Calling All Uber Drivers...

[Bolthead]

Thought I would start this thread for all Uber drivers (or any taxi or ride share drivers) on this forum that want to help other Uber drivers, passengers or just have a vent.

The following is more of a vent however I also learnt a lesson so I thought I would pass it on.

As most drivers know you now have the option (twice a day) to set a destination on the app, so you only get jobs going in that particular direction. I call it the going home option as I have to date only used it when I have decided to go home. It comes in handy if you end up in Manly at the end of the day and you decide to call it quits and you live in Sutherland. (as an example) For the record I have found this relatively new feature quite helpful.

I always thought (and still do) that I have the customers needs at heart. Going home the other day I set my destination and within a few minutes I got a ping for a job at Bankstown (15 minutes away) Because it was also peak hour I knew it would easily be 20-25 minutes so I decided not to accept the job so I firstly wouldn't inconvenience the customers but also figured they would cancel because of the long wait. Soon after I got another ping to Mortdale with the same waiting time and once again didn't accept the job. Immediately got another ping to Mortdale (same customer I think) and once again didn't accept. Next thing I noticed was that I was offline and I couldn't get back on line with a popup message stating 'because you have not accepted the last three requests we have taken you offline for 2 minutes so you can reconsider your options'. (Not exact words but something like that) Now it was only 2 minutes but what peeves me is that the Uber system does not take into effect that I am taking into consideration the customer. (knowing full well there were closer customers)

So next ping I accepted. The customer messages me to tell me where to pull in as it was on the Princes Hwy which I appreciated. I sent him back a message and told him I would be at least 15 minutes. Straight away he cancels... I then received one after the other 5 more requests from him and every time he cancels. So in a nutshell when using this destination system it does work well with matching you with jobs in your direction but it often matches you with jobs that is inconvenient to the customers as well. In the end I ended up with no jobs going home which in my experience is unusual. I emailed Uber regarding this and I got the usual robotic response you expect from Uber.

 

[moa999]

Agree it seems poor design that if a driver or passenger cancels a particular job then it can be reallocated to that driver

 

[N860CR]

Uber was great when it started... however it seems to be slipping quickly for both riders and drivers.

 

[Bolthead]

Uber was great when it started... however it seems to be slipping quickly for both riders and drivers.

Unfortunately they often treat drivers like we are idiots. Because you can't ring them and discuss an issue you have to email them. 75% of the time their answer has nothing to do with your question.

 

[NoName]

I love the destination option and have never had any problem with it at all. It never takes you far off course so I will accept everything it gives me. I drive my vehicle to work 40km away and put it on every day and get a job most times.

What you need to remember is that the system is giving you a job because you are the closest driver. If you're 20min away and don't accept because you think the rider won't like waiting then you're actually making them wait longer because the next driver is further away again. Just accept it and let the rider contact you or cancel if they're not happy. Passengers also need to realise this too. It would save them the surprise of cancelling and getting the same driver when they request again 30s later. The driver you just cancelled on is still the closest driver, what a surprise!

 

[N860CR]

Unfortunately they often treat drivers like we are idiots. Because you can't ring them and discuss an issue you have to email them. 75% of the time their answer has nothing to do with your question.

This is the new world of customer service.

The one thing these "new age" organizations (Uber, Airbnb, eBay, PayPal etc) have in common is awful service when things don't go to plan. It's easy to blame the third world staff who deal with it, but the true fault extends to the top and clearly they don't care very much.

 

[moa999]

They only care about their 20% (and more)

 

[Bolthead]

I love the destination option and have never had any problem with it at all. It never takes you far off course so I will accept everything it gives me. I drive my vehicle to work 40km away and put it on every day and get a job most times.

What you need to remember is that the system is giving you a job because you are the closest driver. If you're 20min away and don't accept because you think the rider won't like waiting then you're actually making them wait longer because the next driver is further away again. Just accept it and let the rider contact you or cancel if they're not happy. Passengers also need to realise this too. It would save them the surprise of cancelling and getting the same driver when they request again 30s later. The driver you just cancelled on is still the closest driver, what a surprise!

