traditional taxi companies are waking up to their enormous service issues, but it only took their imminent demise.

pjmlp 5y ago
I never had an issue with taxis in most European countries I have lived on, so reaching 50 it is quite a number of taxis, and still manage to this day without ever having taken an uber, which I refuse by principle due to the way their treat employees.
- Ekaros 5y ago
  In Finland Uber lead to deregulating taxi market, which to no ones surprise lead to worse service, less skilled drivers, less availability on average and more expensive service... Then again I suppose the Uber lovers want exactly those things and an exploiting entity to leech money in between.
  - pjmlp 5y ago
    Interesting that you mention Finland, given that I was regularly there during my Nokia days almost 20 years ago, and they are for me the top reference, maybe only similar to the time I spent on Norway also servicing Nokia customers.
- Gareth321 5y ago
  This must be regional. My experiences are from the U.S., New Zealand, and Australia. Terrible, miserable service. I hate the old taxi industry in a very visceral way. If you're seeing good/better service in your location, and they cost much less than Uber, I imagine they have no issues staying commercially viable and you'll be able to keep enjoying their services.
taurath 5y ago
Do you have any examples what was better? Of the reasons I could think of that would constitute poor service, I've had as many Uber's just not show up as I've had taxis. I've had as many very poor drivers in Uber's as I've had in Taxis. The biggest thing I can think of is the average cleanliness of an uber is higher than a taxi. But like, the taxi meters are just so damn cheap compared to what ubers are nowadays, and thats with $6billion in losses per year. $30 is too much to go just 5 miles in 15 minutes.
- Gareth321 5y ago
  Here is a taste of my bad experiences: * "My card machine is out of order, only cash." * "That will be $[some outrageous and clearly fake meter amount]. * "My meter is broken. I'll just estimate it." * "There is a $10 surcharge for luggage" / "there is a $5 surcharge for that neighborhood" / there is a $10 surcharge for cards." Bonus points when they only tell you after you arrive. * Driving me the long way. This happened ~25% of all of my trips. It was particularly egregious before mobile phone GPS became ubiquitous. * Unsafe driving. * Stinking / dirty taxis * The cars took hours to arrive, and often never arrived at all. This is probably my biggest gripe. If there is one thing I require, it's efficient transport from A to B. If they can't even do this, they shouldn't be in business. I can count on one hand the number of times I've had any of these issues with Uber. I do agree that the price gap between taxis and Uber is increasing, but I gladly pay it. As above, I would gladly pay 3x more for Uber, so until the price difference arrives there, I'm sticking with Uber.

pjmlp 5y ago

I never had an issue with taxis in most European countries I have lived on, so reaching 50 it is quite a number of taxis, and still manage to this day without ever having taken an uber, which I refuse by principle due to the way their treat employees.

Ekaros 5y ago
In Finland Uber lead to deregulating taxi market, which to no ones surprise lead to worse service, less skilled drivers, less availability on average and more expensive service... Then again I suppose the Uber lovers want exactly those things and an exploiting entity to leech money in between.
- pjmlp 5y ago
  Interesting that you mention Finland, given that I was regularly there during my Nokia days almost 20 years ago, and they are for me the top reference, maybe only similar to the time I spent on Norway also servicing Nokia customers.
Gareth321 5y ago
This must be regional. My experiences are from the U.S., New Zealand, and Australia. Terrible, miserable service. I hate the old taxi industry in a very visceral way. If you're seeing good/better service in your location, and they cost much less than Uber, I imagine they have no issues staying commercially viable and you'll be able to keep enjoying their services.

taurath 5y ago

Do you have any examples what was better? Of the reasons I could think of that would constitute poor service, I've had as many Uber's just not show up as I've had taxis. I've had as many very poor drivers in Uber's as I've had in Taxis. The biggest thing I can think of is the average cleanliness of an uber is higher than a taxi. But like, the taxi meters are just so damn cheap compared to what ubers are nowadays, and thats with $6billion in losses per year. $30 is too much to go just 5 miles in 15 minutes.

Gareth321 5y ago
Here is a taste of my bad experiences: * "My card machine is out of order, only cash." * "That will be $[some outrageous and clearly fake meter amount]. * "My meter is broken. I'll just estimate it." * "There is a $10 surcharge for luggage" / "there is a $5 surcharge for that neighborhood" / there is a $10 surcharge for cards." Bonus points when they only tell you after you arrive. * Driving me the long way. This happened ~25% of all of my trips. It was particularly egregious before mobile phone GPS became ubiquitous. * Unsafe driving. * Stinking / dirty taxis * The cars took hours to arrive, and often never arrived at all. This is probably my biggest gripe. If there is one thing I require, it's efficient transport from A to B. If they can't even do this, they shouldn't be in business. I can count on one hand the number of times I've had any of these issues with Uber. I do agree that the price gap between taxis and Uber is increasing, but I gladly pay it. As above, I would gladly pay 3x more for Uber, so until the price difference arrives there, I'm sticking with Uber.