Uber: Crap/Not-Crap?

[Orang Utan]

Except they're buses. Which are horrible.

They're great fun. Earphones in. Zoo to watch.

 

[J Ed]

Even the word Uber gives me the creeps, it sounds like a taxi service from Hitler's Germany.

 

[J Ed]

They're great fun. Earphones in. Zoo to watch.

I like buses, trains too, in my experience the people who slag them off are snobs.

 

[bi0boy]

Not sure why you'd want to take a cab in the day time

Not everyone's journey conincedes with a bus route

 

[Orang Utan]

Not everyone's journey conincedes with a bus route

Soz, being Londoncentric

 

[bi0boy]

Soz, being Londoncentric

Even on obvious bus and tube routes a taxi can make more sense. Try an adult with heavy luggage and two children from Paddington to Kings Cross in rush hour for example.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Not sure why you'd want to take a cab in the day time

Because when I'm in London I'm a) usually carrying various heavy bags and b) someone else will be paying

 

[NoXion]

Trains and buses would be better if they were free, or at least if they were not so fucking expensive.

 

[BigTom]

i always go to a normal taxi or a bus, i dislike the whole idea of uber on principle and wont do it tbh

What is it you don't like about the principle of Uber? Personally I think the principle is great, it seems (potentially anyway) a lot more efficient in terms of taxi drivers not making wasted journeys heading back to base, and I don't need to know any local cab numbers if I'm somewhere I don't know.

 

[YouSir]

Except they're buses. Which are horrible.

Buses are great. Beats the hell out of suffocating on a tube full of miserable bastards exuding misery.

E2a: Leaving in 2 miseries because that's how miserable it is.

 

[coley]

Yeah I can see all that, but one of the major downsides is the substantial increase in traffic we're seeing on already choked London roads. Making minicabs easier and cheaper is not a solution at all to London's transport / pollution problems.

Aren't they intending to move to EVs? In fact I'm sure I read a report where they have started to do so already.

 

[coley]

Screwed over isn't the way i'd look at it really. That's a sort of ian macgregor perspective, consumer individual style. Is there a monopoly it challenges? If so, is this the best way that monopoly should be challenged for both workers and users? Given the way that uber tax evades, fires critics, hounds people legally etc i really don't think so.

If a ' disruptive technology' destroys monopolies and empowers communities and individuals I'm all for it, a good example is the possible future for the electricity suppliers where generation and supply will be in the hands of communities not shareholders.

 

[mather]

If a ' disruptive technology' destroys monopolies and empowers communities and individuals I'm all for it, a good example is the possible future for the electricity suppliers where generation and supply will be in the hands of communities not shareholders.

But it doesn't "empower communities" it empowers Uber and no one else but Uber, which is a company that seeks to make a profit. Are you really that gullible and naive to fall for the bullshit that they are anything else but that?

 

[8115]

My take on Uber is that it's basically deskilling and empowering drivers, in the long run that's not good for anyone.

I don't know exactly how it works though. And back in the day I took some scary minicab rides in London so maybe anything is better than that. Actually I only took about two, a factor of the scariness and the price.

 

[butchersapron]

If a ' disruptive technology' destroys monopolies and empowers communities and individuals I'm all for it, a good example is the possible future for the electricity suppliers where generation and supply will be in the hands of communities not shareholders.

You've got the wrong end of the stick about disruptive here. It doesn't refer to the technology at all, rather, it's a wanky word for super-exploitation in niche or new markets by small or new entry capital, pr-ed into an image of youthful challenge to fuddy duddy old style ways of doing things (in reality, competition between them and established large scale capital with well entrenched market share etc - often with the hopem the latter will simply buy them out). A "a fight among hostile brothers." having a pretend war at workers and consumers expense.

 

[alex_]

My take on Uber is that it's basically deskilling and empowering drivers, in the long run that's not good for anyone.

I don't know exactly how it works though. And back in the day I took some scary minicab rides in London so maybe anything is better than that. Actually I only took about two, a factor of the scariness and the price.

Do you mean disempowering drivers ?

Ultimately I don't see what how uber is doing is any different to what Addison lee did using technology to integrate and automate gps mapping, billing, ordering, and dispatch systems. It's just uber is much more aggressive and global.

If uber were not doing it hailo, lyft or any number of competitors would be doing it.

I've used uber a couple of times, and they were brand new cars, very clean, on time, and fixed price. Including 8 quid to get from balham to brixton hill on Christmas Day.

Alex

 

[8115]

Yeah disempowering. Autocorrect

 

[coley]

Theres an anti-Uber demo in London today, and the anti-Uber movement just won in Belgium recently...I just don't know where to stand on this, with the entrenched interests that want to keep prices high or with the arrogant techno billionaires happy to sweep aside workers right. Would be great if there a third position... a Peoples Uber sort of thing.

Can't understand why people working for Uber haven't seen the opportunity to set up regional co-op ' ubers' and divvy the profits amongst themselves?

 

[coley]

Well I'm sure they plan on making profit, but such a big rapid operation is going to take a while to turn a profit. They are a private company so can't tell for now but most sources online are suggesting that they are hoovering up investment.

Ditto Tesla autos, no profit as yet, but eye wateringly high share price.

 

[coley]

i always go to a normal taxi or a bus, i dislike the whole idea of uber on principle and wont do it tbh

Fine if you have access to a taxi or bus

 

[coley]

But it doesn't "empower communities" it empowers Uber and no one else but Uber, which is a company that seeks to make a profit. Are you really that gullible and naive to fall for the bullshit that they are anything else but that?

While my comment was directed at disruptive technologies in general, most on here seem to find Uber a positive alternative to what already exists, but "disruptive" means many things and if people are clever enough ( including black cab drivers) the opportunity exists to disrupt Uber.

