The "sharing" economy--is it here to stay?

Quote: Evenbob

From
being in the biz, the cars and insurance is the biggest
nightmare of having a cab co. Imagine driving your
personal car 50 hours a week in the city, what that
would do to it. You have no idea. I had 2 full time
mechanics just to keep 30 cars on the road.

The Plant, where I got my USPS training, also houses the vehicle shop where they service the fleet. The mechanics there park in front of the shop. Saw this in the employee lot...



And that new Chevy behind it, and the newish Chevy behind that...

The grease monkeys ain't starving, I can tell ya that.

Now instead of hiring the driver, you can rent an independent car!

This is kind of interesting. As a customer I can see using it. Mainly if you have a smaller car and need something bigger for a day to haul. Possibly if you want something sporty for a nice weekend. Or a little scooter if yours will be in the shop a day or two. Not so sure I would rent one out. Maybe if I had two vehicles like say regular car and a truck and wanted to make a few bucks on the one I rarely used. Not so sure given the immaturity of many people who rent cars. I doubt it could be really profitable, but for those who have a car they are not using enough why not?

This could force commercial rentals down. (airports I'm looking at you_)

Quote: rxwine

This could force commercial rentals down. (airports I'm looking at you_)

Don't forget the replacement car market. Car in the shop 2 days and instead of calling Enterprise you call here. I still say the best market is for needing a different kind of car. Rent a pickup when you need and own a sedan. Or if you own a pickup and need something plush.

Quote: AZDuffman

Don't forget the replacement car market. Car in the shop 2 days and instead of calling Enterprise you call here. I still say the best market is for needing a different kind of car. Rent a pickup when you need and own a sedan. Or if you own a pickup and need something plush.

Yup, okay, so next up.

You got power tools someone needs? What else. Wanna rent my dog for a day?

Quote: rxwine

Yup, okay, so next up.

You got power tools someone needs? What else. Wanna rent my dog for a day?

I've seen dog rentals somewhere. If you want to walk a dog in the park. Crazy, but I would walk pound dogs for free if they were there.

Quote: rxwine

This could force commercial rentals down. (airports I'm looking at you_)

No worries about that. Lots of bad reviews on
this company and they are more expensive
than renting thru Priceline or Hotwire. They
make you jump thru incredible hoops and
after you do, it's likely they'll turn you
down. A $500 deposit? Pics of my house?
Have to buy their insurance? 200 miles
only and it's .75 cents a mile after that?
I don't think so.

http://relay-rides.pissedconsumer.com/complaints.html

Quote: Evenbob

No worries about that. Lots of bad reviews on
this company and they are more expensive
than renting thru Priceline or Hotwire. They
make you jump thru incredible hoops and
after you do, it's likely they'll turn you
down. A $500 deposit? Pics of my house?
Have to buy their insurance? 200 miles
only and it's .75 cents a mile after that?
I don't think so.

http://relay-rides.pissedconsumer.com/complaints.html

Well, on something like this, I keep an open mind. I mean, taxi drivers are probably writing bad yelp reviews of Uber.

Quote: rxwine

Well, on something like this, I keep an open mind. I mean, taxi drivers are probably writing bad yelp reviews of Uber.

Is uber a taxi company that skillfully uses data processing or is it a data processing company that has an effect on the taxi market?

Quote: rxwine

Well, on something like this, I keep an open mind. I mean, taxi drivers are probably writing bad yelp reviews of Uber.

They want an incredible amount of info, including
your SS. They take pics of the cars before you
take it and it find anything different from the
pics when you return, they charge your card.

But the big thing is, they're almost twice as
expensive and Hotwire or Priceline or any
of them. And Hotwire doesn't want pics
of your house or your SS,