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Do you think Uber has eliminated cab companies in any of the cities it operates in? Seriously? For those cabbies that do lose their job, they're better off as Uber drivers anyway. (By the way, they keep their own tips too... but you already knew that, didn't you?)
The car camera and tracking technology is completely possible with Uber... all without having to pay any middle men either. Nothing new there.
And all that nonsense about over-hiring makes no sense. There are only so many rides that will be in demand in this city. If there are too many Uber cars to service them, some will quit if it's not profitable, others will choose to work part time... either way the market itself will decide EXACTLY how many Uber cars and taxis there will be to meet demand. It's a self-limiting system when you actually have REAL competition in the market. I know that must be a foreign concept to people who are so institutionalized into thinking this monopoly is the normal and correct way to conduct business. It's not.
Wow.
Still think drivers are better off with Uber? I remember when I struggled with basic arithmetic.
You clearly dont keep up on the news of the very subject you think you know so much about.
I guess in your eyes, worldwide strikes happen for no reason. When you dont have to pay your "independent operators" an hourly wage or provide a single benefit to them, obviously they will bring in as many as they possibly can... When there is no risk or investment in hiring a new employee in a commission based business, why WOULDN'T you bring in droves of drivers?
Oh, and if Uber is such a great tech company and cabs are just SO outdated, then why hasn't Uber provided the safety devices to their drivers that cab companies do?
I dont know what you do for a living, but being in a tightly enclosed space with a total stranger in the middle of the night while that stranger knows you are carrying a lot of cash isn't the safest thing in the world.
Understand that I am not complaining about it.
But the fact that the cab companies put these safety devices in for us and this fabulous tech company hasn't dropped a dime of their absolutely insane profits to do the same for their driver SAYS A LOT ABOUT UBER.
So go right on ahead and consider them angels... Just shows how oblivious people can be.
I have to disagree... If Uber were to have free reign in Vegas, an insane amount of drivers would be hired... Because that is what Uber does: overhires.
The driver will have to wait around until they *happen* to be picked out of the group by the potential passenger.
In the meantime, they can't pick people up streetwise because it is illegal to "hail" here...
So in many ways, it would be considerably less efficient for drivers.
Any advice on how to get reliable taxi service from Nellis Air Force base to Red Rock Casino and back? Or Centennial Hills area to Frys electronics? How about anywhere in Henderson to anywhere in North Las Vegas?
These are some real problems with some of my military coworkers. Seems that limo service is the only option without having to wait hours.
Still think drivers are better off with Uber? I remember when I struggled with basic arithmetic.
You clearly dont keep up on the news of the very subject you think you know so much about.
I guess in your eyes, worldwide strikes happen for no reason. When you dont have to pay your "independent operators" an hourly wage or provide a single benefit to them, obviously they will bring in as many as they possibly can... When there is no risk or investment in hiring a new employee in a commission based business, why WOULDN'T you bring in droves of drivers?
Oh, and if Uber is such a great tech company and cabs are just SO outdated, then why hasn't Uber provided the safety devices to their drivers that cab companies do?
I dont know what you do for a living, but being in a tightly enclosed space with a total stranger in the middle of the night while that stranger knows you are carrying a lot of cash isn't the safest thing in the world.
Understand that I am not complaining about it.
But the fact that the cab companies put these safety devices in for us and this fabulous tech company hasn't dropped a dime of their absolutely insane profits to do the same for their driver SAYS A LOT ABOUT UBER.
So go right on ahead and consider them angels... Just shows how oblivious people can be.
There is so much wrong in this post, I don't know where to start! Let me address each point individually:
1) "Safety". You incorrectly think Uber is a transportation company that employs drivers and therefore needs to provide OSHA safety measures like an employer would at a bus company or airline. You're looking at their entire business model completely wrong. Consider Uber as the Ebay of car rides. It merely connects drivers with riders and takes a cut of the transaction. Drivers are independent contractors. That's it. If they do not put cameras in their own car, it's their own choice. In fact, Uber actually provides more safety for its drivers (and riders) than the Ebay model because Ebay doesn't actually go out and look at your "product" to make sure it meets certain safety/quality standards. Ebay doesn't do background checks on its sellers. If Uber drivers do not take basic safety measures for themselves, it's their own fault for being stupid in a competitive economy.
2) "Employees/Striking". Uber is not an employer of drivers. Just like Ebay does not "employ" the people who are providing the "product." If Uber drivers are "striking," they are idiots who don't realize that they are not employees. It's like a bunch of sellers on Ebay who boycott the site because they don't like the company taking a higher commission. If sellers don't like it, it's their choice to keep providing products or not. Same thing with Uber drivers. If they don't like it, there are other ways to provide rides (Lyft, Sidecar, etc.). That's the whole point: competition!
