Uber Review

[OzEire]

How many people can use one Uber code ? Could a person who posts on a site like OzBargain potentially rack up $$$ if people are using their code ?

 

[benjy]

How many people can use one Uber code ? Could a person who posts on a site like OzBargain potentially rack up $$$ if people are using their code ?

Unlimited times. You only get $10 referral credit once a new user has travelled their first ride.

 

[qaz]

though those who use ozbargain can find codes there for $25/$40 uber vouchers

https://www.ozbargain.com.au/deals/uber.com

 

[Cruiser Elite]

And here is another copy cat just commenced in NYC - lifted this info from the Lyft thread on FT

Lyft, a service similar to UberX has launched in the 5 boroughs. Pricing is the same as UberX for the time-being, but they constantly like to undercut each other so you may see the price of both services change.

Usually when a new market launches, any new users of the app will get a certain number of rides for free. I was assured by Lyft corp and by a fellow CLT driver who was up there this weekend that Pioneer (as lyft calls it) is in effect so all new Lyft users in NYC will get a certain number of free rides to use in 2 weeks. (it usually starts at 50 and tapers down to just 2 or 3).


Lyft does use TLC licensed drivers in NYC (the only market to have licensed livery drivers).

Just how many copies of Uber do you expect to see operating in USA within 12mths?

 

[samh004]

Convinced Sister and Step Mum to use Uber this week while it's free on the Gold Coast, hoping for their good reviews... I'm also looking forward to my $10 Uber credit being applied for them using my referral code (uberbenjya85)

I wanted to try it, I just never got round to it, but shall consider it in the future now that it's running

 

[penegal]

Just how many copies of Uber do you expect to see operating in USA within 12mths?

Lots?

NYC has had "gypsy cabs" for decades. There are numerous operators, many of whom instruct their drivers to fire up Uber/Lyft between jobs.


The ride-matching functionality Lyft released a few weeks ago (and Uber copied) will be interesting. The functionality matches two people travelling between similar locations to one car/driver, and both riders get a discount as they share the ride.

I'm not sure that I am in a hurry to share a car with strangers, but the concept is certainly disruptive and a great example of collaborative consumption.

 

[Cynicor]

One if my patients shared a cab with a stranger in Brisbane earlier this week. I got to look at his new stab wounds as they are starting to get infected.

Apparently they caught the guys, but he hasn't got any of his money back yet...

 

[Cruiser Elite]

One if my patients shared a cab with a stranger in Brisbane earlier this week. I got to look at his new stab wounds as they are starting to get infected.

Apparently they caught the guys, but he hasn't got any of his money back yet...

And this will become an increasingly familiar tale as time goes on - Blind Freddy can see that.

Word is Ivan Milat seriously pissed off Uber and the likes did not come along earlier.

 

[amaroo]

One if my patients shared a cab with a stranger in Brisbane earlier this week. I got to look at his new stab wounds as they are starting to get infected.

Apparently they caught the guys, but he hasn't got any of his money back yet...

Not surprised at all! Saving minor bucks sharing/booking a ride with a neville nobody seems pretty dumb IMHO.

 

[anat0l]

And this will become an increasingly familiar tale as time goes on - Blind Freddy can see that.

Word is Ivan Milat seriously pissed off Uber and the likes did not come along earlier.

I don't understand your point?

If Milat wanted to murder someone by posing as an UberX driver, he would be tried as a criminal all the same. Uber didn't promote his chances to be a criminal, it doesn't condone him being a criminal and would be difficult to argue that Uber are negligent accessories to the crime. Replace "Uber" with any taxi company and the argument is the same.

 

[samh004]

I don't understand your point?

If Milat wanted to murder someone by posing as an UberX driver, he would be tried as a criminal all the same. Uber didn't promote his chances to be a criminal, it doesn't condone him being a criminal and would be difficult to argue that Uber are negligent accessories to the crime. Replace "Uber" with any taxi company and the argument is the same.

To go wildly off topic, I think the idea was he could ride-share for victims, throw away cell phones etc...

 

[Cynicor]

I'd be blaming Brisbane more than the ride sharing

Seemed like a setup, apparently one guy got in, this guy shared, then suddenly a "mate" of the first guy appeared from nowhere and he was being mugged after a few hundred metres.

