[BostonTaxiDriver]

Picked up my 1st pax ever at Logan (just received my DPU certificate!). It was around midnight, waited just a minute or two, after declining an airport Hyatt ping.

Went to Swampscott just over the Lynn line, so my app shows a total of just $19.73.

We happened to be talking about Lyft and some of her past drivers. Somehow she mentioned a driver who mentors and participates in driver meetups. When I asked if he's white, older or younger, etc., she mentioned his name as "Barry"!

Wow, that's our BostonBarry from this forum!

Haven't seen his postings in ages, but noticd some of his older postings recently. I checked his profile, and it seems he was " last seen' over six weeks ago or so.

Too bad, as he had lots of good info.

 

[driver5494]

Went to Swampscott just over the Lynn line, so my app shows a total of just $19.73.

That seems very low. Actually disturbingly low. It's amazing how cheap these airport fares are. This is going to put a major dent in the executive sedan/limo airport travel business.

Were you able to score a ride back from Swampscott? I can't imagine you had much luck just running Lyft.

 

[BostonTaxiDriver]

That seems very low. Actually disturbingly low. It's amazing how cheap these airport fares are. This is going to put a major dent in the executive sedan/limo airport travel business.

Were you able to score a ride back from Swampscott? I can't imagine you had much luck just running Lyft.

Actually, I drove around Lynn briefly to get a snack..and got a Lyftline but I ignored. I'm not comfortable in those areas, as I'm used to always returning empty in the cab. I realize I can just use GPS if unfamiliar with an area in depth, but I like to feel in control and know the streets very well, as well as where the nasty curves are in the road, especially at night.

That price seems especially low? Yes, a cab would've cost her $45 ($50?) with tip and fees. But I would have waited 60-90 minutes in the taxipool at that hour, minimum, and my hourly cost of the cab is higher than my Lyft rental.

Marblehead and Swampscott are not great fares, as it takes too long to get there with too many lights and no 60 mph quick routes.

 

[BOScusdriver]

The fare seems spot on to me. I made $18 and change on run to Swampscott a couple days ago with UberX.

From Logan

 

[driver5494]

Actually, I drove around Lynn briefly to get a snack..and got a Lyftline but I ignored. I'm not comfortable in those areas, as I'm used to always returning empty in the cab. I realize I can just use GPS if unfamiliar with an area in depth, but I like to feel in control and know the streets very well, as well as where the nasty curves are in the road, especially at night.

That price seems especially low? Yes, a cab would've cost her $45 ($50?) with tip and fees. But I would have waited 60-90 minutes in the taxipool at that hour, minimum, and my hourly cost of the cab is higher than my Lyft rental.

Marblehead and Swampscott are not great fares, as it takes too long to get there with too many lights and no 60 mph quick routes.

Yeah but she didn't wait at all and rode in a more comfortable car. Why should she pay 50% less? These fares are disgusting. One should not be able to ride in a private car from the airport to the boondocks for under 50 bucks!

 

[BostonTaxiDriver]

Yeah but she didn't wait at all and rode in a more comfortable car. Why should she pay 50% less? These fares are disgusting. One should not be able to ride in a private car from the airport to the boondocks for under 50 bucks!

In my research, it seems the Logan rideshare fares to close destinations are not much cheaper than taxis, such as Seaport hotels or Sheraton, believe it or not.

Taxi, without major traffic or lane/exit closures to Seaport, is about $19.90 including $7.50 in tolls and fees; Sheraton about $26.90 if via Sumner, likely $34 via TWT. Yep, some taxi drivers (not me) will take them the TWT for 93 North, Storrow, East Cambridge, etc.

 

[bostonwolf]

Uber and Lyft have fallen prey to a common Silicon Valley premise that you make your product cheap, build volume, then monetize.

The problem is that you've undermined the value of your product.

In Boston both services could raise prices 50% and still comfortably undercut cabs.

You would lose the dregs who do only Pool, but you'd get much closer to profitability.

Right now fares cover 40% of Uber's cost per ride. That isn't sustainable, and driverless cares aren't coming for another 10 years minimum.

Marc Andreeson, an extremely successful entrepreneur and inventor has said his single piece of advice to all startups is "raise prices"

 

[BillyTheKidd]

Uber and Lyft have fallen prey to a common Silicon Valley premise that you make your product cheap, build volume, then monetize.

The problem is that you've undermined the value of your product.

In Boston both services could raise prices 50% and still comfortably undercut cabs.

You would lose the dregs who do only Pool, but you'd get much closer to profitability.

Right now fares cover 40% of Uber's cost per ride. That isn't sustainable, and driverless cares aren't coming for another 10 years minimum.

Marc Andreeson, an extremely successful entrepreneur and inventor has said his single piece of advice to all startups is "raise prices"

I agree with Andreeson 100%. Driver5494 has been saying this for a long time as well which I agreed with.

As BTD noted prices for the shorter cab rides are comparable to Uber/Lyft and cheaper when they surge.

However, I still think some people would always use Uber/Lyft for all rides.

Picked up my 1st pax ever at Logan (just received my DPU certificate!). It was around midnight, waited just a minute or two, after declining an airport Hyatt ping.

Went to Swampscott just over the Lynn line, so my app shows a total of just $19.73.

We happened to be talking about Lyft and some of her past drivers. Somehow she mentioned a driver who mentors and participates in driver meetups. When I asked if he's white, older or younger, etc., she mentioned his name as "Barry"!

Wow, that's our BostonBarry from this forum!

Haven't seen his postings in ages, but noticd some of his older postings recently. I checked his profile, and it seems he was " last seen' over six weeks ago or so.

Too bad, as he had lots of good info.

Yes, Barry was a great contributor to this forum. Very insightful.