 

[coley]

My take on Uber is that it's basically deskilling and empowering drivers, in the long run that's not good for anyone.

I don't know exactly how it works though. And back in the day I took some scary minicab rides in London so maybe anything is better than that. Actually I only took about two, a factor of the scariness and the price.

Back in the day ( 18 years ago, to be precise ) I had to take my grandson atween train stations, I think the distance was about 4 miles,I was struggling with a suitcase and a pushchair so thought it's only a couple of miles, I'll use one of those black cabs, charged £10, so fuck em all.

 

[Doctor Carrot]

My boss went to Middlesbrough recently and said he got a cab everywhere because they're absurdly cheap, like two or three quid to go a fair distance. As a result most people take cabs everywhere and why wouldn't you at that price? He said he asked the cabs how they make money and the answer came that as soon as they start their shift they don't stop the whole time. Can anyone confirm if there's truth to this? If so why the fuck aren't cabs that cheap everywhere? Surely the cost of petrol and upkeep of a car isn't so different in Middlesbrough.

 

[sovereignb]

In theory im completely against it, but when it comes to the price i cant argue with it. People are always going to go with the cheaper option. Ive only used it once when going to the airport...even without the friend intro discount it was pretty darn cheap getting me across London to Heathrow. And im all for supporting the local cab station, but most people if theyre across the other side of town arent going to call their local cabbie are they? I for one would walk into any cab station nearby...I have a smart phone but im not a tech person and to be honest resist the urge to be reliant on apps for everything. Guess it would depend on the situation. But when it comes to that price...

 

[mather]

While my comment was directed at disruptive technologies in general,

Which are always utilised by those with the money and power to 'disrupt' the market for their own gain against older more established sectors of the market. That has nothing to do with "empowering communities" and everything to do with newer companies competing with older and more established ones for a greater market share, often as Butchersapron pointed out, in the hope that they will be bought out by those very same companies that they initially were in competition against. It's good old fashioned capitalist competition dressed up in the libertarian language of Silicon Valley.

most on here seem to find Uber a positive alternative to what already exists

That an appeal to popularity, not fact. Besides which my point concerned your baseless assertion that 'disruption' empowered communities not whether Uber is good for consumers because their fares are cheaper.

but "disruptive" means many things and if people are clever enough ( including black cab drivers) the opportunity exists to disrupt Uber.

If that is true then please explain why it is that this 'disruption' is only ever used by those with the money and power to corner a place in the marketplace for themselves?

 

[coley]

Which are always utilised by those with the money and power to 'disrupt' the market for their own gain against older more established sectors of the market. That has nothing to do with "empowering communities" and everything to do with newer companies competing with older and more established ones for a greater market share, often as Butchersapron pointed out, in the hope that they will be bought out by those very same companies that they initially were in competition against. It's good old fashioned capitalist competition dressed up in the libertarian language of Silicon Valley.



That an appeal to popularity, not fact. Besides which my point concerned your baseless assertion that 'disruption' empowered communities not whether Uber is good for consumers because their fares are cheaper.



If that is true then please explain why it is that this 'disruption' is only ever used by those with the money and power to corner a place in the marketplace for themselves?

You make valid points, I was just pointing out there exists these days the opportunity for individuals and communities to bypass the traditional corporate path of exploitation, but if people can't be bothered it's their outlook.
A commonly quoted example is how people bypassed the old lines and wires phone technology and embraced mobiles, however they still handed over power to the main providers, why? because, as you said, the few who tried couldn't resist "selling out" the opportunity exists for people and communities to 'take charge' of so many aspects of their lives, but as in politics, if their status quo isn't unduly troubled they can't be bothered.

 

[irf520]

It's a little ironic how many fans of Uber there are here given that they're basically the epitome of neoliberalism.

 

[bi0boy]

It's a little ironic how many fans of Uber there are here given that they're basically the epitome of neoliberalism.

I think they're "fans" in the sense of preferring Uber to the only other available option which is the black cabbies' cartel.

Obviously it would have been great if the black cabbies had seen the writing on the wall with SatNavs and mobile phones and organized themselves into a co-operative making use of mobile technology. They didn't though, so it was inevitable something like Uber would come along offering a better deal for passengers while profiting from facilitating the entry of "un-knowledged" drivers into the hail-and-ride market.

 

[pesh]

Ultimately I don't see what how uber is doing is any different to what Addison lee did using technology to integrate and automate gps mapping, billing, ordering, and dispatch systems. It's just uber is much more aggressive and global.

this really, Uber is just Addison Lee with slightly better tech and far cheaper prices. i use Uber when i'm paying and local cab firms when someone else is, or if i need to book one for an early start and can't take the risk of there being no Ubers around...

one of the biggest differences i've seen Uber make is for the late night party crowd, 20 years ago you'd fall out a railway arch at 5am somewhere and there'd be a line of unlicensed cabs waiting, first one would want £50 for a £20 ride, by the time you got to the end of the queue you'd have found someone who'll do it for £30, wander off with them and get into a knackered Rover 216 hoping for the best. Now you press 2 buttons on your phone and get a proper cab within about 5 minutes that will take you home safely for about £15.

definitely a lot safer now, fully agree that Uber is a shitty company though.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I think they're "fans" in the sense of preferring Uber to the only other available option which is the black cabbies' cartel.

Obviously it would have been great if the black cabbies had seen the writing on the wall with SatNavs and mobile phones and organized themselves into a co-operative making use of mobile technology. They didn't though, so it was inevitable something like Uber would come along offering a better deal for passengers while profiting from facilitating the entry of "un-knowledged" drivers into the hail-and-ride market.

It's not hail and ride though. It's a minicab, with the same cars and same drivers. You just order with a phone, instead of, errr, a phone