Uber?
September 10th, 2015 at 2:33:29 PM permalink | |
Evenbob Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 146 Posts: 25010 | But Uber is NOT a good idea! You only see it from the customer side. Uber can advertise 'get a car in minutes' because there are so many poor schlubs out there sitting in their car doing nothing. Nothing seeks it's own level like the cab business. There are always just as many cabs as there are passengers who need them. Yeah, in busy times of day the wait is longer, but when it slows down half the cab fleet are sitting in stands waiting for orders. Uber is flooding the market with too many cars for the amount of passengers. For every Uber driver who realizes he's not making any money, 1.5 new ones take his place. I always had 30 cabs on the road and 20 at night. Any more than that and there wasn't enough business to go around. If you take a risk, you may lose. If you never take a risk, you will always lose. |
September 10th, 2015 at 3:16:59 PM permalink | |
petroglyph Member since: Aug 3, 2014 Threads: 25 Posts: 6227 | The expense of maintaining semi trucks is almost unbelievable, and with log trucks it is no surprise to have several flats per week and one castastrophic. Those tires each now can easily run 500, plus mounting and installation. That's why you see log trucks carrying they're trailors, so as not to put wear on the tires. But loading and unloading can be a project. Hack's need a class B cdl, do they not? I was wondering if uber drivers have a requirement for random drug testing like other CDL's do? There are requirements to pass an eye exam and physical, yearly or bi yearly, depending. I don't think there are many small business owners or sole proprietors that are obeying the law, especially as regards taxes. This reminds me of just another fad business with a bell curve. Remember movie rentals, especially the vcr's? Every dink town had one. Usually for the un ambitious. What about take and bake pizza's? When driver lawsuits begin and it is found out the ubers aren't insured enough, let alone unqualified and stoned, the business will plummet. There are drivers who pass a written test that should not be on the road. Do uber driver's pass a physical occasionally or is it some distressed out waiting for a heart attack driver trying to raise money for his medical treatments? AZ, are you saying that there doesn't exist better and worse drivers? Back when cabbies were local grown, they were professionals. What next, a niche cab company that uses only green cars? Would somebody be willing to pay extra to ride electric? The last official act of any government is to loot the treasury. GW |
September 10th, 2015 at 3:23:51 PM permalink | |
AZDuffman Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 135 Posts: 18136 |
Of course I am, because I am a customer.
As people do not make as much money they extras will leave the market. In any case, still a good thing. The entire market may expand. More people will consider using such a service for short trips. More will use it to bar hop instead of driving. Cab companies need to learn to move with the market. The President is a fink. |
September 10th, 2015 at 3:41:24 PM permalink | |
Evenbob Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 146 Posts: 25010 |
This is a huge point. Cab drivers have far fewer accidents than the public because they're professional drivers. They drive defensively every minute behind the wheel. I would be terrified getting into some soccer mom's Toyota, and I'm serious. No, there are zero drug tests required. I guarantee there are ride share drivers high as a kite the whole time they drive. It's a job that attracts the lowest people in society. If you take a risk, you may lose. If you never take a risk, you will always lose. |
September 10th, 2015 at 3:46:42 PM permalink | |
Wizard Administrator Member since: Oct 23, 2012 Threads: 239 Posts: 6095 |
The customer side is all I care about because I'm the customer. If it is such a bad deal for drivers, then why are there so many of them? Knowledge is Good -- Emil Faber |
September 10th, 2015 at 3:51:14 PM permalink | |
Wizard Administrator Member since: Oct 23, 2012 Threads: 239 Posts: 6095 |
Have you ever observed Vegas cab drivers? They are aggressive as hell -- running lights and weaving between lanes. Yes, others do that too, but not in the same percentages as cab drivers. I'd be willing to pay more for a taxi compared to Uber if I got more -- but I don't. In fact, I feel I get more with Uber and it costs less. Knowledge is Good -- Emil Faber |
September 10th, 2015 at 4:24:38 PM permalink | |
Evenbob Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 146 Posts: 25010 |
Because it's a no brainer deal. If you have 2009 or later car and clear license, you're a cab driver. For every driver making money, 2 are not. But when they quit, they're replaced with eager new ones. This is like the gold rush of 1849. They saw all those people heading west for gold and thought it meant there was enough for everybody. Far far from it. The number of people that need rides is very finite, it's fixed, it doesn't grow as the Uber fleet grows. If you take a risk, you may lose. If you never take a risk, you will always lose. |
September 10th, 2015 at 4:34:58 PM permalink | |
AZDuffman Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 135 Posts: 18136 |
Disagree here. Uber is creating new riders as they grow. I have met people out for the night saying they are calling Uber to save a DUI. Same people said they would never have called a cab. The President is a fink. |
September 10th, 2015 at 4:43:20 PM permalink | |
Nareed Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 346 Posts: 12545 |
If multi-level marketing is a bad deal for sellers, why are there so many? If pyramid schemes are so bad for the suckers who "invest" in them, why are there always suckers falling for them? Very likely Uber is a good deal for some people and a bad deal for other people. But it's also likely those who find it a bad deal do so only after working it a few days, weeks or months. BTW, could this be scaled up? One problem seems to be cost. If you owned 50 cars rather than 1, your costs go down due to scale. You can get better prices for parts and repairs, credit for gas, etc. I don't think a company could buy or lease 50 cars and then hire drivers to Uber them, but perhaps a bunch of Uber operators could band together in a sort of co-op. Just a thought. Donald Trump is a one-term LOSER |
September 10th, 2015 at 5:19:43 PM permalink | |
Wizard Administrator Member since: Oct 23, 2012 Threads: 239 Posts: 6095 |
I agree with your disagreement. When I was in Seattle I took Uber rather than buses and light rail because of the low cost and convenience. So, that induced me to make a ride I otherwise wouldn't have made. About whether Uber is a good deal or not for drivers -- I don't really care. I say let the free market run its course. Knowledge is Good -- Emil Faber |