City taxis buyout Mercury taxis in uber scare

[Mr Bloke 1,445]

I thought you were suggesting that people who spend money on taxis in the first place are gullible anyway, given buses are cheaper.

Yeah, I was really...

 

... forgive me, I just had a silly moment!

[swordfish1 10]

With reference to buses, it's often cheaper and easier to use a taxi. There are often a few of us as I'm a sociable person.

Also it's quicker. No changes of taxi en route (as there would be for my most regular destination by bus).

Also I prefer taxis and can afford them thankfully.

If Uber was a worse service, I may pay extra to use City/Mercury/Network etc.

As it stands, they give a better service for less money.

But then again I'm gullible. ?

[Vegas1 10]

Fair point actually, if there were three or more of us going into town, a taxi would cost the same as three separate bus fares.

[Blue Day 10]

Fair point actually, if there were three or more of us going into town, a taxi would cost the same as three separate bus fares.

 

With the cost of bus / tram fares now taxis are sometimes far better value.

 

Just got a bus from interchange to Hillsborough. £2.40 - but if my wife and 2 kids were with me a taxi would have saved me money.

[kris99 11]

Watchdog 8pm tonight BBC1 "investigating a hacking scandal surrounding the online cab company Uber." Interesting to see what that's about.

[Dan12 10]

Watchdog 8pm tonight BBC1 "investigating a hacking scandal surrounding the online cab company Uber." Interesting to see what that's about.

 

Can't see where it says it's uber????? In the listings ??

[Mr Bloke 1,445]

Can't see where it says it's uber????? In the listings ??

It does here.

[kris99 11]

Can't see where it says it's uber????? In the listings ??

Can't you????? It's certainly there.

[RickyM 10]

Yes.

 

A. The first ride is always free up to 10 or 15 quid.

 

B. They are at least 20% cheaper, usually more compared to black cabs.

 

It amazes me how judgemental people can be about something they haven't tried.

 

I've just looked on their fare finder on their website.

 

I searched from my address to the Out of Hours GP Collaborative at the Northern General. It gave me a range of £6-£9.

 

I phoned for a taxi last October to take me there and it cost £6.80.

 

Taking the average of the range above it would be £7.50 - so I saved 70p

Edited June 18, 2015 by RickyM

[FuriousGeorg 10]

...so I saved 70p

 

No, you would have spent £6.80.

 

As I said, free rides are abundant, you always get one for signing up.

 

So after your first Uber trip you would actually be 6.80 up.

 

It would take you another 10 trips at the 70p more expensive Uber price before you'd have saved any money by sticking with City, I think...

 

Assuming City's prices haven't gone up since last October.

 

And also assumung the Uber estimate is accurate, it's usually at the lower end of the estimate, I think because it factors in a fair amount of waiting time on top of the distance.

Edited June 18, 2015 by FuriousGeorg

[RickyM 10]

No, you would have spent £6.80.

 

As I said, free rides are abundant, you always get one for signing up.

 

So after your first Uber trip you would be 6.80 up.

 

It would take you another 10 trips at the 70p more expensive Uber price before you'd have saved any money by sticking with City, I think...

 

Assuming City's prices haven't gone up since last October.

 

I see your point.

 

It would have been worth using Uber for the free ride and the 70p cheaper fares as after ten times it would have made up for the rest.

 

I don't use taxis very often but as others have pointed out, if there is a group going somewhere then it's worth getting a taxi and sharing the fare than getting a bus or tram.

[ECCOnoob 1,041]

I see Uber has been on BBC Watchdog tonight with account hacking problems, mismanaged accounts, details going missing and general incompetence.

 

Another problem I don't seem to have when I book a regular taxi through a regular firm.