Google Takes on Uber with New Ride-Share Service • Hacker News Board

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

#81

Post by alkonaut » Tue, Aug 30, 2016, 8:36 PM UTC

chrisseaton wrote: post #66

jonahx wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

as a practical matter, i don't believe it's possible to have "optional" tipping that doesn't create obligation (even if that would be desirable). either you create a cultural norm where tipping isn't allowed or expected, which Uber has effectively done, or you have a situation like restaurants, where the tip may as well be part of the price, unless you're cool being the asshole who doesn't tip, which most people aren…

> if tipping is an option, through a kind of cultural game-theoretic pressure, the situation will always devolve into the restaurant norm. at least that's how it is in the states In the UK tipping in restaurants is optional and, while it sounds really weird to say this, I don't think the waiters and waitresses seem to care either way. I don't get a different reaction from them if I tip or if I don't. They don't seem…

This is the case in every country I have ever been. If you read a travel guide for any country it might say that tips are usually given to taxi drivers, restaurant staff etc, but only in the US has zero tipping almost become equivalent to not paying the tab in full.

Also, when I go to the US with 5-10 year intervals the norms for tipping seem to have always crept upwards.

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

#82

Post by hyperbovine » Tue, Aug 30, 2016, 8:36 PM UTC

> Unlike Uber and its crosstown rival Lyft Inc., both of which largely operate as on-demand taxi businesses, Waze wants to connect riders with drivers who are already headed in the same direction.

Funny because that is Lyft's (né Zimride) original model. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

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

#83

Post by durga » Tue, Aug 30, 2016, 8:36 PM UTC

Google is simply bored while making so much money so comfortably, with an absolutely dominant market position in search. So every few months they need to do these copycat things simply to entertain themselves ;-).

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

#84

Post by selestify » Tue, Aug 30, 2016, 8:37 PM UTC

riboflava wrote: post #70

ethanbond wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Living wage destroys the ability for people to make a little extra on the side with part-time gigs.

Why would that be?

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

#85

Post by mortenjorck » Tue, Aug 30, 2016, 8:37 PM UTC

alkonaut wrote: post #69

Can we stop calling every new taxi service "ride sharing"? Are people "sharing" anything in any meaningful way? The drivers car isn't shared, he sells a ride, that's a Taxi. A medallion or other arbitrary system doesn't define what a taxi is. Can I tell uber I want to share a ride to the airport with any stranger? (my taxi co will do that)?

Ironically, this is probably the first prominent "ride sharing service" that is actually intended as a ride sharing service.

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

#86

Post by alkonaut » Tue, Aug 30, 2016, 8:37 PM UTC

riboflava wrote: post #70

ethanbond wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Living wage destroys the ability for people to make a little extra on the side with part-time gigs.

How is that? A part time job would pay a part of a living wage.

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

#87

Post by jonahx » Tue, Aug 30, 2016, 8:37 PM UTC

chrisseaton wrote: post #66

jonahx wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

as a practical matter, i don't believe it's possible to have "optional" tipping that doesn't create obligation (even if that would be desirable). either you create a cultural norm where tipping isn't allowed or expected, which Uber has effectively done, or you have a situation like restaurants, where the tip may as well be part of the price, unless you're cool being the asshole who doesn't tip, which most people aren…

> if tipping is an option, through a kind of cultural game-theoretic pressure, the situation will always devolve into the restaurant norm. at least that's how it is in the states In the UK tipping in restaurants is optional and, while it sounds really weird to say this, I don't think the waiters and waitresses seem to care either way. I don't get a different reaction from them if I tip or if I don't. They don't seem…

that's pretty interesting. any theories on the underlying cultural differences that explain it, or just different established customs?

all the (many) wait-people here in the states i've known really dislike it, and it's generally considered either clueless, rude, or stingy not to tip at least 15%.

i'm curious about things like:

1. if you go out with your friends to the pub, and don't tip on your bill, are you friends giving you shit about it or otherwise commenting or silently judging?

2. if you were on a date, would she notice and judge if you tipped poorly? (i know many women for whom it would be an instant deal-breaker here, essentially a social signal of many other undesirable traits)

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

#88

Post by losteverything » Tue, Aug 30, 2016, 8:37 PM UTC

Great news. As a PT worker at one of the articles mentioned companies, I know there is considerable demand for rides to and from the retailer. This could be huge if employees shift from dial-taxis or uber to "co-workers" via waze.

Other night a pizza server at a shop next door said she was very slow. It's summer and nobody buys pizza. She added it costs her $10 one way cab ride and makes nothing for the day.

This is the type of news I would post on employee board when it comes to my area.

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

#89

Post by fma » Tue, Aug 30, 2016, 8:39 PM UTC

hyperbovine wrote: post #82

> Unlike Uber and its crosstown rival Lyft Inc., both of which largely operate as on-demand taxi businesses, Waze wants to connect riders with drivers who are already headed in the same direction. Funny because that is Lyft's (né Zimride) original model. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Yeah...they are Ride Sharing...not Taxi apps. Just like how Airbnb was supposed to be sharing your room, not people buying up condos and turning them into a hotel room.

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

#90

Post by exclusiv » Tue, Aug 30, 2016, 8:39 PM UTC

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.

Taxi drivers used to spend a lot of time just waiting around. Doing less idling means fares can come down as income stays the same or increases.