x_throwaway80bf

5 ms·

1.
by x_throwaway80bf 9y ago
This is generally the first thing that everyone thinks in response to seeing Uber's shocking loss numbers and lack of profitability in the model where drivers needs to be subsidized greatly to increase supply in unprofitable areas. Sin
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by x_throwaway80bf 9y ago
Yes, that is a good comparison. With Uber though, it is dramatically worse, since all obtainable data about their finances shows that Uber has created, by far, the biggest losses among VC-funded companies in the start-up / post-tech-bu
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by x_throwaway80bf 9y ago
Rather than 'turning off the lights' Uber is surely planning to find some means by which they can use hype to drive their valuation higher in preparation for an IPO. When a company in this situation goes to IPO, it is generally a
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by x_throwaway80bf 9y ago
> An analytical perspective which ignores consumer sentiment in a market economy is academically moot. Nobody is saying to ignore it... where are you getting that? I'm saying to analyze it _more carefully_. We definitely should anal
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by x_throwaway80bf 9y ago
This still doesn't address the fact that the reason Uber experiences are different from this is purely down to subsidy. If drivers weren't being subsidized to provide the unprofitable rides that yellow cabs are forced to provide b
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by x_throwaway80bf 9y ago
I agree generic consumer opinion won't really take into account the subsidy and unprofitability situation. That is in fact my entire point: because generic consumer opinion or anecdotes don't qualify themselves based on the subsid
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by x_throwaway80bf 9y ago
> I generally don't consider the long term sustainability of the companies I purchase goods from. We could probably go on at length about the moral problems here, but likely not productive in a comment thread. > That said, I&#x27
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by x_throwaway80bf 9y ago
> It's illegal in NYC for a yellow cab to refuse a ride request to any of the five boroughs... Yes, of course. But the reason you don't see Uber drivers doing the same thing (or outright avoiding these unprofitable trips) is th
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by x_throwaway80bf 9y ago
This isn't very relevant for discussions about NYC, since all drivers have to be licensed, and many drivers work for fleet owners who rent out the cars for shifts. Few (if any) NYC drivers user their personal vehicle, and it is very li
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by x_throwaway80bf 9y ago
> Perhaps you're seeing people defending them when other people are just trying to share their experience? If so, I agree, that would get tiring. The context of when they choose to share experiences casting Uber as a catalyst for si
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by x_throwaway80bf 9y ago
I had to make a throwaway as well just because I couldn't believe this comment. This is so utterly false. You're essentially claiming that the value of these services is all based on the innovation of the _hailing_ functionality,