5 ms·

> Why do people support a single company (like in this case Uber) taking over the business of thousands and thousands of existing companies and hence monopolizi

by cheeze 12y ago

> Why do people support a single company (like in this case Uber) taking over the business of thousands and thousands of existing companies and hence monopolizing an industry? In many cases (in USA at least) the industry is already a monopoly as it is. Uber is coming in and offering an alternative which is way better than the current yellow cab system. In many cities in America, getting a cab at 2am after the bars get out is nearly impossible due to demand, so you end up walking a few miles home because it's quicker than waiting around for a cab. Uber and Lyft have largely changed that. Furthermore, I don't think that there is some strong allegiance to Uber or anything, it's just the largest company of it's type now. I quite enjoy and use Lyft as well, and would definitely be open to anybody else who wants to enter the market. Taxi companies may be small mom and pop businesses in some areas, but in most large cities in the USA, they are breaking the monopoly, not creating it.

hack_edu 12y ago
I'm shocked at how often a "bar rush" is the primary example used to define it's utility. Keep it up and people will hate insular millennial techies even more. :/ Also note, even in the bay area, that once you leave the Big City limits the cab companies quickly become small business and not the monopolies we easily blame things on. It's those companies that are getting murdered and shit poured on them unfairly.
- ulfw 12y ago
  Very true. You don't even have to leave California to see there's tons of smaller taxis companies besides Yellow Cab. I used to live in Santa Monica and a quick Google Search shows dozens of independent taxis firms (about 3-4 of which I have used to get to LAX). Furthermore - who says that during 'bar rush' prices might not 'surge' so high that a simple 'black cab' ride across town ends up costing you more than your whole evening of pub crawling? It's not like there aren't numerous stories of those around: http://valleywag.gawker.com/470-uber-ride-cost-more-than-a-ticket-to-a-three-day-m-1619486909 http://valleywag.gawker.com/470-uber-ride-cost-more-than-a-t...
- kinghajj 12y ago
  "Unfairly?" How is it at all unfair? Uber and Lyft provide service that is more convenient than what their existing competition can, and if those businesses don't adapt, they will slowly lose market share to the newcomers. That's how business works!
  - hack_edu 12y ago
    The 'shit' here being Internet Rage on places like HN.
    - Crito 12y ago
      People on HN are "murdering" taxi companies by complaining about them? If something can be "murdered" by mere criticism, then it deserves to be "murdered".
      - deleted 12y ago
        [deleted]
- apsec112 12y ago
  You really think "insular millennial techies" are most of the people who go to bars? Even in San Francisco I'm sure that's not true. And you really think it's true in Baltimore, or Cincinatti, or Omaha (all Uber cities)? To the extent people "hate insular millennial techies", it is mostly because certain segments of the media tell them to. See eg. http://pando.com/2013/12/26/look-whos-gawking-inside-nick-dentons-phony-hypocritical-class-war-against-tech-workers/ http://pando.com/2013/12/26/look-whos-gawking-inside-nick-de....
- kelnos 12y ago
  Regardless of whether or not the cab companies are monopolies or are small mom-and-pop shops, they provide a vastly inferior experience to Uber/Lyft/etc., whether due to availability at peak times, or just the general experience of hailing, payment, etc. That's why people are rooting for the new alternatives. Whether or not Uber is "more" of a monopoly in some regions than the incumbent(s) is irrelevant.
  - Vik1ng 12y ago
    whether due to availability at peak times, Just like we are going to see a lack of availability in slow times with Uber.
    - hack_edu 12y ago
      Or, what it already has shown to be given the free market, fare multipliers. For better or for worse...
    - kelnos 12y ago
      Perhaps it's just a function of where I live (SF), but I never see lack of availability at slow times, either. The most I've ever had to wait for an Uber has been ~10 mins. (Average is more like 4 or 5.)
- pavel_lishin 12y ago
  > Keep it up and people will hate insular millennial techies even more. In New York, it's not just techies using this. It's also a pretty great alternative to driving drunk, which people end up resorting to when there is a lack of cabs and public transportation in an area. (Obviously not New York, but Uber would be great in a place like Dallas.)
- wcummings 12y ago
  It's a good example because it could reduce drunk driving.
- trevelyan 12y ago
  Well... taxis are normally so expensive that people don't use them day-to-day except when they have no other choice.
- SilasX 12y ago
  What if I old you it's possible to be influenced by considerations other than emotional appeals to help "the little guy"?
Shivetya 12y ago
I wonder how long this extra availability will last. Meaning, cab companies are not in the business to lose money and probably staff appropriately. With Uber/Lyft being recent to the scene your bound to have a lot of new drivers who are trying to make a go at it. How many will be around in a year, let alone covering those "bar outings" that could benefit from service but don't have it.

