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Uber to pay $272M to Australian taxi operators

smh.com.au

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Re: Uber to pay $272M to Australian taxi operators

#161

Post by ametrau »

ghoomketu wrote: post #64
resolutebat wrote: post #36

It's worth noting that Australian taxis are generally terrible . They're expensive and notorious for ripoffs, particularly from the airport: scenic routes, bogus surcharges, "broken" credit card machines (plus 5% surcharge when they do work), drivers refusing destinations (by law they're not allowed to), and to top it all off they're not even safe, with taxi drivers responsible for a long string of sexual assaults. U…

Same here in India. A lot of people hate Uber but speaking for me personally it's been a godsend upgrade over the black yellow taxis we had here before. I believe they are the #1 reason why foreigner tourists are scared of coming to India. The amount of scam and harrasment done by these old taxi drivers is just another level. The luxury and straightforwardness of app taxis is unparalleled to what we used to have befo…

The funny thing is, 99% of taxi drivers in Australia are Indian. Makes a lot of sense and it’s the context you’re not allowed to say.

Re: Uber to pay $272M to Australian taxi operators

#163

Post by hnick »

askl wrote: post #114
tianqi wrote: post #71

This is like compensating purse snatchers because the promotion of mobile payments reduces their income. Sydney's taxi is a shame to this wonderful city. I still remember when I first just arrived in Sydney, I took a taxi from the airport to Waterloo and was charged $95, which made me fearful of Sydney prices. It took me time to realise that I had just run into a scam and that the ride should have cost just $20+. Now…

Why would you even use a taxi for that? There seems to be a decent public transit connection. It costs $2.90 for that trip.

Buses can be problematic if you're not used to landmarks. Train will be around $15 (there is an airport surcharge). I'd pay a few more dollars (the actual rate, not the ripoff rate) for point-to-point too as a local if I had more than 1 bag.

Re: Uber to pay $272M to Australian taxi operators

#164

Post by hnick »

DeusExMachina wrote: post #121
tianqi wrote: post #71

This is like compensating purse snatchers because the promotion of mobile payments reduces their income. Sydney's taxi is a shame to this wonderful city. I still remember when I first just arrived in Sydney, I took a taxi from the airport to Waterloo and was charged $95, which made me fearful of Sydney prices. It took me time to realise that I had just run into a scam and that the ride should have cost just $20+. Now…

Isn't a scam not an official taxi, though? I don't know the situation in Sydney, but where I usually travel, it's the unlicensed taxis that overcharge and scam people, i.e., not the real taxis. Licensed taxi companies charge standard fares.

Regulation is very lax here. Plenty of stories. The most basic being they won't unlock the door when you flag them until hearing where you are going - legally they have to take ALL rides unless they are in a shift changeover. If it's really far, like to a farm, I think they can ask for the return fee too.

Also, a booking isn't. It's like that Seinfeld skit. A booking is just an agreement to put your job out at the agreed time. Doesn't mean anyone has to take it. I live too close to the airport for anyone to want to take it, apparently.

Re: Uber to pay $272M to Australian taxi operators

#165

Post by hnick »

nonethewiser wrote: post #29
Retric wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They can call themselves a hotdog stand, that doesn’t mean the courts agree.

How are they a taxi company? Certainly not thought of that way by your average person. Its taxis vs ride sharing.

Laws are not strongly typed.

Re: Uber to pay $272M to Australian taxi operators

#166

Post by hnick »

FireBeyond wrote: post #136
pjd7 wrote: post #35

Taxi's in NSW/Sydney are much better these days. Uber X are typically shit by comparison. A $95 UberX ride home is about $109 in a taxi for me. Talking to a few friends who also live a similar distant from the CBD/downtown find that Taxi's are the better / more reliable option these days too. The taxi is pretty much always newer, with a professional driver who usually isn't almost falling asleep behind the wheel. The…

> Of the recent UberX's I have caught, the car was typically in need of a suspension replacement or significant servicing and around 6-7 years old or older. This was a pet hate of mine in Australia. Order an UberXL "Fits your group of 6 riders (or extra luggage) comfortably" and most of the time someone was showing up in a Honda CRV or Passport (which has 5 seats). We had five passengers plus some luggage at times. A…

I had a similar issue when Uber was newer (I don't think they had XL) at SFO, the guy showed up in a little car, and was SHOCKED, SHOCKED, that we had LUGGAGE! At the AIRPORT!