I do like the feature, however today same thing. I was at Rockdale and got a ping for Taren Point. Customer cancelled straight away. I find it hard to believe that there was no closer drivers because today was my worse day ever in the Shire and elsewhere. Drivers everywhere...

 

[jastel]

The customer doesnt care you want to go home, or have been driving for 16 hours, whatever...they just want a ride.

Its just the way it is...

 

[NoName]

I do like the feature, however today same thing. I was at Rockdale and got a ping for Taren Point. Customer cancelled straight away. I find it hard to believe that there was no closer drivers because today was my worse day ever in the Shire and elsewhere. Drivers everywhere...

What does it matter though? If you're using the destination option and going roughly that way anyway then IMO it doesn't really matter if they cancel and shouldn't matter to you whether you're actually the closest or not. How do you know you weren't though? In any event, closer drivers could have already ignored the ping before it even got to you.

To me the destination option is basically so I can claim expenses incurred when driving to and from my real job. Everything else (including whether the rider wants to wait for me to get to them or not) is irrelevant.

 

[Bolthead]

What does it matter though? If you're using the destination option and going roughly that way anyway then IMO it doesn't really matter if they cancel and shouldn't matter to you whether you're actually the closest or not. How do you know you weren't though? In any event, closer drivers could have already ignored the ping before it even got to you.

To me the destination option is basically so I can claim expenses incurred when driving to and from my real job. Everything else (including whether the rider wants to wait for me to get to them or not) is irrelevant.

Bottom line is I guess we really don't know why I get pings so far away. (doesn't happen all the time) It doesn't bother me so much now as I accept all pings. If the customer cancels they cancel. Not much I can do about it. The way I look at it if I get at least 1 job going home it pays for the petrol.

The other day again I was heading home and got pinged at Tom Ugly's bridge for a job a Sutherland. It was pouring with rain and I expected they would cancel and they didn't. They said to me they don't know why I got the job as there was at leat 5 cars much closer. (according to them) They weren't in a hurray so they didn't bother cancelling. It seems highly improbable that all 5 cars didn't except the job.

 

[Quickstatus]

When you get pinged about a job do you see the customer's destination?

 

[Deleted member]

This is an interesting thread, I have only ever been a +1 in an uber , so all new to me.

 

[Bolthead]

When you get pinged about a job do you see the customer's destination?

No, the only time you see the destination is when you start the trip by sliding the slide bar. This is different to a normal taxi and some drivers complain about this function. I personally don't have a problem as I normally accept all jobs. You have to take the good with the bad. I have never not cancelled a job because the destination was not where I was hoping to go. It has been reported that some drivers ring or text the passenger to find out where they are going and then cancel the job with some lame excuse as 'I am stuck in traffic and there are drivers closer to you'. If you ever get a driver ringing you and asking tell them I have put the destination in the app and you will find out when you get here. If they cancel then report them to Uber. Bad drivers need to be weeded out.

Also it has been reported that some drivers start the trip before the passenger gets in the car. This is also against the rules. Uber is currently testing (in the USA) for the trip to start automatically after 2 minutes once the driver arrives at the location. I have to say this is one of my gripes as I have had to wait longer than 5 minutes many times and a few times up to 10 minutes for the passenger. Some apologise and others don't say a word. There is really no excuse not to be ready on the side of the road (I guess there is always exceptions, weather, unforeseen circumstances etc.) as you get a message a minute before the driver arrives to say he is arriving. You can also follow the driver as well once he/she accepts the job.

 

[Deleted member]

No, the only time you see the destination is when you start the trip by sliding the slide bar. This is different to a normal taxi and some drivers complain about this function. I personally don't have a problem as I normally accept all jobs. You have to take the good with the bad. I have never not cancelled a job because the destination was not where I was hoping to go. It has been reported that some drivers ring or text the passenger to find out where they are going and then cancel the job with some lame excuse as 'I am stuck in traffic and there are drivers closer to you'. If you ever get a driver ringing you and asking tell them I have put the destination in the app and you will find out when you get here. If they cancel then report them to Uber. Bad drivers need to be weeded out.

