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This makes a lot of sense to me. When you ride in an Uber or a taxi, you're a guest in the driver's space. In a Waymo, it's your own space. You can play music,
by tempestn 1y ago
This makes a lot of sense to me. When you ride in an Uber or a taxi, you're a guest in the driver's space. In a Waymo, it's your own space. You can play music, talk on the phone, etc. without worrying about disturbing the driver. You're not likely to have strong odors, or driver's phone conversations. And the experience will be roughly consistent each time. In an Uber, you have no idea what the car or the driving standards will be like until you're in it. I trust my own driving over a Waymo, but I'd trust Waymo over an average Uber driver, let alone a bad one.
I've had some nice conversations with Uber drivers, but I've had some unpleasant rides too. I'd definitely pay a bit extra for a good driverless car. ('Good' being key. After trying out the Tesla FSD beta a couple times though, you couldn't pay me to ride in one of those without the ability to grab control.)
- Simon_O_Rourke 1y agoMaybe it's my rampant misanthrope leanings, but even in more trivial things like choosing automated kiosks other staffed in CVS, I'm just more comfortable not having to make small talk with a person, worry if they're having a good day or not etc. I'd happily pay 20 percent more to Waymo for that personless experience too.
- Mordisquitos 1y agoIt's interesting how American cultural expectations of forced social interaction may be having the effect of promoting automated systems as a reaction. As someone who lives in Spain and has lived in the UK, the idea of choosing self-checkout at a supermarket to avoid small talk with a cashier sounds alien to me; we simply don't do that here. While cashiers will certainly chat with certain customers while scanning their items, it's either that they know each other or it was initiated by the customer. I always choose staffed checkout over self-checkout because it's literally less effort for me, but I could imagine American social expectations at checkout —"How are you doing today?", "Oh these apples look amazing!", "Having a party are we?"— absolutely tipping the balance of effort and pushing me to self-checkout.
- dgunay 1y agoFor me the appeal of self checkout is that everyone gets in the same line and then fans out to the next free checkout machine. I don't have to wonder if I chose wrong when I see all the other lines moving faster. Some places with human cashiers (such as Marshall's) do this, and it's great.
- jfengel 1y agoThat is extremely rare in America, too. But it still feels awkward to an introvert. Just having another person nearby makes you feel self conscious. You won't be called on to make small talk, but you can't be sure of that.
- azan_ 1y agoI think what you are describing is social anxiety, not just being introverted.
- munificent 1y agoMy spicy take is that ~90% of people who believe they are introverts actually have a middle level of extroversion plus social anxiety.
- bsder 1y ago> It's interesting how American cultural expectations of forced social interaction may be having the effect of promoting automated systems as a reaction. That's not it. The issue is that it is FAR easier for me to interact with automation than some completely incompetent service worker. Yes, I get it. The service jobs pay so poorly that nobody competent wants to work them. However, at the end of the day, I simply want to accomplish my task and get going. For example, if you're drunk or stoned off your ass, to pick a totally random (not) example, you're probably in my way. Because of general levels of incompetence, automated systems are quite often better than most service workers I'm interacting with. Additionally, the service worker probably is limited to the same authority as me ie. totally unable to help because they are completely stuck with the same shitty web interface to solve my problem as I am.
- jart 1y ago[flagged]
- Tabular-Iceberg 1y agoFlagged and dead? Are we to take that as Y-Combinator officially endorsing violent rioting and property destruction?
- tomhow 1y agoWhat makes you think this? It was flagged by users. No moderators had touched it, or seen it.
- deleted 1y ago[deleted]
- Tabular-Iceberg 1y agoFlagging is one thing, but I assume that there is a human in the loop before a user is put in the dead state.
- tomhow 1y agoThere isn't. Almost everything you see that's killed has been put into that state without any moderator action. We review the ones we have time to review but that can be hours or days later, and we don't get to them all because there are so many (though users can vouch them or email us to bring anything to our attention to be reviewed). Further, even if we leave something dead, it's no indication of any "agreement" or "endorsement" of anything. We're not here to promote any editorial line. All we care about is whether a comment is within the guidelines: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
- jart 1y agoHow much karma do you need to have before you're trusted to flag and vouch for comments?
