You're the second person to mention that you don't agree with the Uber/Lyft business model. I'm not trying to flame or troll anyone, I'm sincerely curious what you don't like about it? Vetting process of the drivers, the fact that they compete with taxis or something else?
I agree with a lot of the stuff Madonna3 is saying- I care less about the tip thing, though, because unless a taxi driver is helping with my luggage, I don't tip anyway. That is one of the things that would actually bring me over to Uber if other stuff weren't deal breakers. I like the idea of paying exactly what it says upfront. Nothing to do with the driver. No chance of the driver trying to cheat you (that has happened before to me in taxis). I tend to operate cashless. Taxi drivers in a lot of places like to pretend they don't accept debit (dude, it says you do on your window) or they don't know how to troubleshoot their reader (not my problem).
BUT. Like I said, deal breakers:
1. The people I know who are uber drivers are generally people I would never get into the car with. They're either really inexperienced or terrible drivers. Their insurance does not necessarily sufficiently cover them- hell, most insurance companies actually don't cover any incidence of using your private vehicle for commercial purposes. Taxis ARE commercial vehicles. Taxi fares are expensive partly because their commercial insurance. They're covering their overhead and legal costs.
2. It's a long shot. But there's the safety factor. The cars are personal vehicles of people who may or may not go through a proper vetting process. A transportation company (hopefully) runs drug tests and background checks. Uber does not. They get a chunk of the money and take on no risk. I'm not worried about losing fare money or whatever. I'm worried about the driver being a creeper or letting his friend take a few fares for him. His friend who has a few DUIs or a problem with women or maybe a mental illness. Before Uber, I would not take a clearly marked taxi. I know town car services exist, but unless I seek them out, I'm not going to hire one. (BTW- I feel pretty much the same about any aspect of the "sharing economy"- I don't like airbnb either.) Yes, I know taxi drivers can be also be dangerous but it's about limiting risk not eliminating it entirely. You can't eliminate risk entirely.
3. Uber leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Local governments have told them they can't operate unlicensed or without paying fees. They operated illegally in Portland- I think for at least 6 months. They tell their drivers (or their drivers come up with) ways to avoid getting a ticket for doing so. My sympathy is not entirely with the taxi drivers. A little healthy competition might shake them up. But deliberately ignoring a cease and desist order and then pretend you're doing it because you're a social justice warrior or because it's the hipster thing to do- no. It's wrong. And a revolting way to do business. They're doing it for their cut of the profits and they're recruiting people under either false pretenses to get that cut. They don't care about their communities, passengers, or drivers.
4. Surge pricing is ridiculous. It's opportunistic. Presumably they surge price when traffic is bad due to an event or there's a high demand. But see, that's when you can't get a taxi in Seattle. Like at all. So I'll still end up walking or bussing it. Their advice to use Uber "outside of rush hour"...please.
I totally know people who like it and don't have the same objections I do. I know people who love airbnb. But there is too much "buyer beware" involved for me. I did give it a try when it first came out, because I'm curious. But Uber's reactions to various legal issues in cities drove me away. And airbnb is frankly a lot of work to me. It's like being interviewed to buy a dog. Yeah, I get it. The house owner or breeder is doing it to protect their investment. But I'm the one handing them a significant chunk of my disposable income so why am I the one feeling like I've got to prove I'm worthy? I can book a hotel, check in, check out, and the hotel doesn't go online to grade me after my stay.