by cheeze 12y ago

hack_edu 12y ago

I'm shocked at how often a "bar rush" is the primary example used to define it's utility. Keep it up and people will hate insular millennial techies even more. :/ Also note, even in the bay area, that once you leave the Big City limits the cab companies quickly become small business and not the monopolies we easily blame things on. It's those companies that are getting murdered and shit poured on them unfairly.

ulfw 12y ago
Very true. You don't even have to leave California to see there's tons of smaller taxis companies besides Yellow Cab. I used to live in Santa Monica and a quick Google Search shows dozens of independent taxis firms (about 3-4 of which I have used to get to LAX). Furthermore - who says that during 'bar rush' prices might not 'surge' so high that a simple 'black cab' ride across town ends up costing you more than your whole evening of pub crawling? It's not like there aren't numerous stories of those around: http://valleywag.gawker.com/470-uber-ride-cost-more-than-a-ticket-to-a-three-day-m-1619486909 http://valleywag.gawker.com/470-uber-ride-cost-more-than-a-t...
kinghajj 12y ago
"Unfairly?" How is it at all unfair? Uber and Lyft provide service that is more convenient than what their existing competition can, and if those businesses don't adapt, they will slowly lose market share to the newcomers. That's how business works!
- hack_edu 12y ago
  The 'shit' here being Internet Rage on places like HN.
  - Crito 12y ago
    People on HN are "murdering" taxi companies by complaining about them? If something can be "murdered" by mere criticism, then it deserves to be "murdered".
    - deleted 12y ago
      [deleted]
apsec112 12y ago
You really think "insular millennial techies" are most of the people who go to bars? Even in San Francisco I'm sure that's not true. And you really think it's true in Baltimore, or Cincinatti, or Omaha (all Uber cities)? To the extent people "hate insular millennial techies", it is mostly because certain segments of the media tell them to. See eg. http://pando.com/2013/12/26/look-whos-gawking-inside-nick-dentons-phony-hypocritical-class-war-against-tech-workers/ http://pando.com/2013/12/26/look-whos-gawking-inside-nick-de....
kelnos 12y ago
Regardless of whether or not the cab companies are monopolies or are small mom-and-pop shops, they provide a vastly inferior experience to Uber/Lyft/etc., whether due to availability at peak times, or just the general experience of hailing, payment, etc. That's why people are rooting for the new alternatives. Whether or not Uber is "more" of a monopoly in some regions than the incumbent(s) is irrelevant.
- Vik1ng 12y ago
  whether due to availability at peak times, Just like we are going to see a lack of availability in slow times with Uber.
  - hack_edu 12y ago
    Or, what it already has shown to be given the free market, fare multipliers. For better or for worse...
  - kelnos 12y ago
    Perhaps it's just a function of where I live (SF), but I never see lack of availability at slow times, either. The most I've ever had to wait for an Uber has been ~10 mins. (Average is more like 4 or 5.)
pavel_lishin 12y ago
> Keep it up and people will hate insular millennial techies even more. In New York, it's not just techies using this. It's also a pretty great alternative to driving drunk, which people end up resorting to when there is a lack of cabs and public transportation in an area. (Obviously not New York, but Uber would be great in a place like Dallas.)
wcummings 12y ago
It's a good example because it could reduce drunk driving.
trevelyan 12y ago
Well... taxis are normally so expensive that people don't use them day-to-day except when they have no other choice.
SilasX 12y ago
What if I old you it's possible to be influenced by considerations other than emotional appeals to help "the little guy"?

Shivetya 12y ago

I wonder how long this extra availability will last. Meaning, cab companies are not in the business to lose money and probably staff appropriately. With Uber/Lyft being recent to the scene your bound to have a lot of new drivers who are trying to make a go at it. How many will be around in a year, let alone covering those "bar outings" that could benefit from service but don't have it.