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Uber is dropping rates for drivers down from 80 cents/mile to 60 cents/mile

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Re: Uber is dropping rates for drivers down from 80 cents/mile to 60 cents/mile

#191

Post by jtms »

14 wrote: post #160
dragonwriter wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If anything it feels like the companies are trying to milk the drivers so that the company can profit. That's probably particularly true of those companies, but it's also endemic to capitalism more generally.

I feel capitalism is such a bad thing for our earth. If I had a reset button that would equally distribute all the worlds wealth I would push it.

And you think human nature would just magically change and everyone would be equally motivated to create things of value because you burnt down all the institutions? Hierarchy and inequality exist regardless of what political system you put in place. It is literally a law of nature. Every single system creates inequality, it’s just that capitalism also creates wealth, where as other systems historically can not compete in this regard. Humans are on average wealthier now than at any other point in history and this is a VERY good thing for creating the most good for the largest number of people possible.

Re: Uber is dropping rates for drivers down from 80 cents/mile to 60 cents/mile

#192

Post by remote_phone »

akudha wrote: post #189
remote_phone wrote: post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So now Lyft is forced to not only give 100% flexibility to its drivers but also pay above market rates as well? Why? The point is the job is flexible but it pays lower than other jobs. If you are okay with that then take it. If not, leave it. Why does Lyft have to pay more than what the drivers are worth to them as well as provide 100% flexibility? If lyft/Uber/instacart are forced to make them employees instead of c…

If not, leave it. Again, life isn't as simple as that. Maybe it is easy for highly skilled software engineers to pick jobs of their choosing, but for majority of the workforce, it isn't as simple as "leave it". Which is what I am trying to explain. I am simply pointing out that the whole situation is one sided, with these companies having all the power, and Uber (Lyft, Instacart etc) are simply taking advantage of it…

It’s not one-sided. Lyft and Uber have to compete for drivers vs McDonald’s that is paying $15/hr. If the prices they paid were GENUINELY too low, then no one would drive for them.

But they have hundreds of thousands of drivers. If you’re somehow saying that only the weakest of the weak are driving for Uber, with no other options, you are delusional and just feeding your own narrative.

There is a significant barrier to start driving for Uber. You need a relatively new car with insurance and registration, drivers license, etc. You can’t have that if you’re so weak with no options as you suggest.

Re: Uber is dropping rates for drivers down from 80 cents/mile to 60 cents/mile

#193

Post by jtms »

hopler wrote: post #183
frotak wrote: post #23

My girlfriend tried out the Instacart gig for a while as she finally got her chronic low energy and fatigue addressed through B12 shots and wanted something to occupy her and give her a little extra spending money outside of what's budgeted. That experience was absolutely demoralizing in terms of what she was able to actually make. Granted we live in a lower density city in the southeast so that result makes sense. B…

This is nothing to do with self driving cars and everything to do with the imbalance of power when management acts an an organized team but labor doesn't.

It’s a good thing there is more than one organized team of management to pick from! Gainful employment is not a right, it’s a voluntary agreement by both parties. Vote with your feet and go elsewhere... they will feel the crunch.

Re: Uber is dropping rates for drivers down from 80 cents/mile to 60 cents/mile

#194

Post by rdlecler1 »

This seems like a bad idea on the grounds that the backlash is likely to put Uber in a worse position by further making the case for unions and employment benefits. But that will likely happen after the IPO when they’ve used this to juice their revenue.

Re: Uber is dropping rates for drivers down from 80 cents/mile to 60 cents/mile

#195

Post by wasdfff »

user5994461 wrote: post #179
mnm1 wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the cancellation fees uber in particular charges are bullshit and I always dispute them with the credit card if uber doesn't give me credit. Every single one has been for a driver taking a trip that's way too far away, estimated wait time of two to three minutes becoming ten to fifteen minutes or more. If the driver who knows they are taking this trip and won't get there for over ten minutes but the eta is th…

Maybe something is wrong with you for thinking you can get a ride anywhere anytime in less than 5 minutes. Uber is assigning the rides, consistently incorrectly showing 3 minutes away and with a ride to finish sometimes.

