If you read the book reviewed here you may decide to stop using Uber

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Technofreak

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#257389 30-Sep-2019 15:42

This article was in the the bulletin I got from the Spinoff today.

Review of "Super Pumped" an account of the rise of Uber

It gives a good insight into the way companies like Uber work and how they have no regard for anyone but themselves.

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#2327159 30-Sep-2019 15:42

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#2327167 30-Sep-2019 15:54

Sure, I knew some of the stories and am generally aware of Uber's dodgy origins and practices, but the book will certainly be an interesting read; I've requested our local library buy it as I'm keen on reading it.

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#2327190 30-Sep-2019 16:22

Using Uber is a dilemma for many people, myself included. They're very clearly an evil company but the simple fact is their product and app are very, very good. Compare that to taxi companies who can't even build a usable app and still want to charge me a surcharge even if I wanted to pay by EFTPOS.

It's on my list to buy and hopefully find time to read when I'm on holiday in a few weeks.

OldGeek

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#2327220 30-Sep-2019 17:19

sbiddle:

Using Uber is a dilemma for many people, myself included. They're very clearly an evil company but the simple fact is their product and app are very, very good. Compare that to taxi companies who can't even build a usable app and still want to charge me a surcharge even if I wanted to pay by EFTPOS.

It's on my list to buy and hopefully find time to read when I'm on holiday in a few weeks.

Surely Zoomy and OLA, amongst others, are other app-based taxi options?

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sbiddle

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#2327278 30-Sep-2019 19:46

OldGeek:

sbiddle:

Using Uber is a dilemma for many people, myself included. They're very clearly an evil company but the simple fact is their product and app are very, very good. Compare that to taxi companies who can't even build a usable app and still want to charge me a surcharge even if I wanted to pay by EFTPOS.

It's on my list to buy and hopefully find time to read when I'm on holiday in a few weeks.

Surely Zoomy and OLA, amongst others, are other app-based taxi options?

Zoomy is a dead loss with so few drivers it's terrible. I use Ola quite a bit but their app is terrible and once again limited drivers compared to Uber. Many run both Uber and Ola but chatting to an Ola driver (who did both Uber and Ola) the other day he said lots have given up on it because it's really bad.

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#2327293 30-Sep-2019 20:17

sbiddle:
OldGeek: Surely Zoomy and OLA, amongst others, are other app-based taxi options?
Zoomy is a dead loss with so few drivers it's terrible. I use Ola quite a bit but their app is terrible and once again limited drivers compared to Uber. Many run both Uber and Ola but chatting to an Ola driver (who did both Uber and Ola) the other day he said lots have given up on it because it's really bad.

Besides the app behaving unexpectedly, their phone helpline no longer offers driver support & they first line respondents pass everything to 2nd line support who will "get back to you in 72hrs". Putting somebodies pay on hold for more than three days is not a good feeling. And finally, your support ticket is simply closed stating the problem is resolved. No idea what was wrong, what was done to fix the issue or if it was fixed 10 sec or 3 days ago.

There have been days were I have earned more money from Ola than Uber, but overall, Uber is still 80+% of my business.

As to Zoomy, man they really need to do something. I'll be happy to get 1 Zoomy request a week & ecstatic if it's 2. That's in a 25+ hrs driving week.

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#2327533 1-Oct-2019 10:53

That's really disappointing to hear Zoomy's doing so poorly; I had high hopes that a locally-owned and seemingly more ethical business could stick it (at least in part) to Uber.

I totally get that the taxi industry has been well overdue for a shake-up (I live in a city that's currently Uber-free, where taking a taxi from our house to the airport - a distance of 4.2km - costs between $22 and $25!), but would also rather be able to use alternatives to the clearly toxic Uber.

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#2327637 1-Oct-2019 13:02

jonathan18:

That's really disappointing to hear Zoomy's doing so poorly; I had high hopes that a locally-owned and seemingly more ethical business could stick it (at least in part) to Uber.

