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Tell HN: New Uber user, Saturday night surge $200 to get home

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Re: Tell HN: New Uber user, Saturday night surge $200 to get home

#11

Post by davismwfl »

hoodoof wrote: post #8
davismwfl wrote: post #7

So I like to look at it a different way, not to say $200 doesn't hurt either way. But my thought is what would a DUI have cost me, or worse, what damage could I have done to someone else or their family. $200 feels wrong until I say damn, I am home safe, no one got hurt and yea it might suck a little but way cheaper then a lawyer or living with hurting someone else. Just a thought.

I think the same way. Even at $200, getting home safe without talking to the police for any reason is a good outcome. All I'm saying is Uber needs to be used with caution.

Yep, totally agree.

Re: Tell HN: New Uber user, Saturday night surge $200 to get home

#12

Post by ojm »

muruke wrote: post #9
pedalpete wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From my experience in Sydney, Aus (the author didn't mention what city he was in), every time I use Uber I feel like an idiot standing on the street corner waiting for my Uber driver to arrive while streams of available cabs go by. I've only used Uber 5 times, but I'm not convinced this is the problem they are solving. Not in this city anyway.

Interestingly I have the opposite experience in Melbourne, Aus. I used to stand/walk/chase down empty cabs trying to get home but none would stop or just say things like "not far enough" or "i'm not going that way". This was true even at cab ranks. Now I stand waiting for an Uber for a few minutes and 1. it turns up 2. they never complain about distance or direction and 3. I get home safely. I do however mostly avoid…

Same here in Melbourne. Tried to get a cab from cbd to office last week. Thought it would be easy to get a cab as so many around. Nope. None would stop. Uber it was, arrived a few minutes later (and $13.50 vs usual $25 for cab).

Work Christmas party last week used a cab app as Uber was surging to ~2x. Did have to offer a $10 tip in the cab app to get one to accept.

Re: Tell HN: New Uber user, Saturday night surge $200 to get home

#13

Post by kbart »

muruke wrote: post #9
pedalpete wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From my experience in Sydney, Aus (the author didn't mention what city he was in), every time I use Uber I feel like an idiot standing on the street corner waiting for my Uber driver to arrive while streams of available cabs go by. I've only used Uber 5 times, but I'm not convinced this is the problem they are solving. Not in this city anyway.

Interestingly I have the opposite experience in Melbourne, Aus. I used to stand/walk/chase down empty cabs trying to get home but none would stop or just say things like "not far enough" or "i'm not going that way". This was true even at cab ranks. Now I stand waiting for an Uber for a few minutes and 1. it turns up 2. they never complain about distance or direction and 3. I get home safely. I do however mostly avoid…

I used to stand/walk/chase down empty cabs trying to get home but none would stop

Not sure about Australia, but in many parts of Europe it's uncommon stopping a cab by waving your hand while standing by the street. Some even charge higher fees if used this way. A common way is to order it by phone or app and wait for notification that it has arrived.

Re: Tell HN: New Uber user, Saturday night surge $200 to get home

#15

Post by kull »

hoodoof wrote: post #3
Albright wrote: post #2

How much would it have cost you for a standard taxi?

At a guess, maybe $120? I really don't know. It was 70km and 27 minutes.

In NYC in 27 min u would make the most 7 miles with uber, if you are lucky - Traffic. I guess dense cities are places where services like uber really work well.

Re: Tell HN: New Uber user, Saturday night surge $200 to get home

#16

Post by alltakendamned »

hoodoof wrote: post #3
Albright wrote: post #2

How much would it have cost you for a standard taxi?

At a guess, maybe $120? I really don't know. It was 70km and 27 minutes.

So your driver drove 155km/h (96+ mph) on average? There goes the safety argument...

Re: Tell HN: New Uber user, Saturday night surge $200 to get home

#17

Post by arnold_palmur »

hoodoof wrote: post #8
davismwfl wrote: post #7

So I like to look at it a different way, not to say $200 doesn't hurt either way. But my thought is what would a DUI have cost me, or worse, what damage could I have done to someone else or their family. $200 feels wrong until I say damn, I am home safe, no one got hurt and yea it might suck a little but way cheaper then a lawyer or living with hurting someone else. Just a thought.

I think the same way. Even at $200, getting home safe without talking to the police for any reason is a good outcome. All I'm saying is Uber needs to be used with caution.

Forgot to mention in my other comment, but I always do a fare estimate before actually hailing the Uber to get some sense of what I'm up against.
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