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Uber's Failure in Japan

disruptingjapan.com

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Re: Uber's Failure in Japan

#91

Post by zodvik »

pnathan wrote: post #24

The advantage of Uber has nothing to do with price and everything to do with grotesque incompetence on the part of the taxi operators. Five-six years ago, when I asked for a receipt for an expense report, I got a hand-scribbled note. Running credit cards often required hand-based crank mechanisms. Autoplaying TV on the back of a seat that was billed unless you explicitly opted out. It was, in short, a scammy operatio…

Absolutely the same case in India and then some more.

I would argue that Uber (and Ola) have raised my standard of living as far as transport is concerned. I've stayed in Bangalore & Chennai and have travelled in a few more cities.

All problems that you mention ring true here plus an additional things - most taxis & autorickshaws don't even run on the meter. Every ride involves a ritual of haggling the price. If you're new to a city, it is certain that you would be fleeced. Then, many would deny the ride to a destination if it is not a hotspot. On few days I've take the local transport, I get dropped off a kilometre away from my home and have to walk the rest.

I would never take a local taxi or an autorickshaw if there is an Uber/Ola available.

Re: Uber's Failure in Japan

#92

Post by guy_c »

mahranch wrote: post #82
m_mueller wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tips are the most confusing thing by far about the US for me as a European.

One of my best friends is from a country without tipping. He's well-traveled and has something like 20+ stamps in his passport. He says he loves tipping. I was a little curious so I asked him why, he said in countries without tipping, service is shit. Moreover, the demeanor of everyone involved is shit. He said "you Americans don't know how good you have it". I guess even someone fake being nice to you in expectation…

Yep Japan is amazing. No tipping, but if you ask for help in a shop the staff will literally run to help you.

Re: Uber's Failure in Japan

#93

Post by greendestiny_re »

vram22 wrote: post #90
greggman wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel your pain. That's what taxi service has been like for me in SF and LA. Also it was effectively non-existent except for calling to be taken to the airport because there were so few. Japan, or at least the populated parts generally have tons of taxis so they are easy to find. They are polite and very clean, one thing western cabs are not. If they do something wrong (go the wrong way, end up taking the wrong road…

What's the lah mean exactly? Heard it a lot in Kuala Lumpur but did not check then. Can sort of guess, but good to hear from someone who knows. Enjoyed being there.

Cursory googling revealed that "lah" in Singaporean Colloquial English signifies agreement. You know what I mean, right?

Re: Uber's Failure in Japan

#94

Post by draw_down »

BurningFrog wrote: post #46
ajmurmann wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The biggest culture shock coming back to the bay area from a long Japan vacation was the taxi from the airport to a nearby hotel. The day before out return we had a driver in Tokyo who had approached it hotel from the wrong direction and had to drive around the block to get us to the front entrance. We were happy to walk half a block but he was very embarrassed and insisted to drive us to the front door and took way…

> I can't wait for the SF taxi industry to completely collapse. “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”

Good grief, I'm having trouble thinking of a less-apt deployment of that quote. What the hell.

Re: Uber's Failure in Japan

#95

Post by draw_down »

greggman wrote: post #29
jsnathan wrote: post #3

The article basically states that Uber's cavalier attitude towards the law was the wrong approach to use in Japan, because the Japanese public does not respect this attitude, and that they should have worked it out with regulators before they started operations. I guess the broader lesson implied is that you need to put in the effort to understand the local culture, and adapt your strategies accordingly, before you t…

I'm not sure that argument really holds up. AirBnB is very popular in Japan (hosting not renting), tons of listings, all of them are breaking the law. (most of them are lying about their listings as well with AirBnB's blessings)

No idea whether it's correct, but article says that law breaking is acceptable when everyone does it.

Re: Uber's Failure in Japan

#96

Post by autokad »

madeofpalk wrote: post #74
matt_wulfeck wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Now, all of what the author said about Uber's flouting of the law is true. And that's not something I'm terribly happy about. But I think there's a certain value in simply ignoring bad law and fixing it on the fly. And this is the problem. Uber is providing superior service for less cost. Clearly the city, which enacts laws on my and other tax payers behalf, isn't actually acting in my favor when it goes after uber…

But regulation also helps in parts. For example, it (tries) to ensure taxis are available everywhere, not just the profitable areas.

at least, thats what the politician tells you in order to accept the fleecing of your wallet

Re: Uber's Failure in Japan

#98

Post by BurningFrog »

draw_down wrote: post #94
BurningFrog wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I can't wait for the SF taxi industry to completely collapse. “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”

Good grief, I'm having trouble thinking of a less-apt deployment of that quote. What the hell.

I do get carried away some times...

Re: Uber's Failure in Japan

#99

Post by onlyfortoday2 »

IkmoIkmo wrote: post #81
TuringNYC wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Totally agreed. I am on a business deal that brought me to the country of Qatar. Many of the yellow cabs here (blue over here) refused to turn on their meters instead trying to negotiate a fare with you -- often starting at 2x or 3x the actual fare and trying to see how much upside they could keep. They would be nice initially and then try to arm-twist you at the end of the ride. Uber arrived and caught on like wildf…

I mean it really depends... like in Morocco this never happens, unless you look foreign. All taxis have a number on the top of the car, so you can just easily report it. And the penalties for drivers are actually quite harsh, even just referring to 'I know the taxi number' means he's shutting up, turning on the meter and getting you to where you need. You can still have a shitty experience, but for locals it's mostly…

. like in Morocco this never happens, unless you look foreign.

"unless you look foreign"so happens alot to tourists?

Re: Uber's Failure in Japan

#100

Post by aninhumer »

mahranch wrote: post #82
m_mueller wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tips are the most confusing thing by far about the US for me as a European.

One of my best friends is from a country without tipping. He's well-traveled and has something like 20+ stamps in his passport. He says he loves tipping. I was a little curious so I asked him why, he said in countries without tipping, service is shit. Moreover, the demeanor of everyone involved is shit. He said "you Americans don't know how good you have it". I guess even someone fake being nice to you in expectation…

Honestly, I find American service kind of creepy and fake. It's like everyone is performing the role of good service.

Maybe if you're used to that, someone just giving you what you want without incident feels lacking?

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