Save your pennies (aka what will you do after your job is automated)

av8tr1 said:
Hang on a second. The only job that Uber "technology" upended was dispatchers. Fundamentally Uber is just a taxi company with better marketing. At the end of the day you're still paying someone to drive you from point A to B. But instead of calling someone on the phone to schedule a pickup you have a app on your phone.

Uber is just a taxi, with a slightly hipper rap. And none of the safety and government oversight. But it's cool to hire a "Uber" than it is to hire a taxi. All it did was put tons of taxi drivers and taxi dispatchers out of work.

And the idiots stupid enough to drive for Uber obviously have no understanding of basic economics. No one, except Uber, is making money at it.

Marketing and technology are two very different things and often times dynamically opposed. Uber is the pet rock of this decade.

Now if Uber ever actually gets self driving cars working then your analogy makes sense. But right now all they are is a better marketing team than yellow cab.
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And they're clean. And they accept credit cards without grumbling about needing a better tip. And if I want a nicer car I can select it. And i can get a receipt emailed to my work account. Annd...
 
Bob Ridpath said:
To believe that errors and hackers won’t be prolific and effective (as they are now), is a belief as naive as embracing a flat earth upon which unicorns roam freely.
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We make conscious decisions about how secure software is going to be - it is possible to design more secure systems. There is a tradeoff of making things easier for users, the cost of testing, design cost, and other considerations. Security has increasingly been a priority in the software world, from what I have seen over the last 20 years.
 
av8tr1 said:
Hang on a second. The only job that Uber "technology" upended was dispatchers. Fundamentally Uber is just a taxi company with better marketing. At the end of the day you're still paying someone to drive you from point A to B. But instead of calling someone on the phone to schedule a pickup you have a app on your phone.
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True, but the more efficient location based dispatching, and variable pricing does drive a lot of efficiency. Compared to a cab waiting for 4 hours at an airport, an uber driving from 8 minutes away is certainly more efficient.

Driverless cars are going to be a reality. They will be responsible for the end of the auto insurance industry.
 
mikecweb said:
And they're clean. And they accept credit cards without grumbling about needing a better tip. And if I want a nicer car I can select it. And i can get a receipt emailed to my work account. Annd...
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That's not a technology advancement that's customer service. That's also been your single experience. I can list tons of other examples where Uber has failed the "customer" part of service. As a taxicab driver you need to be licensed and bonded in many states. That involves some significant background checks. Something Uber has been shown to be sorely lacking in. In addition there are no requirements for safety inspections on Uber cars beyond the state mandated safety checks. If your state and city are not part of it you could easily be riding around in a 1974 Dodge Monaco sedan with a broken cigarette lighter.

And god forbid said Uber driver gets in a wreak and passengers are injured.......Think Uber's insurance is going to cover your medical bills? Nope nor is the driver's insurance which unless they purchased a for profit insurance policy their "The General" policy isn't going to do squat for you either.
 
av8tr1 said:
That's not a technology advancement that's customer service. That's also been your single experience. I can list tons of other examples where Uber has failed the "customer" part of service. As a taxicab driver you need to be licensed and bonded in many states. That involves some significant background checks. Something Uber has been shown to be sorely lacking in. In addition there are no requirements for safety inspections on Uber cars beyond the state mandated safety checks. If your state and city are not part of it you could easily be riding around in a 1974 Dodge Monaco sedan with a broken cigarette lighter.

And god forbid said Uber driver gets in a wreak and passengers are injured.......Think Uber's insurance is going to cover your medical bills? Nope nor is the driver's insurance which unless they purchased a for profit insurance policy their "The General" policy isn't going to do squat for you either.
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A couple things, in order to drive for Uber the vehicle must be model year 2002 or newer. In some cities they have to be even newer than that. Given the state of some taxis I've seen, I wouldn't hold them up as a beacon of vehicular safety.

