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Ask HN: How did Uber acquire its first customers?

4 pointstheforceawakens10y ago11 comments

1. In many talks Travis K talks about picking up the phone and dialing for dollars/calling up SF limo companies. But what did he tell them? Why did 3 of the 10 companies he called, (as per Travis) show interest in his venture? (AFIK, that seeded the start of Uber. Please correct me if I'm wrong.)

2. How did they specifically convince Riders to join their platform? (I somehow feel this was the easy part, as Travis had Sacca and other SV influencers as part of his close buddy network..and the money through Red Swoosh's acq.)

Very curious to understand the strategies they had in place, to solve the Chicken and Egg problem initially.

Thanks!

11 comments

7 comments · 2 top-level

samstave10y ago· 3 in thread

OK I have been an uber member since the day they were born, effectively... How was i converted?

I lived in the presidio in SF - then later I lived upper-market/twin peaks.

the cabs wouldnt fucking show up, so I was calling ALL cab companies - then they were sharing dispatch info and I was banned from calling them. I made personal relationships with black car-drivers (the lincoln towncars that are "uber black") and would call them when I needed to get a ride. I paid a premium for that - but ultimately they told me about Uber.

I HATE SF taxi service and I jumped ship and havent looked back since.

I spend A LOT on uber.... but for me (as I dont have a car and I hate driving) It is wonderful and has been great since I joined.

The only reason I dont use Lyft is that they dont work with my bank for payment.

While I think the CEO of Uber is rather lame, and a good friend said it was the worst place hes ever worked (ops guy) I love the service.... and for that reason I stay.

eli3610y ago

in a nutshell the competition to uber in SF was so dire, as to be laughable.

It's weird I have lived in UK and Australia and never a problem getting a cab to show up. Nonetheless uber seems to be getting popular in Sydney due to the cost savings and ability to use an app.

theforceawakensOP10y ago

This is awesome! Thanks for sharing your personal story!

askafriend10y ago

Why did your friend say working there was horrible?

sajid10y ago· 2 in thread

https://growthhackers.com/growth-studies/uber

theforceawakensOP10y ago

Great link. Thanks so much. But it doesn't really talk about Travis' tactics to convince the initial limo companies to join his venture. Looking for a deeper insight. It is so hard to convince someone / incumbents, to join a platform where they might fear competition. Usually they don't look to grow, they look to not die. IMO.

samstave10y ago

existing black car drivers were always open to randoms asking them for rides... and then haggling over a price.

They likely saw the opportunity of "how 'bout an app for that, with a set price" as haggling with the black car drivers sucked.

Once you found one you liked... you would stick with that driver and call them. But the thing is that they werent always available when you needed them, or you didnt call them enough... so its a pretty easy stretch for why they would want to do this. Plus everyone bitches about taxis and they all knew it was an industry to be disrupted "What??? Youre not requiring me to get a medallion!!!???" - no brainer for them.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse