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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

#111

Post by mc32 »

freyr wrote: post #72
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…

> Lyft has in app digital tipping (drivers keep 100% of tips). One of the reasons I don't like Lyft. How about this system: pay the drivers a fair wage up front, so they don't need to subsist on the generosity of strangers. If they get great ratings, you can give them a bonus.

Exactly! Charge me what you're going to charge. None of this tipping nonsense. It's really a vestige of former times when if someone felt nice enough they'd offer you a tip --not that you deserved it, but it was to show they had heart, a kind of virtue signal.

Why would Lyft want to continue this anachronistic idea which puts the burden on a fare? It's the number one reason I do not use Lyft.

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

#112

Post by [deleted] »

teach wrote: post #104
freyr wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, it's a complaint against Lyft since they made a conscious decision to include tipping, while their main competitor demonstrated that modern American companies do not need to bow to stupid customs. [edit: shouldn't have implied that Uber is financially successful]

I think it's still an open question whether Uber has shown that "American companies can be successful." They are losing hundreds of millions per quarter and are only still afloat due to venture capital.

[deleted]

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

#113

Post by FullMtlAlcoholc »

gboss wrote: post #101
mdorazio wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 really don't understand what the issue is with tipping. I am American and I love the custom. I feel being able to pay directly the person I have received a service from is very powerful. I think it does incentivise a better work ethic and it's a very social way of affording a middle class income. Now states that reduce the minimum wage for tip workers, that's evil (I live in California).

People are cheapskates and get uncomfortable when confronting that reality so they want to blame the system instead of looking at themselves

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

#114

Post by teach »

simplehuman wrote: post #31

Let's say I have to take a cab everyday to work. If Uber gives me a ride for 15 bucks and Lyft gives me the same ride for 18 bucks, I know which one I will choose. Do you?

It's easy for me to say, but I won't ride in an Uber vehicle. I've disagreed with their practices for quite some time, and these more recent events have only solidified my resolve.

I'm sure I'm the tiny minority, but $3 a day is a pittance vs knowing I'm supporting such a toxic culture.

Plus, if you can't afford an "extra" $3 a day to get to work, then use neither Uber nor Lyft and get on a bus.

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

#115

Post by Fomite »

ryandrake wrote: post #59
mdorazio wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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."

I was discussing this with a driver who drives for both Lyft and Uber. His basic stance was that tipping was a difference in kind for tipping, rather than amount, so the living wage argument may not hold. Uber tips tend to be in cash, which is appealing, and may be larger because drunks just hand over twenties, but are rarer, while Lyft tips are more reliable.

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

#116

Post by et-al »

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.

> 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

The way I view it, I've already gotten a discounted cab ride thanks to the VCs. So the very least I can do in my fortunate situation is share a dollar or two for the guy who drove me home at 3am.

It's a dollar; you folks making six-figures are really gonna hold out against a person who drove you across town just 'cause you disagree with the currently (broken) system?

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

#117

Post by Fomite »

techsupporter wrote: post #20
prawn wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The question wasn't really why are they better than taxis, but why is Lyft considered a more ethical business than Uber, which has faced criticism, especially recently.

That's what I was getting at, thank you. I understand that taxis are regarded as horrible but I don't get why Lyft is seen as "the better way" (either by investors or customers) when Uber is increasingly reviled. Lyft has the same systemic flaws as Uber but does so behind a pink mustache and a CEO that seems a bit more restrained. Neither company took the opportunity to "fix" a broken taxi system by ensuring that bot…

"...and a CEO that seems a bit more restrained."

When distinguishing between two effectively identical products, something like "The CEO seems less of an asshole" is a perfectly reasonable means of differentiating.

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

#118

Post by Fomite »

dawnerd wrote: post #54
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.

I've had more poor, "I'm in a taxi cab in all but name" drives on Uber.

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

#119

Post by smileysteve »

nilkn wrote: post #64
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…

Uber wanted to make payment so easy you don't even have to think about it. Tipping seriously gets in the way of that ideal, even if it's purely digital. The first few times I used Uber, the most impressive aspect of it to me was that at the end I could literally just get out of the car. It was done. Payment was already handled. This was a tremendous improvement over the experience with taxis, where paying could be st…

> As soon as drivers routinely expect and rely on tips, that opens up Uber to reducing their rates to grab more customers.

In Atlanta this happened last fall. [Some] Uber drivers now have tip jars square readers ready.

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

#120

Post by bbcbasic »

simplehuman wrote: post #31

Let's say I have to take a cab everyday to work. If Uber gives me a ride for 15 bucks and Lyft gives me the same ride for 18 bucks, I know which one I will choose. Do you?

Hypothetically, for $3 difference? Probably the quicker/more reliable service. I'd probably look into car pooling as well.

In reality neither, would find some other way (cycle / public transport / lift with friend / cab / own car)

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