Uber's Ethics (or lack thereof)

Uber may be entirely unethical, but the car service isn’t going anywhere. It excels at minimizing the cost to users (except when there’s high demand – then they maximize the cost), and the app incredibly simple. For those of you who don’t use Uber, here’s how the app works. It shows the nearest Uber cars and an estimate on how soon the closest could get to you. Just drop a pin on the map for where you’d like to be picked up and a pin for where you want to go, hit the “Request an Uber,” and wait. The driver sends a text confirming they’re on their way and a text when they get to the pick-up point. There’s no cash involved because the app charges your credit card, and you’re not supposed to tip. The entire process is easy and streamlined.

Of course, Uber Technologies Inc. has really immoral business practices that barely toe the line of legality and its CEO, Travis Kalanick, is a terrible, albeit successful, human being. Uber has been sued about its background check policy (San Francisco and Los Angeles), a lack of permits and inspections (Portland), and driver testing and insurance (Nevada). And that’s only in the US. It had billing issues in India due to its one-step payment process, because the Indian central bank requires everything to be in rupees (sometimes Uber charged Indian customers in dollars) and a “two-step security procedure” (here).  There are lawsuits in France, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands. Thailand banned Uber outright.

Other issues include its planned promotion last year “that promised to pair passengers with 20-minute rides in cars driven by models it called ‘hot chicks’” (the program was canceled); its practices of ordering rides from competitors and cancelling them, and of using “brand ambassadors” to poach competitors’ drivers; surge pricing; blatantly talking about doing opposition research on a journalist; distancing itself from the death of a six year old “struck and killed last year by an Uber driver;” and the rape of a woman in New Delhi by her Uber driver just a few days ago (here).

While I’ve never had a bad experience with Uber, I’m starting to rethink my use of the service. Every few days there is another terrible story related to Uber. But it’s so cheap…and easy…and who wants to walk when it’s so cold and gross out, especially at night? My last ride was less than $6, from Hoboken to Jersey City. For that I can overlook a lot of shady business practices. And with Uber, I have to.