Hopefully us former employees see some liquidity before driverless wipes these companies out. The value of ride dispatching aggregators is in the driver network. Apps and cars are easy to make.
Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles
151–160 of 527 posts
Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles
#152Earlier quoted context omitted.
I completely agree, and was halfway through writing a similar comment when I saw your post. I actively make choices for things like transit and food which reduce how much I have to think about tipping. I don't like having to judge someone's service, and decide how much it's appropriate to tip them based on some unwritten societal rule. The signal that hiding tips away sends is "the service provider is being compensat…
> I don't like having to judge someone's service, and decide how much it's appropriate to tip them based on some unwritten societal rule I use neither Uber nor Lyft, so may wrong here, but don't both services strongly encourage passengers to rate drivers based on the quality of the ride? Why is it awkward to judge someone based on a tip, but not on attribution of stars?
I didn't say the rating wasn't also awkward. Though that's sort or convenient in its way, once you understand its unwritten social rule, since that boils it down to me just having to make a snap decision of "was this ride bad enough that I want this driver to get fired? If so... 4 stars."
(Yes, I think the 1-5 star rating scheme has its own notable flaws based on how Uber seems to use it.)
Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles
#153Earlier quoted context omitted.
Exactly! Charge me what you're going to charge. None of this tipping nonsense. It's really a vestige of former times when if someone felt nice enough they'd offer you a tip --not that you deserved it, but it was to show they had heart, a kind of virtue signal. Why would Lyft want to continue this anachronistic idea which puts the burden on a fare? It's the number one reason I do not use Lyft.
The number one reason you don't use Lyft is because of tipping? What do you use instead, Uber, taxi, or do you drive? If it's the first, how do you justify using Uber when its practices are significantly worse than an optional tipping for the users? If it's the second, how do you justify using a taxi when tips (in the US) are almost mandatory?
Uber. It's just mentally easier to deal with. After spending time in other countries, I have come to dislike tipping. Having to decide --do they deserve it, do they not? I don't want to deal with it. Tipping used to be an optional thing in transactions but it has become pervasive. Tipping jars. Just charge me more and pay the barista a wage a highschooler or recent graduate can live on.
Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles
#154Lyft couldn't sell themselves for $5B and now they're looking for funding at $6B. I'm curious as to who would be dumb enough to invest in Lyft after a scenario like that.
The same ones who were dumb enough to invest in Uber I guess.
Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles
#155Earlier quoted context omitted.
I really don't understand what the issue is with tipping. I am American and I love the custom. I feel being able to pay directly the person I have received a service from is very powerful. I think it does incentivise a better work ethic and it's a very social way of affording a middle class income. Now states that reduce the minimum wage for tip workers, that's evil (I live in California).
There are many issues with tipping This article and the research behind it http://www.esquire.com/food-drink/restaurants/a23132/why-tip... 3. The percentage basis makes no sense. 4. Better service doesn't actually beget better tips. 5. It perpetuates racism and sexism.
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Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles
#156Earlier quoted context omitted.
Counterpoint: one of the reasons I prefer Uber is that it doesn't allow or encourage in-app tipping. Tipping sucks, is economically dysfunctional, and socially awkward. If the drivers aren't making enough from base fares then the fares need to go up - it's not my job to be a charity.
I've never understood why tipping, specifically when it is completely optional, threatens people or turns them off. If you don't tip a Lyft driver, they aren't going to give you a dirty look or treat you any differently, especially since you get to rate them on their service. You can complain that people should be paid a fair wage, but they aren't. I wish for many things, such as the end of warfare, but I accept the…
To me, it's fairly obvious that it can be stressful having to choose between a number of options in cases where the social expectations are unclear. It's partly for this same reason other situations can be stressful, like first dates, job interviews, encounters with police, discussing bad news, etc.
Now, I don't think that's sufficient to say that all tipping is to be avoided, but I certainly understand the urge to avoid it, ceteris parabus.
Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles
#157Here is how I see it. I rely on those rides to go to work every single day and here what it (would) costs me. Uber: $250 a month.(Majority) Lyft: $500 a month (Whenever Uber is too expensive) Bus : $100 a month (1h:15 for 6 miles and 3 buses... No) Politics and all internal conflicts aside, there is a need for these services whether we like it or not. When I need to make a decision in the morning I take whatever is t…
The answer is that, you are using a service that is unsustainably too cheap. In the longer term the price will have to increase, probably quite significantly and you'll have to choose whether you think it's still worth it or take the bus. Unfortunately you, and many others are the ones benefitting from drivers being underpaid.
It's almost like Uberpool could be a privately run bus service using larger vehicles and transporting more people at once, instead of private taxis. Depending on the angle you view it from, perhaps the Uberpool service isn't too cheap, but simply a bad idea from the start, without the infrastructure or a suitable class of vehicle to make it viable.
Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles
#158Earlier quoted context omitted.
The key points are - CEO never blackmailed journalists - No major revelations of sexual harassment - ~~No major revelations of political support~~ Related to core business - Surge Limit has prevented complaints about emergency pricing vs Uber. - Lyft takes a lower commission capped at 20%/25% - Lyft has in app digital tipping (drivers keep 100% of tips). Uber's tip policy encourages cash, which is an often cited comp…
> Lyft has in app digital tipping (drivers keep 100% of tips). One of the reasons I don't like Lyft. How about this system: pay the drivers a fair wage up front, so they don't need to subsist on the generosity of strangers. If they get great ratings, you can give them a bonus.
That's exactly why I like it. This either tip or living wage thinking is so American! How about both!?
I want the easy option to tip someone for exceptional service, but I also want them to get payed well enough to not feel obliged to.
Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles
#159Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Lyft has in app digital tipping (drivers keep 100% of tips). One of the reasons I don't like Lyft. How about this system: pay the drivers a fair wage up front, so they don't need to subsist on the generosity of strangers. If they get great ratings, you can give them a bonus.
I give about 30% of my Lyft drivers a tip, and I'm glad Lyft includes the option in their app. I've occasionally wanted to tip an Uber driver but then not had cash on me. I don't think it's reasonable to expect ride share companies to pay their drivers a fair wage when they are in fierce competition with each other and self-driving cars are on the horizon. I agree "mandatory" tipping like in US restaurants isn't a gr…
In the UK taxi tipping is often just rounding up, so an 8 or 9 pound fare is £10. The driver won't be upset about giving change, but £1 times 10 5 days a week adds up. (disclaimer: my prices are based on 10+ years ago and always paying cash).
Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles
#160Here is how I see it. I rely on those rides to go to work every single day and here what it (would) costs me. Uber: $250 a month.(Majority) Lyft: $500 a month (Whenever Uber is too expensive) Bus : $100 a month (1h:15 for 6 miles and 3 buses... No) Politics and all internal conflicts aside, there is a need for these services whether we like it or not. When I need to make a decision in the morning I take whatever is t…
In Europe, your bus fare would be half of the price and probably you would need one or two connections.
The public transport is much more developed and to me seems like a much better mass transportation alternative. More ecological, cheaper, less cars overall.