General Reports

[Dickus Maximus]

I heard a very interesting discussion of Uber's business model recently. Allegedly, there is no real efficiency to Uber that is unavailable to local taxi companies. The only advantage they have is (was?) price, and the only way they could continue the low prices was to subsidize using venture capital.

And since venture capitalists expect, at some point, to receive a return on their investment, Uber's business model is completely unsustainable.

I haven't tried to fact-check any of this, but it makes sense. And if it's accurate, Uber is going to be around only until the venture capital runs out.

Don't underestimate the investment in software to make that whole system run. Little details like how airport pickups and other high volume locations are arranged differently in each city. The software has to be specifically designed for this. There are systems for taxis, but nothing as ubiquitous. You show up in a city and you know how to call an Uber. The ability to accept the next ride while you're transporting another also increases the utilization of the driver thus spreading his income over more rides.

[Captain Solo]

Wombat,

UBER has made use of the internet, I phones apps, GPS, map apps and gained extremely profitable advantages over cab companies in big cities, small towns, rural areas.

First of all, UBER does not have to put up big capitals to buy the cars; drivers use their own and don't have to pay for the ridiculously expensive medallions to the cities (hundreds $K in big cities) to operate. UBER treats drivers as contractors, does not pay minimum wages, health insurance, vacation or sick leave to drivers. Comparing to traditional taxi companies, UBER's business model has frightening efficiency, very capital outlays, cheap and easy access to huge demands and low operating costs. UBER and LYFT have potentials to decimate taxi companies and rake in extreme profit.

As usual the venture capitalist assholes would put up capital for start up companies to develop business then take profit by public stock offerings or private acquisitions. UBER has been racking up losses and burning though investors' capital for years. But starting last 2 quarters, UBER beats analysts' estimates, raking in 11 billion revenue with about 4 billion or 29% net profit a year, a staggering profit percentage.

UBER has only $1 billion cash on hand, came entirely from the big profit surprise last quarter. Not sure how they turn aro0 und to tat big profit in a quarter. May be they cooked their books. They may quickly burn through $1 be cash in a couple months if business or profit slow down. They can sell more stock to raise capital but the stock market is betting UBER will crash with its precarious capital reserve. Stock price has declined to 1/3 of its height after the IPO.

With UBER's low costs and extremely high profit margin, its prices should be lower than taxis but its actually higher, almost doubled. It pissed me off. I will strike deals with taxi drivers in Tijuana just to screw UBRER into the ground hehe.

[Rambo1969]

I can't go into a bar in San Diego where there are a bunch of guys that will be as friendly. Who you can actually converse with. Joke around a bit. It's like going to a football game where your all rooting for the same team. There is a comradery in Zona Norte with the guys that is very unique. It was like that a bit in Thailand as well. So much just be a brothel thing. Brings out the best in guys bonding..

I agree 100%.

We tend to drop our guard when chatting with guys in the club because just being there means there a lot in common between us and a 'shared secret'.

Also, there is factor that we are often more open with guys we think we may not see elsewhere in life.

And we are not competing with each other (fighting for the same gal, etc.) and no one cares about who you are in your professional life. It levels the playing field. We are all equal there.

Definitely it is easier to bond with other guys in the club and Cascadas hotel too. I have had good conversations in the hallway with people I met in the elevator.

[Captain Solo]

It happened a few years ago. I sat on a stool at Kowloon bar next to a nice, clean, sweet-looking young guy, not knowing who he was. He was wearing jean, polo shirt and a tan wind breaker, no blings, sitting passively, not moving like a statue. Not drinking, not smoking, his eyes fixed at the strip stage.

The bar was crowded but no girls or meseros would come by hassling him or me for drinks and tips which was highly unusual. Then a parade of HK managers walked by shaking his hand, bowing their heads, including the woman who takes care of the girls' make up room on third floor. He shook their hands, not looking at them or saying anything. I suspected he must be top cartel guy but he looked so nice and young in mid 20's. I scanned the club looking for his bodyguards but did not find anyone unusual. Looked like he was there by himself.

