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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

#41

Post by kylehotchkiss »

beaglesss wrote: post #5
aranelsurion wrote: post #3

So they basically reinvented taxi again, with the added captive audience factor coming from abusing the platform.

Always carry an object capable of smashing out a window when you ride in a 3rd world taxi

Why? They don't have child locks on the doors. You're gonna be stuck trying to explain to somebody why you think it's OK to carry around a life hammer when you inevitably have to go through a metal detector. Plus cars in developing countries aren't built as heavily as ones in the west - you could probably just kick the window out if you need to. Just don't wear flip flops everywhere.

You're probably going to be some level of taller/wider/stronger than the driver too if you're a western tourist in a developing country. I've ridden in thousands of developing country cabs. Most drivers are normal people just trying to get by and won't try anything.

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

#42

Post by dawnerd »

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…

That last part also happens for rides too. Has happened to me multiple times in Orlando to the point where I’ll just call a Mears taxi instead - ends up being cheaper anyways.

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

#43

Post by [deleted] »

givemeethekeys wrote: post #30
beaglesss wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Always carry an object capable of smashing out a window when you ride in a 3rd world taxi

No one I know across many, many 3rd world countries has ever done this or recommended it. I suggest learning how to vet the driver before getting into the vehicle. For example, does the driver and car's plates and description match what's in the app?

[deleted]

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

#44

Post by tamimio »

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.

It wasn’t Uber but taxis. When I visited Istanbul a while ago, the taxi drivers were creative in how they scammed people. Some purposely took a longer route to the destination to charge more, while others altered the meter so it showed almost double the fare. I discovered this because the same trip cost half using another taxi. Others asked for an upfront price and ignored the meter.

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

#45

Post by PeterCorless »

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #40
infamouscow wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Reminder a certain political group are trying to make bribery legal in the U.S. by calling it a "tip."

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

#46

Post by johncessna »

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…

This used to be very common in the US especially around airports where drivers wait for up to an hour to get a fare and want to make sure it's worth the wait. It may still be happening, but I just go straight for the cab to avoid the hassle.

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

#47

Post by paxys »

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…

Lots of money (coming from VCs) and willingness to play as dirty as your competitors is usually a winning combo.

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

#48

Post by comte7092 »

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?

The world doesn’t function the same as it does in an economics textbook.

Markets aren’t perfectly competitive, participants don’t have perfect information, etc.

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

#49

Post by hulitu »

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…

[flagged]

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

#50

Post by JumpCrisscross »

PeterCorless wrote: post #45
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

Reminder a certain political group are trying to make bribery legal in the U.S. by calling it a "tip."

> Reminder a certain political group are trying to make bribery legal in the U.S. by calling it a "tip"

Source? (My search keeps turning up Tip O'Neill.)

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