I don't think this will work because I don't think modern megacorporations suffer consequences for poor ethics the way normal-sized local businesses did a hundred years ago. If the local tannery was run by a bad person, people would say "I don't do business with him" and he could lose 50% of his serviceable customers and employees. Today, the corporations are completely faceless, and the fact that there are actual people behind Uber the company is not readily apparent when using their app. People will just go for the cheapest ride and think only briefly about the scandal they read about last week.
Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles
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Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles
#12Forgive me if this is me being dense, but from an outsider's perspective I don't understand what makes Lyft any better than Uber. Neither company properly categorizes their drivers (as employees), both have a rather sizeable cut from fares, both depended on being basically illegal cabs--except for Uber Black, which uses licensed black car services--to get started, and neither has a financially viable business model.…
In a lot of places, Uber/Lyft is a significantly better experience. The cars show up when you call them - reliably and quickly. The drivers don't long-haul you to rip you off. They go places taxis won't to pick you up. They're generally cheaper and cleaner. Ten years ago, taxis were terrible. Even in San Francisco. Now there's Uber and Lyft.
The question wasn't really why are they better than taxis, but why is Lyft considered a more ethical business than Uber, which has faced criticism, especially recently.
Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles
#13Forgive me if this is me being dense, but from an outsider's perspective I don't understand what makes Lyft any better than Uber. Neither company properly categorizes their drivers (as employees), both have a rather sizeable cut from fares, both depended on being basically illegal cabs--except for Uber Black, which uses licensed black car services--to get started, and neither has a financially viable business model.…
I don't know what Lyft's corporate culture is like, but I'd rather not support a company whose attitude towards women is like Sterling Cooper Draper Price or where corporate advancement is a Game of Thrones, lest other firms see this as a model to emulate and these behaviors proliferate. I don't want to work in a corporate culture that resembles a preppy/bro boys club that thinks darwinism is a theory you can apply socially
Also, Lyft gives me the option of tipping the driver with my card, which I generally do if the driver provides something more than just transportation from point A to B. Some drivers have told me and a first date a series of jokes, thus being a great icebreaker. Others have helped me carry my drunk friend to the door. I don't like to carry cash and I find Uber's policy to be a commodification of an essentially human experience and almost dehumanizing. A lot of times, I don't tip and I don't feel a whit of guilt about it.
Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles
#14While I think now is probably the time for lyft to strike while the iron is hot, I appreciate nytimes' candor in acknowledging neither Lyft nor Uber has demonstrated a "financially viable business". The road ahead is undoubtedly not easy for Lyft.
> neither Lyft nor Uber has demonstrated a "financially viable business
Self driving cars
Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles
#15Forgive me if this is me being dense, but from an outsider's perspective I don't understand what makes Lyft any better than Uber. Neither company properly categorizes their drivers (as employees), both have a rather sizeable cut from fares, both depended on being basically illegal cabs--except for Uber Black, which uses licensed black car services--to get started, and neither has a financially viable business model.…
I think it boils down to PR and ethics at this point.
From a consumer's point of view, both services offer a convenience layer over taxis: you have an online account that hooks into your credit card, which means you can just summon a car using your magic pocket computer, step inside, talk to the (generally friendlier-and-more-sociable-than-a-cab-driver) driver, and get out at your destination without having to guide the driver around the city, or having to take your wallet out of your pocket.
That they're priced similarly (and frequently lower) than regular cabs means both of these apps are in demand, period. The convenience layer makes them competitive against cabs even at equal fares.
If Lyft and Uber are essentially identical (which is arguable), then putting their company culture and PR under scrutiny is fair game and the natural direction consumers will go in.
Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles
#16Also, the quality of Uber cars has declined, even within "black" and especially "SUV" classes.
So, might as well save the money.
Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles
#17Lyft and Uber, from a birds-eye view, do the exact same thing; and furthermore, neither is profitable, so the entire market is built upon potential future sales bases. Lyft is here valued at, generously, $7 billion. Meanwhile, Uber's valuation is reported variously, but a general Google search suggests its well in excess of $50 billion.
This exceeds any expectation of market craziness. Are these investors talking to each other? Are things so far gone that a vague promise of self-driving cars is worth almost a factor of ten valuation difference?
Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles
#18I don't think this will work because I don't think modern megacorporations suffer consequences for poor ethics the way normal-sized local businesses did a hundred years ago. If the local tannery was run by a bad person, people would say "I don't do business with him" and he could lose 50% of his serviceable customers and employees. Today, the corporations are completely faceless, and the fact that there are actual pe…
Except when #DeleteUber trends on Twitter... Sure it won't be 50% but I doubt the charts look pretty
Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
In a lot of places, Uber/Lyft is a significantly better experience. The cars show up when you call them - reliably and quickly. The drivers don't long-haul you to rip you off. They go places taxis won't to pick you up. They're generally cheaper and cleaner. Ten years ago, taxis were terrible. Even in San Francisco. Now there's Uber and Lyft.
The question wasn't really why are they better than taxis, but why is Lyft considered a more ethical business than Uber, which has faced criticism, especially recently.
Admittedly one of the first reasons I preferred Uber to taxis was that I didn't have to deal with tipping but Lyft does at least offer the option whereas Uber drivers are left with whatever scraps the company decides to throw them that week.
Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
In a lot of places, Uber/Lyft is a significantly better experience. The cars show up when you call them - reliably and quickly. The drivers don't long-haul you to rip you off. They go places taxis won't to pick you up. They're generally cheaper and cleaner. Ten years ago, taxis were terrible. Even in San Francisco. Now there's Uber and Lyft.
The question wasn't really why are they better than taxis, but why is Lyft considered a more ethical business than Uber, which has faced criticism, especially recently.
That's what I was getting at, thank you. I understand that taxis are regarded as horrible but I don't get why Lyft is seen as "the better way" (either by investors or customers) when Uber is increasingly reviled. Lyft has the same systemic flaws as Uber but does so behind a pink mustache and a CEO that seems a bit more restrained. Neither company took the opportunity to "fix" a broken taxi system by ensuring that both drivers and passengers get a better deal.
If anything, it looks like Uber and Lyft looked at the taxi industry and said "hey, if we made that into an app, we can make bank for ourselves while incrementally shafting the very people we need for our service!" and proceeded to do so and Lyft does so in a more camouflaged way.