Uber's questionable Price Gouging tactics require in depth examination

Uber's  price gouging tactics also referred to as surge pricing are not justifiable compared with all other  car services because Uber Nuts largest number of  cars participating on their network, Uber does not have a human dispatch infrastructure and the related expenses and the secret partners emails about dynamic pricing raise an eyebrow.

First I would like to educate readers that Uber does not own, nor do they operate any vehicles. Uber has drivers who own their vehicles and pay Uber commissions for referals. Most of these drivers are full time  affiliated driver with Uber and some are part time non affiliated driver owned cars. Uber has 4 registered bases with the taxi and limousine commission in NYC and has the highest number of affiliated drivers compared with all other car services.

There are 3,053 dedicated Uber cars which are affiliated and working with Uber on a full time basis.
The second largest black car base (Skyline Car service)  has 598 affiliated drivers who are also cooperating with Uber in taking trips. In addition, there are other drivers from other black car bases who are working with Uber. Isn't it ironic that a company having the highest numbers of affiliated drivers on its network on any given day compared to any other bases in New York City, plus having drivers from Skyline and other bases on it's network is using excuses about shortage of drivers and need to surge price? Uber has always given consumers the argument that with supply shortage and high demand,  adding a dynamic pricing will get more vehicles on the road. When examining the statistics, Uber already highest ratio of supply (vehicles) to serve consumers when comparing it with all other bases. So where are they getting more supply (driver/cars)  from? Why is it that Uber has to price gouge whereas other licensed bases which are a fraction of Uber's size are not price gouging? In addition, Uber does not have the additional staff expense the smaller bases have.

All these conventional smaller bases have to pay the expenses for dispatchers, reservationist, customer service representatives,computers, two way radios and phone lines. Whereas Uber does not have such expenses. Uber's drivers are carrying the task of mobile customer service, mobile dispatchers and drivers on the road. The electronic app  bypasses the human staff thereby eliminating related expenses. So given that Uber having this competitive advantage and savings, should they not be passing on these savjngs to consumers? Uber's claims are in contradiction. Even the partner emails indicate Uber's carefully crafted gouging days.

Uber weekly partner emails outline days and times they will be instituting surge pricing. Is it not ironic that Uber can forecast future supply shortages and high demand cycles? Any affiliated driver working with Uber can agree that Uber's weekly emails outline weather patterns and declared dates and times they will be price gouging. Usually Uber takes advantage of this in rain, windy weather, holidays, Friday and Saturday nights and or whenever they that timing is right.

Uber continues to price gouge consumers even after the controversial price gouging throughout Hurricane Sandy, transit workers strike, New Years Eve. Uber was highly criticized by Paul Carr and consumers throughout these periods as they charged up to 6 to 10 times the normal rate. Uber sets a bad example to other transportation service providers and other businesses. Uber should halt price gouging amd operate as a responsible business.

Data of Uber registered bases obtained from NYC Taxi & Limo Commission

Black car bases registered with address 27-55 Jackson Ave, LIC, NY
Found in NYC TLC records.

Hinter LLC base # B02598-1,028 affiliated driver owned cars
schmecker LLC base # B02682-142 affiliated driver owned cars
Unter LLC- base # B02512- 511 affiliated driver owned cars
weitter LLC- base # B02617-1,372 affiliated driver owned cars

Uber Price Gouging articles

http://pandodaily.com/2012/10/31/assholes-shrug/

http://pandodaily.com/2012/11/02/a-final-word-on-uber-and-their-ghastly-attempt-to-spin-their-way-to-sainthood/

Article on Uber CEO:
http://pandodaily.com/2012/10/24/travis-shrugged/