Also it has been reported that some drivers start the trip before the passenger gets in the car. This is also against the rules. Uber is currently testing (in the USA) for the trip to start automatically after 2 minutes once the driver arrives at the location. I have to say this is one of my gripes as I have had to wait longer than 5 minutes many times and a few times up to 10 minutes for the passenger. Some apologise and others don't say a word. There is really no excuse not to be ready on the side of the road (I guess there is always exceptions, weather, unforeseen circumstances etc.) as you get a message a minute before the driver arrives to say he is arriving. You can also follow the driver as well once he/she accepts the job.

A couple of questions: 1. what do you mean when you say you have "never not cancelled a job ...." ? 2. It seems you have a long term view of your time with Uber, are you doing this just for the money? Do you expect things to settle down and change once the disruption has eliminated the opposition (taxis) meaning a higher income for uber drivers ? 3. Do you see the "opportunist" drivers lasting and making a decent fist of it? 4. Is this for everyone? It occurs to me that as a supplementary semi retirement income stream, with flexible hours etc, it may be appealing to some of the older AFF'rs looking to still travel, and yet earn a little extra, without being tied to a job or fixed hours.

 

[NoName]

I know you were quoting Bolthead but will give a couple of my opinions anyway. You are never going to get rich driving Uber with its current price structure. Im in Brisbane and drive on a Friday night after work until about 1am and that's it each week. I'd average maybe $30/hr before expenses so it's not much when you consider Friday and Saturday nights are the best earners. I also drive my Uber vehicle to and from work (approx 45km each way) a couple of times a week with the destination function on.

Reason I drive are: 40% basically for a bit of fun. It's entertaining talking to a variety of people. I also find it a challenge to see how much I can make each time even though typically it's not much. 40% for the tax deductions I will be able to make on a vehicle that is driven very little. My car is 2.5yrs old and has 26,000km on the dial (3,500 of which have been in the 2months I've been driving uber). 20% for a couple of hundred dollars a week pocket money that I can do whatever I want with.

If you had to do it as a full time job I'd say you'd be looking at maybe $60k per year before expenses. So for someone with no skills pretty good but anyone with any skills should be able to find better paying work pretty much anywhere they look.

 

[Deleted member]

Interesting perspective. I did wonder about the potential for thousands of individuals thinking this would be the panacea to their woes. It occurs to me that ride sharing isn't going to make any drivers rich. But with the right attitude it might enrich them.

 

[moa999]

Also it has been reported that some drivers start the trip before the passenger gets in the car. This is also against the rules.

Had that happen at PTY Panama City Airport (they have a dedicated set of pickup bays near the airport exit).

Driver started the job outside the airport perimeter (it counted against them because they this didn't get the airport trip surcharge (about a$15 - versus parking at about $2) - so journey ended up being half price.

Driver submitted correction to add the surcharge. I countered that I should be paying for the 1.5km and 20min (a bit of traffic around the airport) waiting time... Got the airport fee refunded

So now I have Uber VND and USD credit !

 

[PLANT]

What's stopping a unblemished person getting an uber driver account and handing the info to a criminal friend to drive?
After wear and tear/petrol/insurance on car.... How do you actually make a profit from uber?
Destination mode of driving to work and weight of person vs petrol used (what's mathematical calculation for that) to determine if profit made?
Concerning the insurance, if you are injured in a road accident as a passenger, how are you covered legally as debated, unlike a taxi you don't have any coverage?
If you stuff up and don't get 5 stars or drop below 4.6..... How does the appeal process work as a driver to keep your account open?
Have they improved the system so that Eddie Macqurie took Mic Molloy uber..... Because Eddie jumped in and said "yep" to uber driver. Therefore Mick could not get another uber because the app had him in an uber?
When you call the contact centre in Australia are you getting an English/Australian person to discuss your issue?

 

[Quickstatus]

What's the current Uber sign-up standards in regard to driving record and type of car?