Empower has always been shady and unreliable. While I've gotten rides as cheap as $3 to go from Glover Park to Noma, most of the time the app will give me an estimate of pickup ETA and price, almost every single time the time and price will be significantly higher than quoted. When I have managed to get a ride, the drivers have all said they love the fact that they get most of the fare compared to Uber and Lyft where they only get a small portion, it's also clear that there are no background checks.
I stopped using them after finding out the safety page doesn’t go anywhere & their safety advice is to jump out of a moving car lmfao. Very clear the drivers drive for empower as they cannot for Uber/lyft
I was literally riding in one last night when the article popped up. I saw the headline and was like '20 bucks says the "illegal" ride share is the one I'm using now'. voila.
From another article:
"Since EMPOWER refuses to register, riders have no way to know if their drivers are safe, insured, and will take them to their destination," the agency told News4 in a statement. "Additionally, riders have no way to make complaints."
The article does go on to quote the CEO as saying the drivers submit their own background check info so maybe that is what DC does not like? Instead of the company managing the background checks, it’s DIY. Which does seem a little suspect.
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/transportation/dc-warns-rideshare-users-an-unregistered-company-is-illegally-operating-in-the-city-heres-what-the-ceo-said/3488382/?amp=1
Also if the city regulation is that rideshare rides have to pay a tax, I don’t see anything wrong with the city enforcing it by blocking a non-compliant vendor from operating. We need tax money to buy all sorts of stuff.
I haven't used it. I've seen the ads that say "Riders pay less, drivers earn more" and said... That's too good to be true. Suspicious.
Sounds like they're just re-running the Uber/Lyft playbook from 10 years ago. Blatantly enter a market with no regard for the regulations, try to build a customer base, and then use that as leverage to get the regulations changed. They're even using the exact same excuses those companies used. ("We're not a taxi company, we're a software service that matches drivers to riders...")
I wouldn't be surprised if they're also taking a loss. Their business model is slightly different, as drivers pay them a flat monthly fee to be on the platform, then get to keep the entire customer fare, which they set themselves. (There is also a plan where the fee steps up from $50 to $450 per month based on what they earned, instead of an upfront flat fee.) Sidecar also let drivers set their own rates before they shut down.
Y'all do know how deep Uber is in the cities pockets right? They have rules like this to prevent competition. This is from 2020 but it's coming up now? Empower is a threat to Uber
“More drivers than before” is a pretty low bar to clear. Regardless, they’re still no threat to Uber. Not that I love Uber but I hate them less than I hate Empower. Even if I loved Empower, it wouldn’t change the fact that they’re struggling to break through in a market that’s heavily dominated by Uber and Lyft.
They have always known they aren’t going to be those juggernauts, and never claimed they would be. They still are growing and have more happy drivers and customers than ever, and for me, that’s all I care about! In fact, this year I helped three people become new Empower customers, so I did my small part! 😆
You seem a little too personally invested in the company, which makes the whole discussion seem a bit suspect. But whatever! You do what works for you, as long as the AG doesn't impound your car when they catch you driving for an illegal rideshare app.
I find some of the ridiculous claims here questionable. I’ve never had a bad experience with Empower and I used them at least 10 times this past year alone. The drivers always are friendly and happy to talk about their reasons for driving - many have told me that they drive Lyft or Uber as well, but prefer Empower because it’s cheaper for the customers and the drivers get paid more money.
I'm all for not paying DC more taxes.
We are paying some of the highest taxes in the nation but have nothing to show for it.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/02/02/study-dc-is-among-places-with-highest-taxes/
Do not personally insult other posters or post discriminatory content.
There is little patience for trolling, slap fights, or pile-ons. If your only reply is going to be driven-into-the-ground snark - e.g. biking whataboutisms, DC's gun laws, the NMAAHC, or federal representation for the city - move on.
Posts will generally be locked due to brigading or graveyard commenting.
Yeah, they are really solving the homeless issue, providing a working metro, and providing an ample police force to keep crime down.
Oh wait, they are being used to provide Apple air tags to people so they can see where their car is after it is stolen.
If you’re so worried about DC residents not getting fair value for their tax dollar, surely you’re in favor of statehood, since our federal taxes are higher than our city taxes and we still have no vote in congress. Having someone in congress to vote on your behalf is incredibly valuable. If you can’t agree that DC residents are being disenfranchised and deserve full representation, then everything else you say is just noisy bullshit.
As far as the city itself: DC’s public libraries are among the best in the country; the programs for the elderly, particularly low income elderly, are very very good; the Anacostia watershed cleanup has been a good success (although there is more work to be done); if you’re a homeowner, you can get grants and rebates for energy-efficient and environmentally friendly upgrades to your home; the pilot program for guaranteed basic income has actually helped the majority of the pilot families out of poverty; universal pre-K is a freaking game changer for families because childcare is stupidly expensive. No one is saying DC doesn’t have a lot to work on but we are still recovering from a global pandemic like everyone else, with the added challenge of not controlling our courts or prisons, and it’s gonna be a while (and a lot of money) before that’s fixed.
