You don't blame them for their lack of innovation, and letting a competitor gain traction in the market? Or you don't blame them for taking advantage of the monopoly that they've had for years that's allowed them to ignore the concerns of their customers? Or both?Can't say I blame them.
It's their decision to drive a cab.Im on the fence about this. On one hand these guys work 12 to 15 hours a day and barely make a living what with the fees, price of gas, and repairs. then you have people who dont pay fees and work unregulated taking business away. However sometimes you get cabs that are dirty, smelly, and rude drivers and they dont give a shit because they had a monopoly. Im all for competition as long as everyone is playing on a level field
there is a differenceUber is simply another in a long line of instances where technology has altered the landscape.
Digital cameras put film companies out of business. You didn't see Kodak workers protesting the advent of digital cameras.
there is a difference
a lot of immigrants came over and went in huge debt to buy a plate then uber destroys them
put yourself in their shoes
I think the city should buy the fucking plates back
Look, the city makes huge money from those plates and some kind of guarantee should be attached to the contract , while nothing is in writing there should be a moral obligation on the part of the city, which reaps huge financial rewards from the plates and this windfall comes for free, so reimburse those that got screwed through no fault of their own
It is called doing the right thing
So if I go to university and get a degree in a certain technology that becomes obsolete in five years due to technological advances, should the university buy my degree back and give me back all of my tuition money?
The plates are traded like a commodity, the city does not profit when the price goes up, and should not be compensating plate owners when the price drops. http://globalnews.ca/news/1780260/toronto-taxi-licence-prices-are-plummeting-is-uber-to-blame/Look, the city makes huge money from those plates and some kind of guarantee should be attached to the contract , while nothing is in writing there should be a moral obligation on the part of the city, which reaps huge financial rewards from the plates and this windfall comes for free, so reimburse those that got screwed through no fault of their own
It is called doing the right thing
disagreeThe plates are traded like a commodity, the city does not profit when the price goes up, and should not be compensating plate owners when the price drops.
bad comparison
the city arbitrarily sets extraordinary charges for a plate making huge profits then limits the plates so the price goes up and up as these plates are resold
the city offers nothing in return except a promise to limit the number of plates and then they set the taxi rates that can be charged
the key is the city charges huge for these plates then offers nothing in return
it is a straight cash grab
the city loses nothing in reimbursement as they are simple giving back what someone gave them, this is not a loss it is a loss of legal gauging
the university built a university then hired professors to teach, you got something concrete for your tuition , cab plate owners got fuck all
Why should the taxpayers of Toronto pay a black market price for a license that they have no obligation in maintaining its value?disagree
they should give back what the original owner of the plate gave the city not what the plates were paid for on the open market
looked, the city has arbitrarily gouged free monies for the plates and has given nothing in return,. The buyer of the plates should be able to turn in plate and get monies back, such fairness in cab plate buying was not part of the original purchase contract because the city has a monopoly that does not have to be fair, it is wrong of our government to be so heavy handed in its monopolistic enterprises
Your fundamental premise is incorrect.
The current price to purchase a Taxi License from the City of Toronto is less than $6,000.00 all-in.
https://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/...nnel=4f687f26e4d41410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD
A secondary black market has developed as a result of the taxi industries' own efforts to limit the number of taxi plates issued by the city.
So the difference between the $6,000.00 and the $350,000/$125,000 value of the license is solely and directly a result of artificially restricted competition by limiting the number of plates issued.
And don't put too much stock in the "poor immigrant" and "cabbie's widow" stories. They are the exception, and not the rule. The majority of the plates are owned by investors some individuals but mostly single families) who bought up the plates over the years and now license them out to the truly "poor immigrant". And they nickel and dime the day to day cabbies with dispatch fees, maintenance surcharges, penalties etc. Think airlines and their surcharges! Or think of slum landlords. The plate owners only contribution to providing the public with a ride is that they rake off the first $100 of every shift... simply because they bought up plates on the black market. An
There is big money behind these plates and that big money is fighting for their investments.
Looks like the city was issuing these plates in the 40s and 50s. The city has long ago provided whatever serves to the original owner for whatever fee was charged for the plates at the timedisagree
the city has a lot to do with the price on the open market as they control the number of plates sold
they should at least give back what the original owner of the plate gave the city
look, the city has arbitrarily gouged free monies for the plates and has given nothing in return,. The buyer of the plates should be able to turn in plate and get monies back, such fairness in cab plate buying was not part of the original purchase contract because the city has a monopoly that does not have to be fair, it is wrong of our government to be so heavy handed in its monopolistic enterprises
You mean a credit card? Uber takes PayPal, so no credit card is required.The plates are traded like a commodity, the city does not profit when the price goes up, and should not be compensating plate owners when the price drops. http://globalnews.ca/news/1780260/toronto-taxi-licence-prices-are-plummeting-is-uber-to-blame/
Can appreciate the drivers frustrations. In the taxi business the failure is long and drawn out, and they see the people replacing them. Might be better if the city gets out of the taxi licensing business, or change for a car and driver check with no restrictions on the number of licenses issued.
Have talked with some girls about Uber, and the ones who have tried Uber say the service is much better, the drivers are friendlier and more respectful. Only down side was you need a bank card to use the service.