When Mexican marinas arrested him somewhere in Jalisco and AMLO ordered him released, I saw the pictures in the press and found out the guy was Ovidio de Guzman. HK's security and intelligence network was fast and effective. He had enough confidence I'm HK to sit there all night by himself. Within minutes, all HK workers, managers and girls knew a hot shot was in the house and gave him room to enjoy himself. Then managers came down to show him respect and pledge loyalty. Damn sinister to me. Nobody should command that much fear over anybody else, including your biitchy and potentially violent wives with their long, sharp kitchen knives and their hungry attorneys.

[Turgid]

I am sure even retards know not to mess with a top cartel member. I had a friend involved in distribution with the triads and spent time with a felony, but never snitched. People mysteriously go missing when you snitch.

I had a boyhood friend who decided, in his 30's, that he wanted 'easy' money. His employment allowed him an ability to facilitate certain transactions. At some point he decided that he wanted out of the business. First warning was an injury to himself. He complied then decided he wanted out again. Second warning was the death of a family member. Repeated as above then finally, his torture and death.

[Sol12]

Got a trip to Guadalajara later in the year with a friend flying from Tijuana via Volaris. I have the Covid shots and such but curious if anyone has any specific experience flying domestic around Mexico if you have to get Covid test before you fly out of Tijuana etc.

I have flown around the USA and there are no requirements like that.

Just curious if anyone has recent experience.

I googled a bunch of stuff and it all seems to be related to if your traveling from the US to Mexico. Not if your starting in Mexico and flying domestic via cross border express.

G.

I did a lot of traveling in Mexico during the lockdown. Always flew out of Tijuana and they have no requirements on COVID testing to fly. It is the same as if you fly domestically in the US. The only thing they have made you do is fill out a health questionnaire before they let you go thru security.

https://www.vuelaseguro.com/login

[Gregyyr]

I had a buddy that got a ticket to the Las Vegas convention for porn stars and he said it was goood! What we need is a Mongering convention! Hookers from all over he world converge and each country represented etc. Workshops on how to do this or that etc. Guest speakers that are "experts" in their field / expertise. Not porn stars but hookers!. Sex workers etc.

G.

[Member #4730]

I heard a very interesting discussion of Uber's business model recently. Allegedly, there is no real efficiency to Uber that is unavailable to local taxi companies. The only advantage they have is (was?) price, and the only way they could continue the low prices was to subsidize using venture capital.

And since venture capitalists expect, at some point, to receive a return on their investment, Uber's business model is completely unsustainable.

I haven't tried to fact-check any of this, but it makes sense. And if it's accurate, Uber is going to be around only until the venture capital runs out.

Yeah the surge pricing is where some drivers just keep passing up the cheaper fares and wait around until surge pricing is in effect. Happens all the time in Vegas especially around conventions or dance festivals. I bought a car in Vegas and drove back to SoCal and the Uber driver said she just waits until surge pricing is in effect and hops in to take advantage. I think they get like a 60% cut from what we pay. Hard to imagine Uber can fuck up a good thing and not pay their drivers more since the GPS technology is basically free from people's smart phones and the app and support would be the only overhead, unless venture capitalists are milking it for all its worth. I'm sure a competitor will step in and pay drivers more to keep costs down.

[WombatEd2]

Uber is no longer cheap in Tijuana. A ride from Mr. Pampas back to HK at 10 PM costed me $10.50, used to be less than $5. Don't know what's going on.

I heard a very interesting discussion of Uber's business model recently. Allegedly, there is no real efficiency to Uber that is unavailable to local taxi companies. The only advantage they have is (was?) price, and the only way they could continue the low prices was to subsidize using venture capital.

And since venture capitalists expect, at some point, to receive a return on their investment, Uber's business model is completely unsustainable.

I haven't tried to fact-check any of this, but it makes sense. And if it's accurate, Uber is going to be around only until the venture capital runs out.

[Gregyyr]

Got a trip to Guadalajara later in the year with a friend flying from Tijuana via Volaris. I have the Covid shots and such but curious if anyone has any specific experience flying domestic around Mexico if you have to get Covid test before you fly out of Tijuana etc.

I have flown around the USA and there are no requirements like that.

Just curious if anyone has recent experience.

I googled a bunch of stuff and it all seems to be related to if your traveling from the US to Mexico. Not if your starting in Mexico and flying domestic via cross border express.

G.

[Member #4730]

One night I was sitting all night at the bar next to El Chapo's middle son, Olivio De Guzman. He fixated on the strip stage while a line of HK managers walked past him, shaking his hand, bowing their heads. He just shook hands, not even looking at them or saying a word. I suspected he was am important cartel guy, but looked young in mid 20's, nice, clean, cool. I scanned the club looking for his bodyguards but did not find any.

