I was an Uber convert. I am now an Uber non-vert.
I'm still OK with UberTaxi, as you are relying on the knowledge and experience of taxi drivers. But I have now had problems with UberX and even Uber (Black, or premium services, depending on country) in three countries (in SIN, BKK and MNL) when being picked up at addresses that are not what one would consider "landmarks" (such as major hotels, airports).
I am convinced these are systematic problems with Uber's systems and (lack of) driver training. In cities like BKK and MNL, the travel time estimates are woefully inadequate, and when you have someone pick you whose 8 mins away they end up being more like 15+ minutes.
1. Singapore - booked UberX from my home address. Driver had no idea where to find the entrance to my condo and the mapping system Uber uses is woefully inadequate. The government mapping systems shows entrance to condos, google maps does not. Not acceptable in a land full of condos. Ended up getting a call from driver, and walked about 500m to where he was to get the ride. Provided feedback to Uber, stressing it wasn't the drivers fault, there mapping system should be better, and they said they'd provide advice to driver how to read map!
2. Bangkok - booked UberBlack driver from hotel, about 7 mins away - he started heading towards me, headed in the other direction for about 3-4 blocks, then did u turn to head back, time went up to 12 mins. He ended up calling, about where he started from and suggested traffic is really bad and I get a taxi.
3. Manila this afternoon - booked Uber BlackCar .... about 8 mins away when I booked, took me 2-3 mins to get downstairs from office and driver was suddnely 11 mins away. Then he stopped about 200m away from my address(dot). I walked to find him. Turned out phone reception had dropped (incidentally happened to me to and had to turn into airplane mode and back on to pick up full strength reception again) was reluctant to start until phone picked up again, but I have him 50 PHP to go and start the journey from when he had reception (which was only about 500-600m away). Got stuck in the cough traffic alongside T3, and although I had checked in and my flight wasn't for 3 hours I was trying to get on earlier flight. But got to the airport 30 mins before and checkin had closed. .... but thankfully immigration was quick and the good SQ staff at the gate got me on just as last pax were boarding! Good one SQ!
Anyway, bottom line my Uber-non-taxi experiment is over. I've also had 3 other pickups - 1 each at the same addresses in SIN, BKK & MNL that went very smoothly. But 50% is not reliable enough for me.
Now UberTaxi, at SIN on a Friday night. That works really well. Book as you get through immigration, taxi there by the time you reach the kerb, beating the 20min taxi queue. But UberXYZ, not convinced.
I'm still OK with UberTaxi, as you are relying on the knowledge and experience of taxi drivers. But I have now had problems with UberX and even Uber (Black, or premium services, depending on country) in three countries (in SIN, BKK and MNL) when being picked up at addresses that are not what one would consider "landmarks" (such as major hotels, airports).
I am convinced these are systematic problems with Uber's systems and (lack of) driver training. In cities like BKK and MNL, the travel time estimates are woefully inadequate, and when you have someone pick you whose 8 mins away they end up being more like 15+ minutes.
1. Singapore - booked UberX from my home address. Driver had no idea where to find the entrance to my condo and the mapping system Uber uses is woefully inadequate. The government mapping systems shows entrance to condos, google maps does not. Not acceptable in a land full of condos. Ended up getting a call from driver, and walked about 500m to where he was to get the ride. Provided feedback to Uber, stressing it wasn't the drivers fault, there mapping system should be better, and they said they'd provide advice to driver how to read map!
2. Bangkok - booked UberBlack driver from hotel, about 7 mins away - he started heading towards me, headed in the other direction for about 3-4 blocks, then did u turn to head back, time went up to 12 mins. He ended up calling, about where he started from and suggested traffic is really bad and I get a taxi.
3. Manila this afternoon - booked Uber BlackCar .... about 8 mins away when I booked, took me 2-3 mins to get downstairs from office and driver was suddnely 11 mins away. Then he stopped about 200m away from my address(dot). I walked to find him. Turned out phone reception had dropped (incidentally happened to me to and had to turn into airplane mode and back on to pick up full strength reception again) was reluctant to start until phone picked up again, but I have him 50 PHP to go and start the journey from when he had reception (which was only about 500-600m away). Got stuck in the cough traffic alongside T3, and although I had checked in and my flight wasn't for 3 hours I was trying to get on earlier flight. But got to the airport 30 mins before and checkin had closed. .... but thankfully immigration was quick and the good SQ staff at the gate got me on just as last pax were boarding! Good one SQ!
Anyway, bottom line my Uber-non-taxi experiment is over. I've also had 3 other pickups - 1 each at the same addresses in SIN, BKK & MNL that went very smoothly. But 50% is not reliable enough for me.
Now UberTaxi, at SIN on a Friday night. That works really well. Book as you get through immigration, taxi there by the time you reach the kerb, beating the 20min taxi queue. But UberXYZ, not convinced.
