Recap: Uber Warnings, AirBnB As Hotel Booking Engine, $200 Mistake & More

  • Uber Drivers Should Not Be Asking You for Your Destination by Heels First Travel. If Uber is aware of this issue (and it looks like they are due to the in app messaging) why don’t they start fining/punishing drivers that are engaging in this behavior? My whole problem with Uber’s race to the bottom in terms of pricing is you end up with worse drivers, that engage in this and other behavior because the hourly rate is so low.
  • AirBnB as a (cheaper!) hotel booking engine by Wandering Aramean. I’m not a fan of AirBnB containing these hotel listings, when I’m looking on AirBnB I’m trying to avoid hotels in most cases so this just adds another layer for filtering.

 

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Tech_Mo
Tech_Mo (@guest_371209)
March 16, 2017 11:00

At least in LAX, there is one legitimate reason for Uber drivers to ask for your destination (I am one).

LAX is over 2 months behind on giving out permits for pick-ups and drop-offs. So since I don’t want to get hit with a $1000 fine, I have to ask passengers if they are going to LAX before I pick them up. This also avoids them having to wait even longer to request another ride.

But yes, it’s obvious there are some other drivers out there that are abusing the good will of their passengers to screen rides.

Wes
Wes (@guest_371205)
March 16, 2017 10:56

I’ve gotta bite on this “just pay the Uber driver’s more” idea. The proposed solution only works if we assume (incorrectly) that the number of Uber drivers remains relatively static without regard to other variables. More than perhaps any other “job” out there, Uber drivers can come and go, work or not work, literally whenever they want with minimal barriers.

The point that seems to be missed is, if you “just pay ’em more,” then more people are going to join on as drivers. More drivers competing for the same amount of customers is going to result in fewer paid trips per driver, and more downtime per driver. This would likely leave the drivers in nearly the same position as now, with one other huge factor: more drivers = less surge pricing. That also is going to negatively impact the drivers as a whole.

The solution is for drivers to pursue the most efficient use of their talent and time. When Uber is no longer the best use of a driver’s time is exactly when he/she should go ply a better-yielding trade. He/she can’t find anything better? Then said person is in agreement that driving for Uber indeed is, the best use of their time. If that’s the case, with apologies to Rihanna, “Shut up, and drive.”