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Uber drivers in Kenya are ignoring the app and charging their own rates

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Re: Uber drivers in Kenya are ignoring the app and charging their own rates

#31

Post by jeroenhd »

beaglesss wrote: post #4

This makes no sense,why wouldn't Uber just increase rates and take a cut rather than let the drivers eat their lunch? What incentive do they have to charge less than the market will bear?

Uber's approach to business is to crush any competition with bottom of the barrel rates, funded by investor money or foreign profits. If they can't kill all of the competition, their approach puts them at a loss without a chance to make their money back later.

Higher rates make it easier for competition to set up alternatives and let the free market do its job.

Re: Uber drivers in Kenya are ignoring the app and charging their own rates

#32

Post by dzonga »

zo1 wrote: post #22
pcurve wrote: post #20

Kilimani to jkir is about 20 km and a bit over half hour ride. Their published rate is about 16 bucks. A longer 52km ride is about 38 bucks. It’s cheap by western. Not sure how it fares against other comparable countries.

I just did a few calcs for here in South Africa, and the prices you mentioned are about 2.1x as much than what it costs to get an UberX/Go trip here. Or the same price as what I'd pay for a "luxury" Uber Black ride. This is just taxis doing what taxis always eventually do. This whole gimmick of "we can't afford to live at these rates" is just whining because they don't like their earnings at the end of the day. I'm a…

at a famous JHB spot - it's a no go area for Ubers. so you've to get a taxi and get dropped off at some gas station. then get an uber from there, otherwise taxi fees will be massive.

Re: Uber drivers in Kenya are ignoring the app and charging their own rates

#33

Post by paxys »

Drivers have creative ways of getting around rules in most markets. In India when you get a ride assigned the driver will first call you and check where you are going, and cancel the ride (or ask for extra money) if the amount or destination is not to their liking.

This happens here in the US as well. Especially for food delivery apps, the driver shown on the app will rarely be the person who actually does the delivery. This is because people create accounts and sell them to others who don't have legal status, and take a cut of their earnings.

Re: Uber drivers in Kenya are ignoring the app and charging their own rates

#34

Post by mikeodds »

twelve40 wrote: post #11

It always amazed me how Uber was able to quickly force itself into the most criminal markets (which in poorer countries is typically anything that has to do with taxis). But in hindsight, after a quick surprise win worldwide, they were eventually forced out. In Russia, weirdly enough, not by criminals but by a quasi-state company, starting back in 2018. In parts of Mexico, by what seems like outright criminals and co…

Had 3 Ubers in a row spoofing gps location trying to pickup a ride at Istanbul departures, but then sending increasingly cryptic, once you are here walk 500m here directions one by one.

1 even started the trip without me in the car and said it was an accident.

Uber support didn’t care about that or the GPS spoofing.

Re: Uber drivers in Kenya are ignoring the app and charging their own rates

#36

Post by nine_zeros »

wing-_-nuts wrote: post #35

I don't understand. What's to stop an uber customer from just flat out refusing and reporting the driver (and eventually getting them kicked off the platform)? If I am quoted a rate, I expect to pay that rate.

Uber doesn't take much action on reported drivers because they run out of drivers quickly in certain geographies - specifically the drivers don't feel like they are compensated enough for the ride.

Re: Uber drivers in Kenya are ignoring the app and charging their own rates

#37

Post by nesky »

paxys wrote: post #33

Drivers have creative ways of getting around rules in most markets. In India when you get a ride assigned the driver will first call you and check where you are going, and cancel the ride (or ask for extra money) if the amount or destination is not to their liking. This happens here in the US as well. Especially for food delivery apps, the driver shown on the app will rarely be the person who actually does the delive…

Never considered this before but I'd be curious if the delivery apps have data where they can tell which drivers are using this tactic.

Re: Uber drivers in Kenya are ignoring the app and charging their own rates

#38

Post by obviouslynew »

mikeodds wrote: post #34
twelve40 wrote: post #11

It always amazed me how Uber was able to quickly force itself into the most criminal markets (which in poorer countries is typically anything that has to do with taxis). But in hindsight, after a quick surprise win worldwide, they were eventually forced out. In Russia, weirdly enough, not by criminals but by a quasi-state company, starting back in 2018. In parts of Mexico, by what seems like outright criminals and co…

Had 3 Ubers in a row spoofing gps location trying to pickup a ride at Istanbul departures, but then sending increasingly cryptic, once you are here walk 500m here directions one by one. 1 even started the trip without me in the car and said it was an accident. Uber support didn’t care about that or the GPS spoofing.

Uber engineering does, there is extensive work that goes into the app to ensure drivers aren't GPS spoofing or that an actual ride is occurring. I.E. Check the accelerometer or gyro. That said theres a natural tension between making the app accessible to drivers and locking it down to protect riders. I.E. Disabling the app if your phone is rooted/jailbroken. But again you are limited to privacy, the api's for the devices you have to support and managing how accessible the app is.

Re: Uber drivers in Kenya are ignoring the app and charging their own rates

#39

Post by Analemma_ »

It's not Kenya, it's everywhere. Ubers in the US are increasingly doing a lot of the same things (canceling your booking if they don't like where you're going, e.g.) and becoming indistinguishable from the pre-Uber status quo.

From an economic perspective it's kind of fascinating that lying and cheating drivers appear to be the natural equilibrium state of the taxicab market; Uber temporarily disrupted this dynamic but could not actually eliminate it, and it is now reasserting itself after a period of turbulence.

Re: Uber drivers in Kenya are ignoring the app and charging their own rates

#40

Post by JumpCrisscross »

infamouscow wrote: post #18
notyourwork wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How? Likely bribes. No way around it in parts of the world. Have to grease the wheels of diplomacy.

The places that don't have bribery call it lobbying. That way, the politicians can look down on other governments for the lack of sophistication in their corruption.

> places that don't have bribery call it lobbying

You're describing people without a civics education. Bribes (direct or promised after term), campaign contributions (direct and via PACs) and lobbying (direct and paid) are categorically distinct.

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