Uber tests ‘Flex' feature in India, allowing riders to choose tailored fare preferences (www.livemint.com)
from BuddyTheBeefalo@lemmy.ml to technology@lemmy.world on 06 Jan 2024 23:10
https://lemmy.ml/post/10209058

As per a report from India Today, Uber Flex introduces a range of nine pricing choices for riders when booking a ride, departing from the conventional dynamic pricing model. Within these options, one price is designated as the default or starting price. Once a rider picks a particular fare from these nine alternatives, this selected fare is communicated to nearby drivers. In essence, riders now have the freedom to choose a fare that aligns with their comfort level for the journey.

Drivers are given the liberty to either approve or decline a ride depending on the fare chosen by the rider. If a driver agrees to the suggested fare, they will accept the ride and deliver the service at the specified price. Conversely, if the fare does not meet the driver’s approval, they have the choice to decline the ride.

Uber is currently experimenting with the Flex feature in additional nations such as Lebanon, Kenya, and Latin America. As reported by TechCrunch, Uber intends to implement this innovative operational approach in major Indian cities like Delhi and Mumbai in the near future.

#technology

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SkyezOpen@lemmy.world on 06 Jan 2024 23:20 next collapse

Wait they’re trying to pay them even less now?

BuddyTheBeefalo@lemmy.ml on 06 Jan 2024 23:26 collapse

I think riders can bid more to have better chances to get accepted by drivers.

echo64@lemmy.world on 06 Jan 2024 23:56 collapse

I’m sure glad uber “disrupted” the industry from what it was to a marketplace of bidding for a taxi. The system we had previously where you said “I want a taxi” and then a taxi came, and then you paid for it and the driver was paid appropriately was obviously unworkable after working for a hundred years.

This isn’t a dynstopian nightmare at all.

givesomefucks@lemmy.world on 07 Jan 2024 00:07 next collapse

where you said “I want a taxi” and then a taxi came

Lol

Waving a taxi down could work like the movies. And they often say around bars to take people home.

But if you wanted picked up from a home by a taxi, you’d call and a taxi would show sometime between 5 minutes and 2 hours. Sometimes longer, sometimes not at all.

Taxis fucking sucked

deeroh@lemmy.sdf.org on 07 Jan 2024 01:22 collapse

Totally agree, but I feel like the problem was the booking system, not the taxi.

I was traveling recently, and Uber had partnered with a local taxi company to handle ride requests. It was awesome. You get the convenience and speed of calling an Uber, but the vehicles and drivers are all regulated and paid by the taxi company. No questionable gig economy work, no wondering if the driver is getting paid fairly, no concerns over shady drivers, no ill-kept vehicles.

circuscritic@lemmy.ca on 07 Jan 2024 05:04 next collapse

Uber is a cancer on society, but taxi’s didn’t just come when called.

Here’s how it would work: call cab company at 6AM and request taxi pickup at 8:00 to take you to airport.

At 8:15AM, call dispatch back and ask where you taxi is. Dispatch tells you they’re almost there.

8:45AM call dispatch again, and they’ll tell you they’re about to pull up.

9:30AM call dispatch and cancel pickup

9:32AM Taxi arrives and it smells like the physical manifestation of 1970s porn set that allowed smoking.

There is a reason why the taxi industry got wrecked so quickly: it sucked, badly.

candybrie@lemmy.world on 07 Jan 2024 11:14 collapse

Tell me you didn’t take taxis without telling me you didn’t take taxis.

From not showing up for hours to weird routes to drive up the meter to “malfunctioning” credit card readers, taxis sucked. And the medallion system in places would give companies something of a monopoly.

neptune@dmv.social on 07 Jan 2024 13:52 next collapse

Pre covid, I needed an Uber pool to go a few miles. We go halfway and wait for his other pick up. We sit and wait the seven minutes or whatever. The person never comes. So I eventually get dropped off… And then Uber charges me the full rate. So not only did I arrive at least seven minutes later than I should have, but I paid MORE than agreed for the pleasure.

candybrie@lemmy.world on 08 Jan 2024 14:33 collapse

Being (justifiably) upset about 7 minutes late and having to pay the full rate shows how far we’ve come from taxis of a couple decades ago.

1rre@discuss.tchncs.de on 07 Jan 2024 13:27 collapse

I mean it depends on where… In London the taxis, although expensive and often not the politest to other road users, are nearly universally great service for the customer (and mathematically it very rarely makes sense to run up the meter due to how demand and the fare system works) and also pay the drivers a decent wage as they generally don’t have a middleman to pay other than the government for their licence

That said, in the US (specifically New York) my experience was that ubers are generally nicer than taxis, but it’s definitely not universal

postnataldrip@lemmy.world on 06 Jan 2024 23:33 next collapse

Sounds like DIY surge pricing

linearchaos@lemmy.world on 07 Jan 2024 02:19 next collapse

Turn off the radio playing the eagles at full volume $5.99

Turn the heat off in midsummer $3.50

Skip any and all pleasantries $6.99

Stay in the right side of the road $12.50

BuddyTheBeefalo@lemmy.ml on 07 Jan 2024 02:32 next collapse

In India, you already need to book ‘premium cars’ to get a vehicle with seatbelts.

ivanafterall@kbin.social on 07 Jan 2024 07:06 next collapse

So I can pay more or live out Indian Hotel California? Easy choice.

linearchaos@lemmy.world on 07 Jan 2024 15:08 collapse

The dude abides

Hadriscus@lemm.ee on 08 Jan 2024 01:55 collapse

That’s a name no one would self-apply where I come from

linearchaos@lemmy.world on 08 Jan 2024 02:43 collapse

I don’t know about you but I take comfort in that, It’s good knowin he’s out there.

Hadriscus@lemm.ee on 08 Jan 2024 02:59 collapse

The film led me to listen to Townes Van Zandt, particularly his closing tune “Dead Flowers” (take me doooown, little Suzie…). I play it on the guitar, but I don’t sing it very well. Read up on that man if that’s your thing

GiveOver@feddit.uk on 07 Jan 2024 16:48 collapse

Fuck you man if you dont like my fucking music, get your own fucking cab. I’ll pull over to the side and kick your ass out.

linearchaos@lemmy.world on 07 Jan 2024 20:23 collapse

Dude, come on man I had a rough night.

Seems like all the people voting around here are just nihilists. ;)

edit: note the parent to this comment needs to be upvoted, “he’s a good man and thorough.”

GiveOver@feddit.uk on 07 Jan 2024 23:20 collapse

Must be exhausting!

Hadriscus@lemm.ee on 08 Jan 2024 01:52 collapse

Bran can’t watch or he has to pay 100$

linearchaos@lemmy.world on 08 Jan 2024 02:47 collapse

Aww nice marmot…

spiderman@ani.social on 07 Jan 2024 05:00 collapse

Even if the drivers accept the ride, at the end of the ride they always end up asking for another 50 or 100 rupees.