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Google Takes on Uber with New Ride-Share Service

wsj.com

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Re: Google Takes on Uber with New Ride-Share Service

#21

Post by imgabe »

mmanfrin wrote: post #3

Honestly I wish they wouldn't try to compete on price. Maybe I'm alone with this, but I'd rather not feel obligated to tip a driver because the ride is so cheap. Pay them a living wage, let me pay the exact fee, and let me not have to carry goddamn cash like I used to in the era of Taxis. e: Addressing common replies: "This is for people commuting already" -- okay, point taken; my point about Uber/Lyft still stands.…

There should never be an obligation to tip. The whole point of tipping is that it's not obligatory. I get that we've messed that up for a lot of professions, like restaurant servers, but Uber et al have a chance to reset the social norms at least around taxi-esque services and they should take it.

Re: Google Takes on Uber with New Ride-Share Service

#22

Post by vegabook »

useful_intern wrote: post #15
vegabook wrote: post #4

read: "Google ride-share is to Uber as Windows Phone is to Android". Late to the party, tragically deficient in first-mover network effect advantage, and on the decline in credibility since they're shutting down all moonshots, including, as we saw as recently as today, halving the staff at Google Fibre. Talk about panic catch-up with no intrinsic advantage, nor vision. "Mountain View, start your photo-copiers". We kn…

They do have access to Google Maps data which provides sizable competitive edge

If it we were in 2012 that would be true. There are multiple competing mapping suppliers now which are perfectly good enough for taxi navigation, including Uber's own system, not forgetting Tomtom's third party stuff, AAPL's heavy investment, etc. This looks like too little too late.

Re: Google Takes on Uber with New Ride-Share Service

#23

Post by honkhonkpants »

mmanfrin wrote: post #3

Honestly I wish they wouldn't try to compete on price. Maybe I'm alone with this, but I'd rather not feel obligated to tip a driver because the ride is so cheap. Pay them a living wage, let me pay the exact fee, and let me not have to carry goddamn cash like I used to in the era of Taxis. e: Addressing common replies: "This is for people commuting already" -- okay, point taken; my point about Uber/Lyft still stands.…

Every driver I've asked has said they make more with Uber than they did as a taxi driver. I don't know if it's a decent wage, but it's more than they were getting.

Re: Google Takes on Uber with New Ride-Share Service

#24

Post by edoloughlin »

yefim wrote: post #9

How are they vetting drivers? I wouldn't trust a driver if all they had to do to qualify is download the Waze app.

Once they have a critical mass of robberies, stabbings, etc., then the machine learning can easily filter out undesirable drivers. Not a problem.

Re: Google Takes on Uber with New Ride-Share Service

#25

Post by jonknee »

speg wrote: post #7
mmanfrin wrote: post #3

Honestly I wish they wouldn't try to compete on price. Maybe I'm alone with this, but I'd rather not feel obligated to tip a driver because the ride is so cheap. Pay them a living wage, let me pay the exact fee, and let me not have to carry goddamn cash like I used to in the era of Taxis. e: Addressing common replies: "This is for people commuting already" -- okay, point taken; my point about Uber/Lyft still stands.…

I took an Uber home from the train station last week and it was less than $15. I'm not sure how much a taxi would've been, probably at least $25. I don't feel good about it. How can someone provide good service if they're taking home so little? I fear that soon Uber will be overrun with poor service because all the quality drivers have been driven out by low costs.

The Uber driver probably made more than the taxi driver would have because they don't have to pay the hefty daily cab rental fees or rent a medallion. It's not like taxi drivers were rolling in cash before Uber came around.

Re: Google Takes on Uber with New Ride-Share Service

#26

Post by Myrmornis »

mmanfrin wrote: post #3

Honestly I wish they wouldn't try to compete on price. Maybe I'm alone with this, but I'd rather not feel obligated to tip a driver because the ride is so cheap. Pay them a living wage, let me pay the exact fee, and let me not have to carry goddamn cash like I used to in the era of Taxis. e: Addressing common replies: "This is for people commuting already" -- okay, point taken; my point about Uber/Lyft still stands.…

Anything as long as it is not exploitative (I personally have no concerns over this regarding Uber but I certainly include it as a criterion) and does not involve tipping. Tipping is described as an opportunity to "reward excellent service" but in reality it satisfies the parts of the brain that respond to being given the opportunity to temporarily act as a financial master over other human beings.

Re: Google Takes on Uber with New Ride-Share Service

#27

Post by yalogin »

Google had to get in at some point. They should have entered a year ago may be but I think this is a good enough time. Google can afford to not take a cut for their service and hurt Uber quite a bit. If they are not taking a cut they can also reduce the price for the rider.

However, how can it be viable to the driver. I understand if someone is already going in that direction they can make a little money but if I want to live on it (like Uber is pitching) will the price be enough?

Re: Google Takes on Uber with New Ride-Share Service

#28

Post by vegabook »

vegabook wrote: post #4

read: "Google ride-share is to Uber as Windows Phone is to Android". Late to the party, tragically deficient in first-mover network effect advantage, and on the decline in credibility since they're shutting down all moonshots, including, as we saw as recently as today, halving the staff at Google Fibre. Talk about panic catch-up with no intrinsic advantage, nor vision. "Mountain View, start your photo-copiers". We kn…

I'm getting obliterated by the google-salaried herd. Anybody out there (preferably not Google employed or Google-surrogate) care to give me an upvote? :-) Or at least tell me where I'm wrong!

Re: Google Takes on Uber with New Ride-Share Service

#30

Post by ethanbond »

imgabe wrote: post #21
mmanfrin wrote: post #3

Honestly I wish they wouldn't try to compete on price. Maybe I'm alone with this, but I'd rather not feel obligated to tip a driver because the ride is so cheap. Pay them a living wage, let me pay the exact fee, and let me not have to carry goddamn cash like I used to in the era of Taxis. e: Addressing common replies: "This is for people commuting already" -- okay, point taken; my point about Uber/Lyft still stands.…

There should never be an obligation to tip. The whole point of tipping is that it's not obligatory. I get that we've messed that up for a lot of professions, like restaurant servers, but Uber et al have a chance to reset the social norms at least around taxi-esque services and they should take it.

If it's not obligatory to tip then it should be obligatory to pay people a living wage, in any context.
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