What's your Uber experience?

[moa999]

Best thing you can do is not use it.. one thing Uber will react to is $$s falling

 

[Milefest]

I hate the new update. I've noticed as well that they have hidden surge pricing, during a surge what they do now is provide a higher estimated journey quote, but that's not very useful as quotes are highly variable where as the surge price is a static value.

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

Now I need two apps - Uber and SURGE to tell me the surge percentage amount. Just ridiculous.

 

[BillytheFIsh]

They're obviously trying to get more people to book during surge rather than waiting it out. Uber being slightly underhanded about it, which is no real surprise.

I can't test it now because it's not surging, although I'm sure it did show me the actual surge rate before I confirmed my order. If not, you can just check the per KM rate compared to the usual rate (easy in Brisbane at $1).

 

[Skyring]

Uber's surge model is something I disagree with very strongly. I don't think it's at all fair, especially on longer trips.

 

[Skyring]

Imagine what updates the app will get after all Taxi companies have been wiped off the planet? I'm not pro-taxi but the latest update has really p****ed me off.

There will be competitors in rideshare. The taxi industry must either adapt or perish. You'd think they would have had an advantage, with more experience and local goodwill, but noooo.

 

[Cynicor]

Uber's surge model is something I disagree with very strongly. I don't think it's at all fair, especially on longer trips.

I'm interested in this comment, especially as you are an actual driver and have real taxi driving experience.

The theory they state is that surges encourage more drivers out to improve supply; why is it not a good idea?

 

[Mrmaxwell]

I'm interested in this comment, especially as you are an actual driver and have real taxi driving experience.

The theory they state is that surges encourage more drivers out to improve supply; why is it not a good idea?

Yes that is the theory! In reality though I doubt this occurs. From my experience it seems surge pricing is a regular during peak times as Monday mornings, Friday afternoons, Saturday nights at 6pm and every time it starts raining (no matter what day or time). I would also guess many drivers log off during peak times, wait for surge pricing to kick in then log back on. I've experienced many drivers cancelling on me when I've booked them at the regular rate, then on their way to me they cancel and when I go to rebook guess what - surge pricing is now active. With the recent app update of course now I can't even see if surge is active only on routes I know the approx price and the trip estimate is higher.

Another point to remember is Uber's cut also increases with surge pricing - that makes it in everyone's interest except the passengers to keep surge pricing active as much as possible.

 

[Deleted member]

Uber's surge model is something I disagree with very strongly. I don't think it's at all fair, especially on longer trips.

I wonder if there was a higher flag fall for example , rather than a full on surge, riders might cop the premium ?

 

[Deleted member]

There will be competitors in rideshare. The taxi industry must either adapt or perish. You'd think they would have had an advantage, with more experience and local goodwill, but noooo.

Can You see yellow cabs doing away with their current model easily?
It's a bit like the Swatch story, the (Swiss) establishment didn't like or embrace it, so he took it to Japan.....
The rest is history

 

[Deleted member]

I'm interested in this comment, especially as you are an actual driver and have real taxi driving experience.

The theory they state is that surges encourage more drivers out to improve supply; why is it not a good idea?

Because by the time they get there, the few have been stung, and the drivers are back to slim pickings.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

I wonder if there was a higher flag fall for example , rather than a full on surge, riders might cop the premium ?

Surge pricing is simply a multiple of the original fare - all aspects of the far 'surge' based upon the multiple, it's not simply a premium charge.

I would argue riders won't accept any increase in fare that brings costs closer to that of a taxi fare. In many areas I use Uber getting a taxi would be far easier rather than waiting for a random Uber to arrive, and in many Asian countries Uber drivers are less skilled and take longer to find you making the use of Uber even less attractive.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Do others feel the recent Uber app update has also made the app less user-friendly? I'm a fairly skilled tech user but there is so much junk and options now it is taking me longer to hail an Uber - especially if I need to change the location of where I am located.

Urggghhh.

 

[moa999]

I wonder if there was a higher flag fall for example , rather than a full on surge, riders might cop the premium ?

I wonder if during surges drivers tend to get shorter fares given the additional penalty ($ wise) for longer fares...

Or are riders smart and just take an Uber out of the surge zone. Get out and then immediately call one again (wonder how a driver would react to that)

 

[Deleted member]

Surge pricing is simply a multiple of the original fare - all aspects of the far 'surge' based upon the multiple, it's not simply a premium charge.

I would argue riders won't accept any increase in fare that brings costs closer to that of a taxi fare. In many areas I use Uber getting a taxi would be far easier rather than waiting for a random Uber to arrive, and in many Asian countries Uber drivers are less skilled and take longer to find you making the use of Uber even less attractive.

I know what it is, and how it works. I was postulating the idea of a premium flag fall as an alternative.
For uber fares to increase to taxi levels, you're talking nearly 3 times the current rate. I'm fairly certain that isn't on the agenda.

 

[Deleted member]

I wonder if during surges drivers tend to get shorter fares given the additional penalty ($ wise) for longer fares...

Or are riders smart and just take an Uber out of the surge zone. Get out and then immediately call one again (wonder how a driver would react to that)

Not well.

 

[blackcat20]

Welcome to the new Uber app!

You will only see what the surge pricing was AFTER you complete the trip - great service huh? Also many countries are now showing flat rate (more expensive) fares from/to airports that never existed before.

Imagine what updates the app will get after all Taxi companies have been wiped off the planet? I'm not pro-taxi but the latest update has really p****ed me off.

That's not my experience; I requested an Uber on Saturday night. Price estimate was shown and when I hit request I got a popup showing a 1.2x surge with the option to accept or cancel.

 

[Pushka]

Thought I'd try uber this am in MEL. I have the credit card entered but it only selects Apple Pay which then won't let me proceed with booking as it says it isn't available in area. How do I get rid of Apple Pay? I ended up calling a taxi.

 

[BillytheFIsh]

Thought I'd try uber this am in MEL. I have the credit card entered but it only selects Apple Pay which then won't let me proceed with booking as it says it isn't available in area. How do I get rid of Apple Pay? I ended up calling a taxi.

If you click where it says "Apple Pay" you should then be able to click "Change payment method".

As to the surge issue, overall (and putting aside the lack of transparency in the new app) I think it works pretty well at least from a rider's point of view. If I really want to get somewhere and I am prepared to pay extra for it, then I can get a ride or otherwise, I can wait it out. Surge of 2x is about the same price as a taxi here as well and if demand if great enough to be surging 2x, good luck finding a taxi at all.

 

[Pushka]

It wouldn't let me do that so disabled it on my phone settings. Took a while to sync but think it's gone now.