I am sure even retards know not to mess with a top cartel member. I had a friend involved in distribution with the triads and spent time with a felony, but never snitched. People mysteriously go missing when you snitch.

[ScatManDoo]

Uber rates can vary a bit based on time of day and supply / demand. We're obviously off-peak this time of day (11 am on the West Coast), but I just a few minutes ago checked the Uber rate from Mr. Pampas to HK and it was $3. 50 USD. So maybe you'd just hit a peak period when a lot of people were requesting Uber rides at the time. I suspect the rates you got weren't typical rates.

Uber tries to discourage problem customers. And they have the data base to effectively do it.

[BrotherMouzone]

Uber is no longer cheap in Tijuana. A ride from Mr. Pampas back to HK at 10 PM costed me $10.50, used to be less than $5. Don't know what's going on.

Monday Labor day 2 PM I had to go from Refracc garage at O'Campo and Calle 4 to HK. Maps shows 0. 8 mile and 6 minutes. UBERX showed $6.91 with a 15 minutes wait. I hate that waiting shit, so I flagged down a Taxi Libre, told him Hong Kong and showed him a 50-peso note plus a $1 note, total about $3.50. He immediately nodded his head. We got a quick, no hassle rise to La Zona, no cooking our asses in the Mexican sun waiting.

When I used to walk across the border, I would hold out 3 $ notes and walk down the taxi line waiting near the McDonalds rotary. A few cabbies would scoff but I would quickly get rides to HK for $3, often give them propinas in heavy traffic. Yes, I am cheap. I also want to be alert and on the defensive in all transactions, big or small, use all leverages to get the best deals, at least not get ripped off. If you don't hone your skills for small deals, you will get scammed in big deals.

Uber rates can vary a bit based on time of day and supply / demand. We're obviously off-peak this time of day (11 am on the West Coast), but I just a few minutes ago checked the Uber rate from Mr. Pampas to HK and it was $3. 50 USD. So maybe you'd just hit a peak period when a lot of people were requesting Uber rides at the time. I suspect the rates you got weren't typical rates. Especially with the second rate you quoted. It was Labor Day in the USA So maybe that higher rate was attributable to a marked increase of people from the USA Off from work that day who were in Tijuana hailing Uber rides.

[Captain Solo]

Uber is no longer cheap in Tijuana. A ride from Mr. Pampas back to HK at 10 PM costed me $10.50, used to be less than $5. Don't know what's going on.

Monday Labor day 2 PM I had to go from Refracc garage at O'Campo and Calle 4 to HK. Maps shows 0. 8 mile and 6 minutes. UBERX showed $6.91 with a 15 minutes wait. I hate that waiting shit, so I flagged down a Taxi Libre, told him Hong Kong and showed him a 50-peso note plus a $1 note, total about $3.50. He immediately nodded his head. We got a quick, no hassle rise to La Zona, no cooking our asses in the Mexican sun waiting.

When I used to walk across the border, I would hold out 3 $ notes and walk down the taxi line waiting near the McDonalds rotary. A few cabbies would scoff but I would quickly get rides to HK for $3, often give them propinas in heavy traffic. Yes, I am cheap. I also want to be alert and on the defensive in all transactions, big or small, use all leverages to get the best deals, at least not get ripped off. If you don't hone your skills for small deals, you will get scammed in big deals.

[Captain Solo]

You are right there is a special camaradie, almost a conspiracy, among guys in putas bars, like a bunch of horny little school boys sneaking looks up a pretty teacher's skirt, hehe.

Some local Mexican guys go to bars just to relax, drinking by themselves, ogling but not necessary popping girls, A few young guys spend a lot of money on drinks and fichas. Don't know what business they are in, but they don't fit the profile of street dealers. Just be nice and fun with them and enjoy the people in the club.

One night I was sitting all night at the bar next to El Chapo's middle son, Olivio De Guzman. He fixated on the strip stage while a line of HK managers walked past him, shaking his hand, bowing their heads. He just shook hands, not even looking at them or saying a word. I suspected he was am important cartel guy, but looked young in mid 20's, nice, clean, cool. I scanned the club looking for his bodyguards but did not find any.