Also, they (Uber, anyway) have $1 million liability policies if the accident is the fault of your driver and you're injured while using their service. Yes, all cabs carry coverage but it's generally the minimum required and good luck dealing with those companies.

Uber and Lyft have their issues, but if I have to choose between them or a cab company, I'm going with the ride sharing service every time. My worst experience with them is still an order of magnitude or two better than my best experience with a cab company.
 
I love Uber, not because it's "hip", but because I can get a ride.

I can't tell you how maddening it is that I can't get a cab in a lot of cities because I'm seen as "dangerous" or a fare jumper. And it's 2017, how ridiculous.

But then I can be the highest earning, best educated person in the room and I'm addressed as "Hey bro". Ungh! Murder!
 
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ATN_Pilot said:
My only complaint with Uber is that some places make the pickup locations ridiculously inconvenient. Airports and Vegas are notorious for this.
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That’s why I almost alway use Lyft.

The funny thing is the lyft driver also has an Uber sticker on their car...


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Derg said:
I love Uber, not because it's "hip", but because I can get a ride.

I can't tell you how maddening it is that I can't get a cab in a lot of cities because I'm seen as "dangerous" or a fare jumper. And it's 2017, how ridiculous.

But then I can be the highest earning, best educated person in the room and I'm addressed as "Hey bro". Ungh! Murder!
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All I want to know is,

that your TV, boy? :D
 
ATN_Pilot said:
How is Lyft different? I've always seen their pickup spots in the same place.
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Unless both apps have changed in the last month or so. With lyft you can drop the pin exactly where you’re at (at an FBO for example) where Uber will default to the baggage claim area at the airport and won’t let you move it. Signature at ORD is almost impossible to get an Uber ride from, Lyft is no problem.

It’s not universal though. Signature at DCA has an Uber pick up location.


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Try getting an Uber at Fedex's location at DTW. Impossible. The app "self centers" to the airport terminal and forces you to pick North or McNamarra terminal. I set North Terminal, then immediately call the guy who accepts the job and tell him where I am. So far it's worked both times I've tried, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone just drops my ride request.
 
Derg said:
I love Uber, not because it's "hip", but because I can get a ride.

I can't tell you how maddening it is that I can't get a cab in a lot of cities because I'm seen as "dangerous" or a fare jumper. And it's 2017, how ridiculous.

But then I can be the highest earning, best educated person in the room and I'm addressed as "Hey bro". Ungh! Murder!
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Hiroki Tanaka has just one question:

Do you find that being African American as more advantage or disadvantage in the modern world?





In case anyone didn't get the reference

 
etflies said:
A couple things, in order to drive for Uber the vehicle must be model year 2002 or newer. In some cities they have to be even newer than that. Given the state of some taxis I've seen, I wouldn't hold them up as a beacon of vehicular safety.

Also, they (Uber, anyway) have $1 million liability policies if the accident is the fault of your driver and you're injured while using their service. Yes, all cabs carry coverage but it's generally the minimum required and good luck dealing with those companies.

Uber and Lyft have their issues, but if I have to choose between them or a cab company, I'm going with the ride sharing service every time. My worst experience with them is still an order of magnitude or two better than my best experience with a cab company.
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See yet again there is that "marketing" manipulation. There is nothing "sharing" about Uber or Lyft. It is a 100% for profit organization. If both services were electronic hitchhiking services than I could see the "ride sharing" title being applicable. But both companies charge for their services thus its just a "taxi with a slightly hipper rap".
 
I use taxis from locations with taxi stands (airports, hotels, etc). It’s a pain trying to get an uber in one of those locations if there isn’t a pick up point. Then you have to wait for the driver to come. I’d rather walk straight into a taxi.

From my house I’ll always uber/lyft. I’m sure as hell not calling a taxi.
 
av8tr1 said:
If the ATRs weren't 121 they would already be flying single pilot.
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121 isn't the problem. The crew requirement is part of the TC. It's really not designed to be flown by one pilot. I think you are right about the Couriers being single pilot though. Good on 'em.
 
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