 

[dajop]

I have taken my chances with ride sharing in the past. Not sure if it is still the same these days, but 6-7 years ago if you arrived in CBR in the morning you either shared a cab or waited a long time, the attendants just walked along the queue announcing the destination. But I guess that is slightly different situation to just random locations and not even sighting the random stranger.

 

[Hvr]

And this will become an increasingly familiar tale as time goes on - Blind Freddy can see that.

Word is Ivan Milat seriously pissed off Uber and the likes did not come along earlier.

The OP was talking about taxi sharing as a passenger not the criminals who drive them. As was mentioned at CBR AP if you don't share a taxi you can wait a very long time. There are criminals driving taxis and very few checks on who is actually driving them.

If anything Uber ought to be a wake up call for the taxi industry to clean their act up and start providing service. Uber didn't appear because the taxi industry was providing a good level of service. It appeared because of their systemic failure to provide a safe and reliable service.

If Uber drivers had police checks and insurance (remembering that many taxis aren't insured) would the anger by some members here dissipate?

 

[anat0l]

If Uber drivers had police checks and insurance (remembering that many taxis aren't insured) would the anger by some members here dissipate?

My impression is that non-UberX drivers were essentially licensed transport providers anyway, and UberX drivers had to pass a criminal check (not sure how done, let alone what is the "tolerance" of Uber to allow drivers to join the system, e.g. does your entire record have to be squeaky clean)...as for insurance I thought Uber covers drivers on top of whatever the driver has for their own insurance (which may or may not be invalidated).

The way I see it is that the incumbent taxi industry is upset essentially because there is a near direct substitute for their services in existence except without heaps of necessitating regulatory rigmarole and hundreds of thousands of dollars tied up in red tape and top-heavy profiteering. The lack of service from most taxi drivers which people seem to talk about just doesn't help things.

 

[OzEire]

For the Mods, this thread is confusing because people are talking about UberTaxi (taxi booking service), UberBlack (Hire car bookings) and UberX (Ride Sharing) interchangeably as just Uber.

Could we have a separate thread for UberX since this seems to be the controversial part of Uber. I could start one but much of the prior conversation is here in this thead.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Here is some more fodder for you Uber lovers - Frankfurt court bans Uber taxi services across Germany | Reuters

 

[Danger]

For the Mods, this thread is confusing because people are talking about UberTaxi (taxi booking service), UberBlack (Hire car bookings) and UberX (Ride Sharing) interchangeably as just Uber.

Could we have a separate thread for UberX since this seems to be the controversial part of Uber. I could start one but much of the prior conversation is here in this thead.

There you go. I had no idea. Uber actually referred to three different things.

 

[QF029]

I've had 2 UberX experiences in the last week. The first one was excellent and I was picked up in a car that would have been at home in the UberBlack stable. The second was poor and was an old Magna or similar with a driver less knowledgeable than your average cabbie (so pretty poor). I gave feedback on both and Uber has already advised they will follow up on the latter.

 

[Warks]

I recall seeing this thread some time ago but hadn't read it but am digging it up now. I used Uber for the first time tonight in Orlando, FL. Some other travellers had recommended using the app as they'd travelled here and there in the US for fares as low as half the normal taxi fare. I downloaded the app but as I'm on Telstra with mobile data turned off to avoid bottom-reaming in my next bill I could only get it to work when connected to wifi. Not a problem here as the hotels usually have free wifi.

So I booked it for a fairly simple ride from one hotel to another. I'd been told the taxi fare was about $25. The Uber quote was $10-13. The guy came in 3 minutes (I could see about five cars in the local area) and found me - he had a Range Rover. Took me to the hotel and I was worried he was going to sting me for more cash but he just dropped me off. There were a lot of red lights so I don't know if it was profitable. Anyway I didn't get a bill via email but soon after I got an email saying "enjoy another free ride when you recommend Uber" so did they not charge me as it was my first go?

I won't relax until I see my CC statement but overall the experience was pretty good. Buses and taxis around Orlando are a ripoff generally so at these prices it will be worth us leaving the confines of Disney's eating establishments on our visit next year and heading to the cheaper places around town.

I wouldn't have much need for it in Australia though. Haven't caught a taxi in over 5 years. Train's the way to go...