I totally get that the taxi industry has been well overdue for a shake-up (I live in a city that's currently Uber-free, where taking a taxi from our house to the airport - a distance of 4.2km - costs between $22 and $25!), but would also rather be able to use alternatives to the clearly toxic Uber.

I am a recently-retired owner/driver for a 'traditional' taxi company. While $22 might seem excessive for a 4.2km journey, examination of other considerations mitigate this charge. If the trip took 10 minutes (as it would, off-peak only, in Wellington) then the driver would be grossing a maximum of $110 per hour. Given that my meter typically ran for 15 minutes in every hour, the gross is more likely to be around $27.50. I worked because I met very interesting people, enjoy driving and earn a few $$ on the side. The legal limit for driving hours per day is 14, but of that time the meter runs for between 3 and 4 hours. Note that the other 45 minutes in every hour are not all idle because this includes driving to pick-ups and away from drop-offs.

The reason Uber does so well is because the company gets so much news coverage (or has done in the last decade). What Uber defines as 'disruption' everyone else describes as 'illegal'. Zoomy (its been around for years) cant get a look in because they do not garner the free publicity that 'disruption' gets.

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#2327684 1-Oct-2019 13:19

Just off the top of my head here's all the incidents I've had while using taxis:

I've 'lost' cash in taxi's.
Waited over 2 hours in the dark and wet.
Had taxis refuse short fares.
Had taxi drivers try to overcharge me when I was drunk by put more on the card machine than the fare itself.
Also whilst drunk they've taken me the (much) longer way home.

And I take taxi's very infrequently, so have had way more than my fair share of poor experiences!!! They're also relatively anonymous, and finding out what taxi cab you exactly rode in was very difficult.

As soon as Uber came to CHCH, I have had absolutely no issues. I know the fee upfront, the driver turns up when they say they will and I know exactly what person I've driven with.

Yes, Uber are parasites and should be condemned for their appalling behavior.

HOWEVER the Taxi industry have 100% done this to themselves. I am far from alone in experiencing this exceptionally poor predatory behavior while taking a taxi while drunk pre-Uber.

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#2327721 1-Oct-2019 13:54

I rode in a lot of taxis for a couple of years while I was recovering from an injury. I split them up about 20% great, 50% ok, 30% terrible. I had quite a number of taxi drivers I didn't feel safe in their car, some who argued with me about anything or nothing to the point a couple of times I called and made a complaint while I was in the taxi, often late, and lots of inconsiderate behaviour like no air con on hot days, windows open at high speed, weird incense, BO, being late, etc. Taxis are owned by the drivers, and run for the benefit of the drivers, they have no concept of putting the customer first or customer service. A simple way to rate taxis would get rid of the worst of the cowboys quickly, but the taxi companies don't want that - they can't create a decent app.

I don't like Uber exploiting their workers, but they've been 100% on time, polite, friendly, clean, no smells, etc. If you want to tip an Uber drive to increase their pay a bit that's easy to do in the app.

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#2327736 1-Oct-2019 14:18

Ola did revamp their passenger app a couple of months back, I'm not sure about the driver one though. I've heard complains from drivers who say it cancelled the trip when neither him or the rider did.

I use Ola because even after 20+ trips, I'm still being offered 20% discounts, and it's been a pretty good service for me, apart from sometimes on busy nights, or out in the suburbs its hard to get one.

Ola have been discounting and marketing heavily, and there's no way Zoomy can match that.

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#2331507 6-Oct-2019 17:12

sbiddle:
Using Uber is a dilemma for many people, myself included. They're very clearly an evil company but the simple fact is their product and app are very, very good. Compare that to taxi companies who can't even build a usable app and still want to charge me a surcharge even if I wanted to pay by EFTPOS.

That's why I use Zoomy if at all possible. Less evil than Uber, and locally run AFAIK.

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#2345733 29-Oct-2019 10:55

Young woman I know has been propositioned and proposed to by Uber drivers on several occasions - not something that women really want in the middle of the night when some stranger is also delivering them to their home address

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