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Comment by jonemo | Hacker News Reader

I don't use these services much, so I might be confused, but wasn't Uber initially a limousine/black car type service with professional (insured, taxed, maybe trained) drivers, and only later expanded into "ride sharing" with UberX, while Lyft has always been doing ride sharing?

Personally I prefer the old Uber over the "ride sharing" Uber and I don't really understand why they have diluted their brand to the point where some people don't even realize that Uber drivers are not necessarily random people driving their family car, but may be professional drivers.

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I use both of these services extensively, but have only used Uber (the limousine service), a half dozen times or so.

UberX is at least a 20x, if not 30-40x larger business than Uber proper, which is why they transitioned away from simple black limousine service. A trip to San Francisco by Taxi from Redwood City is about $105. Via Uber it is about $150 (presuming no Surge Pricing) - Lyft/UberX charge me about $40-$55 (depending on wait time). And, unlike a Taxi, I get almost immediate service, by a courteous and professional driver eager for good feedback. As a 15 year+ user of taxis on the peninsula, and having taken Lyft/UberX around 100 times so far - I get a much more enjoyable experience in Lyft/UberX than I ever did in a taxi, some of who did know the area, but many of them just confused new-arrivals to the Bay area in dangerous vehicle that had me fearing for my life.

I didn't realize RWC-SF is only $50 on UberX, maybe I should try that some time! The only experience I have made with taxis around here is meeting them on the road as cyclist, and that's enough to never want to be inside one.

One thing that speaks for taxis is that they are insured for commercial transport of people so if I get hurt in one, it is likely that I get compensated. How does this work for UberX/Lyft where people use their personal cars?

UberX is easier and cheaper than a taxi when you normally take public transit but don't want to this time (or want to expedite an inconvenient first/last mile.)

Uber proper is priced for people who are used to driving their BMWs or hiring limousines but don't want to this time.

I assume they realized that the former is a larger (and currently underserved) customer base.

> Uber proper is priced for people who are used to driving their BMWs or hiring limousines but don't want to this time.

I've taken a few black cars not because I'm into limousines that much, but because of airport regulations, and the ride is typically within the range of the cab. Cab drivers in the US also expect to be tipped in 10-20% range, which leaves Uber black car service frequently a winner price-wise.

Those are two clearly separated options in the app. I don't think anyone gets that confused.

As someone who used the app a couple of times I am aware of that. I am talking about the public image Uber paints of itself for those not using the service yet. For example, many of my German friends only know about Uber through media coverage of "Uber vs taxi industry" where Uber is always described as ride sharing. To the uninitiated this sounds like Uber's goal is to replace professional insured certified tax-paying businesses with an app-ified version of the gypsy cab industry. More than once have visiting friends given me a strange look when I suggested using Uber to get around SF. I think Uber might be better served at winning new customers and fighting their political fights when they present themselves as a black car service with a ride sharing add-on.

I see what you are saying, but, in general, I think the aviation industry has taught us that people are pretty price sensitive when it comes to transportation. Uber is quite expensive, so the risk you run is making people think "Expensive" when they think of the Black Limousine service (which is incredibly awesome, BTW - totally appropriate for dates where you want to drink, or taking executives out to a meal).

I don't think twice about using UberX/Lyft right now - and certainly would never call a taxi in an area served by them.

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