- socalgal2 1y agoIf the automated systems work I'd use them. Instead, USA systems are designed around trying to prevent theft and they error in the store's favor. I've had those automated systems scream that I haven't put my purchase in the bag. The purchase being single envelope of yeast, too light to measure. So it screams and scream "PLEASE PLACE THE PRODUCT IN THE BAG", "PLEASE PLACE THE PRODUCT IN THE BAG", "PLEASE PLACE THE PRODUCT IN THE BAG", "PLEASE PLACE THE PRODUCT IN THE BAG" until some employee comes over and presses reset on the machines. Meanwhile the entire store is glaring at you. So yea, I've stop using automated machines in the USA.
- nottorp 1y agoI don't think it's an USA thing. I completely stopped using the self checkout at my closest store. When I put a fucking 12 pack of toilet paper on the scale and it errored out. I mean, you can error out at food stuff that loses weight over time (fresh bread for example), that may be acceptable. But at known weight toilet paper?
- lurking_swe 1y agoi avoid those stores, i agree it’s very irritating. Stop & Shop is a good example. The checkout machine is constantly weighing the bag! Ugh. As an FYI there are stores that DON’T have annoying self checkout machines: Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Costco, Home Depot, and a few more…
- yunwal 1y agoThe Target near me won't let you scan any item over $100 at self-checkout, but they don't tell you that before you get in the self-checkout line. I've had to go through 2 10min plus lines before and now I just avoid the self-checkout. I'm sure in the long run it's costing them
- 542354234235 1y agoDefinitely a store choice. I am in an area with Publix grocery stores and have never had an issue with self checkout. I bring my own bags and have a bag in the bag area and one in the cart and can scan items and put them right back in the bag cart without any issue. They have a person monitoring the 5 stations and clearing alcohol purchases and other issues and it goes very fast. They also pay their people well, so the staffed checkout lanes are also very fast. I just personally prefer packing my own bags, even though I’m not as quick as the workers.
- gavinray 1y agoExactly, I will pay a premium for not having to deal with a human being in the car with me. It's a dice roll: you could get a very extroverted driver who won't leave you alone, or someone who smells bad, or someone rude, or a distracted driver... Just let me sit in peace, alone with a robot.
- nixpulvis 1y agoIsolationism progresses.
- smithcoin 1y agoAnd we wonder why we can’t get along anymore when the only time we go outside it to grab our Amazon packages off the porch.
- nixpulvis 1y agoIt goes both ways too. Customer service in person has digressed pretty far.
- crooked-v 1y agoTime for a Perry Expedition-themed dating service.
- criddell 1y agoWhat do you propose? Should Uber/Lyft train their drivers better to pick up on social cues to know when to engage and when to shut up and drive? Should they do more to make sure their drivers have good hygiene and manners?
- johnnyanmac 1y agoIt's not really a ride share problem. It's simply another crack showing how hard it is to just talk to people these days. There's a dozen other things to address first before I'd try to "make people be social in cars". funding into a variety of public spaces, better public transportation, regulating dating apps, better community outreach for events that already exist. I could go on.
- onlyrealcuzzo 1y agoWhy is anyone surprised that a smaller segment of the market will pay more for a safer ride in a luxury vehicle compared to a base model Lyft (which can be a barely drivable car with rank cloth interior where you can't even fit two people in the back seat)? Next up, some one will post, "First class tickets cost more than coach." Waymo will eventually have Waymo Comfort and Waymo Black.
- mbesto 1y ago> Why is anyone surprised that a smaller segment of the market will pay more for a safer ride in a luxury vehicle compared to a base model Lyft It's a criticism, because this same segment also realizes that a Waymo ride is WAY cheaper to operate than a human driven one.
- socalgal2 1y agoIs it? It might be some day but they certainly have to factor in all the R&D they're spending.
- mbesto 1y ago> Is it? Ummm then why on earth would they spend the money to build them if it wasn't?! > but they certainly have to factor in all the R&D they're spending. Those are capital expenses.