Its a pretty regular occurance to see plenty of cars orbiting on your map, then the one that snags your request is 5 miles away going the wrong way on the highway with another fare, and you sit on your hands. Drivers tap rides without even looking at them just to get it first and have a fare ready, regardless if it makes sense timing wise. I’ve seen it from the passenger seat.

Re: Uber is dropping rates for drivers down from 80 cents/mile to 60 cents/mile

#196

Post by jtms »

abernard1 wrote: post #162
PopeDotNinja wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you need drivers to stay on the platform, and acquiring drivers is extremely expensive, paying them less won't help with driver retention (unless you're making them so rich they retire). If you engage in a race to the bottom on rates with your competition, you'll end up having to spend more on driver acquisition and retention. If you take care of your drivers, they will want to drive for you more frequently, and y…

I'm going to put an alternative view here. My guess is Uber has actually done enough legwork and figured out that contrary to these sob stories in the press, there are more than enough drivers that 1) have efficient vehicles that are cheaper to operate and 2) are willing to work for that profit in quantities to cover demand. If the rates Uber is providing drivers are so dismal they're protesting in the street, frankl…

Right?? So many commenters are acting as if these drivers are somehow obligated to work there. Just. Go. Elsewhere. You are not entitled to the perfect job simply because you are alive. What the hell happened to personally responsibility/accountability?

Re: Uber is dropping rates for drivers down from 80 cents/mile to 60 cents/mile

#197

Post by jtms »

Phlarp wrote: post #124
petschge wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The IRS deduction rate per mile plus minimum wage per hour. Anything below that is so low that it is immoral (and would be illegal in any civilized country).

It'd be illegal in this country if not for some very creative stepping around the issue on the part of the "gig economy". (Which may itself be illegal but it appears Uber has become to large for this to matter)

Its a voluntary agreement between two parties - they should be able to make whatever deal they want as long as both parties are amenable. If not amenable, go elsewhere.

Re: Uber is dropping rates for drivers down from 80 cents/mile to 60 cents/mile

#198

Post by jtms »

ddingus wrote: post #13
PopeDotNinja wrote: post #9

If I were Uber, or any ridesharing service, I'd be optimizing to pay driver's as much as possible. But that's just me.

Perhaps a collective makes more sense here. Someone should explore doing it. I like the services, and many drivers like the work, but almost all of them hate the pay and overall relationship.

Then they should seek alternatives. Electing to not participate in a voluntary agreement is always an option.

Re: Uber is dropping rates for drivers down from 80 cents/mile to 60 cents/mile

#199

Post by jtms »

burlesona wrote: post #163
chii wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So would the tech workers cut 10% of their salary and gift it to those working for low pay in other roles? I think it's overwhelmingly no. The option where the company shareholders take less profit is not even on the table - and that's what needs tackling, and the only way to tackle that is via a mix of govt welfare and unions. But the cultural narrative has shifted to the right so much that even mentioning the word…

The cultural narrative has shifted to the right? All I hear from my red-state family is how basically the world is coming to an end because the country has veered so far to the left. I live in SF and things here always seem to be drifting leftward as well, but of course this is probably left HQ so I guess that's not surprising. That said, some of my farthest left friends in San Francisco are convinced that some kind…

Deleting social media is, I think, one of the absolute best things one can do for their mental health right about now.

Re: Uber is dropping rates for drivers down from 80 cents/mile to 60 cents/mile

#200

Post by tim333 »

sausagebro wrote: post #136
mdorazio wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you actually have numbers to support that assertion? I have a hard time believing it.

Have you ever received a free uber or lyft ride? I was in college when they were blowing up, and me, and each of my friends, probably used around 500$ of free rides each..

Brit here - when I visited SF basically all my rides were free thanks to Lyft (or their investors).
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