Re: I want to drive a Lincoln and spend my evenings drinking the very best Burgundy.
 

Have you checked to see if any drivers have "reviewed" them?

Re: Vaccines and the GOP
 

I agree with you entirely on the GMO issue, but to me that's not a question of "trusting" an industry. It's a question of trusting the broad consensus of scientists.

But there is a rational basis for greater mistrust of agribusiness, that is not founded in conspiracy theories or viewing the profit motive as evil, but rather is based on a good deal of history and experience. DDT was just fine, as were numerous other pesticides that had tremendous detrimental effects. Monocropping was just fine, despite the bad effect on the food supply, food quality, and massive vulnerability to pest invasions. And it's an industry that exploits natural resources, which presents a balancing issue that isn't present elsewhere.

Re: I want to drive a Lincoln and spend my evenings drinking the very best Burgundy.
 

I don't really get why you and Sidd are going at it so hard on this, but I will add that there are other reasons why Uber is a good business model.

1. You can rate the drivers, so if they want to continue to be successful, they will look at the transaction as one in which customer service means something. You'd think cabbies would do the same since they're so dependent on tips, but they quite simply do not.

2. You can tell where the car you're waiting on is and how long it will take to get to you. Even in the middle of the city, you sometimes have no idea when or if you're going to get a cab. That certainty is valuable.

3. You don't have to worry about tipping or handling money or swiping your card. You just get your ride, be polite and go about your business.

4. Uber will refund a portion of your ride if your driver tries to pull some slick shit. I had a driver take the fucking LIE to Laguardia (which entails driving way past the airport and then driving back). I complained and Uber instantly gave me a $40 credit for my next ride. All they had to do was check the route to confirm. And they actually care about keeping customers happy.

The surge pricing is absolute bullshit, though. It should be against the law. And they are (or have been) absolutely terrible telling people when and how much they are going to gouge them.

TM

Re: I want to drive a Lincoln and spend my evenings drinking the very best Burgundy.
 

I don't use Uber that much. If I'm out late or drunk, I'll use them. I mostly ride the train.

However, I know the city and my antennae are always up in cab situations because I think so many of them are asshole crooks, so there is not a chance any of the drivers pull any shit without me telling them exactly why I don't want to go the way they're going.

We did have a guy who had absolutely no clue where to go because he was completely dependent on his (offline) gps and brand new to driving, but he was honest and just asked where to go. Nice guy. Gave him 5 stars.

TM

Re: Are Cabbies Satan? Discuss?
 

Like Dick Cheney or Roger Ailes.

Re: I want to drive a Lincoln and spend my evenings drinking the very best Burgundy.
 

My hostility to Uber isn't based on their tech, but on their corporate culture/attitude. Lots of people don't care. Yeah, I don't shop at Walmart either. And sometimes I swear about things I don't like.

But could cabbies and car services companies learn from them? Yeah, they could, a lot of things. Most of the cab companies are pretty mediocre corporate citizens themselves, but on more of a mom and pop scale. But on the technology some will catch up, others will not.

I'll speak up for at least one car service company I think was a decent corporate citizen, though, which was Boston Coach when run by Fidelity. And they did indeed hire people as employees and changed the service standards substantially. But, those days are gone.

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.

Re: I want to drive a Lincoln and spend my evenings drinking the very best Burgundy.
 

2, especially on #3. PayPal does that for them.

I like surge pricing if it really induces more drivers to get on the road when you can't find a car. I bet they have data which shows whether this really happens, and it would be interesting to see what an independent analysis showed.

In my very limited experience, Uber is terrible about telling you how much a ride will cost. I had a friend visit and take Uber to the airport. As we waited for the car to show, I used my app to ask for a price quote. The fare he paid was twice as much. Did they somehow use their data to decide he's less price-sensitive and would pay through the nose? Or do they estimate much less than they charge?

Re: I want to drive a Lincoln and spend my evenings drinking the very best Burgundy.
 

It's not that hard -- I'm taking this as good-natured ribbing, and that's how my "sucking the cab companies' dicks" comment and other lines were meant.

If it's gotten beyond that, 'tis a bummer. Tone is often hard to convey in posts.

Were we in the same neighborhood right now, I would gladly buy GGG a drink or three, and I fully anticipate that he would accept. He's good that way (and like the bullshit UMC wanna-be-blue collar champion he is, he doesn't even leave a fucking tip).

Re: I want to drive a Lincoln and spend my evenings drinking the very best Burgundy.
 

Hank's wife told me she gets great discounts, but she wouldn't say why.


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

Re: I want to drive a Lincoln and spend my evenings drinking the very best Burgundy.
 

Well, maybe until now it was all fun and games.

Re: I want to drive a Lincoln and spend my evenings drinking the very best Burgundy.
 

What is the name of my former partner who told you two about me?

Re: I want to drive a Lincoln and spend my evenings drinking the very best Burgundy.
 

The one who called you a socialist? Man, I'll need a drink in me before revealing that.

Or, I mean, I don't remember.

Re: I want to drive a Lincoln and spend my evenings drinking the very best Burgundy.
 

I'm complimented. That they wouldn't stop fucking over young lawyers is why I left. Next time you see em tell em "Hank says he now makes Mike Kemp money" because he Nurtured the upcoming. Em will understand.

Re: I want to drive a Lincoln and spend my evenings drinking the very best Burgundy.
 

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!

Re: I want to drive a Lincoln and spend my evenings drinking the very best Burgundy.
 

You should be.

And if your name comes up again, I will.