Is Ted Cruz Satan? Discuss.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

I don't normally respond to the same post twice, especially since I quit this board, but it's almost 9 EST. You should have drinks in you now. You're not going to live forever. Carpe diem!

We're turning merger docs. I'm hanging around to review the drafting and Nurture the Upcoming. I'll be here awhile.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by Sidd Finch

Seriously, I would think users would get very up-in-arms about the inaccurate price quotes. I mean, y'know -- computers and shit, right?

I would too, but the other experience I had with them was on a trip where on multiple occasions I got a quote from them, but then when I tried to book a ride was told there were no cars available. Maybe I'm not understanding something, but the price quotes have seemed divorced from actuality in my experience. I do think they target a segment that is less price sensitive.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

I would too, but the other experience I had with them was on a trip where on multiple occasions I got a quote from them, but then when I tried to book a ride was told there were no cars available. Maybe I'm not understanding something, but the price quotes have seemed divorced from actuality in my experience. I do think they target a segment that is less price sensitive.

Meanwhile I just took uber from dinner on Main Street in Huntington Beach back to the Hyatt. It was dark and I didn't want to walk the .8 miles. I get in and apologize to the driver about how small the trip is. He tells me he likes small trips, and suddenly Ty's post is resonating and I'm expecting $30.


The fare was $4.

[Sidd Finch]

This is an interesting piece.

http://www.salon.com/2015/02/04/this...hat_i_ask_him/

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by Sidd Finch

This is an interesting piece.

http://www.salon.com/2015/02/04/this...hat_i_ask_him/

Does Salon pay writers specifically for using "blowback"?

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

But why the hostility to surge pricing? If I hail a cab in a snowstorm, damn straight I'm throwing the cabbie a massive tip for the service. All surge pricing does is move it from the tip into the price. I mean, Uber knows how to go overboard with when and where to apply it, but if I'm grabbing a cab on a Saturday night or during a traffic fiasco, I do appreciate the ride and throw them something extra.

Because cabbies make a ton of money when it's raining or snowing. That's why they go out when the weather is bad. If I appreciate your service, I will tip you extra. If you are a dangerous asshole who doesn't know how to drive in inclement conditions, I will not. I'm rarely grateful that a cabbie is out doing his job when it's raining or when it's New Year's Eve*. I am happy if I'm lucky enough to get a cab because of the high demand, but why should that be attributed to the cabbie such that s/he needs to be rewarded?

If things are truly dangerous and cabbies are out when they probably shouldn't be, I will tip more. But Uber jacks the price up sometimes 5-7 times what they normally charge. Their excuse is that they want to get more cars on the road, but that's bullshit. They are taking advantage of a shift in supply and demand and the shift is more on the demand side than the supply side. They just know when they can get away with gouging and when they can't, same as the jackass who is providing everyone with a service when there's a blackout, by selling flashlights and batteries for 10 times the price on the street.

TM

*Please note that this is purely hypothetical. I never go out on New Years Eve.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Gee, the law really is an ass.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by ThurgreedMarshall

Because cabbies make a ton of money when it's raining or snowing. That's why they go out when the weather is bad. If I appreciate your service, I will tip you extra. If you are a dangerous asshole who doesn't know how to drive in inclement conditions, I will not. I'm rarely grateful that a cabbie is out doing his job when it's raining or when it's New Year's Eve*. I am happy if I'm lucky enough to get a cab because of the high demand, but why should that be attributed to the cabbie such that s/he needs to be rewarded?

If things are truly dangerous and cabbies are out when they probably shouldn't be, I will tip more. But Uber jacks the price up sometimes 5-7 times what they normally charge. Their excuse is that they want to get more cars on the road, but that's bullshit. They are taking advantage of a shift in supply and demand and the shift is more on the demand side than the supply side. They just know when they can get away with gouging and when they can't, same as the jackass who is providing everyone with a service when there's a blackout, by selling flashlights and batteries for 10 times the price on the street.

