What's your Uber experience?

[leadman]

I've stuck with taxi's both good and bad, but I believe that any "new" structure should be paying the proper country tax, like GST (my two bob's worth). But, first experience with Uber in Reno last week, first guy quite good although an aging BMW 3 and a bit hard to get two into the back, but the second driver in a quite old Chevy just stunk of Weed. And he would just not shut up. It didn't turn me off them as I have read too many good comments here, but I will stay with my principles.

 

[Skyring]

I've stuck with taxi's both good and bad, but I believe that any "new" structure should be paying the proper country tax, like GST (my two bob's worth). But, first experience with Uber in Reno last week, first guy quite good although an aging BMW 3 and a bit hard to get two into the back, but the second driver in a quite old Chevy just stunk of Weed. And he would just not shut up. It didn't turn me off them as I have read too many good comments here, but I will stay with my principles.

If it's a bad experience, rate them down. Provide details in comments.

 

[Skyring]

I used Uber this evening to travel from Southern Cross to HSW.

The driver forgot to press 'start' and my account shows as 'cancelled'. Should I be worried?

I guess you mean the ride shows as cancelled. Probably means the driver was flummoxed and couldn't work out how to start the trip late. Possibly you'll have been charged a cancellation fee of ten dollars.

This happens to me every now and then. I'll be distracted and forget to start the trip. Usually for a routine airport job or something, otherwise I'll be reminded to press the button so I can discover the destination.

I'll glance down, find no route shown, and have to press a button and respond to a prompt to get the trip started and calculated from the pickup point.

In rare cases, I'll screw up completely - once I forgot to end the ride and drove around for another hour wondering why I wasn't getting new pings. When I realised, I hit the help button, explained the problem, and they looked at my data and fixed it up. Uber is pretty good at sorting problems out for both driver and passenger.

 

[leadman]

If it's a bad experience, rate them down. Provide details in comments.

I didn't order the service, the colleague did. And I have travelled probably too much in this world to worry about "rating them" as I've seen worse. As I've said, didn't turn me off the system, just another story to tell. I've never driven a car so catch public transport across the world and I can assure you the biggest stink of weed is in LA. Just riding the trains and buses will get you high. One of my favourites is the 115 through Compton and South LA. I smile because I'm getting high! I not sure if id want to "rate down" the people there on the bus!!!!!

 

[OzEire]

I use Uber a lot when I am on private trips - the cars are clean and the drivers work for the recommendation/rating. I also use GoCatch extensively for work ($200-$300 a fortnight) which is great for my QFF points, but I have seen *so* much dodgy ****.

My work is ethically opposed to Uber (which I fail to see reason with) but I will continue to use Uber privately. CBR has embraced it and regulated it. Good show Cbr.

Be very careful about GoCatch, I have experienced very dodgy practices from that company. Also treat the GoCatch app as a virus on your phone, it takes everything, even data that has nothing to do with your ride.

 

[puppysparkes]

Be very careful about GoCatch, I have experienced very dodgy practices from that company. Also treat the GoCatch app as a virus on your phone, it takes everything, even data that has nothing to do with your ride.

Interesting, how so? I'm one of the 95% of the population that occasionally has time to scrawl through the app t&c's

 

[OzEire]

Interesting, how so? I'm one of the 95% of the population that occasionally has time to scrawl through the app t&c's

[OT]Grrr, AFF app not posting this reply twice [/OT]

The issue is that their TnC do not cover everything collected. I also read them before signing up, but subsequently found that they had access to other details. When I pointed this out to cust service they sent me to the security team who just terminated my account and then simply refused to reply any more. Seriously dodgy.

I would raise it with a regulatory body but can't be bothered. I just try to give friends and colleagues fair warning.

 

[TheRealTMA]

[OT]Grrr, AFF app not posting this reply twice [/OT]

The issue is that their TnC do not cover everything collected. I also read them before signing up, but subsequently found that they had access to other details. When I pointed this out to cust service they sent me to the security team who just terminated my account and then simply refused to reply any more. Seriously dodgy.

I would raise it with a regulatory body but can't be bothered. I just try to give friends and colleagues fair warning.

Exactly what info do they collect that's outside or breachs the Australian Privacy Act?