2) "Over-hiring". First of all, Uber doesn't "employ" anybody except its tech people who run the site/app... as in the Ebay model. If too many people are selling the same thing, market forces take over and there will be less transactions because the demand isn't there. Of course Ebay would want as many buyers/sellers on its site to get more commission, just as Uber would want as many drivers/riders to create more transaction fees. So what? If the number of drivers is mismatched with the number of riders, the market forces decide how many cars will be in operation. That's not difficult to understand. As you say, "I remember when I struggled with basic arithmetic.".. or in this case, "basic economics."
3) "Cash." As you yourself say, "You clearly don't keep up on the news of the very subject you think you know so much about." Each and every ride on Uber is a CASHLESS transaction! That's the whole point of the technology. Riders sign up online with a credit/debit card and the fare (and tip) is automatically charged to the card upon completion. There is no "stranger who knows you are carrying a lot of cash" because a) the rider is not some random dude on the street who cannot be tracked, b) drivers and riders get to rate each other on the site, weeding out the losers/rude people (like Ebay) and c) they have no reason to believe the driver has a single penny on him AT ALL! There is no motivation to rob an Uber driver. Uber drivers can work their entire career without carrying a dollar and every rider knows it... too bad you don't.
You're so used to being taken care of by your cab company, that you forget there is an entirely different business model for entrepreneurs who can choose to work for themselves, on their own schedule and not rely on a company to provide them with cameras or laughable safety training. For these entrepreneurs, they get to cut out the middle men and MORE THAN DOUBLE THEIR PAY: they take 80% of each and every fare. The app is the dispatcher. The boss is yourself. Uber is merely the provider of "sales leads" and actually offers some safety standards and technology enhancements for the convenience of both drivers and riders.
Wouldn't you prefer to drive a slightly higher class of passenger who is at least moderately tech-savvy, owns a smart phone and a credit card that can be tracked? It sure beats picking up tweakers on Tropicana/Dean Martin! Wouldn't you prefer to be the master of your own destiny and double your commission, even if it means you pay for the gas and upkeep? Wouldn't you prefer to have control over the camera you choose to put in your own car and not rely on an employer to make sure it's working or of the high standard you require for yourself?
There is so much wrong in this post, I don't know where to start! Let me address each point individually:
1) "Safety". You incorrectly think Uber is a transportation company that employs drivers and therefore needs to provide OSHA safety measures like an employer would at a bus company or airline. You're looking at their entire business model completely wrong. Consider Uber as the Ebay of car rides. It merely connects drivers with riders and takes a cut of the transaction. Drivers are independent contractors. That's it. If they do not put cameras in their own car, it's their own choice. In fact, Uber actually provides more safety for its drivers (and riders) than the Ebay model because Ebay doesn't actually go out and look at your "product" to make sure it meets certain safety/quality standards. Ebay doesn't do background checks on its sellers. If Uber drivers do not take basic safety measures for themselves, it's their own fault for being stupid in a competitive economy.
2) "Employees/Striking". Uber is not an employer of drivers. Just like Ebay does not "employ" the people who are providing the "product." If Uber drivers are "striking," they are idiots who don't realize that they are not employees. It's like a bunch of sellers on Ebay who boycott the site because they don't like the company taking a higher commission. If sellers don't like it, it's their choice to keep providing products or not. Same thing with Uber drivers. If they don't like it, there are other ways to provide rides (Lyft, Sidecar, etc.). That's the whole point: competition!
2) "Over-hiring". First of all, Uber doesn't "employ" anybody except its tech people who run the site/app... as in the Ebay model. If too many people are selling the same thing, market forces take over and there will be less transactions because the demand isn't there. Of course Ebay would want as many buyers/sellers on its site to get more commission, just as Uber would want as many drivers/riders to create more transaction fees. So what? If the number of drivers is mismatched with the number of riders, the market forces decide how many cars will be in operation. That's not difficult to understand. As you say, "I remember when I struggled with basic arithmetic.".. or in this case, "basic economics."
3) "Cash." As you yourself say, "You clearly don't keep up on the news of the very subject you think you know so much about." Each and every ride on Uber is a CASHLESS transaction! That's the whole point of the technology. Riders sign up online with a credit/debit card and the fare (and tip) is automatically charged to the card upon completion. There is no "stranger who knows you are carrying a lot of cash" because a) the rider is not some random dude on the street who cannot be tracked, b) drivers and riders get to rate each other on the site, weeding out the losers/rude people (like Ebay) and c) they have no reason to believe the driver has a single penny on him AT ALL! There is no motivation to rob an Uber driver. Uber drivers can work their entire career without carrying a dollar and every rider knows it... too bad you don't.
