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New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers

blog.lyft.com

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Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers

#121

Post by kuschku »

on_ wrote: post #76
SilasX wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IMHO, this is a misconception. Most of the benefit of Lyft/Uber comes from app convenience, being cashless, mutual rating to weed out the jerks, carpooling efficiency, transparency (easy to get estimates and know if you overpaid), good customer support, and reliability in getting a ride, all of which are legal and which cab companies could have done. They have a lot of room to raise prices before it outweighs those a…

100% agree. That is why it has been successful. The magnitude would certainly be less if the cost was more because demand is elastic, but head to head with cabs they would dominate at the same price. It is an efficient way to manage resources and just a great thing. "Breaking Laws" is maybe a bit strong, as regulation is extremely bulky and a monolithic unequippted government isn't in the position to adapt. The laws…

In my country, the laws for driving a taxi-like service (but without being allowed to use taxi spots, etc) are:

* Have commercial insurance

* Have a "people-driving drivers license", which allows you to drive commercially taxis, busses, trams, etc. Costs 55€.

Uber is even refusing to follow the insurance part – they only insure during rides, but not when the person commercially drives with their car to the start of a ride.

Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers

#122

Post by AnimalMuppet »

chc wrote: post #111
AnimalMuppet wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Imagine that you're on a date. You've got a nice evening planned, only to run into a state-wide blackout. Now the trick is to get food at all . You see this restaurant with a lot of cars out front. Turns out they have gas grills, so they can cook some kinds of food. (Not french fries, though - that machine's electric). They're working by candlelight, adding up the tab on a hand calculator, pouring pop out of bottles,…

The last time I had to go shopping during a blackout, the few places I went to that were open were still taking credit cards. Maybe it's just a regional thing.

Sure - they had standby power, so they were operating normally. The place I went to didn't.

Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers

#123

Post by SilasX »

kuschku wrote: post #117
SilasX wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IMHO, this is a misconception. Most of the benefit of Lyft/Uber comes from app convenience, being cashless, mutual rating to weed out the jerks, carpooling efficiency, transparency (easy to get estimates and know if you overpaid), good customer support, and reliability in getting a ride, all of which are legal and which cab companies could have done. They have a lot of room to raise prices before it outweighs those a…

So, if I have here: Taxi service, provides rating, has app, can pay and rate via app, fully insured, hired and trained drivers, transparent rate (rate set by law and shown in app), guaranteed arrival, etc. And it costs 5€ less than uber. And it existed since 2008. What I am wondering is why this only caught on in some european cities, but never worldwide?

Good question, I'd have to know more about the specific service. It sounds like it started in Europe, where there wasn't a big enough improvement over what cabs already provided.

Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers

#124

Post by nness »

nathanb wrote: post #88
Widdershin wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's uncommon to carry cash in New Zealand. Everything is done with eftpos and credit cards.

Even more so with paywave, which is all over Australia and becoming more common in New Zealand. I don't think I actually inserted or swiped my card more than once a week in Brisbane.

Pesky EFTPOS "minimum purchases."

Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers

#125

Post by victorhooi »

jonknee wrote: post #78
chc wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What common use would you find for it that I couldn't do just as well with a credit card?

Cash has great privacy, works at cash only places, small merchants are happy to receive it because it means no fees, you get a discount when buying gas, the aforementioned tipping (good luck giving the valet a credit card!), it works when the power is out and a lot more I'm sure. Cash is pretty great. Even if you don't carry it you should definitely keep some at home.

Cash has great privacy - for some people, this is a non-issue. For me, I actually like the fact that credit cards have a record, at the end of the month I can look at my statement, and see all the places I spent money and how much. I can graph it, etc.

Works at cash only places - this probably varies around the world. In Australia, most places will accept card - the exception being Asian places, cause we're cheap =).

Small merchants are happy to receive it - I suspect this is changing, the fees are next to nothing these days, and by not handling cash, they avoid issues like employee theft, and also people are encouraged to spend more.

You get a discount when buying gas - we don't have this here (Australia)

The aforementioned tipping - likewise, we don't have this here. In general, I prefer to know how much I am spending beforehand, and I dislike the concept of tipping, or people needing to beg for tips.

It works when the power out - err, I suspect if the power is out in say a supermarket or a restaurant, they would have more issues than just the credit card machine not working.

I'm not saying never carry cash - but I like the convenience of card. And let's be honest most people aren't keeping their money stuffed inside their mattress.

Their money is in a bank account - and not in physical notes either, it's a set of electronic digits. So the whole, going to a bank, converting it to cash, giving it to somebody, so that they can then convert it back into electronic digits - seems incredibly archaic and outmoded.

Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers

#126

Post by kuschku »

SilasX wrote: post #123
kuschku wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, if I have here: Taxi service, provides rating, has app, can pay and rate via app, fully insured, hired and trained drivers, transparent rate (rate set by law and shown in app), guaranteed arrival, etc. And it costs 5€ less than uber. And it existed since 2008. What I am wondering is why this only caught on in some european cities, but never worldwide?

Good question, I'd have to know more about the specific service. It sounds like it started in Europe, where there wasn't a big enough improvement over what cabs already provided.

Well, it’s just a service of the taxi companies themselves – they decided to offer it to be better than competing taxi companies.

And they never really expanded over Europe and South America.

Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers

#127

Post by ac29 »

tswartz wrote: post #10

I 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…

Curious about your $10/hr figure. What city were you in? How much of the time were you actively driving fare paying rides?

In a city like SF, $10/hour is actually less than minimum wage, yet there is no shortage of Uber/Lyft/Etc drivers.

Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers

#128

Post by SilasX »

kuschku wrote: post #126
SilasX wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good question, I'd have to know more about the specific service. It sounds like it started in Europe, where there wasn't a big enough improvement over what cabs already provided.

Well, it’s just a service of the taxi companies themselves – they decided to offer it to be better than competing taxi companies. And they never really expanded over Europe and South America.

What is the name of the specific app you have in mind that is 5 Euros less than Uber and has ratings and driver tracking.

Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers

#129

Post by kuschku »

SilasX wrote: post #128
kuschku wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, it’s just a service of the taxi companies themselves – they decided to offer it to be better than competing taxi companies. And they never really expanded over Europe and South America.

What is the name of the specific app you have in mind that is 5 Euros less than Uber and has ratings and driver tracking.

There are many existing, one that is supported by the local taxi drivers in my city would be http://www.taxi.eu/en/

Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers

#130

Post by mc32 »

learning_still wrote: post #100
mc32 wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm the opposite. I want a known fee or fare. I don't want to have to think if I need to tip or not tip. Is the tip expected or is it optional gratitude for exceptional service? No, just tell me the amount. Most of the world works this way. Even in places where bribes are routine, there isn't as much tipping. Restaurants are moving away, slowly, from the tipping model, mostly due to increases in base wages, making it…

Although I agree when it comes to Uber. I mean, I don't need great service from my Uber driver, I just need them to get me from point A to point B. However, the restaurant service I've gotten in places outside the United States is just awful. It's 15-20 minutes before you'll see your server again, regardless of whether the place is busy or empty.

I think that's somewhat if not greatly dependent on culture. In Japan and parts of China you get great service from staff who are typically paid only slightly above minimum wage. Parts of Europe have good service, and many places are seemingly contemptuous of customers, maybe foreign customers? In my experience its not exactly tied to tipping or not.
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