- Thread starter Mauricio
- Start date
Uber in Santo Domingo
Same here, waiting for it to happen.
Still I don't think they will be more convenient, never have a problem calling or walking to a cab in less than 5 mins. I can't say that for service back home. It will be worth the same price as a regular cab just for the option of seeing the car before it arrives. Had to help push a cab one time. I knew when he pulled up that the car might not make it to my destination. Nothing like living the Dominican Experience when you are in 90+ degree heat pushing a cab and then you have to walk 4 blocks the rest of the way. Com'on Uber
I am a huge fan of Via back home!
It's like a publico in a Suburban or Escalade, $5 how can you beat it?
Uber hates Via.
It's like a publico in a Suburban or Escalade, $5 how can you beat it?
Uber hates Via.
I would be more worried about what the local taxis do and say. I remember two things that happened here in Cabarete, first an owner of a kite school was picking up his clients on a regular basis from the airport until he got threatened by the local taxi drivers, threats that implied serious physical harm and the other one was when Caribe Tours started to come to Cabarete, that did not last long after action from the taxi and public transport drivers! Uber is German for 'above' but I think that it would not be long until Uber would be 'Unter' (Under)!!!
Uber has a valuation of over $50B, they are not going anywhere, Santo Domingo means nothing to them.
Now, if taxi sindicos were partnered with Uber, it might work, highly unlikely with the margins.
http://fortune.com/2015/07/31/uber-valuation-funding-round/
Now, if taxi sindicos were partnered with Uber, it might work, highly unlikely with the margins.
http://fortune.com/2015/07/31/uber-valuation-funding-round/
the point in case of taxis is,
what could Uber offer a Taxi Union/Driver
to convince him to ride for Uber instead?
I Don't see where Uber would bring the Taxis more customers.
who needs a cabby ride, is already using the existing cabbies, as they are the only option.
so no additional customers to await.
significantly more money in a drivers pockets could be a convincing argument, but with Uber taking their share and the driver making significantly more money than now, enough to convince him to forfeit the actual Union benefits, that would mean a drastic raise on the rates for the rides, here i would see the clientel to just stick to their known drivers.
and an other important point to convince the crowd of existing cabby drivers, is the requirement of cars to be models 2006 and newer.
take a look on the existing cabbies in the capital,
to date i rarely had a taxi of that young age.
the vast mayority is older and would not qualify.
the same not qualifying would go for many of the average cabby drivers to have proper smartphones with data plans of 3 resp. 5 Gia per month and the proper bank account and all those papers for the car up to date.
so a mayority of existing union drivers would not qualify for one or the other requirement points.
that means a mayority of members against a joint venture of the taxi unions with a new competitor,
because from their point of view such joint venture would not bring additional customers, no extra money, no reason to join.
Mike
LOL, I thought it was funny half way coming from the airport into the city the driver pulls into the gas station to fill up and asks me for an advance payment for gas money............ or the time the cabbie asks me for directions to Caribe Tours in SD, oh I could go on.
Would be nice to see Uber but I really don't think it will happen. They would do well in SD Centro cause the Yeppeta crew would love whipping out their smartphone to get a cab.
How do you think the taxi medallion owners in NYC feel about UBER?
The cost of a NYC Taxi medallion fell from its peak of $1.05M to current offer of $600K.
http://nycitycab.com/business/taximedallionlist.aspx
UBER is not going anywhere in major markets, I doubt the model works in SDQ with strength of sindicos.
The cost of a NYC Taxi medallion fell from its peak of $1.05M to current offer of $600K.
http://nycitycab.com/business/taximedallionlist.aspx
UBER is not going anywhere in major markets, I doubt the model works in SDQ with strength of sindicos.
different strokes for different folks. i like taxi service in SD and i would never use uber here. i absolutely despise mobile phone applications and intrusiveness of smart phones. sorry, old lady alert.
taxis in SD are:
cheap (150 to 200 is hard to beat)
easy to order (a phone call is faster than typing on a smart phone)
safe (tell dispatcher the driver will pick up "jose perez" and verify the name with the driver to make sure you are getting correct car)
i am sure there will be many folks who are already using uber in other countries and they are happy to see it here. and many local chopos who'd want to show off how worldly they are by using it. good for them. i'm a stingy old bag who will keep on using taxis.
taxis in SD are:
cheap (150 to 200 is hard to beat)
easy to order (a phone call is faster than typing on a smart phone)
safe (tell dispatcher the driver will pick up "jose perez" and verify the name with the driver to make sure you are getting correct car)
i am sure there will be many folks who are already using uber in other countries and they are happy to see it here. and many local chopos who'd want to show off how worldly they are by using it. good for them. i'm a stingy old bag who will keep on using taxis.
thats right.
and the jeepeta crew also would love to make some extra bucks riding people around in their jeepetas for a price, lol.
Bird,
that's exactly what i meant,
most of the existing union drivers/car owners would not qualify not any near, by noooo stretch of things, to become part of that cake.
they look for the money to pay the rent for the home the day the rent is due, they look for the money to pay the pollo for dinner the day the colmado says "no mas fiao hoy, pagame primero 800.- pesos de los 2.000.- que me debes este mes", they do not own a car 2006+ or run a bank account.
and the ones with a newer car do now own that car, they have no papers for it, as it belongs to the Union's financing section.
and thats an other point which is impoirtant to those drivers, specially the ones with newer vehicles, they have those vehicles because they "married" in the union, otherwise they would not get a bank loan to purchase a vehicle of such value.
Mike
1st,
in case of the Punta Cana Area,
not even a single AI resort has any shuttles running, where do you get such info from??
2nd,
how many AI Tourists are in Santo Domingo City to use Uber?
don't mistake Boca Chica and Juan Dolio etc etc with Santo Domingo City, where they plan to start.
Mike
I doubt calling a cab is faster than pushing pick me up on the uber app. And instead of wondering after ten minutes if he will come and call another time (and have to remember the unit number they told you) you check your phone where he is.
I do expect Dominican drivers use other people's ID / drivers license / certificate of good conduct / license plate and car make / year to enroll and then use their beaten Toyota Corolla of '95. If that happens it damages the whole idea and uber will become just an additional source of customers for the can driver. But when enough people with decent cars and enough time on their hands join it would work.
It's really too bad for uber I have a 2005 car....the average Dominican doesn't know it's way in Santo Domingo as I do.......:smoke: (another requisite from uber)
Last edited:
for half time of the regular/actual cabby price of around $5.- bucks to come around Santo Domingo,
which would mean you pay then just 2.50-3.-US$ per ride,
you sure would not await to be picked up in a newer model vehicle which holds any car insurance or such, right?
for a Taxi Owner in Santo Domingo it would be impossible to obtain, maintain and operate a newer model Vehicle for Taxi Services for 3 bucks and less per ride.
such rides exist, no doubt,
but with a kittchen propane tank on the backseat right at your side,
and the passenger door fixed with some cable or tiraps.
Mike