You're so used to being taken care of by your cab company, that you forget there is an entirely different business model for entrepreneurs who can choose to work for themselves, on their own schedule and not rely on a company to provide them with cameras or laughable safety training. For these entrepreneurs, they get to cut out the middle men and MORE THAN DOUBLE THEIR PAY: they take 80% of each and every fare. The app is the dispatcher. The boss is yourself. Uber is merely the provider of "sales leads" and actually offers some safety standards and technology enhancements for the convenience of both drivers and riders.
Wouldn't you prefer to drive a slightly higher class of passenger who is at least moderately tech-savvy, owns a smart phone and a credit card that can be tracked? It sure beats picking up tweakers on Tropicana/Dean Martin! Wouldn't you prefer to be the master of your own destiny and double your commission, even if it means you pay for the gas and upkeep? Wouldn't you prefer to have control over the camera you choose to put in your own car and not rely on an employer to make sure it's working or of the high standard you require for yourself?
Your post simply makes no sense.
It seems you missed with comment I posted about the entire financial breakdown between the two jobs...
The points in making are clearly going over your head about overhiring. To put it simply, you have to work more and more as each new driver signs up. This is why the drivers got mad. Cabs on the other hand are regulated as far as how many are allowed... Seems like a simple concept..?
Uber wants the benefits of being a transportation company without actually being one... Also seems simple
It seems you missed with comment I posted about the entire financial breakdown between the two jobs...
The points in making are clearly going over your head about overhiring. To put it simply, you have to work more and more as each new driver signs up. This is why the drivers got mad. Cabs on the other hand are regulated as far as how many are allowed... Seems like a simple concept..?
Uber wants the benefits of being a transportation company without actually being one... Also seems simple
Again, your arguments are silly. It's like you didn't even read my post (and failed Econ 101.)
The market will decide if there are too many drivers or not. You can't manufacture demand for rides. People want them or not. If you're working harder and harder because you feel the competition of more drivers signing up on Uber, THEN GOOD! Beat them at their own game. Work harder! Compete!
Make your car get 5-stars because it's less smelly/cleaner. Offer faster service and a friendlier attitude. Make it fun for riders. Maybe cabbies who join Uber will work harder to actually show up at an off-Strip location and pick-up a passenger in less than an hour! The current regulated monopoly that you are proudly defending is what causes the problems that exist today.
Uber is no more a transportation company than Ebay is a mall. They own no cars. They employ no drivers. There is no storefront.
It's like calling Match.com a pimp... or calling Craigslist a store... or calling Airbnb a hotel. You make NO SENSE AT ALL!
Again, your arguments are silly. It's like you didn't even read my post (and failed Econ 101.)
The market will decide if there are too many drivers or not. You can't manufacture demand for rides. People want them or not. If you're working harder and harder because you feel the competition of more drivers signing up on Uber, THEN GOOD! Beat them at their own game. Work harder! Compete!
Make your car get 5-stars because it's less smelly/cleaner. Offer faster service and a friendlier attitude. Make it fun for riders. Maybe cabbies who join Uber will work harder to actually show up at an off-Strip location and pick-up a passenger in less than an hour! The current regulated monopoly that you are proudly defending is what causes the problems that exist today.
Uber is no more a transportation company than Ebay is a mall. They own no cars. They employ no drivers. There is no storefront.
It's like calling Match.com a pimp... or calling Craigslist a store... or calling Airbnb a hotel. You make NO SENSE AT ALL!
I failed Econ 101? Really...
Yeah, you're right... I think I'd like to buy a new car every other year, pay for tires, brakes and oil changes constantly, give up my paid vacation, give up all my medical benefits, give up my 401k, give up the right to pick up on the strip and airport, give up free roadside assistance for my family, give up my cell discount, give up free meals available daily at multiple locations throughout the city... And many more things... Just to make $11 an hour with Uber?
My impression is the Uber is not necessarily a full-time gig for anyone, although, if someone wanted to hustle, I imagine they could make it one. *shrug*
I wouldn't mind helping out someone in my neighborhood and making a little spending money at the same time.
If the market was happy with the status quo, businesses like Uber would not be created to meet a demand. Cabbies have relied on their cushy monopoly. Those days are numbered. Happened for travel agents. Happened for newspaper classified advertising. Is happening for cabs. It will happen for Realtors.
I wouldn't pay someone $11/hour to sit on their duff and drive a car. The market is speaking loud and clear.
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