Beware of scourge pricing
Other names: “surge pricing”To all except its critics, it’s obvious by the disbelief nearly anyone hails a car via app-based services such as Uber or Lyft makes after they are hit with a fare that was almost 10 times the normal in some cities.
It’s not a new year’s resolution. Although social media quickly became a hotbed for anti-Uber hate — “I’m deleting this app. Clearly the company thinks it can do whatever it wants,”One South Beach, Florida reveler cried over a $387 tab. Bad winter weather and Valentine’s Day mean there will be lots of screaming in the months ahead.
The only perverse pleasure is? Waiting to hear which celeb has the best sympathizing rant.
(Unofficial reigning champ: actor Seth Rogen who sarcastically twitters. “great way to rip off drunk people”When a woman complained about being soaked for $351 to take a 25-minute Uber ride, it was another New Year’s Eve.
“Airlines and hotels are more expensive during busy times,”Travis Kalanick, co-founder of Uber, has provided explanations in defense of the business model. “Uber as well.”
True. But, it can be difficult to convince cerebral arguments in the face such high-profile PR disasters.
* The New York City blizzard of 2013. Add the hashtags “#OMG #neverforget #neveragain #real,”Jessica Seinfeld is the wife of comedian Jerry Seinfeld and is a cookbook writer. She took to Instagram to express her disgust at her $415 Uber bill for transporting her children to a sleepover or bar mitzvah.
* The December 2014 hostage siege in Sydney, Australia. Uber charges four times the normal Uber rate due to an increase in demand from innocents fleeing central business district.
Some people are resistant to this.
Even some Uber drivers are not happy with the status quo. “How can it be seen as anything but opportunistic?”CNET.com recently reported that Peter Ashlock, driver, said that New York City Hall was the latest victim of a scam. “tacitly support”A City Council proposal to limit surge pricing to 100 per cent of the base fare.
“All providers of ground transportation should play by the same rules, and passengers shouldn’t have to choose between reaching their destination and paying the rent,”Gary Buffo is the president of the non-profit National Limousine Association(Limo.org), a statement about the effort.
One last point: Northeastern University researchers found some evidence that ride-hailing in New York and San Francisco was possible. “collusion”Some drivers intentionally take their cars off the road to create a supply glut. Uber has, however, dismissed the findings.
