Nashville Bits and Pieces

[nashvillwill]

I don't buy the whole "the customer is at fault " argument.

I've used UberX many many times. Sure, there is the ability to get an estimate before you take the ride, but many times, I don't for two reasons;

1. I've used it enough to be able to know what to expect.

2. I expect to pay a competitive and fair market rate.

Now, full disclosure, I didn't attempt to summon Uber on New Years Eve as I stayed at home on amateur night. Furthermore, I'm in San Fransisco, so maybe that wasn't the case here. But I'm on their email list and I have their app on my phone. I didn't receive any kind of notification of a possible rate increases, nor have I ever heard of such a thing. I'm not sure everyone "is certainly aware of it", especially in Nashville where the service is brand new.

Granted, I know better than to take a cab (of any sort) for 45 miles, especially in a drunken stupor (whether that was the case or not), but I would certainly never expect that to cost $700.

[satalac]

In the over-simplified mentality of some libertarian teenager, it is the customer's fault when they agree to the terms. Realistically, the question is how easy it is to understand the terms. If they're charging something no reasonable person would pay because they hope people won't figure it out until it's to late, that's not a legitimate business, it's a scam and they shouldn't be allowed to operate.

I'll just ignore the insulting me part and get to the meat and taters portion.

Most of the people using this service on New Years are intoxicated. It's about personal responsibility. Now do I agree with the fees? Of course not, and I'm not willing to do business with them because of it. But these customers that did use them were warned. Caveat Emptor.

[Hey_Hey]

I think an argument could be made that a reasonable person who is fully informed would not pay $546 for the ride they took. That leaves two possibilities: they were too intoxicated to make an informed decision, or they didn't understand the way UberX surge pricing works and what that means on their cost. I have used UberX in the past and when I saw 7.5x on NYE I steered clear, but I still didn't know what that would have meant if I took it somewhere because I don't know how to calculate their charges normally. For someone using UberX the first time I could see them going ahead and allowing the request to go through because it isn't reasonable to think it will cost $546 to go to anywhere in nashville. If the driver knew they were too intoxicated to make an informed decision then that could be challenged, although I'm sure that is a very difficult case to prove.

[samsonh]

In the over-simplified mentality of some libertarian teenager, it is the customer's fault when they agree to the terms.  Realistically, the question is how easy it is to understand the terms.  If they're charging something no reasonable person would pay because they hope people won't figure it out until it's to late, that's not a legitimate business, it's a scam and they shouldn't be allowed to operate.

Last post on this: I also appreciate the insult to begin your post. They do not hide prices! They are incredibly upfront about the surcharges at peak times. If the consumer does not want to inform himself then he is at fault. Why should über be the one thing we do not look at the price of before we buy? And apparently reasonable people are willing to pay really high rates at times, as evidenced by ubers massive success.

[SoundScan]

Uber: The payday loan edition of taxi services.

 

If this had happened to an elderly couple instead of a group of drunk friends the outrage be 10x. Uber is riding a very fine line here with 'surge pricing', and there are growing numbers of complaints across the nation. If they're not careful it won't be long before they're government regulated into extinction.

[smeagolsfree]

A couple of aticles of note from the Nashville Ledger.

 

Nashville building spree is less about Mayor Karl Dean, more about the city’s 10-year-old ‘50-year plan’

http://www.nashvilleledger.com/editorial/Article.aspx?id=70808

 

Top projects undeer the Dean administration

 

http://www.nashvilleledger.com/editorial/Article.aspx?id=70809

[nashmoney]

Logistics firm bringing 105 jobs to Nashville

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2014/01/logistics-firm-bringing-105-jobs-to.html?page=all

 

This is great for Lower Broad. Excellent use for a historic building and it will bring a lot of foot traffic to the restaurants and bars on lower broad and sobro, especially since it seems these jobs will cater to recent college grads.

 

This is the building next to the Acme Supply building, which is under renovation for a restaurant from Tom Morales.

 

[Paramount747]

This s great news.

[smeagolsfree]

Peabody hotels have Nashville on the radar again.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20140123/BUSINESS01/301230038/Peabody-ducks-appear-Nashville-hotel-radar

[Paramount747]

Peabody hotels have Nashville on the radar again.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20140123/BUSINESS01/301230038/Peabody-ducks-appear-Nashville-hotel-radar

Do they want $41,000,000.00 in TIF money again like last time? Memphis can keep the Peabody. How about a Ritz Carlton, JW Marriott, Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons, St. Regis, Conrad, Kimpton, Hyatt Regency, Swissotel, Park Hyatt, Intercontinental, Westin. 

 

Peabody is not even listed in the worlds top 50 luxury hotel brands.

[MLBrumby]

Do they want $41,000,000.00 in TIF money again like last time? Memphis can keep the Peabody. How about a Ritz Carlton, JW Marriott, Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons, St. Regis, Conrad, Kimpton, Hyatt Regency, Swissotel, Park Hyatt, Intercontinental, Westin. 

