What's your Uber experience?

[Aussie_flyer]

I have used Uber on quite a few occasions in MEL, CBR and on the Gold Coast.
I am happy with the service they provide however was not impressed with last Uber trip whilst on the Gold Coast back in October.
The journey from hotel to airport, two of us, with bags had to squeeze into a Mazda 2...

When you're unhappy with the vehicle instantly cancel and rebook. There's no fee if you do it right away

 

[moa999]

The driver app shows which areas are surging and at what level. The map shows hexagonal areas with differing shades of yellow-red and when you zoom in it will show a number in the middle of each hexagon. So yes they know exactly what the surge price is in every area.

Even after accepting a job??
Which would lead to cancellations as described

I would also add if an area is surging try moving your pin a bit, for a short walk you may save quite a bit if on a decent length journey.

 

[dajop]

Interesting experience with Uber on Saturday evening in Melbourne. We needed a ride from Black Rock to the CBD about 7.00pm and Uber was surging at about 1.4 I think. Happy with that so booked ride, driver almost immediately called and asked exactly where we were as "app was playing up",

Around 2pm Saturday local time (so 11pm AU time), we had a strange one too, in Bucharest. No-one accepted the job, so went back on to re-book and surge pricing was in place, but at the same time driver called to ask to pick us up on the other side of the road - fine, but it wasn't showing as accepted by our app. Got into his car, he had our account and pick up details on his screen, and off we went, all the time a bit worried we'd be paying surge pricing. But got to the airport - all fine - no surge pricing. Just strange.

 

[Daver6]

Interesting blog from a driver's perspective Can you Make Money with Uber? — The Finance Guy

 

[NoName]

Even after accepting a job??
Which would lead to cancellations as described

I would also add if an area is surging try moving your pin a bit, for a short walk you may save quite a bit if on a decent length journey.

You see the pickup address and how far away it is so should know roughly what the surge is. You wont know exactly what it is unless you have completely memorised the map which is unrealistic. Also the map and surge prices they show on it seem to be not 100% accurate as there are times when I expected a surge but didn't get it when I looked at the fee I got later on. After the job is accepted the map with surge price shading disappears and Im not aware of any way to know what the surge is until after the job is complete.

If drivers are cancelling all the time they will get booted off the platform though so not sure it would be a good idea to cancel for that type of reason.

 

[Deleted member]

ridesharing - whose ride are you sharing?

The driver's .

 

[JessicaTam]

There's a pickup area dedicated to Uber. It's very busy though with no seating...

The one thing I didn't like about Uber was that with a family of four, there was no way to specify uberx for 4 passengers and luggage. I just had to do trial and error canceling until I got a car big enough. I guess I could have ordered an SUV for double the price, but I'm tight... But seriously the value proposition is not there...

Where are you referring to?

 

[drivatruk]

Hi
Just used several Ubers in Bali.

Nusa Dua to Cangu was around the $10 mark and local home to eateries and shopping between aroiund seminyak was between $1.50 and $2.50.

The drivers were good but discretion is used as Im not really sure if Uber is legal there. It certainly isnt with the Taxi drivers .

I did tip pretty well cause $1.50 is just too low.

 

[Virgin Bart]

My gf's ride in Bali... She was **** scared, understandably.

 

[Skyring]

Interesting blog from a driver's perspective Can you Make Money with Uber? — The Finance Guy

The guy knows his stuff. I generally drive between 0400 and 0800. The roads are empty, the competition minimal. The evening peak is another good time.

Good to see a keen mind analysing the situation.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Interesting blog from a driver's perspective Can you Make Money with Uber? — The Finance Guy

A fascinating Read particularly as the bigger was a uni student.
Sounds like the blogger has his head switched on correctly with some very good sound advice for uber drivers.

 

[Skyring]

A fascinating Read particularly as the bigger was a uni student.
Sounds like the blogger has his head switched on correctly with some very good sound advice for uber drivers.

His advice on getting away from the pack is very good. Sitting in the middle of town generally means a reasonable supply of passengers, but there's also more competition from other lazy drivers.

If you can get out in the suburbs and have a square kilometre or two to yourself, there's a better chance.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

His advice on getting away from the pack is very good. Sitting in the middle of town generally means a reasonable supply of passengers, but there's also more competition from other lazy drivers.

If you can get out in the suburbs and have a square kilometre or two to yourself, there's a better chance.

Just as a matter of interest as Passenger you can see how many drivers are around your area, as a driver can you see how much competition is around you as well?

 

[blackcat20]

I've used Uber in Canberra, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Chicago.

Nothing but thumbs up. Melbourne is a bit strange as they ban UberX in the confines of the airport, but that's easy to work around by pickup just outside, or ordering drop off outside but verbally getting them to drop off inside.

Chicago was awesome. Met some really friendly guys, and with Uber-pool over there its so much cheaper, even if there is the chance of having to share.

Having just caught a cab last week (I don't have the choice of uber) I really like Uber, as its so much cleaner...

One would have thought the taxi companies would have upped their game to compete, but I think they are just happy to whine about the competition...

Mike

UberX are allowed to drop off at MEL, theres no issue with that. They just arent allowed to pick up.

 

[Skyring]

Just as a matter of interest as Passenger you can see how many drivers are around your area, as a driver can you see how much competition is around you as well?

I have to open the passenger app for that. I can scroll around and each time the map repopulates, but I only ever see a maximum of eight cars.

 

[docjames]

My gf's ride in Bali... She was **** scared, understandably.

What was the response from Uber when reported?

 

[Virgin Bart]

What was the response from Uber when reported?

A response within ten minutes refunding the difference between the lower estimate and the price paid.

I should hope some behind the scenes disciplinary action too.

 

[docjames]

A response within ten minutes refunding the difference between the lower estimate and the price paid.

I should hope some behind the scenes disciplinary action too.

I guess that's the important bit - and there's no real way of knowing if there's any follow-through?

 

[Skyring]

A response within ten minutes refunding the difference between the lower estimate and the price paid.

I should hope some behind the scenes disciplinary action too.

This is where Uber shines. They have the GPS evidence, they can check the driver's record, they can take action. They aim to satisfy the customer. I think the support staff live and die on customer satisfaction ratings, so they have a strong incentive.

Making a complaint through the app is easy. Try that with a taxi company, and you'll likely get the runaround. With Uber, they have the facts at their fingertips. That route map is damning evidence.

 

[Daver6]

A fascinating Read particularly as the bigger was a uni student.
Sounds like the blogger has his head switched on correctly with some very good sound advice for uber drivers.

I believe the blogger used to work in the finance industry. He gave that up to study to become a school teacher, so I suspect it was his second round at uni he is referring to.