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Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect

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101–110 of 121 posts

Re: Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect

#101
post #75
post #62

US SOCOM also just pulled out of Nigeria. The rumor is that this is becoming politically sensitive, so the US DoW is turning things over to none other than Erik Prince (Blackwater, Xe, etc). Nigeria is an important source of minerals, for example: lithium. Africa is being hotly contested right now between ISIS, the US / West, China, and state-local political factions.

> US DoW To be clear, it is the DoD - Department of Defense

I mean... https://www.war.gov/

I get what you are saying, and you're not exactly wrong, but...

If I called it DoW, people get mad and point it out. If I call it DoD, people get mad and point it out. And if I put both? Fuck all of you, I'm not mentioning both over and over like DoW/DoD is GNU/Linux :)

Re: Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect

#102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One anecdote for a datapoint: Not sure if it's better now but I've lost a phone in an InDrive and I've lost an expensive bag in an Uber and it was significantly easier and less sketchy to get the bag back. I'm not a price sensitive rider so the insurance of a reputable 'comfort' tier Uber driver paid off. The InDrive driver made me get another ride to him then demanded $1000mxn (~$55usd) to return my phone. The Uber…

I have a controversial take: outside the US/Europe, Uber is mostly a tourist app. If you actually live in developing regions: 1) your income is much lower, and you are quite price sensitive. The Uber price premium (20-40%) hits much harder. 2) the Uber alternatives are noticeably cheaper for the exact same trip. Regarding your experience, if you were local, that inDrive driver likely would not have tried to extort $1…

Uber in Ghana has fares that are not much higher than the others. In fact, many times Uber is cheaper. Not sure about Nigeria or Uganda though.

And they even have a motorcycle ride option that is even cheaper.

And, although Uber Ghana was noticeably more professional when they started, they have relaxed their standards so much in recent years. They are still a tad better than the others, but many drives flit between them and other ride-share companies. A driver does not suddenly become better because they happen to be driving for Uber, although I concede they might u their game based on what is expected of them.

Re: Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect

#103
It feels like people are comparing Uber the brand in their own country and applying that to other countries

* People assume that Uber is a big brand in Nigeria and Uganda, this might not be true

* People assume that Uber is popular in these countries, this might also not be true

Re: Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect

#104

Does this mean that america is planning to bring democracy to uganda and nigeria?

Seems more likely to be due to Uber failing to really penetrate the market. There are a number of markets where they’re really a distant second to Bolt or a local thing or both, and at some point they presumably have to start rationalising.

Re: Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect

#105
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

haggling when drunk is super fun

but haggling with drunks is not

However, wouldn’t you want to be able to set a higher price is someone is obviously drunk (in a bad way).

Re: Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect

#106
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Its not that much. And you can just bypass it by accepting the first offer you get

In a system where you are expected to haggle taking the opening price puts a pretty heavy tax on everything. It's more work to get to a vaguely similar equilibrium distributed slightly less evenly when you look at big markets for similar things.

In a system where fees reach 50%, you are starting with a heavy tax no matter the starting price.

Re: Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect

#107
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They likely were but Companies don't go to jail they pay fines

Various Uber city team managers have spent time in jail.

Unless you throw the investors and senior executives in jail how do you intend to do anything more than performative dance with these measures.

I personally think countries should start sanctioning and international warrants for all large investors and senior executives in a company if something like this happens.

But it won't happen unless US changes their stance on companies being liability shiled.

Sure it should require very exceptional cases but I know companies whose negligence has cost lives of hundreds of people, the reason they and all their investors weren't jailed is the real scam of the democraciez we have gifted ourselves.

Re: Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect

#108
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Shops and factories can be temporarily shut down if they don't comply with regulations. Businesses that require licenses like law practices may similarly have to stop operations. That is half of going to jail. Unfortunately, the growth potential that software industry generally provides has generally prevented governments for creating and enforcing similar laws for software products and such.

How does growth potential relate to legal enforcement?

In the US, "printing money" is the most sacred act there is. If you're doing that, laws suddenly don't apply.

Re: Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect

#109
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They likely were but Companies don't go to jail they pay fines

Various Uber city team managers have spent time in jail.

That sort of thing is called a sacrificial pawn.

Re: Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect

#110
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Counterpoint : in Portugal they are regulated under TVDE, and Uber is competitive with Bolt

That's not a counterpoint.

You’re right, maybe they don’t make good profits in Portugal
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