Gett & Take.
Like many of us, I increasingly use apps for all sorts of things, and if I want to take a black cab in London I used to go to Gett.
However, Tony (my driver this morning) told me a few things about the app that will cause me to change my behaviour – because it actually results in a poorer service for the passenger… and now I’m wondering about the ethics of other apps I use and the issues they cause.
Initially Gett charged the drivers 10% of the fare, but now it’s 20%. In addition they charge a service fee of £1.99, so today it cost me £23.55, and Tony only got £17.25 (including a 10% tip!) – in total Gett receive 26.75%
It doesn’t end there, because I pay by card Tony has a further 4% reduction, so he nets just £16.56, losing almost 1/3 in total.
You could argue that Tony has options, he doesn’t have to use the app, indeed he made that point himself, but as the number of passengers is still below pre-pandemic levels, he reluctantly takes the pieces of silver from Gett and other apps.
Why should this bother me then, or you for that matter?
Well the unintended consequence is that if Tony (and other drivers no doubt), when en route to a booked pick up get hailed, (as they run with their orange light on), they will cancel the job on the app and take the passenger off the street in preference.
So whilst the head bean counters at Gett no doubt congratulate themselves for doubling their commission, the effect is that they lose a significant percentage of jobs, the frustrated customer loses confidence and tries other apps or just goes on the street, and everyone loses out.
The rule of “fair play” used to apply in our society, but sadly not now in too many cases.
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