Uber and Ubergate - tugs or ground breaking visionaries?

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jarledb

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#157091 19-Nov-2014 12:17

Uber has been a concept that I really like, but after following the apparent policies and tactics from the company, I very much doubt I will ever become a customer there.

The latest story which really set motion to what is now called #ubergate on Twitter is about VP of Business at Uber Emil Michael and his suggestion Uber should hire researches to dig up dirt on journalists that are critical of the company and its operations. (Story here). The journalist Michael thought would be interesting to dig up dirt on is Sarah Lacy, she has written a piece about the whole Uber debacle. The story covers what seems like seedy business practices, failing to do proper security checks of drivers, discrediting of women reporting attacks by drivers etc.

Among the stories that really disturb me is the story about Uber trying their best to sabotage their competitor Lyft. (Story here).

I don't think I want to support a company that thinks its OK to dig up dirt on journalists that are critical of their company, or think its OK business policies to sabotage their competitors. They don't seem to be too interested in how their customers fair either.

Uber and its services seems like a great idea, that unfortunately is in the hands of people that it appears shouldn't be in the service industry.

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#1179433 19-Nov-2014 12:28

Uber represents choice - akin to caged/free range/cage free eggs discussion. An ideal free market, consumer sovereignty influences the goods and services made available. As we all know this is never the case and tactics and discussions like ubergate will no doubt distort that.

nakedmolerat

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#1179462 19-Nov-2014 12:41

The story covers what seems like seedy business practices, failing to do proper security checks of drivers, discrediting of women reporting attacks by drivers etc.

I don't like this part. I am going to be in Wellington this weekend, I won't bother with Uber then!

ckc

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#1179485 19-Nov-2014 12:51

khull: Uber represents choice - akin to caged/free range/cage free eggs discussion. An ideal free market, consumer sovereignty influences the goods and services made available. As we all know this is never the case and tactics and discussions like ubergate will no doubt distort that.

I've never been assaulted by an egg. By a person throwing an egg, maybe, but I didn't think to ask if it was free range.

Geektastic

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#1179498 19-Nov-2014 13:07

jarledb: Uber has been a concept that I really like, but after following the apparent policies and tactics from the company, I very much doubt I will ever become a customer there.

The latest story which really set motion to what is now called #ubergate on Twitter is about VP of Business at Uber Emil Michael and his suggestion Uber should hire researches to dig up dirt on journalists that are critical of the company and its operations. (Story here). The journalist Michael thought would be interesting to dig up dirt on is Sarah Lacy, she has written a piece about the whole Uber debacle. The story covers what seems like seedy business practices, failing to do proper security checks of drivers, discrediting of women reporting attacks by drivers etc.

Among the stories that really disturb me is the story about Uber trying their best to sabotage their competitor Lyft. (Story here).

I don't think I want to support a company that thinks its OK to dig up dirt on journalists that are critical of their company, or think its OK business policies to sabotage their competitors. They don't seem to be too interested in how their customers fair either.

Uber and its services seems like a great idea, that unfortunately is in the hands of people that it appears shouldn't be in the service industry.

If the taxis are cheaper and the service is good I don't care if they dig up bodies and sell them to resurrectionists....!

If neither of those things are the case, they won't succeed anyway.

jarledb

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#1179507 19-Nov-2014 13:20

Geektastic:
If the taxis are cheaper and the service is good I don't care if they dig up bodies and sell them to resurrectionists....!

If neither of those things are the case, they won't succeed anyway.

Fair enough, not everyone cares of the ethics and behaviors of companies. I do, and don't want my money supporting this kind of company.

freitasm

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#1179524 19-Nov-2014 13:40

nakedmolerat:
The story covers what seems like seedy business practices, failing to do proper security checks of drivers, discrediting of women reporting attacks by drivers etc.

I don't like this part. I am going to be in Wellington this weekend, I won't bother with Uber then!

The reporting is about Uber in the USA. In New Zealand they follow the local requirements for public transport.

lucky015

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#1179538 19-Nov-2014 13:56

jarledb: I don't think I want to support a company that thinks its OK to dig up dirt on journalists that are critical of their company, or think its OK business policies to sabotage their competitors. They don't seem to be too interested in how their customers fair either.

Interesting, This is exactly what journalists do as a day job yet its not acceptable to be done in return?

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freitasm

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#1179555 19-Nov-2014 14:16

lucky015:
jarledb: I don't think I want to support a company that thinks its OK to dig up dirt on journalists that are critical of their company, or think its OK business policies to sabotage their competitors. They don't seem to be too interested in how their customers fair either.

Interesting, This is exactly what journalists do as a day job yet its not acceptable to be done in return?

Your logic is flawed. Journalists have a duty of bringing to the public attention anything that can be prejudicial to the public. Companies trying to dig up dirty on journalists to intimidate them are just trying to hide their bad business practices.

afe66

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#1179582 19-Nov-2014 14:41

I'm surprised.... No I'm not surprised they didn't fire him.

Brought the company he works for into disrepute.

Sack him. Draw a line under the episode.

For me, any other action is condoning the behaviour of the exec.

But they won't of course.... I'm sorry it was off the record etc etc.

A.

jarledb

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#1179689 19-Nov-2014 16:29

freitasm:
Your logic is flawed. Journalists have a duty of bringing to the public attention anything that can be prejudicial to the public. Companies trying to dig up dirty on journalists to intimidate them are just trying to hide their bad business practices.

A journalist that extorts (or gets paid) based on their reporting might be in the same league, but that is not what we are talking about here.

Geektastic

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#1179719 19-Nov-2014 16:49

jarledb:
Geektastic:
If the taxis are cheaper and the service is good I don't care if they dig up bodies and sell them to resurrectionists....!

If neither of those things are the case, they won't succeed anyway.

Fair enough, not everyone cares of the ethics and behaviors of companies. I do, and don't want my money supporting this kind of company.

I hope you scrutinise the origins of all your clothing and shoes, then...

sir1963

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#1179748 19-Nov-2014 17:52

Geektastic:
jarledb:
Geektastic:
If the taxis are cheaper and the service is good I don't care if they dig up bodies and sell them to resurrectionists....!

If neither of those things are the case, they won't succeed anyway.

Fair enough, not everyone cares of the ethics and behaviors of companies. I do, and don't want my money supporting this kind of company.

I hope you scrutinise the origins of all your clothing and shoes, then...

Well its one of the reasons I buy Apple, their work places in China are audited independently and they have a strong record of dumping suppliers when they repeatedly break the rules.

No other electronics manufacturer does the same.

jarledb

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#1179764 19-Nov-2014 18:03

Geektastic:
I hope you scrutinise the origins of all your clothing and shoes, then...

I try to keep an eye on what I buy, yes.

And if you are wondering if customers can change the policies of a company, just look at the story of Nike

There is no reason not to speak up and vote with your wallet when companies don't act ethically.

blakamin

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#1179770 19-Nov-2014 18:22

sir1963:
Well its one of the reasons I buy Apple, their work places in China are audited independently and they have a strong record of dumping suppliers when they repeatedly break the rules.

Does that mean all the anti-suicide nets at foxconn are gone?

ech3lon

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#1179777 19-Nov-2014 18:37

blakamin:
sir1963:
Well its one of the reasons I buy Apple, their work places in China are audited independently and they have a strong record of dumping suppliers when they repeatedly break the rules.

Does that mean all the anti-suicide nets at foxconn are gone?

Was just about to say that.

Any "audit" or so called fair trade by these companies, including Apple would simply be in their best interest for good publicity etc.

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