Re:Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes
by sharkmerry on Thursday March 16, 2017 @01:03PM
(#13886686)
>> People are literally losing money working for Uber but only when you include depreciation of their car, and that is a long term cost, so people are effectively taking a loan from their future selves.
I believe this is it. They need money now, Uber is better than a payday loan but yes, they are mortgaging assets to make some cash now.
A fourth:
People are literally losing money working for Uber but enjoy driving as a hobby, and Uber helps them recoup at least some of the costs of driving around all the time.
(yes, I've had drivers tell me they do Uber/Lyft for fun because they love driving)
I love to drive, and while being a taxi/uber sounds like fresh hell to me, I know I would represent myself as 'driving because I love it' in my shitty ford to save face when I am trading the equity in my car i am still paying off for food in a downward spiral of depression and poverty. People who love to drive, drive sports cars, not taxis.
This still doesn't make any sense. If you are losing money working for Uber, then you do have access to a higher paying alternative - which is literally standing in your house and doing nothing. Because zero is greater than a negative amount.
I think there are really three explanations that make sense:
People are not literally losing money working for Uber, or maybe they are sometimes but not overall at the end of the month, and they're just rhetorically exaggerating in frustration.
People are literally losing money working for Uber but only when you include depreciation of their car, and that is a long term cost, so people are effectively taking a loan from their future selves.
People are literally losing money working for Uber but morally feel that they should be working rather than not working, even if there is no economic reason for them to do so, and they just hope their situation will improve in the future.