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Uber taxi app boosts private hire licence bids
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Author:  Sussex [ Mon Jun 01, 2015 8:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Uber taxi app boosts private hire licence bids
A SURGE in the number of applications for private hire licences in the Capital has been linked to the launch of a 
controversial new company. Web-based Uber, which has swept the globe in the past three years, is set to begin operating in the city soon.

The multi-billion-pound US company connects passengers to a background-checked driver via a smartphone app, with the firm taking a 20 per cent cut of the fare. Private hire permit costs have been slashed by two-thirds, prompting a rush of applications.

With the promise of cheaper fares, Uber’s arrival in Edinburgh is set to spark fierce competition for business. Black cab drivers say the reduction in licence costs will disproportionately benefit anyone signing on with Uber.

And the boss of one major taxi firm insisted there was no unmet demand for hire drivers in the city. Central Taxis director Tony Kenmuir said there had been an increase in applications from private hire drivers since the reduced fees were put in place. He said: “The number of private hire cars has been fairly static for some time but we believe there has been some additional take-up recently since the council substantially reduced the cost of new licences.

“That doesn’t benefit the trade because a regular, independent survey has concluded that there was no significant unmet demand for taxis and no new licences are being issued. “Cheaper licences for new private hire cars could potentially benefit any private hire company looking to grow its business and that would include Uber if they start trading here.”

Fees are being cut from £1614 for 2015-16, with new private hire licences just £500 and new black cab licences costing £600. Private hire numbers are not controlled, meaning new drivers could save £1000 in start-up costs if they were looking to join Uber.

In March, Uber received licensing approval for an office on George Street, with transport experts speculating that the firm could snatch up to 40 per cent of the taxi trade. The Evening News contacted Uber but the firm did not comment.

It has previously been criticised for concerns over the lack of regulation for drivers. A council spokeswoman said: “In February 2015 the council reviewed the cost of all licensing fees and as a result reduced the price of a new vehicle licence for both taxis and private hire cars.”
Author:  westgatelad [ Mon Jun 01, 2015 8:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Uber taxi app boosts private hire licence bids
Removed the local knowledge in Newcastle just for uber.

Councils seem to be licking uber nut sacks in every single place they start up in...

They are walking around touting drivers and trying to get them signed up all over the city here atm.

Also bragging about new regulations coming into force that will allow them to pick up from ANYWHERE in the country as long as they are with uber.

UBER is bigger than everyone. Even the law by the look of it.
Author:  les mcvay [ Tue Jun 02, 2015 12:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Uber taxi app boosts private hire licence bids
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JXt0lG3IRZQ

Edinburgh is in the initial stages of the arrival of an Uber service.
It is interesting to note the experience of other cities where Uber is well established and have attracted a significant market share specifically the reduction in drivers potential earnings allegedly going from $2.50 per mile at the introduction to attract drivers then reducing to $1.20 as they become established.
Price surging is another factor that will be new to the Edinburgh public and it will also be interesting to see the reaction if this is applied.
Uber and other App services tactics are nothing new. One example is supermarket chains that have been applying these tactics to squeeze their suppliers for many years forcing prices down to gain a larger market share.
The vacuum that the taxi trade has existed in for many years is gradually disappearing through the introduction of new technology
The ones that will survive are those who embrace this technology and rise to meet this App challenge through a belief and confidence in their own ability to provide a high level and reliable service

During the above video you will see a very smart driver extolling the virtues of Uber, the gentleman with beard. Later in the report it is mentioned that he is now on the picket line outside Ubers offices.
Edinburgh has seen both de-regulation and price wars before. There exists a very healthy competitive market already within the city balanced with one of the best standards in both vehicles and drivers in the U.K.
All the major Edinburgh companies in both the public and private hire sectors offer an App booking service to our customers allowing them to track their vehicles throughout the booking process.

The modern day App service that is being lauded as a revolution has been in use within Edinburgh for around three years.
What is new is the financial backing these companies have attracted through the funding by venture capitalists looking for a return from a potential global taxi business.
At the moment the emphasis will be on discounting to both customers and drivers to gain a market share. How long this can be sustained is the key question.

Many years ago we all fell into the trap for voting for the de-mutualisation of several financial institutions to gain a few hundred pounds in rewards. At the time everyone was clicking their heels in this new found wealth.
Fast forward 15 or 20 years and the few hundred pounds that was paid out to shareholders to buy them out has led to us all facing up to a several thousand pound shortfall in the endowment and investment policies in the hope it would meet the mortgage or provide a nest egg.
Different circumstances but same principles. The trade and the service users will offered short term incentives and discounts but over the longer period will be screwed over.

Before deciding if these App companies are the Edinburgh Taxi Trades saviour and before we rush out to sign up to these tempting offers perhaps we all could do a little research into their principles, pricing strategy and long term commitment to the well being of both their customers and their drivers and not just throughout the initial launch period however long the cut pricing tactic is applied for.
The story of how the supermarket chains have flourished and are now looking to reinvent their strategies as their profits are plummeting and how we were sucked into the de-mutualisation con all those years ago are just two examples of how the "super rich" continually manipulate the markets and how the small trader gets squeezed out.
Author:  les mcvay [ Wed Jun 03, 2015 6:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Uber taxi app boosts private hire licence bids
The Super Rich and Us. Two part series BBC.
Horizon. The Dark Side of the Web. BBC.
Citizen Four. Channel 4.
Dennis Potter's Karaoke / Cold Lazarus. Channel 4 / BBC.
Author:  grandad [ Wed Jun 03, 2015 6:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Uber taxi app boosts private hire licence bids
westgatelad wrote:
R

Also bragging about new regulations coming into force that will allow them to pick up from ANYWHERE in the country as long as they are with uber.

They wont need to be with UBER to do that.
Author:  westgatelad [ Wed Jun 03, 2015 10:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Uber taxi app boosts private hire licence bids
no your right but uber is easier to hail than say a local taxi firm
Author:  skippy41 [ Wed Jun 03, 2015 4:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Uber taxi app boosts private hire licence bids
It states that a black cab license is going to be £600 this year, when did they lift the black cab license limits???
Author:  gusmac [ Wed Jun 03, 2015 5:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Uber taxi app boosts private hire licence bids
skippy41 wrote:
It states that a black cab license is going to be £600 this year, when did they lift the black cab license limits???


They didn't
Author:  alan78 [ Wed Jun 03, 2015 9:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Uber taxi app boosts private hire licence bids
Is this coming to Glasgow?
Author:  westgatelad [ Wed Jun 03, 2015 10:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Uber taxi app boosts private hire licence bids
by the end of the year apparently uber wont need to (come) to Glasgow.

They will already have arrived all over the UK once the so called de:regulation takes place.

I got no idea why my firm and others dont just join the app game properly and step into the new era of this industry.

Hell. Our datageads went off last week. gprs went down.

The contingency plan was so good that there wasnt one and so I went home for the rest of the day.

Phone line went the week prior for the day. Went home then as well.
Author:  alan78 [ Wed Jun 03, 2015 11:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Uber taxi app boosts private hire licence bids
I'm just about to enter the trade, didn't realise how big this Uber is.
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