TM

*Please note that this is purely hypothetical. I never go out on New Years Eve.

Well, they advertise that they are looking to have you pay the maximum amount the market will bear. If you don't want the Skadden of car services, you don't have to use them.

But isn't this what Ayn Rand would do? And who are you to cast aspersions on these people who deign to give you this public service?

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by ThurgreedMarshall

Their excuse is that they want to get more cars on the road, but that's bullshit.

Is it really? (Not a rhetorical question.) There is a fixed supply of taxi medallions, but with Uber it seems to make sense that more people would turn out to drive if the price jumps.

Whether this actually happens is the question. What is the slope of the supply curve? Would be interesting to play with Uber's data.

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

Well, they advertise that they are looking to have you pay the maximum amount the market will bear. If you don't want the Skadden of car services, you don't have to use them.

I know you're being tongue-in-cheek, but they can advertise whatever they want. If we pass a law saying they can no longer gouge the fuck out of us, I don't really care what they say.

I'm not going to research it, but I don't understand why surge pricing doesn't already fall under anti-gouging statutes, especially during emergencies (like the snowstorms we experienced last year). Maybe it's because car services aren't considered essential?

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

But isn't this what Ayn Rand would do? And who are you to cast aspersions on these people who deign to give you this public service?

I am Thurgreed.

TM

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by ThurgreedMarshall

I know you're being tongue-in-cheek, but they can advertise whatever they want. If we pass a law saying they can no longer gouge the fuck out of us, I don't really care what they say.

I'm not going to research it, but I don't understand why surge pricing doesn't already fall under anti-gouging statutes, especially during emergencies (like the snowstorms we experienced last year). Maybe it's because car services aren't considered essential?

I am Thurgreed.

TM

I wonder if anyone has sued on this one? I know Uber has a mongo litigation budget because of all their sharp practices, so it is probably just one more straw among many, but I'd like to see the case.

Alternatively, maybe we can all think about whether our rates should fluctuate based on how busy we are - sorry, I've already billed 8 hours today, the next hour will cost you 3x?

If we did that, we could all fire a bunch of associates and start making more money doing it!

[Adder]

Originally Posted by ThurgreedMarshall

I'm not going to research it, but I don't understand why surge pricing doesn't already fall under anti-gouging statutes

There generally aren't any.

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

Is it really? (Not a rhetorical question.) There is a fixed supply of taxi medallions, but with Uber it seems to make sense that more people would turn out to drive if the price jumps.

That's the question. I'm just giving you my belief. My b-i-l used to drive for Uber and he would frequently have to sit around, waiting for a fare, making sure he was placed strategically to get more fares. He would also have to really jump on a fare when it popped up.

Just like cabbies, when demand is super high, Uber drivers are racking up fares hand over fist when it rains or snows. They're never waiting for a fare and they're not really competing because no matter how many cars are on the road, demand is high.

I simply do not believe Uber is providing an incentive to increase the number of drivers on the road in those situations. The incentive is already there. I could be wrong, I suppose. But Uber is definitely shady.

TM

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally Posted by Adder

There generally aren't any.

I remember hearing about them during the blackout years ago and Sandy. And apparently, according to this article, they're drafted more as an aspiration than an actual law with teeth: http://www.slate.com/articles/busine...ers_worse.html

Also, I'm not sure I agree with this article (which seems to be the blueprint of Uber's argument). They think gouging is a good thing during an emergency (efficient allocation of needed goods, etc.). I think it encourages people to clean out stores of supplies everyone needs and then sell them for a quick and huge profit.

TM

[Adder]

Originally Posted by ThurgreedMarshall

I think it encourages people to clean out stores of supplies everyone needs and then sell them for a quick and huge profit.

I think that's exactly backward. If prices at legitimate business can't react to changed demand, you set up an easy arbitrage opportunity for the kind of grey and black markets you mention.