Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Uber's Loss Exceeds $800M in Q3 on $1.7B in Net Revenue

bloomberg.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

331–340 of 424 posts

Re: Uber's Loss Exceeds $800M in Q3 on $1.7B in Net Revenue

#331

Post by Fnoord »

PinguTS wrote: post #310
michaelbuckbee wrote: post #299

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think this is like arguing that Amazon would never be worth a Billion dollars because there aren't enough book buyers. If we were talking about Uber's current model then you're 100% correct. But if we look at all to where they're going there's tremendous potential. They bought Otto - which is arguably the leader in self driving trucking and they have self driving trucks on the road right now. If they're able to cap…

You are missing some points: > They bought Otto - which is arguably the leader in self driving trucking and they have self driving trucks on the road right now. If they're able to capture say 20% of the trucking market 10 years from now that's tremendous. Otto until now is not a truck company. They are not producing any truck. They are just retrofitting their technology in existing trucks. It is like what Google does…

I have no clue what Otto is, never heard of that brand. As far as I'm concerned its a first name. However, you getting laughed at saying:

> That said, Google is a software company

..is because Google is not primarily a software company.

Google is first and foremost an advertising (or 'profiling') company which uses whatever tool (software, hardware, service, complete stack) at their disposal to increase profit derived from -you guessed it- advertising. What Google wants is to have their software and service in every car in the world. Cars are akin to Android devices. At best, Google would make reference models to give the right example (this is what Nexus originally was as well). Google goes for volume (like it did with Android, and like Microsoft did with Windows and Office), Tesla is the Apple who goes for the top segment.

Facebook is in the same league. Microsoft, with Windows and Office, used to be a software company, selling software licenses. They're reinventing themselves away from that ever since Mr Nadella's been behind the steering wheel.

Don't mistake an advertising (or 'profiling', or even spying) company for a software company. Even then, traditional software company is vastly different from SaaS which even Oracle is heading towards. Tesla, Apple, and -sortof- Microsoft have very different business models than Google and Facebook.

Re: Uber's Loss Exceeds $800M in Q3 on $1.7B in Net Revenue

#332

Post by Daviey »

cderwin wrote: post #260
mjevans wrote: post #224

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One advantage Uber has over the app you mention is that it's in many (most) cities. You only need /one/ app and one place to go to get fulfillment. The network effect is not insubstantial.

Most people use Uber almost entirely in a single city. This is obviously not true for those who travel a lot, but for most people they only need a single app (whether or not it be Uber) for their home city. The real advantage Uber has is brand trust when taxis go back to their shady and anti-competitive business practices and the regulatory environment relaxes. The important question is if brand trust will be worth a…

Most people? [Citation Needed]. Most of the people I know that use it, do use it in many locations.

Re: Uber's Loss Exceeds $800M in Q3 on $1.7B in Net Revenue

#333

Post by aedron »

michaelbuckbee wrote: post #299
animex wrote: post #167

Uber will be a dead Unicorn in the medium future. They've got too many legal pressures, competitors with native advantages (i.e. the automakers), and their expansion plans have them overextended. Here in Edmonton, AB, Canada, regulatory changes have pushed the Uber prices to almost 2x during non-surge times over regular taxis. Taxi's have stepped up. Local competitors have sprouted. Carshares are abounding. It's all…

I think this is like arguing that Amazon would never be worth a Billion dollars because there aren't enough book buyers. If we were talking about Uber's current model then you're 100% correct. But if we look at all to where they're going there's tremendous potential. They bought Otto - which is arguably the leader in self driving trucking and they have self driving trucks on the road right now. If they're able to cap…

So Uber's marketing BS is working.

Self-driving trucks and, even more so, cars, are by any reasonable measure decades away. There are technical challenges that we have no answer for. Like all technical challenges, they can probably be overcome, but no one knows when or how, and what hardware advancements are necessary. That's not even getting into the regulatory hurdles.

Put out a demo proof-of-concept and people think that the product is ready. It's like those 'life-like' Japanese robots that have some people thinking that we are almost ready to replicate humans, just because they put a pretty silicone skin on top of a simple mechanical contraption.

