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A suggestion: Install both Lyft and Uber (or whatever the second biggest ride app is in your area). I get regular notifications along the lines of "$20 off you
by AnotherGoodName 1y ago
A suggestion: Install both Lyft and Uber (or whatever the second biggest ride app is in your area).
I get regular notifications along the lines of "$20 off your next ride with Lyft/Uber" when i do this. I do not get these otherwise. It's pretty clear that to use a ride app you need to have at least 2 on your phone, otherwise there's no reason not to charge you exorbitantly since you've trapped yourself.
- macintux 1y agoOn an iPhone, there should be no way for one app to determine the other is installed. Are you using Android?
- AnotherGoodName 1y agoI am using an iPhone. I assume the difference comes from taking a break from one app over the other. They are probably noticing I'm not doing my usual routine (because the other app gave me a discount).
- JimDabell 1y agoThis can usually be done on iOS by testing custom URL schemes. When it became apparent apps were doing this, Apple changed it so that you need to declare at build time exactly which schemes you are looking for. This information is present in the app bundle, so anybody can download and inspect the Uber app to determine if they are doing this.
- _DeadFred_ 1y agoThis is why people hate modern tech companies. They don't optimize for efficiency and providing the best service, they optimize for profit in 500 different messed up manipulative ways. I don't want to have a 'social credit score' to manage while on vacation in the form of my AirBnB rating. I don't want to gamify between two apps to get a ride. But tech says 'do it or we'll exploit you'. Modern tech business models make you pay a tax to not waste mental energy on their BS games and it gets exhausting. So you stop and resent the companies for ripping you off/manipulating you. I hope that frustrations comes back to bite them and instead of being special darlings with regulation carveout's they become the most regulated industry.
- hypothesis 1y ago> So you stop and resent the companies for ripping you off/manipulating you It will probably work for both sides, as the only people left are either ok with that or clueless, perfectly self selected.
- Gys 1y agoI also have several apps installed and usually check one or two for the same ride. Pretty sure the one not chosen offers a discount next time.
- AnotherGoodName 1y agoYeah for all the talk that it's impossible for the apps to detect each other, "app was opened and a destination set but ride never taken" is a pretty easy thing for an app to trigger a notification on. In fact i just tested. Lyft discount notification came in after 2mins of doing the above.
- subarctic 1y agoI wish Lyft was in my city