Original post:
We saw the "storm surge" pricing last week in San Francisco and now this.
As the analyst said when looking at this chart:
"A trend appears to be emerging".
That's Altria and the analyst said it to yours truly. Long time readers have seen the story a couple times.
From Mashable:
Uber intros surge pricing during Sydney hostage siege, then backtracks after user outcry
This post was updated at 10:45 p.m. ET to include an updated statement from Uber."Uber, now introducing our Armageddon whackfare."
Uber briefly charged its users in downtown Sydney a minimum $100 to escape an armed hostage crisis, a result of automatic surge pricing meant to get more drivers online.
See also: Sorry, Travis, but I'm boycotting UberAn executive in the city's Central Business District (CBD) sent Mashable screenshots of the Uber app that showed the company was charging up to four-times the normal rate because "demand is off the charts."
"I have never, ever seen it at four-times [the normal rate] and I'm a 1% top Uber user," said Matthew Leung, the user in contact with Mashable. "I understand the way the business works — higher the demand, higher the charge — but four-times at $100 minimum is ridiculous. Almost price gouging at its worst."
Another customer shared a screenshot of their "wack" fare estimate that showed a trip from an area just blocks from the siege to the airport would cost $145-185....MORE
Update: "Economics: 'Uber's Sydney fiasco: the problem with surge pricing is everyone hates it'".
