Uber’s Dark Descent: How Abandoning Innovation Hurt Drivers and Gouges Riders

by Gary Leff

Dec 01 2024

Uber drivers frequently protest their declining pay and it strikes me that there was an uproar over how Uber treated its drivers and that was part of pushing out their founder CEO, but things have actually gotten worse for drivers since then. For instance, many work 12 hour days earning less than $100 per day. Uber used to take 20% of the fare, now drivers report giving up 60%. Back then they might earn $400 per day. Pre-summer 2017, drivers had several complaints. Drivers didn’t have any choice in trips. They’d find out once they accepted the ride (and cancelling on riders once they learned the destination could get them kicked off of the platform). This was a solution to a real problem with taxis. In New York City you stand there and hail a…

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Never Settle For Bad Coffee Again: My Ultimate Caffeine Survival Guide For Travelers

by Gary Leff

coffee
Nov 30 2024

My morning routine is simple. It starts with coffee, and eases into work. That’s true whether I’m at home or on the road. I’m drinking a little less coffee than I used to. For years I joked that you could run my blood through a still once a week to filter out caffeine byproducts, and use that to run a local taxi fleet’s alternative fuels experiment.

Coffee plays an important role in travel – from the airport to the plane, and from the hotel to the city around it.

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Leaked: Delta Overhauling Business Class After Plunging Satisfaction—Stripped Fares, Cuddle Pillows, And Luxe Dining

by Gary Leff

first class seats
Nov 29 2024

Delta Air Lines is preparing to revamp their entire approach to business class. That means ‘choose your own adventure’ good, better, and best fare types as well as new bedding, meals and amenities – and a round of training for flight attendants to provide a more elevated service. This is all prompted by plunging net promoter scores for Delta One compared to pre-pandemic levels.

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Revealed: How Black Friday Deals Manipulate Your Spending and What You Can Do About It

by Gary Leff

Nov 29 2024

You need to stay disciplined. Do not buy things simply because they are a ‘good deal’ relative to their usual price. You wouldn’t have paid that price anyway, so you aren’t saving money compared to that price if you make a purchase. You know how I know you wouldn’t have paid that price? The very fact that you didn’t buy it already.

There may be things you have in your purchase path already. Those are the things to consider buying on Black Friday.

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