 

Peabody is not even listed in the worlds top 50 luxury hotel brands.

 

I would appreciate the Tennessean not writing up anything until/unless there is actual news to report. 

 

Nashville does not need PBDY.  Personally, I think they can go duck themselves. I'm not impressed.  Even their property in Orlando is a massive piece of suburban cr@p.  True, it is a convention center in itself, but according to this advertisement (there is no news in that Tennessean piece), PBDY is just looking at buying an existing hotel.  Whoa!!! Way to go all the way, PBDY.  Even Hutton converted an old office building, and IMHO did a fine job (although I have not stayed there). While I do not know the family who runs PBDY, I have heard that they are a bit stingy.  If true, they wouldn't do anything here without TIF. 

[smeagolsfree]

They are looking to buy an existing hotel in Nashville and not build

[UTgrad09]

They are looking to buy an existing hotel in Nashville and not build

 

How about they buy the Worst Western on Union and tear it the f*** down.

[Paramount747]

I would appreciate the Tennessean not writing up anything until/unless there is actual news to report. 

 

Nashville does not need PBDY.  Personally, I think they can go duck themselves. I'm not impressed.  Even their property in Orlando is a massive piece of suburban cr@p.  True, it is a convention center in itself, but according to this advertisement (there is no news in that Tennessean piece), PBDY is just looking at buying an existing hotel.  Whoa!!! Way to go all the way, PBDY.  Even Hutton converted an old office building, and IMHO did a fine job (although I have not stayed there). While I do not know the family who runs PBDY, I have heard that they are a bit stingy.  If true, they wouldn't do anything here without TIF. 

Hotel Oliver is looking at the old 12 story Union Planters/First Union/Regions Bank Building on 4th and  Union. The Noel Hotel may reopen. Another entity is looking at the Wells Fargo Building, so I wonder where they would even look to rebrand? Is there another option in the CBD? I guess they could take over the Best Western Downtown!

[fieldmarshaldj]

If they acquire and tear down the "Worst Western" on Union, I would favor a reconstruction of Polk Place for a historic museum.

[nashwatcher]

Peabody should really consider locating themselves on Peabody St...a couple blocks from the MCC. It'd only be appropriate.

[Paramount747]

If they acquire and tear down the "Worst Western" on Union, I would favor a reconstruction of Polk Place for a historic museum.

That hotel was purchased last year. WW wrote about it. A young entrepreneur has plans to renovate a half a dozen hotels of that caliber that he bought. They have storage containers in the front parking area now, but renovation has not started. I would like to see a nice Art Deco/Greco Roman style hotel built there, and then use the Ben West as ballroom space, but that is just me.

[smeagolsfree]

Got a few articles for your reading enjoyment in case you missed them.

 

This weeks Nashville Ledger has several interesting reads including an interview with Tony G.

http://www.nashvilleledger.com/Default.aspx?newsDate=1/24/2014

 

Pinnacle expanding and taking another floor in the Pinnacle tower. They have to be close to 100 % in the building now. Even the last retail space on the corner of 2nd and Demonbreun is leased. NBJ

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2014/01/pinnacle-financial-partners-renovating.html

 

Hundreds of new taxi permits issued for Nashville. NBJ

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2014/01/taxi-commissionapproves-370-new-taxi.html

 

Nashville named among best for home ownership. NBJ

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2014/01/nashville-ranked-in-best-metro-areas.html

 

Bank of America going to Green Hills across from The Southern Land project. NBJ

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2014/01/bank-of-america-planned-for-green-hills.html

 

Outdoor retailer enters Green Hills market. Nashville Post

 

http://nashvillepost.com/news/2014/1/23/national_outdoor_goods_retailer_enters_nashville_market_with_green_hills_site

 

Music Row to see more mixed use projects. The Tennessean.

 

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20140121/BUSINESS02/301210016/2095/BUSINESS02

[Paramount747]

Anyone notice the Paramore logo on top of the St. Cloud Corner Building? It looks really nice and even at only 5 stories, it has some height to it.

[CenterHill]

Yes.  I don't know what Paramore is, but I drive in that way and noticed the sign went up a few months ago.   

[Paramount747]

http://paramoredigital.com

[NashRugger]

Also of note, Service Source's sign didn't stay up very long. It's already gone.

[franktown]

I don't understand the BoA in Green Hills bit. They have one literally across the street at the entrance to Hill Center. 

[gannman]

I don't understand multiple bank locations in such close proximity either, but there are also multiple Regions, Capital, and Suntrust banks within GH as well.

[smeagolsfree]

Frothy Monkey getting ready to finally open on 5th. Permits isssued. About time for sure. I have been waiting on this location for a while, especially as one that detest Starbucks and will not go in one.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2014/01/frothy-monkey-coming-to-downtown.html