Uber vs. car service (or taxi)

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  • #614891
    Joseph
    Participant

    Does anyone have experience or knowledge with using Uber or Lyft and other similar services versus using a car service or taxi? The cost differences, which is a better service, etc.

    And the practical differences in service and cost between traditional Uber and uberX, Uber SUV, Uber Taxi, etc.

    #1134953
    tina18
    Participant

    Yes I do. Uber / Lyft is fantastic for short rides. BP to flatbush, etc. The drivers need to act up to a certain standard (enforced by feedback) so the cars are nice, drivers friendly. Its super safe because the drivers are tracked and you can always complain to uber if you have a complaint. Its also great cause you know when they are coming exactly. As the ride gets longer though – It seem to get more pricier. SO a trip to JFK can be 55$ on Uber and say 30$ with a local car service. There is no money transfer on Uber. Its all credit card so thats good and bad.

    Its also great if you travel often and dont want the hassle of calling a car service or renting a car every time. In my opinion , Uber is better then owning a car but its no good for long distances. Ask me any question and I will try to help. I use them all the time

    #1134954
    Joseph
    Participant

    BP to flatbush, etc.

    How much is a trip from BP to Flatbush with Uber and Lyft and how much is a comparable ride with a local car service? How competitive is Uber with local car services for a trip into Manhattan?

    Is there a difference between Uber and Lyft? Between them and other competitive car apps (Sidecar, Gett, etc.)? i.e. pricing, service or other considerations.

    Its all credit card so thats good and bad.

    What could be the downside of using a credit card versus cash? (I also understand that with Uber the pricing is all-inclusive and no tip is expected.)

    How often do you use them? What did you use previously that you replaced them with?

    #1134955
    gavra_at_work
    Participant

    WADR, by law in NYC, Uber is simply a glorified car service. Its drivers and cars are licensed by the TLC. Look at the relevant court cases and news articles.

    So before we can answer the TNC question, first we need to know where you plan on using one.

    #1134956
    Joseph
    Participant

    AFAIK, Uber works in NYC the same way as it works anywhere else in the U.S. (At least as far as passengers are concerned.)

    #1134957
    popa_bar_abba
    Participant

    Well, for half the price of a taxi or car service, you can have a clean car and a polite driver and a shorter wait time.

    So you just have to consider whether you’d rather pay more for a smelly dirty car with a driver who will talk on his phone and play strange radio stations loudly and make you wait longer and then be mad at you if you take a minute to come outside.

    It’s a big decision.

    #1134958
    Joseph
    Participant

    popa: Uber costs less than a car service or taxis across the board?

    #1134959
    popa_bar_abba
    Participant

    Yes. Except when there is high demand, in which case they tell you how much extra it will cost. Since it is usually like half as much as a taxi, I take Uber unless it is more than like 1.75x the base rate.

    #1134960
    writersoul
    Participant

    Has anyone ever used Gett/GetTaxi in Yerushalayim?

    What are prices like compared to other local companies?

    Is it safe?

    #1134961
    charliehall
    Participant

    When I have checked Uber’s prices, they have always been much higher than the local livery cab services. And my neighborhood is full of livery cabs.

    #1134962
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    This all might depend on location. Charlie, I think you said you live in the Bronx, and popa says he lives in an igloo, and tina18 is referring to Brooklyn.

    #1134963
    gavra_at_work
    Participant

    AFAIK, Uber works in NYC the same way as it works anywhere else in the U.S. (At least as far as passengers are concerned.)

    Yes and no. The advantage in NYC is that you get a licensed driver who has been checked out by the TLC, and has appropriate insurance. In other areas (such as San Fransisco, where there was a death that insurance refused to cover since the Uber driver is considered to be a taxi driver), you may run into problems.

    In short, Uber in NYC will have a more professional and better insured driver than elsewhere, so that has to be considered in the response.

    #1134964
    popa_bar_abba
    Participant

    When I have checked Uber’s prices, they have always been much higher than the local livery cab services. And my neighborhood is full of livery cabs.

    How many times did you check?

    You’re a statistician–what is the confidence interval on your results? How would you balance that against the easy ability to check the prices online and see that the base price is nominally cheaper.

    #1134965
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    It’s also important to factor in when they were called. The comparitive prices might be different at high or low demand times.

