I've just outlined for you a long list of ways in which getting an Uber is superior to hailing a cab. Some of those differences are realized by simply having an app that goes along with the service. Some of them are realized by having a ride-share business model rather than a medallion system with a fleet. Taken collectively, it's a cohesive solution to the problem of "I want to get a ride to Baker St. that doesn't suck". Here are some examples:
- Waiting out in the cold --> Reserve your drive from inside, monitor your driver's position, only step out when they're arriving.
- Driver resents your trip destination --> You declare this ahead of time, and it is accepted by the driver ahead of time. Also, driver rating system discourages people from being rude / guilting you for having a place to go
- Fare was surprisingly high --> You get a quote ahead of time.
- "Credit card machine isn't working" --> Your credit card is already entered in the app, so you don't even have to worry about it. It's charged automatically.
- Car is kind of gross / smells weird --> People use their own, more modern, nicely appointed cars. Drivers have good incentives to take care of the car. Rating system encourages good behavior on both sides (throwing up in an Uber hurts your rating a lot).
On the other side of the coin, Uber's system is solving problems for somebody who wants to earn some cash on the side:
- Reputation system allows you to stand out from the crowd with good service
- No obligations to be on shift - work for as long as you want to. Compatible with having other jobs.
- No need to invest your life savings on a medallion whose only value is to make you one of a sea of undifferentiated, unaccountable yellow cabs
- Don't need to patrol to "find" the riders, so lower downtime
It is a better system. Declaring that it's "NOT" without any backup will not change that. And if you come back saying "so what, local cab services have an app that does all the same stuff now" (now that Uber forced them to to be competitive, that is), then may God have mercy on your soul.