 

[NZflygirl]

I've only actually used Uber in NZ and I think they're pretty cool. Only one driver had an accent from India? and swore a lot. Not at me but just as part of his explanation of things. Unfortunately he was very talkative. I wanted to rate him down but ended up deciding to not rate him at all. I have rated everyone else a 5. They all seem to have driven before. One picked the NZ crew up around town, another previous taxi driver. No issues with the cars themselves or the app. Pricing has been good luckily. Tomorrow I'm trialling a cheap taxi as it looks like it's a bit cheaper than Uber if you book well in advance.

I've not actually tried Uber in Australia or anywhere else. I feel a bit unsure as it seems anyone can sign up to drive which I think is a point of difference from NZ so I feel a bit reluctant at this point. I may relax over it in the future.

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

Used Uber a few weeks ago in Jakarta.
All the rides were good experiences.

Cheers
BF

 

[Skyring]

I've not actually tried Uber in Australia or anywhere else. I feel a bit unsure as it seems anyone can sign up to drive which I think is a point of difference from NZ so I feel a bit reluctant at this point. I may relax over it in the future.

Anybody can sign up, but:
* They must pass a police check.
* They must have a clean driving record.
* They must have a car that is less than nine years old, have four doors, be registered and insured, and be roadworthy.
* They must maintain a rating of 4.6 stars or higher.

That last is the kicker. Dirty cars, going "the long way", being obnoxious, not helping with the luggage - all these and more will get a low rating. Get nothing but four stars but your passengers, and you'll be booted off the platform in short order.

I seem to have found a sweet niche. I'm retired, but the pocket money is handy. I do my best to get passengers to their destinations in as safe, efficient, and pleasant a manner as possible, and I enjoy driving. My Golf ain't nothing much, but it's only a year old, it's the top of the line, it goes very nicely when I put the foot down, and it's a pleasure to drive it around Canberra's open roads.

Getting smiles from my passengers as well as getting paid, well, what's not to like?

 

[PLANT]

What's the latest with your golf..... Are you getting any money from volkswagon?

 

[Skyring]

What's the latest with your golf..... Are you getting any money from volkswagon?

Not that I know of. I'm doing my best to keep it out of VW's hands in case they "fix" it.

 

[N860CR]

What's the latest with your golf..... Are you getting any money from volkswagon?

If your talking about the emissions issue... I've joined the class action (Passat owner) and the last we heard was an estimate of fees from the solicitors. They're taking about $1000 per person. I'm truly hoping it results in at least something after suffering through that car for 3 years!

 

[oh_lol]

Uber is my go to if available.

HK has be great with UberBlack, have always gotten a Tesla P90!

 

[Gnaroots]

I catch Ubers all the time now. Haven't caught a real taxi in yonks

 

[gaz0303]

Tried Uber for the first time in SYD last week. Requested pick up at North Ryde, est 6 minute wait. The car never appeared to move location and 10 minutes later I had the trip cancelled on me. Quick call to taxi company, 3 minutes later a cab showed up. So far no fee has been charged.

 

[danintas]

Tried Uber for the first time last month for a Torquay to MEL airport trip. Driver decided 5 kms into the trip he didn't want to complete the journey, and dumped us off at the Geelong train station... was charged for the fare (currently disputed). We caught a proper taxi to get us to the airport.

 

[Himeno]

Have used it in CBR, LAX, DFW and DTW. Always to/from the airport.

Last CBR trip, the driver took the longest of the 3 options (the shortest option has almost no traffic lights and 5 turns), then missed a turn off a main road near the end of the ride. In 13 years of rides to/from the airport, that is the only time anyone has taken anything other then the direct option along Parks Way/William Hovell Dr. (Really, why take Northboune/Ginninderra to go CBR-North Belconnen? :-|)

 

[BacchusMarsh]

Last CBR trip, the driver took the longest of the 3 options (the shortest option has almost no traffic lights and 5 turns), then missed a turn off a main road near the end of the ride. In 13 years of rides to/from the airport, that is the only time anyone has taken anything other then the direct option along Parks Way/William Hovell Dr. (Really, why take Northboune/Ginninderra to go CBR-North Belconnen? :-|)

Roughly where in North Belco?

And did the fare end up being much more than a cab?

This was a little trippy to my numerically oriented mind: