Maybe I'm just not hip to the whole Uber/Lyft thing, but the idea of being chauffeured around by somebody in a Hertz rental car doesn't sound at all appealing.
yeah because being chauffeured around by a random taxi cab sounds so pleasant.
New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers
31–40 of 148 posts
Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers
#32I like how Lyft is trying to make it easier for more people to drive for them. But, after Lyft's cut, tax and gas the hourly rate was very low. I drove for a couple months and they promised $25 - $35 during peak time, but I netted out to about $10/hr. Now to add on a Hertz rental fee, that is going to get very slim. Obviously this is still a better job for some people then there alternative. Lyft will market to new d…
That's probably why Hertz does longer leases instead of rentals for this program. It would probably be worth it if you got it from locations outside of urban centers, but drove in the urban centers.
One "savings" I see is that you wouldn't have to wash your car (which in the city for me meant an extra $35 a week). You also save on general car maintenance. The city streets are tough on the suspension and brakes. You can drive that rental into the ground :)
Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
Having an option to tip enforces customers to tip, I would prefer using a service that does not force me to tip by providing that option. I am against tips in general for drivers.
Does it enforce customers to tip? You tip via the app well after the ride is over. I usually don't tip, but occasionally I get a great driver and toss them a few bucks. They don't make great money so the tip is worth it. I'm not really sure why you are against tips for drivers.
They don't make great money so the tip is worth it.
Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers
#34This seems very dangerously like W2 employees using employer provided equipment to do a task, even if it's rented by a rental company. (IANAL)
I mean, we're past that discussion aren't we? Uber and other rideshares are going to have to start classifying drivers as employers eventually (at least until self-driving cars get here). Legal determinations are already headed in this direction.
It'd be interesting if someone got in front of that and ran Uber-Prime with Uber-Prime, Inc. employees as drivers, driving vehicles leased by Uber-Prime, Inc. Maybe go upmarket of Uber by offering a 100% guaranteed rape-free experience for your minor children, borderline medical transport, incapacitated people, rich/scared people, etc.
Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers
#35I like how Lyft is trying to make it easier for more people to drive for them. But, after Lyft's cut, tax and gas the hourly rate was very low. I drove for a couple months and they promised $25 - $35 during peak time, but I netted out to about $10/hr. Now to add on a Hertz rental fee, that is going to get very slim. Obviously this is still a better job for some people then there alternative. Lyft will market to new d…
Already live in Las Vegas, Hertz cars are available to Lyft drivers at special affordable daily, weekly, and monthly rates. Approved drivers can quickly rent cars on-demand and earn money as a Lyft driver with no long-term lease commitment. Most people with cars are already making a car payment or lease agreement payment, taxes, insurance, etc. Having a car is typically not cheap. Hard to say if this will really be a…
My car is paid off so I didn't factor that in. But you make a good point. Probably the majority of drivers have some sort of payment, whether that's a car loan or a lease.
Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers
#36Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm really glad that option is there. I had an emergency involving a seizing dog and a round trip to the vets office. The driver was incredible and would have gotten a whole $9 if I couldn't tip.
What would prevent you from just giving him some cash out of your physical wallet? In general you are getting a ride from someone. Other than the fact that with legacy taxis you tip, (just like at a restaurant) where it doesn't really relate to quality of service, I don't see how much extra someone can do that would make a ride tipworthy.
A lot of people don't carry cash in their physical wallets nowadays, since it's not generally very useful.
Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
Having an option to tip enforces customers to tip, I would prefer using a service that does not force me to tip by providing that option. I am against tips in general for drivers.
I wonder if there's any data on accidents/ traffic violations between the two companies. Tips are supposed to be for better service, and with driving the only way to provide better service is to be faster. My hypothesis would be that in attempts to be faster, drivers may be driving more dangerously, thus increasing accidents and/or traffic violations.
Semi relevant: New York City advises you to "tip your driver for safety and good service" [1]. Kinda scary that safety is some optional thing that you do for the prospect of a passenger noticing it and paying you more...
[1] http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/passenger/taxicab_rate.shtm...
Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
What would prevent you from just giving him some cash out of your physical wallet? In general you are getting a ride from someone. Other than the fact that with legacy taxis you tip, (just like at a restaurant) where it doesn't really relate to quality of service, I don't see how much extra someone can do that would make a ride tipworthy.
> What would prevent you from just giving him some cash out of your physical wallet? Perhaps this is just a difference depending on where you are in the world, but I'm not used to people in first world countries carrying cash.
Uh, in which first world country exactly? I'm not aware of any place in western europe where carrying cash is uncommon.
Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
I mean, we're past that discussion aren't we? Uber and other rideshares are going to have to start classifying drivers as employers eventually (at least until self-driving cars get here). Legal determinations are already headed in this direction.
It'd be interesting if someone got in front of that and ran Uber-Prime with Uber-Prime, Inc. employees as drivers, driving vehicles leased by Uber-Prime, Inc. Maybe go upmarket of Uber by offering a 100% guaranteed rape-free experience for your minor children, borderline medical transport, incapacitated people, rich/scared people, etc.
Tesla is on its way to doing this, no driver required.
"As Tesla Motors Inc. develops self-driving technology, an analyst asked Chief Executive Elon Musk a provocative question Wednesday: Will his company sell cars to a transportation service like Uber, or try to start something similar on its own?"
"Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas posed the question to Musk in an earnings call Wednesday afternoon, noting that Uber CEO Travis Kalanick has reportedly said he would want to buy Tesla’s self-driving cars when they are released."
Musk called it “an insightful question,” then added, “I don’t think I should answer it.”
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/will-tesla-launch-uber-like...
EDIT: I'd like to add, Tesla is building up massive manufacturing capacity and already is beta testing self-driving technology in end user vehicles. Uber has an app.
Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
Having an option to tip enforces customers to tip, I would prefer using a service that does not force me to tip by providing that option. I am against tips in general for drivers.
Does it enforce customers to tip? You tip via the app well after the ride is over. I usually don't tip, but occasionally I get a great driver and toss them a few bucks. They don't make great money so the tip is worth it. I'm not really sure why you are against tips for drivers.
Why not tip the driver out of your wallet?
Tipping through an app allows the employer to pay them even less because "they receive tips", in the end you're tipping the company that hired them.
This makes drivers expect to be tipped (even if they did usual or mediocre job) and essentially becomes a hidden fee.