On-Demand Startups Are Hemorrhaging Tens of Billions a Year

Re:On-Demand Startups Are Hemorrhaging Tens of Billions a Year by b_tterc_p on Tuesday April 02, 2019 @06:30PM (#19559214)

Uber’s answer to that is pretty clear and close to what you’re saying: airline style rewards program.

But I think you’re right. The breadth of offerings is too small and the margins are too tight to gain any real loyalty

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Re:On-Demand Startups Are Hemorrhaging Tens of Billions a Year by digitaltrees on Tuesday April 02, 2019 @11:15PM (#19560473)

Loyalty comes from a large pool of drivers. How many times would you jump between random apps, and wait 20 min for an available driver before you just decide to stick with one? I have a lot of friends that travel internationally; they strongly prefer Lyft but have to use Uber because it is available more widely. They all talk about how they could look for a local app...but say 'who cares, Uber is evil, but whatever'.

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Re:On-Demand Startups Are Hemorrhaging Tens of Billions a Year by jpetso on Wednesday April 03, 2019 @07:33PM (#19568126)

If we only had a meta search engine for taxi rides that enabled you to get the quickest ride from any service! Somehow that's a thing in the airline sector but (for now) not in the on-demand ride business.

Or at least not on the client side. Cab drivers appear to have no problem using several apps at the same time and picking the best option.

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Re:On-Demand Startups Are Hemorrhaging Tens of Billions a Year by Jommi on Wednesday April 03, 2019 @02:11PM (#19565719)

That's why the play is with somewhere inbetween, with continental apps like Taxify(bolt), Ola, Grab and Didi. Or then web-based ride hailing.

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