He did not want that on his nice seat, and the trunk would not fit much either since he had his own stuff in there. Silly guy. He made us cancel, old trick, since that makes us pay not him. Support sorted it out.

Re: Uber to pay $272M to Australian taxi operators

#167

Post by perilunar »

tsujamin wrote: post #91
tianqi wrote: post #71

This is like compensating purse snatchers because the promotion of mobile payments reduces their income. Sydney's taxi is a shame to this wonderful city. I still remember when I first just arrived in Sydney, I took a taxi from the airport to Waterloo and was charged $95, which made me fearful of Sydney prices. It took me time to realise that I had just run into a scam and that the ride should have cost just $20+. Now…

Sydney taxis are extortionate and often operate illegally around the airport, but also taxi plates in Australia costed $100,000’s (on the market, not sure how much when released by the government) and that investment got trashed by ride-share entry. From that perspective I’ve got some sympathy.

The NSW government controls the number of taxis and set the fares. I have some sympathy for the drivers, but if anyone should be compensating them it's the government, not Uber.

Re: Uber to pay $272M to Australian taxi operators

#168

Post by [deleted] »

tensor wrote: post #74
tianqi wrote: post #71

This is like compensating purse snatchers because the promotion of mobile payments reduces their income. Sydney's taxi is a shame to this wonderful city. I still remember when I first just arrived in Sydney, I took a taxi from the airport to Waterloo and was charged $95, which made me fearful of Sydney prices. It took me time to realise that I had just run into a scam and that the ride should have cost just $20+. Now…

Toronto is notorious for this too. Either the credit card machine is broken and you must pay too much cash, or the credit card machine steals your card number, or you are refused a ride because it’s not far enough. Even travelling through Europe I’ve been refused a ride because it was too short, and got overcharged by 2-3x once. I’d use Uber at this point even if it’s more expensive than a taxi.

[deleted]

Re: Uber to pay $272M to Australian taxi operators

#169

Post by hilbert42 »

tianqi wrote: post #71

This is like compensating purse snatchers because the promotion of mobile payments reduces their income. Sydney's taxi is a shame to this wonderful city. I still remember when I first just arrived in Sydney, I took a taxi from the airport to Waterloo and was charged $95, which made me fearful of Sydney prices. It took me time to realise that I had just run into a scam and that the ride should have cost just $20+. Now…

"I still remember when I first just arrived in Sydney, I took a taxi from the airport to Waterloo and was charged $95..."

What, $95, do t you mean $9.50? (The last time I paid around that amount for taxi fares was from Disneyland to Bel Air along the longest 'carpark' in the world, and from Tokyo to Narita International Airport.)

I've taken taxis from Mascot Airport to my place in the same direction along Botany Rd but further (about double the distance to Waterloo) for at least one third that price. Were you parked in a traffic jam for hours?

I'll grant you the taxi business was already in a bloody shambles before Uber and has needed reform for many years but I've never experienced charges that high.

The root of the problem is that governments have learned to charge hundreds of thousands of dollars and sometimes a half million or more for taxi plates. Such huge amounts put taxi owners in a very difficult financial bind, they can be on the verge of bankruptcy for years paying for them, and or they hang onto them with grim determination fearing they could never afford or obtain another set. Moreover, increasing the number of plates available devalues them—little wonder taxi owners object strongly at any such move.

Thus, it's long been just about impossible to reverse the maddening situation.

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