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Comment by register | Hacker News Reader

Just to add a little bit more context. In Italy there were already Uber like services before Uber came: they are called "Radio Taxi". These services are mostly based on traditional call centers but , at least in the last two years in Milan and Rome, you can order and pay a ride also with a mobile app. And guess what? These are not breaking the Italian law and can operate without any trouble.

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It's true for many countries, I understand Uber became useful because it was difficult to get taxi in U.S but they are trying to solve problem ma that don't exist in other countries. The only thing they offer is how to avoid legislation, paying taxes, etc.

The other thing that Uber has offered (in general) is more polite drivers. Likely because of the rating system. Taxi drivers, at least in the US, always acted like you should be grateful they even stopped to let you pay for a ride.

> always acted like you should be grateful they even stopped to let you pay for a ride.

You have my upvote for saying it.

I usually don't use taxi in Italy because of the inability of the driver to shut the f*ck up when they are driving. Last time I took one to go back home with my girlfriend and this driver talked to us for half an hour of a conspiracy theory about the Fukushima accident being the result of Japan not allowing some US investment fund to enter their market...

And I have to pay to listen to this shit?

In many places in Europe there are apps to hail legal taxis, with the rating system as well. To make it even funnier, in some of these places the taxis hailed by an app are significantly cheaper than Uber. The only reason anyone would ever use Uber in e.g. Dublin is being unaware of Hailo.

The problem with rating systems for traditional taxi-services is that they are most often without effect. There is no penalty or change if a driver is rated badly.

Actually it's not the case. Not only drivers have to have a good rating to get rides off-peak, the app operator also serves as an effective complaint outlet. I've heard of cases of people complaining to Hailo about a bad ride and getting their money back. I guess the taxi drivers accept to pay back, because it's still better than losing all these future rides.

Is your comment saying this is because they are Italian, whereas Uber is not?

If so that comparison isn't apt. Those apps would summon licensed drivers and the payments would be set by the driver based on the meter or the pre-arranged price. Like a card machine.

It's not all the point that those apps operate inside the Italian law and Uber don't?

It seems to me, that if Uber operated inside the parameters of the law they would not be so profitable. That is really the point.

Well they are not profitable anyway are they?

He's saying that they operate like Taxis and therefore aren't breaking the law.

Uber is breaking the anti-dumping laws there. Fixing price to be cheaper than local taxis and burning money. That's unfair.

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