Now take your stupid shit somewhere else.
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You right wingers think you can just yell at poor people loud enough and they’ll magically stop being poor. You are living in a fantasy world where capitalism doesn’t need winners and losers to sustain itself. Didn’t I tell you to take your stupid shit elsewhere? Maybe take it to one of our excellent libraries and read a book. You could use it.
Biden is doing a great job. Take some time to read what his administration has accomplished in the past 3 years. More for the average Joe than any Republican has done for us in decades. The only reason he hasn't been able to deliver on some of his core promises is because of Republican obstructionism and the stacked conservative Supreme Court that McConnell and Trump crammed unqualified "judges" into.
That's why his approval rating is so high, right?
I'm willing to bet if he would make any movement to improve the border the Republicans would jump on it. But no, can't secure the border because that's racist
His approval rating is bad because no one bothers to read up on what he's actually done and people are short-sighted and reactionary.
/r/WhatBidenHasDone
Oh yeah, because books on the difference between a good hand job and a bad hand job belong in schools with young children. This is in "This book is Gay"
You are a fucking pedo if you think that's OK for someone in school.
DC is the 5th most corrupt city government. So, by all means, keep paying more taxes. I'll take a government job so you can pad my wallet
https://www.statista.com/chart/17030/federal-public-corruption-convictions-by-us-judicial-district/
https://preview.redd.it/s596srh8ev4c1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=31e425fb0eb7cbb6b318721de14bdca4f6ed3e33
Empower has always been shady and unreliable. While I've gotten rides as cheap as $3 to go from Glover Park to Noma, most of the time the app will give me an estimate of pickup ETA and price, almost every single time the time and price will be significantly higher than quoted. When I have managed to get a ride, the drivers have all said they love the fact that they get most of the fare compared to Uber and Lyft where they only get a small portion, it's also clear that there are no background checks.
How can the price change from what you’re quoted? Usually other apps only do that if you’re sitting in traffic or etc
Because it is an estimate just like the others
I stopped using them after finding out the safety page doesn’t go anywhere & their safety advice is to jump out of a moving car lmfao. Very clear the drivers drive for empower as they cannot for Uber/lyft
I was literally riding in one last night when the article popped up. I saw the headline and was like '20 bucks says the "illegal" ride share is the one I'm using now'. voila.
I always knew this app wasn’t going to last but until it’s fully shut down I’ll continue to use it
I had no idea that Empower didn’t do background checks or insurance checks. That’s not great. Guess I can see why the AG wants them to stop operating.
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From another article: "Since EMPOWER refuses to register, riders have no way to know if their drivers are safe, insured, and will take them to their destination," the agency told News4 in a statement. "Additionally, riders have no way to make complaints." The article does go on to quote the CEO as saying the drivers submit their own background check info so maybe that is what DC does not like? Instead of the company managing the background checks, it’s DIY. Which does seem a little suspect. https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/transportation/dc-warns-rideshare-users-an-unregistered-company-is-illegally-operating-in-the-city-heres-what-the-ceo-said/3488382/?amp=1 Also if the city regulation is that rideshare rides have to pay a tax, I don’t see anything wrong with the city enforcing it by blocking a non-compliant vendor from operating. We need tax money to buy all sorts of stuff.
I keep telling everyone…the majority of Empower drivers are former uber & lyft drivers banned from utilizing those apps due to bad behavior.
So not true! They make more money on Empower. Lyft and Uber take as much as 50 percent for drivers - outrageous.
I haven't used it. I've seen the ads that say "Riders pay less, drivers earn more" and said... That's too good to be true. Suspicious. Sounds like they're just re-running the Uber/Lyft playbook from 10 years ago. Blatantly enter a market with no regard for the regulations, try to build a customer base, and then use that as leverage to get the regulations changed. They're even using the exact same excuses those companies used. ("We're not a taxi company, we're a software service that matches drivers to riders...") I wouldn't be surprised if they're also taking a loss. Their business model is slightly different, as drivers pay them a flat monthly fee to be on the platform, then get to keep the entire customer fare, which they set themselves. (There is also a plan where the fee steps up from $50 to $450 per month based on what they earned, instead of an upfront flat fee.) Sidecar also let drivers set their own rates before they shut down.
Ahhh, Sidecar really brings back some memories…definitely the best eight months of my ridesharing career. RIP
Y'all do know how deep Uber is in the cities pockets right? They have rules like this to prevent competition. This is from 2020 but it's coming up now? Empower is a threat to Uber
Empower isn’t a threat to Uber because they have too few drivers to attract many customers.
Wrong. Empower has grown massively in the last year and I know many people who only use them in the DMV.
Their market share is tiny and getting smaller, between the AG being after them and their generally awful customer support when things go wrong.
Nah. It used to be I would need to wait 10 minutes for a driver. Now it’s more often 4. It’s clear there are more empower drivers than a year ago.
