4 ms·

Isn't (at least part of) the point of surge pricing to bring more drivers out onto the road? Or was that just a lie.

cryptonector 3y ago
Would you drive someone 4.5 hours from DC to NYC for $250? The drive back would be $0, so $250 / 9, minus gas and mileage. It's very little. Meanwhile Uber got $650. I wouldn't do it.
- twelve40 3y ago
  on the one hand, you're right, and what's worse that if we apply the IRS mileage reimbursement to the whole round trip, that alone is not worth it, plus like 50 bucks for gas. On the other hand, $250 cash in hand, now, without having to run around or idle for customers could be a lot of money for someone. People who drive these things don't work for fangs...
- npace12 3y ago
  The driver asked me if his friend could also come because she was on the crew of the same flight and was also going to NJ. She offered to pay for part of it, but I was happy that I made it home and felt bad for the driver taking 1/4 of the money I paid, so I didn't take it.
jonathankoren 3y ago
It’s a complete lie. On a $116 surge price trip, drivers get an extra $5.[0] THIS is how Uber finally turned a profit. None of that Kalanick bullshit about how only self driving cars can make Uber profitable.[1][2] It’s jacking up prices and pocketing the difference. Never trust a tech bro. They’re all grifters and liars. [0] https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8LCks4j/ https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8LCks4j/ [1] https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/08/19/s-self-driving-cars-uber-ceo-travis-kalanick-ipo/88967594/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/08/19/s-self-d... [2] https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/28/ubers-self-driving-cars-are-a-key-to-its-path-to-profitability.html https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/28/ubers-self-driving-cars-are-...
- WillPostForFood 3y ago
  It’s a complete lie. On a $116 surge price trip, drivers get an extra $5 It would be helpful to have a better source than hearsay on TikTok from some rando whose gig seems to be ranting about tech bros. Even a an Uber driver on TikTok would be good.
  - Firmwarrior 3y ago
    How about some secondhand hearsay? I've heard this same thing from Lyft drivers. Their customers are all pissed, the drivers ask why, it's because a $30 ride is costing them $100. Meanwhile, the driver still just gets the usual rate
  - jonathankoren 3y ago
    How very brave you to dismiss screenshots and take obviously out of touch and responsible billionaire Dara Khosrowshahi over the drivers who have been saying this very thing for literally years now. Seriously. What makes Khosrowshahi believable here, and why do you identify with him?
- bawolff 3y ago
  > It’s jacking up prices and pocketing the difference. Obviously the way to make profit is to charge more than you spend. Literally the definition.
  - jonathankoren 3y ago
    Hotter take: Pocketing the excess value of someone else's labor and capital is theft.
    - bawolff 3y ago
      Hottest take: As a worker, only you can free yourself from your chains. It ain't the corporations' job to start the revolution on your behalf.
twelve40 3y ago
who knows? they have a ton of data that we don't have, and can infinitely tweak the pricing and the take-home based on their needs at the moment

Would you drive someone 4.5 hours from DC to NYC for $250? The drive back would be $0, so $250 / 9, minus gas and mileage. It's very little. Meanwhile Uber got $650. I wouldn't do it.

twelve40 3y ago
on the one hand, you're right, and what's worse that if we apply the IRS mileage reimbursement to the whole round trip, that alone is not worth it, plus like 50 bucks for gas. On the other hand, $250 cash in hand, now, without having to run around or idle for customers could be a lot of money for someone. People who drive these things don't work for fangs...
npace12 3y ago
The driver asked me if his friend could also come because she was on the crew of the same flight and was also going to NJ. She offered to pay for part of it, but I was happy that I made it home and felt bad for the driver taking 1/4 of the money I paid, so I didn't take it.

jonathankoren 3y ago

It’s a complete lie. On a $116 surge price trip, drivers get an extra $5.[0] THIS is how Uber finally turned a profit. None of that Kalanick bullshit about how only self driving cars can make Uber profitable.[1][2] It’s jacking up prices and pocketing the difference. Never trust a tech bro. They’re all grifters and liars. [0] https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8LCks4j/ https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8LCks4j/ [1] https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/08/19/s-self-driving-cars-uber-ceo-travis-kalanick-ipo/88967594/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/08/19/s-self-d... [2] https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/28/ubers-self-driving-cars-are-a-key-to-its-path-to-profitability.html https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/28/ubers-self-driving-cars-are-...

WillPostForFood 3y ago
It’s a complete lie. On a $116 surge price trip, drivers get an extra $5 It would be helpful to have a better source than hearsay on TikTok from some rando whose gig seems to be ranting about tech bros. Even a an Uber driver on TikTok would be good.
- Firmwarrior 3y ago
  How about some secondhand hearsay? I've heard this same thing from Lyft drivers. Their customers are all pissed, the drivers ask why, it's because a $30 ride is costing them $100. Meanwhile, the driver still just gets the usual rate
- jonathankoren 3y ago
  How very brave you to dismiss screenshots and take obviously out of touch and responsible billionaire Dara Khosrowshahi over the drivers who have been saying this very thing for literally years now. Seriously. What makes Khosrowshahi believable here, and why do you identify with him?
bawolff 3y ago
> It’s jacking up prices and pocketing the difference. Obviously the way to make profit is to charge more than you spend. Literally the definition.
- jonathankoren 3y ago
  Hotter take: Pocketing the excess value of someone else's labor and capital is theft.
  - bawolff 3y ago
    Hottest take: As a worker, only you can free yourself from your chains. It ain't the corporations' job to start the revolution on your behalf.

twelve40 3y ago

who knows? they have a ton of data that we don't have, and can infinitely tweak the pricing and the take-home based on their needs at the moment