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You could break the Uber lock on the market if supply and demand are not sufficiently random to require Uber's marketplace to coordinate. That is, if it is usu

by Dwolb 11y ago

You could break the Uber lock on the market if supply and demand are not sufficiently random to require Uber's marketplace to coordinate. That is, if it is usually convenient for Joe to depart from work at a certain hour and this is a time when Maureen typically likes to drive, both Joe and Maureen could potentially disintermediate Uber and split the marginal gain. This solution could look like a simple payments app, ride scheduler, and a local 'I'm here' function. Another option could be to structure the market to enable 'teams' of drivers (ie like a taxi company brand). Allow these teams to find further operational gains through pooling resources and greater coordination. This solution would re-imagine the Uber market and driver tools for full-time workers.

lsc 11y ago
Eh, I think the "one big marketplace" model is best. I... honestly, I don't want another relationship I have to worry about. I know it sounds terrible, but I just want to get to work every now and again, and I don't want to have to plan it ahead. My point is that you don't have to run the cars to run a marketplace, though the money is being thrown at doing both at once in an effort to lock the running of the cars into the monopoly. Running the marketplace is the only real natural monopoly here, though; If you can decouple the marketplace from the running of the cars, you could potentially become a lot more efficient, by allowing smaller players to run the cars.
- Dwolb 11y ago
  Hm, I think 'one big marketplace' is how people originally thought about messaging online. I don't need WhatsApp, I have SMS. I don't need Snapchat I have WhatsApp. I don't need Facebook, I have Twitter.' However, horizontal differentiation in messaging and social has allowed people to use different tools depending on context. In fact, it's currently a bit silly to think you'd spam all your message or social apps at once using a single app or service. I don't really feel there is a natural monopoly with today's tech when it comes to carsharing. This goes back to my first couple of points where ultimate coordination and reduction of friction may be better served by local/human players to some extent.
  - lsc 11y ago
    I... honestly I have no idea why there are players other than IRC and email, with sufficiently fancy clients. Either it's primarily a marketing game, and the people willing to invest in marketing want their own network so that they have more control/can extract more value, or I just don't understand the market.

by Dwolb 11y ago

lsc 11y ago

Eh, I think the "one big marketplace" model is best. I... honestly, I don't want another relationship I have to worry about. I know it sounds terrible, but I just want to get to work every now and again, and I don't want to have to plan it ahead. My point is that you don't have to run the cars to run a marketplace, though the money is being thrown at doing both at once in an effort to lock the running of the cars into the monopoly. Running the marketplace is the only real natural monopoly here, though; If you can decouple the marketplace from the running of the cars, you could potentially become a lot more efficient, by allowing smaller players to run the cars.

Dwolb 11y ago
Hm, I think 'one big marketplace' is how people originally thought about messaging online. I don't need WhatsApp, I have SMS. I don't need Snapchat I have WhatsApp. I don't need Facebook, I have Twitter.' However, horizontal differentiation in messaging and social has allowed people to use different tools depending on context. In fact, it's currently a bit silly to think you'd spam all your message or social apps at once using a single app or service. I don't really feel there is a natural monopoly with today's tech when it comes to carsharing. This goes back to my first couple of points where ultimate coordination and reduction of friction may be better served by local/human players to some extent.
- lsc 11y ago
  I... honestly I have no idea why there are players other than IRC and email, with sufficiently fancy clients. Either it's primarily a marketing game, and the people willing to invest in marketing want their own network so that they have more control/can extract more value, or I just don't understand the market.