Re: Uber's Loss Exceeds $800M in Q3 on $1.7B in Net Revenue

#334

Post by dagw »

msane wrote: post #325
puranjay wrote: post #322

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As I was reading this, I just got a text message from Uber promoting a new offer - Just Rs. 100 for any trip of 15km or less between 12pm to 4pm. Rs. 100 works out to under $1.5. Or effectively, $0.10/km if you take a 15km trip. How the hell is that ever going to be profitable?

It's introducing people to the service and acquiring market. Better prices come later.

But will people continue to use Uber when the price goes up to market levels. Anecdotally, when Uber entered the market where I live they offered steep discounts and everybody I knew started to use them. Today they cost basically the same as most taxis and I don't know anybody who still primarily uses Uber.

Re: Uber's Loss Exceeds $800M in Q3 on $1.7B in Net Revenue

#335

Post by Wissmania »

There is so much irrationality in this thread and in public opinion in general... it makes we wish I could personally bet on Uber's future success.

However, Uber is staying private, so they don't have to cater their long term plans to the whims of random people who have no idea what they are talking about. (I include myself in this category)

Re: Uber's Loss Exceeds $800M in Q3 on $1.7B in Net Revenue

#336

Post by sah2ed »

Fnoord wrote: post #331
PinguTS wrote: post #310

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are missing some points: > They bought Otto - which is arguably the leader in self driving trucking and they have self driving trucks on the road right now. If they're able to capture say 20% of the trucking market 10 years from now that's tremendous. Otto until now is not a truck company. They are not producing any truck. They are just retrofitting their technology in existing trucks. It is like what Google does…

I have no clue what Otto is, never heard of that brand. As far as I'm concerned its a first name. However, you getting laughed at saying: > That said, Google is a software company ..is because Google is not primarily a software company. Google is first and foremost an advertising (or 'profiling') company which uses whatever tool (software, hardware, service, complete stack) at their disposal to increase profit derive…

Google is indeed a software company the same reason why the "big 4" firms are considering accounting firms.

All the big 4 accounting firms have HR, legal, PR people, in addition accountants but the reason why they are called accounting firms is because accountants dominate their hiring.

In other words, accountants make up the bulk of the people in their revenue centers.

Same with Google: they hire a lot of software engineers that contribute directly to their revenue.

Re: Uber's Loss Exceeds $800M in Q3 on $1.7B in Net Revenue

#337

Post by mattmanser »

Daviey wrote: post #332
cderwin wrote: post #260

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people use Uber almost entirely in a single city. This is obviously not true for those who travel a lot, but for most people they only need a single app (whether or not it be Uber) for their home city. The real advantage Uber has is brand trust when taxis go back to their shady and anti-competitive business practices and the regulatory environment relaxes. The important question is if brand trust will be worth a…

Most people? [Citation Needed]. Most of the people I know that use it, do use it in many locations.

The vast majority of people live/work in one place. No citation needed, just common sense.

Sounds like you're suffering from a pretty severe filter bubble.

Re: Uber's Loss Exceeds $800M in Q3 on $1.7B in Net Revenue

#339

Post by rimantas »

paulddraper wrote: post #175
animex wrote: post #167

Uber will be a dead Unicorn in the medium future. They've got too many legal pressures, competitors with native advantages (i.e. the automakers), and their expansion plans have them overextended. Here in Edmonton, AB, Canada, regulatory changes have pushed the Uber prices to almost 2x during non-surge times over regular taxis. Taxi's have stepped up. Local competitors have sprouted. Carshares are abounding. It's all…

They still have the momentum. This isn't a start up trying to figure out how to make money (Twitter) or a company that can't/won't change (Blackberry). This is a company making money that is pursuing a blitzkrieg on the industry. They can sit back any day and rake in billions. I agree there isn't a high entry barrier, but I don't think they've lost the first-to-market advantage.

In my rather small city (~600k) there are already like 5 different uber-like options. And at least three of them were before the uber came. Dislcaimer: I've never used uber and I hope I never will. I dislike them as a company and that dislike grows over time.

Re: Uber's Loss Exceeds $800M in Q3 on $1.7B in Net Revenue

#340

Post by aedron »

tomc1985 wrote: post #108

With finances like this, Uber will either collapse in a gigantic, money-fueled fireball, or decimate transport. How long can everyone hold out?

Next, Uber will raise enough money to boil the ocean. Now their self-driving trucks can go from continent to continent, completely obliterating the container shipping business!
Post reply on HN