    #1134966
    popa_bar_abba
    Participant

    I also forgot to mention that the tip is included in the Uber pricing, so you really need to add however much you usually tip to compare. And also add the dirty comments about how you are a cheap jew and don’t tip enough.

    #1134967
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    that the tip is included in the Uber pricing

    Not according to some Uber drivers.

    #1134968
    tina18
    Participant

    Uber is not really used to save money over a car service. A trip from flatbush to BP that cost me 15$ on car service will cost me 17-18 on Uber. But I will normally give a tip on the car service so its close. Its just so much more convenient that its worth the price

    #1134969
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    Although, checking Uber’s own rules, it’s unnecessary, so those drivers are wrong.

    #1134970
    popa_bar_abba
    Participant

    It’s right there in Uber’s marketing materials. Not exactly something to have opinions about.

    #1134971
    Joseph
    Participant

    I heard there’s a significant risk of getting a female driver with Uber.

    #1134972
    popa_bar_abba
    Participant

    Uber is not really used to save money over a car service. A trip from flatbush to BP that cost me 15$ on car service will cost me 17-18 on Uber.

    From which intersection to which intersection? Let’s price it right now on their website.

    #1134973
    popa_bar_abba
    Participant

    Ok, here is the fare breakdown in NYC:

    Yellow cab:

    2.50 base.

    2.50/mile and 50 cents per minute in traffic.

    80 cents – 1.30 surcharges based on time of day

    15-20% tip.

    Uber:

    3.00 base

    2.15/mile and 40 cents per minute in traffic

    no surcharges, and no tip.

    Charlie, I don’t think we’ll be needing statistical analysis for this one.

    #1134974
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    What about livery cabs? I think they’re cheaper than yellow cabs.

    #1134975
    charliehall
    Participant

    Just got a quote from Uber Black for a trip from my home to La Guardia Airport. $72-$91. I’ve never paid a livery cab service more than $55 including tolls for that run.

    #1134976
    charliehall
    Participant

    Uber Black wants to charge me $63 to $82 to take me to the New Rochelle Amtrak station. Blue Bird Taxi will do it for about $30 plus tip.

    #1134977
    charliehall
    Participant

    Took a livery cab from the subway station to my home tonight. $8. Uber Black wants $19 to $23.

    Want more examples or is this enough?

    #1134978
    Joseph
    Participant

    Why aren’t you price comparing it with UberX rather than the more expensive and luxurious Uber Black?

    #1134979
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant

    So popa’s comparing yellow taxis to Uber X, and Charlie’s comparing livery cabs to Uber Black. Surprise, surprise, they’re getting different results.

    #1134980
    charliehall
    Participant

    Uber Black is the Uber livery cab service. Comparing livery cabs to Uber X is apples to oranges. Compare comparable service to comparable service.

    #1134981
    nishtdayngesheft
    Participant

    Uber black is like the limousine services in the city. Not like livery cabs.

    Someone is not being honest.

    #1134982
    Joseph
    Participant

    UberX is equivalent to a car service whereas Uber Black Car is a more luxurious service.

    Requesting an UberX sometimes results in getting a Black Car service while paying the UberX rate.

    #1134983
    jewish source
    Participant

    CAR 2 Go cost me FB to BP about 2.50 to 3.00

    #1134984
    popa_bar_abba
    Participant

    I think I’ll bookmark this thread. Never know when something like this could come in handy.

    #1134985
    ☕ DaasYochid ☕
    Participant
    #1134986
    Joseph
    Participant

    Uber lowered their prices this week, including having a minimum fare of only $7 now. Are they now less than a local car service?

    #1134987
    charliehall
    Participant

    No, but only 2x as expensive now rather than 3x.

    #1134988
    popa_bar_abba
    Participant

    Thanks for bumping. This thread is great.

    Charlie, I have no idea why you are opposed to people saving money.

    #1134989
    justsmile613
    Participant

    Uber and Lyft are amazing! I know in Brooklyn regular car services are plentiful and the wait usually isnt long, But out of town a regular taxi can take forever to come, and with Uber or Lyft is is usually no more than 5 minutes and the same price or cheaper, PLUS alot of times you can get a coupons for FREE rides for referring someome etc.. I just got Ten $5 credits on Lyft..All in all its a great service

    #1134990
    mewho
    Participant

    I tried VIA in Manhattan. $5.40 for the ride anywhere between 125 street and battery park–east to west. did not like it at all. they take on additional fares while you are in the car. they only drive thru streets, no highways. did it once, would not do it again. also paid for with credit card on app

    #1134991
    charliehall
    Participant

    “I have no idea why you are opposed to people saving money.”

