Cargo raises $5.5M to let Uber drivers sell snacks and essentials nationwide

That's not to say it's a terrible thing; drivers deserve to make a living, too, and I guess it'll add a few bucks to their monthly revenue. But, at some point it's kinda ridiculous. And, I don't want to take a ride where I'm being pitched on snacks and "essentials". Every human interaction really shouldn't be viewed as a marketing opportunity. But, I guess we get the world we deserve and are willing to pay for (I don't know what the better alternatives would look like in terms of transit).

Look at gas stations. It used to be they sold gas, and maybe oil. But evidently there's no money in gas, so now they all sell unhealthful snacks and bottled water (itself an environmental disaster, which this kind of retail establishment has fostered). And there's not enough money in that, so now there's video advertising at every pump. Buying gas has become extremely unpleasant. Plus, distracting everyone all the time has ruined our what little social cohesion we had.

Now drivers are going to be asking you if you want any snacks. Because, research will show, if you ask TWICE, customers are 12% more likely to buy. Uber already has a parasitic burden which needs to be shed; namely, the idea that the only way to succeed is by being a criminal enterprise.

Parasitism is a deep property of ecosystems, so I guess we just can't have simple services and products that work, but it sure would be nice. Is there no better way to compete?

Wow. Given how mileage degrades a vehicle’s value, and leads to necessary service and repair, I would guess that Uber is a net loss for the driver. Now though, a cool $100-$275 per month? How insultingly bad is this gig economy? You can literally make more flipping burgers, or begging on a busy street corner.

Since I was by now in a picky mood about the customer service aspect, I did wonder why this driver had no 'upsells'.

So what 'upsells' would you have for the passenger in the back of a cab?

Well, you can be on a trip to a meeting in posh clothes. Just having a mirror to see if you look the part could be most helpful in a cab, obviously a full length mirror isn't going to happen but something to check the spinach in your teeth might help. So there is a whole set of breath fresheners, mints, chewing gums and whatever else people need to get the spinach out of their teeth.

Also, where can I get a latte in the back of a cab? Okay, maybe that is not going to happen, but a bottle of water can't be that hard to stock and keep chilled.

What price an umbrella when you arrive with no coat expecting better weather?

Then there are those that have not had breakfast yet. Cereal bars have shelf life, how much are they worth to late, starving people?

A small pack of tissues, costs pennies but if you are late for that interview and need to blow your nose, would you pay £1 for those tissues?

Cigarette lighters, maybe not booze and fags, but there is a whole cornucopia of every day stuff that the drunk crowd would want.

I imagine there are good reasons why cab drivers do not offer these sorts of upsells (everything can be bought en-route), however, why do you need the products to be sponsored by brands and many millions of dollars of VC to sell a few candy bars and a few combs?

You know you're onto something when you're making private car ownership appealing to a public transport advocate.

/no one mention the dystopia where i can't block out ads, pitches and sales from my own private vehicle/house :P

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