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Uber Revenue Slows as Quarterly Loss Surges to $1.1B

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Re: Uber Revenue Slows as Quarterly Loss Surges to $1.1B

#101
post #100

My "Uber sucks" story is that I left a jacket in the back seat of a car. I immediately tried to figure out how to call the driver but Uber decided they needed to make money off my misfortune. Not only did they charge me $15 to connect with the driver but they refused to let me message the driver directly, so what could have been a few minutes of time turned into a week long saga. Once I finally got a hold of the driv…

Can you elaborate on how they charged you $15 to call the driver? I don't use the app.

Re: Uber Revenue Slows as Quarterly Loss Surges to $1.1B

#102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd sooner just catch a cab than have to open up multiple different apps and compare prices all the time. I always know exactly what I'm paying with a cab, and it's no hassle.

Cabs are: * Much lower quality cars (torn seats, smelly, old, safety issues...no one looks good showing up to a date in a Cab). * Much lower quality drivers (some smoke openly, talk on the phone loudly, don't listen to you, take longer routes than necessary, etc) * No accountability for service * No trip data for safety reasons * No handy log of all your recent trips * More expensive + tip required * Sometimes will p…

> tip required

Really? I've never tipped a cab, though I rarely use them. What happens when you don't tip?

Re: Uber Revenue Slows as Quarterly Loss Surges to $1.1B

#103

what the fuck is going on when a company can lose over $1 billion a quarter with no profit in sight and still receive further investment? Would they be hugely profitable if not for reinvestment in expansion and R&D?

I have a pet theory.

These investors aren't investing their money, but someone else's money. If Uber folds now, these investors are to blame. But if Uber folds when the great crash (a-la 2001 and 2008), then, well, it's the entire economy - not the individual investor's fault.

So they do whatever is needed to keep Uber with high book value until the big crash. What's $20B of other people's money to maintain your sterling reputation as a smart investor?

Re: Uber Revenue Slows as Quarterly Loss Surges to $1.1B

#104
post #8

Their prices are often worse than yellow cabs in NYC. They act like locals won't be able to tell but it's pretty obvious when it's a $10 more ask at a time that isn't even busy and there are yellow cabs everywhere.

I had a yellow cab driver claim just last month that his credit card machine was broken, after a ride from the airport into Manhattan. I told him too bad, plastic is all I got, and wouldn't you know it miraculously the machine worked when he tried it (with a sour face). As a cherry on top he then tried to charge me more than the fixed rate set for the airport fares. So taking a yellow cab in NYC still absolutely suck…

Been there. And if you pay for a $30 fare with $40 they won't have change to give you and will "keep the tip". I believe that's the last time I took a cab anywhere.

Re: Uber Revenue Slows as Quarterly Loss Surges to $1.1B

#105
post #17

Speaking as a infrequent user (1-3 times per month) in Lisbon, Portugal, I can't choose Uber anymore. There are so many other apps providing the same service with cheaper prices (some of them such as Taxify do not have surge pricing) and better drivers. The drivers' quality declined a lot: sometimes they don't speak portuguese or english and if they notice you're drunk they try to scam you (leave you in some random s…

Are you sure you're not thinking of legacy minicabs? Uber shows you where you're going, shows you where you are. Your journey is tracked, as is the address you entered.

I left his car, checked the app (my address was correctly entered). Then I hailed a regular taxi and when I got home I filed a complaintto Uber and got refunded.

Re: Uber Revenue Slows as Quarterly Loss Surges to $1.1B

#107
post #100

My "Uber sucks" story is that I left a jacket in the back seat of a car. I immediately tried to figure out how to call the driver but Uber decided they needed to make money off my misfortune. Not only did they charge me $15 to connect with the driver but they refused to let me message the driver directly, so what could have been a few minutes of time turned into a week long saga. Once I finally got a hold of the driv…

Can you elaborate on how they charged you $15 to call the driver? I don't use the app.

I didn't have the driver's phone number so I had to use the Uber app to contact the driver, that's when they charged me the $15.

Re: Uber Revenue Slows as Quarterly Loss Surges to $1.1B

#108
post #17

Speaking as a infrequent user (1-3 times per month) in Lisbon, Portugal, I can't choose Uber anymore. There are so many other apps providing the same service with cheaper prices (some of them such as Taxify do not have surge pricing) and better drivers. The drivers' quality declined a lot: sometimes they don't speak portuguese or english and if they notice you're drunk they try to scam you (leave you in some random s…

Not meaning to be accusatory, but it's possible you're seeing lower quality drivers because your rating is low?

I don't know my rating but I never did anything inside an Uber to deserve a low rating.

Re: Uber Revenue Slows as Quarterly Loss Surges to $1.1B

#109
post #100

My "Uber sucks" story is that I left a jacket in the back seat of a car. I immediately tried to figure out how to call the driver but Uber decided they needed to make money off my misfortune. Not only did they charge me $15 to connect with the driver but they refused to let me message the driver directly, so what could have been a few minutes of time turned into a week long saga. Once I finally got a hold of the driv…

I can imagine there are very solid reasons related to stalking that result in Uber wanting to make it hard to contact past riders or drivers in either direction.

Re: Uber Revenue Slows as Quarterly Loss Surges to $1.1B

#110
post #98
post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does this change when the two options are perfect substitutes? As a rider, there's no "cost" to having both apps, so I'll just check both. Similarly, as a driver, I'll just sit with both apps open and see which one I get a rider on.

Makes you wonder why no one has built an app that interfaces with all of them, and finds you the cheapest rate, while taking a kickback.

Saw a web app that did this a few years ago. Likely the companies made changes to their API’s. Would love to see it again though.
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