    I *support* people saving money and that is why I am calling out Uber. It is preying on people who don’t realize that in many cases an ordinary livery cab or even green or yellow cab is less expensive because they aren’t familiar with NYC.

    #1134992
    popa_bar_abba
    Participant

    I *support* people saving money and that is why I am calling out Uber. It is preying on people who don’t realize that in many cases an ordinary livery cab or even green or yellow cab is less expensive because they aren’t familiar with NYC.

    Well, above your example was comparing Uber Black to your local car service. That was highly misleading since most people use Uberx which is way cheaper than your local car service.

    I assume when you say “in many cases,” you are again being intentionally misleading, and what you mean to say is that when surge pricing is in effect, it can be cheaper to take a cab. However, this is clearly disclosed before you order the Uber, and in fact you can instead choose to order a regular cab and pay regular cab prices through the Uber app–and can compare the wait times.

    I have no issue with you disliking Uber’s business model, or that they have effectively deregulated a formerly regulated industry. But why can’t you just make your real arguments instead of misleading us?

    It’s the same with every liberal argument. You don’t like Trump so you call him a bigot, but when you’re called on it, you aren’t even willing to post one post backing it up. FWIW, I haven’t been following the Trump news closely, and there’s a decent chance you’d convince me that he is.

    Liberalism is a mental disorder.

    #1134993
    YW Moderator-42
    Moderator

    What is the difference between yellow, green, and livery cabs?

    #1134994
    Abba_S
    Participant

    Yellow cabs can pick up in Manhattan below 96th St. otherwise yellow and green are the same as far as picking up off the street. Livery cabs must be called and can’t be hailed from the street.

    #1134995
    charliehall
    Participant

    “Uber Black to your local car service”

    I have seen plenty of Uber Black cars in my area. They are Lincoln Town Cars, just like the livery cabs. In fact, many are other companies’ livery cabs, with drivers making an extra buck on the side.

    ‘I assume when you say “in many cases,” you are again being intentionally misleading’

    Correct. What I should have said is that I have NEVER found Uber to be less expensive than an ordinary livery cab. I was giving Uber the benefit of the doubt. Maybe at 4am some morning they would be less expensive.

    “they have effectively deregulated a formerly regulated industry.”

    They have done no such thing. Livery cab rates are unregulated. Uber in NYC is basically a livery cab service with a smartphone app.

    “You don’t like Trump so you call him a bigot, but when you’re called on it, you aren’t even willing to post one post backing it up. “

    You think Trump isn’t a bigot??? If YWN accepted outside news links I could fill page after page in the Coffee Room with examples.

    “I haven’t been following the Trump news closely, and there’s a decent chance you’d convince me that he is.”

    You admit you are an ignoramus yet you challenge me on that? Talk about chutzpah!

    “Liberalism is a mental disorder”

    When someone starts engaging in *ad hominem* attacks, I know that I have won the argument.

    Besides, Trump is no conservative. He makes Bernie Sanders look like a small government advocate. Before you start accusing people of having a mental disorder you might want to examine your own inaccurate perception of reality.

    #1134996
    charliehall
    Participant

    “Livery cabs must be called and can’t be hailed from the street.”

    Everyone hails livery cabs in the Bronx. Including me. We have no yellow cabs and few green cabs.

    Now will the person who accused me of opposing deregulation please retract and apologize?

    #1134998
    popa_bar_abba
    Participant

    Don’t be ridiculous. You’ve already displayed amply above that you were being misleading by talking about Uber Black instead of Uberx which is the cheap one.

    And no, you can’t call anyone a bigot because when you’re called on it, you won’t put up anything. We don’t need outside links. We just need you to go back to that other thread, and post the three most bigoted things he did or said (e.g. “He said ‘Jews worship the devil'”), as well as your definition of bigotry.

    You’ve lost big time credibility. You need to discuss without (i) trying to silence opponents by calling them bigots, or (ii) being intentionally misleading.

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