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comment by b_b
b_b  ·  2967 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: The Uber Model, It Turns Out, Doesn’t Translate

I would argue that Uber stands out from the rest, because they're not trying to do something new; they're exploiting externalities in a market that is already huge, and doing so in a way that is more convenient than the conventional model. Who really uses Uber because it's cheaper? I don't. I use it when I need a lift somewhere where it's hard to get a cab, especially when traveling without a car and when drunk.





Wintermute  ·  2966 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    Who really uses Uber because it's cheaper?

I sure do. I'm just old enough that back in my military days we still had to take cabs everywhere while we were in training (weren't allowed to bring our cars with us). Getting a cab wasn't a huge hassle (at least in San Antonio). I use Uber over cabs on the rare occasion that I need a ride these days exclusively because every time I've ever done the math Uber comes out around half the price of a cab for a given trip.