Uber Banned in Germany

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dreadnaught

For a company to appear there, they have to not have the whole industry shut-down. :bored:

Most states here require annual inspections for even regular passenger cars. Candidly, I doubt Uber is really opposed to requiring its drivers get their cars inspected annually.

---

Again, we don't have something like a "pre-emptive" shutdown. You're making things up. No one's preventing Lyft from doing their thing here, as long as they follow the regulations regarding safety like everyone else. I'm not quite sure how I can make this any clearer. You once again seem to be hellbent on creating an issue just because it's Germany. Get your head out of your ass and begin to use the grey matter within.

And it doesn't matter if they're "not opposed to requiring their drivers". They're not requiring them. Period.

I didn't start this thread, but now you've gotten somewhere -- why is it Uber's job to require their users to inspect their cars? Verifying insurance is easy. Verifying a car inspection, maybe not?

Look, we all know these reasons are simply pretexts to keep the taxi cartel happy and plump. It's the taxi cartel pushing this case after all. Uber is planning to appeal this luddite injunction next week, claiming to have adapted its rules to meet the criteria. Meanwhile, the taxi cartel is sending thugs to order fake rides to hunt for "compliance".

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dreadnaught

Verifying insurance is easy. Verifying a car inspection, maybe not?

---

Wouldn't an inspection be even easier to verify? Sticker on the windshield...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dreadnaught

Meanwhile, the taxi cartel is sending thugs to order fake rides to hunt for "compliance".

---

Considering Uber's playbook has an entire section detailing how to use burning phones to attack competitors like Lyft, good.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dreadnaught

Verifying a car inspection, maybe not?

---

Wut? It's as easy as the insurance, probably even more so:
a) You get a sticker which you have to put on the license plate. Since it's color coded the police can easily verify if you're doing the proper maintenance cycles. Looking out for such cars is one of the tasks of meter maids (in addition to controlling the meters, of course)
b) You get a receipt after passing the inspection, which of course you should pass along to the company.

Pull your head out of your ass, again. You seem to be unable to do even the slightest bit of thinking for yourself.

This "oh, but they want to ban that new-fangled thing I'm excited about!" is moronic in this case. Because Uber is making it easy to ban them because they're not complying with safety and insurance regulations. You might have a point if it was something else like not having a taxi license for the town in question. But those regulations? That's something everyone has to comply with. And with "everyone" I mean: Taxi companies. Public transportation. Bus companies. Logistic companies (i.e. trucks). Rental companies.

Verifying car inspection can be made very easy for the customer and relatively easy for Uber. Just do it and get it over with

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dreadnaught

I didn't start this thread, but now you've gotten somewhere -- why is it Uber's job to require their users to inspect their cars? Verifying insurance is easy. Verifying a car inspection, maybe not?

Look, we all know these reasons are simply pretexts to keep the taxi cartel happy and plump. It's the taxi cartel pushing this case after all. Uber is planning to appeal this luddite injunction next week, claiming to have adapted its rules to meet the criteria. Meanwhile, the taxi cartel is sending thugs to order fake rides to hunt for "compliance".

---

While this thread is about the German case, over here the company is not banned but illegal drivers are punished when caught. And over here there is no cartel, licenses are not limited, the taxi market ed opened some time ago (and plump.. Taxi drivers and their companies have been in financial problems for some time now, it's not exactly a plump business, here at least). The regulations are for safety, and to prevent the massive scamming (especially tourists) that used to take place. I've seen you complain (not rarely justified) that subsidies and tax breaks can create unfair competition surely you agree that blatantly disregarding regulations other taxis do have to follow,and not taking (expensive) insurance is equally unfair competition.

Now there is definitely something to be discussed about the regulations, which is up for renewal in our congress soon. For example, the reviews which are in the app could obviate the need for, say, background checks they have to get now*, of course the insurance issue will remain. Car checks are not expensive so not that big a deal to mandate. I do however think all taxis should play by the same rules, while I don't oppose reform of those rules (which are, at least here, not unreasonable if you ask me). And it's not like that's impossible, or even hard - Uber already did that here. They offer three services here of which two already fully comply with the existing relay (which I guess also shows there is no cartel here). And aside from the insurance, the main regulation is the maximum price they are allowed to charge (not really a problem since they are aiming for being cheaper)and being clear about the price from the start (which, AFAIK, is clear with Uber). Problem with the maximum price is that this is guaranteed by the mandatory, expensive taxi meter. I fully support reform to, say, ease that requirement by, say, certifying apps that also check this. Work hours are also an issue and are currently also monitored by the taxi meter (similar to bus drivers and truckers,taxi drivers are not allowed to drive too long without a break). I think with current technology a lot of regulations can (and should) be either relaxed, or cheaper to comply with (which all taxi drivers would love) . And Uber has every right to join that debate, but especially given they already operate here while playing by the same rules as everybody else (but providing the benefits the app offers for getting a can, reviews, etc), flagrantly disregarding those rules should be punished.

