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Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

nytimes.com

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Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

#51

Post by lern_too_spel »

vkou wrote: post #30
a13n wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> neither Lyft nor Uber has demonstrated a "financially viable business Self driving cars

In the magical future where self-driving cars will be able to replace 100% of what a driver does 100% of the time, what barrier to entry will protect Uber from competition? What stops someone from leasing a few dozen vehicles, and opening up their NotUber self-driving taxi service?

Especially in a world where Google Maps has already intermediated the ridesharing services. NotUber just needs to integrate with gmaps to instantly get ridership without spending billions in incentives to build their own two-sided marketplace.

When that happens, any Uber employees still holding equity are going to take a bath. They will be holding onto shares likely worth less than what they paid in taxes to get them.

Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

#52

Post by dawnerd »

jfoutz wrote: post #46
smileysteve wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The key points are - CEO never blackmailed journalists - No major revelations of sexual harassment - ~~No major revelations of political support~~ Related to core business - Surge Limit has prevented complaints about emergency pricing vs Uber. - Lyft takes a lower commission capped at 20%/25% - Lyft has in app digital tipping (drivers keep 100% of tips). Uber's tip policy encourages cash, which is an often cited comp…

I would swear when i first installed Uber, they were clear tips were built in to the price of the ride. I believe there was even a screen on signup to select 10,20, or 30% tips - i might have imagined that part though, it was years ago.

You're Kinda remembering right. They definitely marketed it as tips were built into the price and even had a policy where drivers had to refuse tips.

Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

#53

Post by omarchowdhury »

dwg wrote: post #35
alphonsegaston wrote: post #24

Anybody who's got a small but viable alternative to Uber could really benefit by pivoting to an "ethics first" model right now. Between Kalanick and Thiel, the market seems ripe for disruption.

Can you give an example of large companies which operate on a "ethics first" model?

They certainly imply they do in their marketing message.

Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

#54

Post by dawnerd »

techsupporter wrote: post #3

Forgive me if this is me being dense, but from an outsider's perspective I don't understand what makes Lyft any better than Uber. Neither company properly categorizes their drivers (as employees), both have a rather sizeable cut from fares, both depended on being basically illegal cabs--except for Uber Black, which uses licensed black car services--to get started, and neither has a financially viable business model.…

I feel Uber does a (slightly) better job vetting their drivers. I've had a few very questionable rides with Lyft. Most drivers are great but I've had more bad drivers on lyft.

Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

#55

Post by johnxie »

alphonsegaston wrote: post #24

Anybody who's got a small but viable alternative to Uber could really benefit by pivoting to an "ethics first" model right now. Between Kalanick and Thiel, the market seems ripe for disruption.

Juno is very reliable here in New York.

Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

#56

Post by throwaway2048 »

dwg wrote: post #35
alphonsegaston wrote: post #24

Anybody who's got a small but viable alternative to Uber could really benefit by pivoting to an "ethics first" model right now. Between Kalanick and Thiel, the market seems ripe for disruption.

Can you give an example of large companies which operate on a "ethics first" model?

costco and mars incorporated both have long histories of ethical, sustainable practices, and a strong reputation for resisting the quality lowering death spirals that infect many consumer goods focused companies.

Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

#57

Post by kemayo »

mdorazio wrote: post #41
jbw976 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the in app tipping that lyft provides is what seals the deal for me. the drivers are performing a service for me and having an integrated way to enhance their compensation is really nice. a lot of the drivers have a hard time making a good living especially considering vehicle related costs are all on their shoulders. I'm happy to have a 1-click way to give them a bit extra. I've never understood why uber doesn't let…

Counterpoint: one of the reasons I prefer Uber is that it doesn't allow or encourage in-app tipping. Tipping sucks, is economically dysfunctional, and socially awkward. If the drivers aren't making enough from base fares then the fares need to go up - it's not my job to be a charity.

I completely agree, and was halfway through writing a similar comment when I saw your post.

I actively make choices for things like transit and food which reduce how much I have to think about tipping. I don't like having to judge someone's service, and decide how much it's appropriate to tip them based on some unwritten societal rule.

The signal that hiding tips away sends is "the service provider is being compensated already", and if you want to make an extra effort to pay them more you can, but it's not required of you.

I'm absolutely in favor of Uber/Lift charging whatever is necessary to pay their drivers properly. Similarly, I love no-tip restaurants which pay their servers and kitchen staff living wages.

Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

#58

Post by ryanSrich »

a13n wrote: post #18
qq66 wrote: post #11

I don't think this will work because I don't think modern megacorporations suffer consequences for poor ethics the way normal-sized local businesses did a hundred years ago. If the local tannery was run by a bad person, people would say "I don't do business with him" and he could lose 50% of his serviceable customers and employees. Today, the corporations are completely faceless, and the fact that there are actual pe…

Except when #DeleteUber trends on Twitter... Sure it won't be 50% but I doubt the charts look pretty

I'd wager the folks reading Twitter and random blogs on medium occupy a microscopic portion of Uber consumers. I would be very surprised if Uber saw any significant hit to their business because of the recent events

Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

#59

Post by ryandrake »

mdorazio wrote: post #41
jbw976 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the in app tipping that lyft provides is what seals the deal for me. the drivers are performing a service for me and having an integrated way to enhance their compensation is really nice. a lot of the drivers have a hard time making a good living especially considering vehicle related costs are all on their shoulders. I'm happy to have a 1-click way to give them a bit extra. I've never understood why uber doesn't let…

Counterpoint: one of the reasons I prefer Uber is that it doesn't allow or encourage in-app tipping. Tipping sucks, is economically dysfunctional, and socially awkward. If the drivers aren't making enough from base fares then the fares need to go up - it's not my job to be a charity.

Thank you. Just pay a reasonable wage and don't have them rely on begging for tips. Encouraging tipping is basically saying "We don't pay our workers enough so you, consumer, must make up the difference, or feel bad when you don't."

Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

#60

Post by xiangmin »

smileysteve wrote: post #22
techsupporter wrote: post #3

Forgive me if this is me being dense, but from an outsider's perspective I don't understand what makes Lyft any better than Uber. Neither company properly categorizes their drivers (as employees), both have a rather sizeable cut from fares, both depended on being basically illegal cabs--except for Uber Black, which uses licensed black car services--to get started, and neither has a financially viable business model.…

The key points are - CEO never blackmailed journalists - No major revelations of sexual harassment - ~~No major revelations of political support~~ Related to core business - Surge Limit has prevented complaints about emergency pricing vs Uber. - Lyft takes a lower commission capped at 20%/25% - Lyft has in app digital tipping (drivers keep 100% of tips). Uber's tip policy encourages cash, which is an often cited comp…

> No major revelations of political support

They took a kind of strong stance [1] in protesting the recent order that restricted travel from those seven countries, so that's a political statement (whether or not we agree with it.)

Their announcement also included some strawman language, which turned off some people:

"This weekend, Trump closed the country’s borders to refugees, immigrants, and even documented residents from around the world based on their country of origin. Banning people of a particular faith or creed, race or identity, sexuality or ethnicity, from entering the U.S. is antithetical to both Lyft’s and our nation’s core values."

The first sentence was true, the second sentence (while noble and I like it) was a strawman.

[1] https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/29/lyft-donates-1m-to-the-acl...

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