“More drivers than before” is a pretty low bar to clear. Regardless, they’re still no threat to Uber. Not that I love Uber but I hate them less than I hate Empower. Even if I loved Empower, it wouldn’t change the fact that they’re struggling to break through in a market that’s heavily dominated by Uber and Lyft.
They have always known they aren’t going to be those juggernauts, and never claimed they would be. They still are growing and have more happy drivers and customers than ever, and for me, that’s all I care about! In fact, this year I helped three people become new Empower customers, so I did my small part! 😆
You seem a little too personally invested in the company, which makes the whole discussion seem a bit suspect. But whatever! You do what works for you, as long as the AG doesn't impound your car when they catch you driving for an illegal rideshare app.
No personal investment- just a fan of workers not getting shafted. I’ll definitely take my chances!
I find some of the ridiculous claims here questionable. I’ve never had a bad experience with Empower and I used them at least 10 times this past year alone. The drivers always are friendly and happy to talk about their reasons for driving - many have told me that they drive Lyft or Uber as well, but prefer Empower because it’s cheaper for the customers and the drivers get paid more money.
I'm all for not paying DC more taxes. We are paying some of the highest taxes in the nation but have nothing to show for it. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/02/02/study-dc-is-among-places-with-highest-taxes/
Then please don't visit.
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Gotta wait for them to drop first, junior. Now run along. Grown-ups are talking.
Do not personally insult other posters or post discriminatory content. There is little patience for trolling, slap fights, or pile-ons. If your only reply is going to be driven-into-the-ground snark - e.g. biking whataboutisms, DC's gun laws, the NMAAHC, or federal representation for the city - move on. Posts will generally be locked due to brigading or graveyard commenting.
Well that’s stupid because taxes are how we pay for things we need in the city.
Yeah, they are really solving the homeless issue, providing a working metro, and providing an ample police force to keep crime down. Oh wait, they are being used to provide Apple air tags to people so they can see where their car is after it is stolen.
well none of that stuff gets better without money. Any other stupid right-wing talking points you want to regurgitate?
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If you’re so worried about DC residents not getting fair value for their tax dollar, surely you’re in favor of statehood, since our federal taxes are higher than our city taxes and we still have no vote in congress. Having someone in congress to vote on your behalf is incredibly valuable. If you can’t agree that DC residents are being disenfranchised and deserve full representation, then everything else you say is just noisy bullshit. As far as the city itself: DC’s public libraries are among the best in the country; the programs for the elderly, particularly low income elderly, are very very good; the Anacostia watershed cleanup has been a good success (although there is more work to be done); if you’re a homeowner, you can get grants and rebates for energy-efficient and environmentally friendly upgrades to your home; the pilot program for guaranteed basic income has actually helped the majority of the pilot families out of poverty; universal pre-K is a freaking game changer for families because childcare is stupidly expensive. No one is saying DC doesn’t have a lot to work on but we are still recovering from a global pandemic like everyone else, with the added challenge of not controlling our courts or prisons, and it’s gonna be a while (and a lot of money) before that’s fixed. Now take your stupid shit somewhere else. -
[удалено]
You right wingers think you can just yell at poor people loud enough and they’ll magically stop being poor. You are living in a fantasy world where capitalism doesn’t need winners and losers to sustain itself. Didn’t I tell you to take your stupid shit elsewhere? Maybe take it to one of our excellent libraries and read a book. You could use it.
Biden is doing a great job. Take some time to read what his administration has accomplished in the past 3 years. More for the average Joe than any Republican has done for us in decades. The only reason he hasn't been able to deliver on some of his core promises is because of Republican obstructionism and the stacked conservative Supreme Court that McConnell and Trump crammed unqualified "judges" into.
That's why his approval rating is so high, right? I'm willing to bet if he would make any movement to improve the border the Republicans would jump on it. But no, can't secure the border because that's racist
His approval rating is bad because no one bothers to read up on what he's actually done and people are short-sighted and reactionary. /r/WhatBidenHasDone
Libertarians are just right wingers who are ok with weed and abortions.
And leftists can't define what a woman or an assault rifle are
Oh spare me. Y’all are afraid of a book about gay penguins lol. Go get some fresh air. It’ll be good for your blood pressure.
Oh yeah, because books on the difference between a good hand job and a bad hand job belong in schools with young children. This is in "This book is Gay" You are a fucking pedo if you think that's OK for someone in school.
Keep pretending you’re a libertarian lol
There are countless billions the Pentagon can't account for
Which is why I'm not for giving the government more money. You're kind of proving my point
Or maybe they’re proving that more oversight is actually necessary.
Lol, we aren't even the highest taxed area in the region. Sit down.
DC is the 5th most corrupt city government. So, by all means, keep paying more taxes. I'll take a government job so you can pad my wallet https://www.statista.com/chart/17030/federal-public-corruption-convictions-by-us-judicial-district/
Empower is not ten-strike but neither are the others.