Tuesday, February 9, 2016

UBER IS UBERFYING THE WORLD

UBER is expanding. It's founder, Travis Kalanick, seems to be obsessed with the concept -- that everything that mankind needs, does, desires, can be UBERed.

The word "uber" means "denoting an outstanding or supreme example of a particular kind of person or thing." In today's world with Kalanick's business in 300 locations, it also means "above," "beyond." "over," and "super."

UBER is in 58 countries and worth around $40 to $50 -- maybe $60 billion. The value is going up-up-up, with more and more services you can buy, hire, rent, utilize.

You can acquire fresh food, flowers, liquor, ice cream, cake, beauty treatments, valet service; hire a chef, get dinner party and cocktail party services, get your mail mailed, your packages packed and shipped; you can travel by limo, car, train or jet, get car repairs -- get it washed, gassed, pointed and painted.

The Wall Street Journal summed it up. “There’s an UBER for everything now. Washio is for having someone do your laundry, Sprig and SpoonRocket cook your dinner, Shyp will mail things so you don’t have to brave the post office. Zeel delivers a massage therapist with table. Heal sends a doctor on a house call, Saucey will rush over alcohol, Dufl will pack your suitcase, and Eaze will rev up a medical marijuana supply.”

Enjoying these names, I also discovered you can Luxe, which uses GPS to offer a personal parking valet, dressed in a blue uniform, who will meet you at your destination and park your car for you.

There's not yet an uber for baby-sitting, dental work, wall papering, plumbing and electrical repairs, but you can get an Uber to check your house once or twice a day while you're on vacation, handle moth proofing, shovel the snow, or mow the lawn.

Are you thinking Wow? Yay? Wondering what it could cost, and can you check the credentials of an Uber employee? What about tipping?

An article in the UK Daily Telegraph revealed that you are asked to grade your Uber service person and the service person will grade you. You may give the guy a 5 star rating for services rendered, but will they give you a 5 star rating for politeness, promptness,  and an appropriately friendly, considerate demeanor? Apparently, if you aren't a "5," you may call for an Uber taxi, but one might not show up.

Hmm. So if you want a well-UBERed life, you better bone up and practice gracious good behavior.



2 comments:

JD Cullum said...

Gosh, I don't know about a life of Uber-convenience. Doing little errands gets me out into the world, among people. As with any technological advance, something is also lost. Life is becoming so convenient that we may never need to leave the house...

Stan said...

Wonderful article Em Unfortunately my body has been uberfied.