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Lyft adds a new app for drivers

businessinsider.com

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Re: Lyft adds a new app for drivers

#11

Post by jngreenlee »

pfarnsworth wrote: post #5

I don't think scheduling a ride a few days in advance actually helps the drivers. One of the best things about Uber or Lyft for the drivers is that they don't have to think about scheduling, they're told exactly where to drive. If they have a scheduled ride and they forget about it, or they're stuck waiting around to make that ride and lose business, that doesn't seem like it will be popular. One big thing that Uber…

This. I don't think the feature is a game changer for anyone. The same end-user capability exists.

Re: Lyft adds a new app for drivers

#14

Post by Paul-ish »

aptwebapps wrote: post #6
bpicolo wrote: post #2

This could be a really good thing if you're an hour away from the airport where you have a morning flight, but a really bad thing if the driver decides that morning to not take you. :)

Presumably another driver would pick it up - it wouldn't just get dropped.

That would require there to be another driver, which in a less populous area at 4AM might not be the case. It seems like there would need to be steep penalties on both parties if they cancel near the arranged time.

Eg: Driver cancels 2 hours before pickup. Lyft penalizes driver x% of total fee, then uses that to "bid up" the price on that pickup to entice another driver to fulfill the request at the last minute. This has the potential to help attract drivers to go out of their way, which could help in less urban areas.

Re: Lyft adds a new app for drivers

#15

Post by _rpd »

Kiro wrote: post #8

So this is of course anecdotal but the only time I book taxis is when it's very important I get somewhere in time, like catching a plane early in the morning. Given the nature of Uber/Lyft it would take a lot before I would trust them with this.

I think this strongly depends on your local taxi industry. I would never trust a "booked" taxi to turn up on time or at all. There is a reason that Uber became so popular.

Re: Lyft adds a new app for drivers

#16

Post by jpalomaki »

pfarnsworth wrote: post #5

I don't think scheduling a ride a few days in advance actually helps the drivers. One of the best things about Uber or Lyft for the drivers is that they don't have to think about scheduling, they're told exactly where to drive. If they have a scheduled ride and they forget about it, or they're stuck waiting around to make that ride and lose business, that doesn't seem like it will be popular. One big thing that Uber…

This could be something for Lyft drivers people who don't drive so regularly. You could for example spot gigs which you can handle while riding to work. If you know day or two beforehand, you can then adjust your schedule accordingly.

Re: Lyft adds a new app for drivers

#17

Post by fanzhang »

jngreenlee wrote: post #9
Kiro wrote: post #8

So this is of course anecdotal but the only time I book taxis is when it's very important I get somewhere in time, like catching a plane early in the morning. Given the nature of Uber/Lyft it would take a lot before I would trust them with this.

So this is of course anecdotal but the only time I use Lyft (I avoid Uber) when it's very important I get somewhere in time, like catching a plane early in the morning. Given the nature of Taxis, it would take a lot before I would trust Taxis with this. Edit: The last time I booked a taxi it was 2-3 years ago for a 4am ride to PDX. I booked two to be safe, only one came anyways.

My last experience with a taxi was going to Logan airport. I called one; dispatcher said it'd come in 10 minutes. Never came 15 minutes later. Called another, same thing.

Ended up flagging a taxi down (taxis rarely drove by where I lived but I was in luck (?) after 30 minutes of waiting on the curb).

Re: Lyft adds a new app for drivers

#18

Post by arthens »

Kiro wrote: post #8

So this is of course anecdotal but the only time I book taxis is when it's very important I get somewhere in time, like catching a plane early in the morning. Given the nature of Uber/Lyft it would take a lot before I would trust them with this.

Are taxis more reliable than lift/uber where you live? My experience in Australia is the opposite.

I never had a uber (no lift here) not showing up , while booking a taxi is almost like a lottery. Few years back our office manager booked 4 cabs for 6pm of the following day because we had a work function to go to. The first cab showed up at 6.50 after countless calls to the taxi company, the other never did.

We ended up calling 3 uber and we were on our way within 10 minutes.

That was the day I swore to never get on a taxi again, unless I really really had to.

Re: Lyft adds a new app for drivers

#19

Post by cortesoft »

Kiro wrote: post #8

So this is of course anecdotal but the only time I book taxis is when it's very important I get somewhere in time, like catching a plane early in the morning. Given the nature of Uber/Lyft it would take a lot before I would trust them with this.

Have you ever had a delay with uber or lyft?
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