An explosive report by WJLA, the ABC affiliate in Washington, indicates that racketeering practices are commonly being employed by Uber drivers to deliberately manipulate the technology’s ‘surge-pricing’ function. By cooperatively agreeing to turn-off the app at busy departure sites, the drivers trick the technology into believing that there is a shortage of drivers, which sends fare prices for passengers skyrocketing, often by $20, $30, or more.
And it looks like Taste of Country fans — held at Sahlens Field tonight — are about to be prime targets of the practice. Local followers of technology companies (and their stock prices) are watching with bated breath to gauge how riders will react. National reaction to the scandalous practice has some stock market analysts predicting that Uber’s mammoth equity valuation may tumble.
The report can be viewed at WJLA.
When the outlet first reported on the practice, Uber said it wasn’t a widespread issue and claimed that they had safeguards to prevent it from happening elsewhere. But that doesn’t jive with the experience of riders across the country, who are complaining that they too have likely been victims of ‘surge-pricing’ rackets organized by local groups of drivers.
Word of the scandal is angering many Uber riders, some of whom are pledging to use locally owned alternatives to be assured of fair pricing.
But Uber has much more to worry about than a racketeering scandal. The company’s brand is far more vulnerable to its shocking safety record.
“Almost every day you hear about someone getting raped somewhere in America by an Uber driver,” explains Becca Sobieski, a 23-year-old woman from Lancaster. “You never know who you’re gonna get. It makes a lot of sense to just save the phone number of your trusted local cab company, and make a quick call.”
“It could save your life,” she adds.
Most jurisdictions — outside of New York City — do not have evolved regulatory frameworks governing ride-hailing technologies — which leaves consumers vulnerable to price gouging and anti-competitive behavior.
It’s unclear if Taste of County fans will be smart enough (or sober enough) to realize that they can save big — sometimes more than $100 — just by calling their local cab company.
This is a crock! I drive all day long, and on Saturday nights. And besides expected peak times, such as 7-9am and 4-6pm, do I rarely ever see surges. Why don’t you talk to some drivers, before you accuse us of things that simply do not happen.
Using the phrase “rape” in your headline is complete bs. Have some class.
I thought that was tasteless as well!
My favorite part was how the writer implies that all country music lovers are stupid. I dont know why the riders dont understand that while this may happen occasionally they are happening in places and time that surge would have occurred anyway. Bill’s games, Sabres, concerts. This is universally true in Buffalo. The expectation that a1000 drivers are going to be in the area when the event ends so that customers dont experience any surge is ridiculous.
Rape: unlawful sexual activity and usually sexual intercourse carried out forcibly or under threat of injury against a person’s will.
Guarantee not a single rape victim is thinking “wow, this is just like an Uber ride I was overcharged for”