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Comment by violentvinyl | Hacker News Reader

I have a particular interest in truly disruptive start-ups, especially ones thats really flout the law like Uber does. I'm under the impression that conventional entrepeneurial wisdom says "Go ahead and break the rules, by the time they catch up with you or you've gained their attention, you'll have the money or support needed to fight for real change". Of course, all you have to do is look at Zenefits to see this isn't always going to be the case. It makes you wonder what type of person it takes to run a company like that. I relize Thuan isn't the CEO/founder, but when I think about a disruptive business, I weight up the threat of serious fines/jail time against a relatively cushy life with a stable 9 to 5. It's really eye-opening to see what type of person it takes to drive a busines like Uber forward.

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>when I think about a disruptive business, I weight up the threat of serious fines/jail time

that is the point to Uber's (and the likes) success - they don't bear the risk of personal fines/jail time, it is the drivers who do. Similar setup to the one which prompted RICO.

Helping your employees to cheat on exams versus openly breaking the law because you disagree with it or feel that a law should be changed is of a different taste though.

>I have a particular interest in truly disruptive start-ups, especially ones thats really flout the law like Uber does.

Sorry if I sound ignorant but I don't see how Uber (or 99% of startups) are disruptive at all. I never used it because I prefer other modes of transportation, but it is basically a cab service, right? They just changed the packaging. To my knowledge here they charge exactly the same for a ride, without paying the fees cab companies are due.

The hard problem is to convince (or scam - not talking about Uber here) people to perceive your service as quality over competitors, regardless of what you offer in reality. If you are successful, you can brag and call it disruption.

I'm not a fan of Uber in general, but they did drastically improve cab service in the markets I've used them. Being able to summon a cab from your phone, see where it is when en route so you don't have to wonder when it will arrive, and not having to mess around with a credit card or cash when finishing the trip are all big improvements that every cab service should provide. Many of the non-Uber cab services provide such conveniences now, but wouldn't have bothered if it were not for Uber threatening their monopoly.

Yes, that is what I'm arguing, they are selling perceived big improvements, but I see low hanging fruits at max, certainly not disruption. Without hindsight. The few times I used taxis, I called them from my phone/skype long before Uber, and they arrived exactly when discussed. What is the fuss. And you eventually have to pay up, I don't really care what is the method. Getting from A to B on demand was solved long ago. All, without operating in the frame your competitors have to is a bit fishy.

Your experience with calling cabs from the phone is much better than mine. Perhaps that is where you live. I'm in Central Florida and have had similar poor experiences when traveling. Glancing at my phone and knowing how far away the cab is is a lot more convenient than being told it will arrive in 20-45 minutes and watching for it and not being able to make good use of the waiting time.

As for paying, it's a big deal to me. Being able to just exit the car at the end of the ride is a lot nicer than waiting for the driver to scan my card, sign the receipt, etc.

These two small things greatly reduce the friction and make me more likely to use a cab over other options.

> The few times I used taxis, I called them from my phone/skype long before Uber, and they arrived exactly when discussed.

You might be the only person in the last 20 years for this to happen to.

What city were you in where the cabs came reliably when you called? That has not been my experience in Boston or Ft Lauderdale. Have you never had a cab driver claim their credit card reader was broken, only to have it magically start working again when you reminded him of the law stating he shouldn't be in service without a working reader?

it is basically a cab service, right?

It's a cab service that ignored the laws surrounding cab services in most of the markets they enter, backed up with enough lawyers to not instantly be shut down, thus they're able to offer a service other people cannot. That is what is disruptive about it.

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