Oh and I figured you being a capitalist you'd fully understand and support people reporting their competitor.

* problem being that taxis can also be picked up without an app.

I saw a TV interview with one of Uber's founders. He didn't seem too bothered by Germany's limitations, but treated it as any other hurdle to jump when expanding business into new markets. It's actually a more daunting process in the US (50 states with disparate laws) than Germany.

Well, he'll be a bit more bothered when his company racks up millions in fines. As I said, the 250,000€ fine is per violation and not a singular instance.

That's certainly an effective solution to Germany's fiscal concerns :o

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Khendraja'aro

Well, he'll be a bit more bothered when his company racks up millions in fines. As I said, the 250,000€ fine is per violation and not a singular instance.

---

He probably won't, since the ban has been lifted ;)

For now. The judge has only lifted the ban because he's not convinced that there needed to be immediate action, i.e. there's no need for a ban before the process has run its course.

The same judge has also said that he considers a permanent to be likely as a result of the process as the underlying business model is still unlawful in his opinion.

This is not a victory for Uber. Only a short reprieve.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aimless

That's certainly an effective solution to Germany's fiscal concerns :o

---

I'm pretty certain Germany's fiscal concern is that the government runs a surplus.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Khendraja'aro

For now. The judge has only lifted the ban because he's not convinced that there needed to be immediate action, i.e. there's no need for a ban before the process has run its course.

The same judge has also said that he considers a permanent to be likely as a result of the process as the underlying business model is still unlawful in his opinion.

This is not a victory for Uber. Only a short reprieve.

---

Of course that isn't true, it gives Uber the time to operate in Germany while tweaking its business model to the point where it does comply.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hazir

Of course that isn't true, it gives Uber the time to operate in Germany while tweaking its business model to the point where it does comply.

---

If they do that they'll lose their price advantage.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Khendraja'aro

If they do that they'll lose their price advantage.

---

You realize that, at least in the United States, a lot of the appeal of Uber isn't due to a price advantage, right?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Enoch the Red

You realize that, at least in the United States, a lot of the appeal of Uber isn't due to a price advantage, right?

---

And? The app thingie is something anyone can do. That's neither something special nor very complicated to achieve. They'll be just one company among many.

We already went through this once with WalMart: The bigshot Americans arrived here in Germany and tried to bulldoze the market. And failed miserably.

Usability notwithstanding they all already have apps. Over here its the professionalism, cleanliness, and as already mentioned the rules that are supposed to be enforced on existing taxis are more likely to be followed by uber drivers than by licensed taxis (set rates, routes, etc).

Professionalism? Have you heard what this nutjob CEO is saying? Seriously, this is one of the big problems people over here have with US-American nutjobs like that: We don't like cowboys very much.

This is reflected by polls which have a 73% majority for banning Uber, by the way.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Flixy

Same here, licensed taxis are always in perfect shape.

---

Lucky you! In the US it depends on the state or city, and who/how taxis are regulated or licensed. I've been appalled by some taxi car conditions that left me feeling creepy/crawly for sitting in the seat, or even using the door handle. :eek:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Khendraja'aro

And? The app thingie is something anyone can do. That's neither something special nor very complicated to achieve. They'll be just one company among many.

---

It is when the government bans it and, according to you (source?) 74% of the population wants to ban it because 'Murika Teknologic.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dreadnaught

It is when the government bans it and, according to you (source?) 74% of the population wants to ban it because 'Murika Teknologic.

---

Given that we have lived through a time that gave us what was easily the most un-regulated taxi-market in the world I think that the main reason why Amsterdam citizens would be against yet another attempt to undercut our already low standards has nothing or close to nothing to do with the fact that Uber originates in the USA. There is no taxi-cartel in this city, hasn't been one in about 20 years.

FYI; drivers who offer rides through Uber without charging are free to do so, even as paid rides are forbidden.

@Flixy: I think you're showing your age when you say that Taxi's here are all in good shape; for me taxis are considerably shabbier than they used to be when I was younger. (I would make an exception for all the nice Tesla cars I see popping up in the taxi-market recently, but I guess that's got to do with the incredible subsidies/tax-breaks for non-emission cars in this country/ If you do it the right way a Tesla model S can set you back as little as €14k)