At least you're not getting long hauled. We use a taxi for rides to/from the airport in Las Vegas due to fixed pricing and minimal wait for a ride.
Now that Uber & Lyft destroyed taxis, they’re coming for their profits, and lowering their service…
- Thread starter JHZR2
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You can't find a fix?
What did Uber and Lyft "fix"?
The fix is a Capitalistic solution. Some smart, business-minded people with common sense, some experience and investments could put both of them out of business within a year in today's mob-minded environment where the next best thing spreads like an uncontrolled wildfire through social media....
Full disclosure -
I've ridden in a Taxi twice. Once in DC, once in NYC. Both times were similar - someone who never spoke was driving and the inside was hotter than Hades. Both times in some nasty Crown Vic but they each got the job done - transport us from A to B in the rain....
I've never used Uber, Lyft or any other rideshare. I hate riding with people I know, I like to drive. I hate riding in the off-site airport parking lot shuttles. There's about 4 people on the planet I'm 100% comfortable with riding in the passenger seats.
I understand there's a need for these services, but it's just not for me.
I've ridden in a Taxi twice. Once in DC, once in NYC. Both times were similar - someone who never spoke was driving and the inside was hotter than Hades. Both times in some nasty Crown Vic but they each got the job done - transport us from A to B in the rain....
I've never used Uber, Lyft or any other rideshare. I hate riding with people I know, I like to drive. I hate riding in the off-site airport parking lot shuttles. There's about 4 people on the planet I'm 100% comfortable with riding in the passenger seats.
I understand there's a need for these services, but it's just not for me.
And when you land in a city, where you don’t have that number of aunts and uncles, how do you get around?
4WD
$50 site donor 2024
Uber Uncle Utopia
One more reason I don't like airports, big cities and being dependant on anybody for anything.
Leaving my beater at a shuttle lot is almost always cheaper than a ride to the airport and way less stress. Renting a car at my location is worth it, too.
Leaving my beater at a shuttle lot is almost always cheaper than a ride to the airport and way less stress. Renting a car at my location is worth it, too.
I agree with the OP
Why would you go somewhere without family? And why didn't you drive?
J/k rent a car i guess
GON
$100 Site Donor 2024
I'm flying into Denver to see my Daughter and two Grandsons. The flight will land at 1030pm. I will take an Uber to visit them. Getting two boys, ages six and three, out of bed, especially on a school night, and take them to the airport is not so feasible.
JHZR2
Staff member
Some of us travel for work. And sometimes travel times are t conducive to inconveniencing others
GON
$100 Site Donor 2024
HD, I thought about it and can't find a fix. It would be significantly easier starting an airline than an application that can compete with Uber. One thought is to partner with Bolt or Didi, two of Asia's largest rideshare apps.... actually, I like that idea, although I am being realistic when I think big money has already looked at the feasibility of Bolt and Didi in the US.
Sometimes it is simply not feasible to compete when it comes to technology. Nobody can compete with Google as a search engine. Most just throw in the towel. MSFT with unlimited cash, decided it can't compete with Google search engine. I am not aware of a single search engine outside of Google that has a noticeable market share. Imagine the money to be made if someone could compete with Google's search engine. Overnight mega billionaire. How many millions would love to dump Google's search engine. Yet, nobody has found a way.
Of note- I believe Uber is successful not because of their app or their business practices. I suspect Uber's success is they are masters at lobbying, and I suspect donations also.
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The issue isn’t the tech - it’s the drivers. Some are fine , some suck. None are monitored. Neither were taxis outside of the largest cities.
Horse has left the barn. Something new will have to come along to break Uber at this point. Driverless cars or regulation or something.
Horse has left the barn. Something new will have to come along to break Uber at this point. Driverless cars or regulation or something.
GON
$100 Site Donor 2024
Funny you mention driverless cars. Recently I read an article that TSLA will make as many cars as possible, regardless of automobile sales market conditions. The article stated TSLA will be using the excess built cars for the driverless marketplace, with TSLA generating revenue with every ride.
Your first sentence should include under insured too.
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Uber themselves provide liability when I am in the car. Still underinsured but more than most carry likely since most buy the state minimum
GON, you certainly have some points about financing and government influence. Anyone with a brain knows that you need to grease the palms to be viable.
But I was going to say that MOST consumer-driven businesses today are make or break on the fact that there is simply not enough people doing consumer-service oriented, low-to-no skill jobs with great effort, desire or any other trait other than a complete, lazy, loser. CFA is starting to show real signs of suffering because they have A) lowered their standards of hiring, B) cannot find enough high-quality people to work in their facilities.
The costs to start up and operate something like a ride share are mind boggling. It's more than an app and paying a driver $4 plus commission/tips. It's the insurance, the ins, the outs, etc.
One thing you harp on is the worst - dealing with the criminal politics at the airports in major metro areas. These are usually run by the local corrupt politicians and there's all the "disadvantaged business owner" who gets all the work. Combating these two attributes will make you do something else. The consumer suffers, but doesn't want to cure problems like these at the ballot box...
But I was going to say that MOST consumer-driven businesses today are make or break on the fact that there is simply not enough people doing consumer-service oriented, low-to-no skill jobs with great effort, desire or any other trait other than a complete, lazy, loser. CFA is starting to show real signs of suffering because they have A) lowered their standards of hiring, B) cannot find enough high-quality people to work in their facilities.
The costs to start up and operate something like a ride share are mind boggling. It's more than an app and paying a driver $4 plus commission/tips. It's the insurance, the ins, the outs, etc.
One thing you harp on is the worst - dealing with the criminal politics at the airports in major metro areas. These are usually run by the local corrupt politicians and there's all the "disadvantaged business owner" who gets all the work. Combating these two attributes will make you do something else. The consumer suffers, but doesn't want to cure problems like these at the ballot box...
JHZR2
Staff member
That’s true. And it isn’t necessarily the drivers that one gets. Cars are generally ok, sometimes they stink or have issues. I had one driver that was an Uzbek, spoke no English, drove 90 on a bridge that ended in a hard turn. I actually had to shout at him to slow down. Crazy.
My biggest issue is that if Uber is going to charge me some minutes in if I cancel a ride, there should be similar penalties for the drivers. Or Uber provides a credit on their own. Right now the rider holds all liability and gets charged for the slightest thing, while the driver holds no liability. And, the app has gotten worse at matching drivers, and in estimating times to find a driver, time for the driver to arrive, and then time to destination.
In NYC - I’m happy to hail a cab. Renting a car is a horrible idea for getting around Manhattan, between traffic and parking, it’s incredibly expensive and incredibly slow.
In most cities, I just go Uber Black. Black is a different level of service. I’ve had some bad Lyft rides in Boston, for example. I’ve had poor Uber rides as well.
So, it’s Black for me.
In PHX, for example, I’ve previously gone Black, and now have the name/number of the driver and simply call her personally. Lindsy. Courteous, punctual, safe. Brand new GMC Suburban.
A ride to/from PHX to my kids’ place is less than a week’s rental, with zero hassle.
In most cities, I just go Uber Black. Black is a different level of service. I’ve had some bad Lyft rides in Boston, for example. I’ve had poor Uber rides as well.
So, it’s Black for me.
In PHX, for example, I’ve previously gone Black, and now have the name/number of the driver and simply call her personally. Lindsy. Courteous, punctual, safe. Brand new GMC Suburban.
A ride to/from PHX to my kids’ place is less than a week’s rental, with zero hassle.