- lotsofpulp 1y ago> It's a criticism, because this same segment also realizes that a Waymo ride is WAY cheaper to operate than a human driven one. If this were broadly true, Waymo would be everywhere. If it is true, and that’s a big if that it isn’t being subsidized by the rest of Alphabet, it is only true in a very, very, tiny area of the Earth. On the other hand, Uber is a publicly listed company with public financials already operating globally with profits.
- blululu 1y ago
- spaceman_2020 1y agoThis is why I’m long AI as well - people will pay a premium for inferior service if it means they don’t have to talk to a human
- MBCook 1y agoThere’s something to be said for being able to not be forced to deal with a person, but I see something different personally. I’m “old” (40s) so I didn’t grow up with Uber. Maybe that colors my take. I don’t want to hire random Joes. If I wanted to buy a lift from a random person, I’d expect it to be very cheap. If I’m hiring someone to drive me from A to B I want a professional service. I want professional drivers in a fleet of maintained cars. With Uber/Lift you don’t know. Many drives do a great job and treat their cars/passengers like they’re professionals. Others don’t. The taxi industry sucked. They had no competition and could get lazy and do a terrible job and people still had to use them anyway. That needed fixing. But I don’t think the lesson we should learn is “taxis bad” but “bad service is bad”. And Uber/Lyft being so variable is not a plus at their prices.
- reddalo 1y agoI think that the best thing about Uber/Lyft is that they've been a wake up call for the taxi industry. I don't think I'd be able to book taxis (and pay in advance) using an app in my country, if Uber/Lyft didn't exist.
- Scoundreller 1y agoMysteriously their credit card machines work a lot more often now
- nottorp 1y agoYes, I'm shocked! Some traditional taxis in my area now have a sticker on the window saying they take credit cards!
- sagarm 1y agoBlack cars existed before Uber and Lyft -- in fact, that was how Uber started. Uber, in fact, still offers black cars (professional drivers) as an option.
- ghaff 1y ago
- fluidcruft 1y agoThere's also the issue of tipping. I haven't been in a waymo but I generally tip well in Uber or Lyft. I wouldn't tip a robot. So at least to me $15+$5 tip vs $20 is pretty much a wash.
- loloquwowndueo 1y agoHoly crap that’s 33% tip!
- ghushn3 1y agoIt's also a small, $5 tip. When you get small numbers, like $5, it tends to blow out the percentages.
- chipsrafferty 1y agoYou don't have to tip an Uber or Lyft, either.
- fluidcruft 1y agoSure, nobody has to tip anyone. But I do tip taxis and etc, typically about 30%, and it factors into my overall price perception. I'm just saying $15 that I will add a tip to vs $20 that I have no intention or inclination to tip isn't anything more than I don't have any expectations or empathy about tipping a machine. It doesn't seem particularly complex an issue about why Waymo can charge the same amount that I am willing to pay anyway.
- StableAlkyne 1y ago[Caveat: there aren't many Lyft drivers in my town, so I have only used Uber] The problem is their system extorts you into tipping. If you don't tip, the driver will give you a 1/5 rating. If your rating averages low enough, nobody will pick you up. It's more of a bribe you pay for a good passenger rating than an actual tip. As a result, you're forced to tip if you want to use it long term. Personally, I'm hoping Waymo takes Uber's lunch money. I will gladly pay more for a service has not been infected with tipping.
- chipsrafferty 1y agoAre they cleaned after each rider? How can they not build up an odor, lol
- theamk 1y agoNo driver is going to be smoking in Waymo car. (And if a passenger smokes, they'll be charged $100) I assume there are also industrial-strength cleaners during the downtime/refueling.
- notyourwork 1y agoTesla fsd and Waymo are far different in the technical sense.
- test6554 1y agoExactly. You're not paying more for the same ride. You are paying to have some time alone. To not have to deal with others where you can listen to an audiobook, have a conversation on your phone that feels private or other things.
- casey2 1y agoAnd all of it is subsidized by the carless taxpayer.