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Comment by kyrre | Hacker News Reader

why? same drivers. very similar app.

Not in the city I'm in. Lyft drivers are notably more friendly, to the extent that it's almost a stereotype. Uber seems to have more regular taxi drivers moonlighting, Lyft seems to have more people making it their second job.

During driver on-boarding Lyft trains drivers to converse with passengers, while Uber actively discourages it. This is the dynamic you're picking up on, and to me it plays out clearly in the customer space. I prefer a quiet ride, therefore I choose Uber, but I know plenty of people like you who prefer the conversation.

I think currently its a good differentiator for Lyft but Uber's preparing us for our driverless future.

I took a Lyft recently - when I made it clear I didn't want to talk, the driver clammed up, was polite and I got to ride in peace (had a headache & just got off hours of customer calls).

Feel this way about Lyft in SF. I very rarely have bad experiences with Lyft, but with Uber it's been common enough that I only use it when Lyft has no drivers available (which is typically during high surge prices, in which case taking a cab makes more sense).

Yeah I feel this way about Lyft in Boston

Not only does Lyft pay drivers better, but Uber has done far too many scummy things for me to want to ever use them again.

Drivers I know prefer Lyft because it pays out better. Combine this with the fact that its slightly cheaper (where I am at least) makes Lyft over Uber a no brainer for me.

On average, Lyft Line has actually been a bit more expensive than Uber Pool here in SF, but Lyft pays and treats drivers better, so I'd rather have the difference go to the guy trying to make a buck.

Also, if Uber beats the competition, I doubt they're going to keep fares as cheap as they are. Be prepared for fares to double.

This is also more or less the exact formula for Lyft being less valuable than Uber as a company.

I too prefer Lyft. In my city the drivers are friendlier and verbally indicate they like working for Lyft much more than Uber (most work for both). Better customer experience.

I think Uber is run by jerks, and want to vote with my wallet? I am not a big fan of the idea of secret-sauce surge pricing.

I also take cabs when it's feasible and not significantly (ie, 2x) more expensive than Lyft/Uber (though most of that travel is expensed).

The way it was explained to me by someone who drives for both Uber and Lyft (which isn't a common thing, by the way, contrary to popular belief):

Prospective Lyft drivers actually have to undergo an orientation where they are essentially screened and given basic training by a Lyft driver.

Prospective Uber drivers, on the other hand, can start working right away without even a face-to-face meeting with anyone. All they have to do is apply online.

Not sure how accurate this is, but anecdotally, I've always noticed that Lyft drivers have better customer service skills than Uber drivers, and are more personable.

> someone who drives for both Uber and Lyft (which isn't a common thing, by the way, contrary to popular belief)

Really? Do you have any numbers on that? Every I've talked to who has done one has done both.

> Prospective Uber drivers, on the other hand, can start working right away without even a face-to-face meeting with anyone. All they have to do is apply online.

It's not quite "right away", you still have to go through a background screening, which can take quite a while. With Lyft, I had my mentor orientation the day after I applied and was approved 3 days after. Uber, on the the hand, while not requiring an in-face meeting, took 3 weeks to finally approve me, after requiring additional documentation regarding my driving record on my previous license.

I Use them usually just because the price tends to be slightly cheaper.

Lyft allows tips, which is nice (since <5 starring people is a death sentence, it provides a better way of differentiating between great and sucky). Both suffer from the problem of having clueless suburbanites drivers who often have no idea how to get around the city. It'd be nice if it were possible to filter on drivers who actually live in the city...

> since <5 starring people is a death sentence, it provides a better way of differentiating between great and sucky

On the other hand, since Lyft won't match you with a driver again if you rate them 3 stars or less, that gives incentive to give low ratings to drivers you don't want to be matched with ever again.

I haven't had many of those, but I'm glad the option is there when it's come up: for example, texting while driving is an automatic 3 and a flag for safety, if not a 1. I don't want to ride with people who are liable to get me killed. Attempting to give me religious tracts is an automatic 1 (yes, this actually happened). Being creepy to me in general is a 1 (see: the guy who insisted on repeatedly screenshotting the Lyft app with my profile picture visible while I was in the car with him). People who make me sit in the back, especially when their front seat is completely empty, are an automatic 3 unless they make up for it by being a really great conversationalist (and I've learned to always cancel on people with vans, because they like to electronically open their sliding doors as soon as I start walking to their vehicle)

Sadly, this is a feature Uber doesn't have. With Uber, you can't do anything to make sure you're never matched with a particular driver again. I just wish Lyft also added a "never match me with this person again" option when cancelling rides or when being cancelled on... I have a handful of drivers I will never ride with because they were utter dicks to me when finding where I am. This includes a few people who, in an office park in the suburbs, parked a block or two way and demanded I walk. Then there was one guy who parked at the hospital across the street (a six-lane arterial with no traffic light in sight) from where I was and had the gall to send the signal that he was here: I called him to tell him he's at the wrong location, he responded "I'm at the hospital", and as soon as I said I'm somewhere else, he shouted "CALL ANOTHER!" at me and cancelled on me. Or the guy who texted me to demand I text him my address and then cancelled on me when I told him I already put my destination into the app. I've just had to memorize their names and remember to cancel whenever I'm matched with them.

Does Uber have cars other than black now?

They have had for a long time.

Haha, I'm not sure how I missed it. I've probably ridden in one. I just mostly use Lyft.

At least in the LA market, Uber's cheapest level of service appears to accept any car that can wedge in 5 adults. I've been picked up by sub-compacts and 20th century Corollas on UberX.

Exactly.

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