Uber CEO balks after a reporter tells him the cost of his 2.9-mile Uber ride: ‘Oh my God. Wow.’::undefined

  • Nix@merv.news
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    1 year ago

    Uber is way way more convenient to order because of the apps. Same reason airbnb is still better for most people when traveling/renting in a new city. Its way more convenient than the traditional way that fancy updated in decades

    We need monopoly and housing regulation so these companies can’t exploit people and cause huge harm to neighborhoods while people still get the benefit of the apps making things way easier.

    • bob_wiley@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I went and looked, there seems to be an app for taxis. Seems like it would only be a matter of time before that happened. Looks like it’s been out for 3 years.

      https://apps.apple.com/us/app/curb-request-pay-for-taxis/id299226386

      I don’t find hotels any more difficult to book than an Airbnb. Go to a website, pick your dates and book. Hotels and actually easier, as you can assume certain things and don’t need to comb though all the details to check if the place requires you to do your own cleaning, has a crazy cleaning fee, is missing certain basic amenities, etc. The last Airbnb I got didn’t have a TV, I assumed it would. I never had to think about that with a hotel. There is a consistency in experience that both Uber and Airbnb lack.

      • KevonLooney@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        Curb is actually pretty bad. Only used them a few times and they kept overcharging me every month. Some repeat charge. The bank had to get involved.

        Hotels only have good booking systems to compete with Airbnb. They used to have no way to book online, and you had to call.

        • bob_wiley@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Airbnb was founded in 2008, well after sites like hotels.com and Expedia. Airbnb didn’t invent online booking. And either way, booking a hotel online is ubiquitous and easy these days.

      • Nix@merv.news
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        1 year ago

        Uber and airbnb work in almost every country/city. I dont meed to figure out what taxi service or hotel website to use in every city/country i visit. Also i hate hotels. I want a kitchen i can cook in and a washer for my clothes.

        Not sure how you didn’t know the airbnb wouldn’t have a tv they have a section with every feature the place has and photos of the space. you can easily ask questions and see reviews before booking too.

        I hate what airbnb does to rental/homeownership markets but airbnb fills a huge gap in accessibility. Especially for renting longterm in new places. Many countries require really weird third party agencies and paperwork and weird loopholes to rent a home while airbnb lets you rent in 3 clicks.

        Governments should regulate people and companies from owning so many properties and exploitative rent increases to prevent the terrible parts. They should also launch initiatives for open source national alternatives to uber/airbnb because clearly they’re providing services people really like but the venture capitalists are doing capitalist bullshit to ruin the service after they get a monopoly

        • bob_wiley@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Not having to know or sign up for whatever the local thing is does have its advantages, especially for short term travelers.

          As far as the TV goes, I don’t think I had every stayed at any hotel or Airbnb in the past without a TV, so it never even crossed my mind to look for it. The absence of a TV is harder to spot than something that explicitly says no tv.