What's your Uber experience?

[leadman]

As one of the rarities in life and never have driven a car (I mean never) I've always used public transport to the fullest. The challenge has always been the USA where in some cities PT is all but nothing. I've steered clear of Uber in Australia as I still think we have a good system here. It has limited me a bit (read; a lot) when in the States relying on a poor, unreliable taxi system in the smaller cities. In my recent visit to JAX FL I used it for the first time and it has opened up a whole new flexibility for me.

I see it as the catalyst that was needed to change some of these areas to improve the overall system, in a way like the cheap airlines have done to airfares. And my first lift was with a Lincoln Town Car, absolutely spotless and a pleasure to be in.

 

[Skyring]

I don't mind the occasional conversation about race, ME etc., but in this situation, the driver's rant was pretty offensive. Like a trifecta of offensiveness.

Lyft, on the other hand, is pretty great. Shame it is not yet available here. I prefer the convenience of being able to obtain a ride from an app, but agreed… a majority of taxis are presentable, particularly if the you riding in a newer fleet of cars.

There's a fair degree of crossover in drivers between taxi, Uber and Lyft fleets. Any driver too ranty or toxic is going to be rated out of Uber (not sure about Lyft, but they probably have a rating system as well), so taxis will take all those who behave poorly.

Take every opportunity to rate your drivers and leave comments, both pro and con. In the end, it improves the service.

Some people are just not suited to be drivers. This is one job where the focus needs to be on the passenger.

As a driver, I love nothing more than a good old chin-wag, but if the passenger doesn't want to talk, that's fine. Often someone just wants to catch up on emails or Facebook, or even just enjoy a quiet ride. As I do, too.

 

[Skyring]

Am I the only person who doesn't speak to drivers at all? I feel like a bit of a douche

It's possible to take an Uber and not speak at all. The technology handles everything.

I generally check that I've got the correct passenger, especially at hotels, airport etc., but otherwise unless the passenger makes the running by talking about the weather or something, I'll leave them be. They are paying for the transport, not my shining wit and sparkling conversation.

On that note, I'm starting a new job at a restaurant next week. I can't wait!

 

[OzEire]

As a Canberra resident who takes a lot of Uber trips, I always wonder if I might be riding with Skyring. Hopefully I can make the next cbr meet up and know for sure!

I tell ya, there should be a little AFF coat pin to help us spot each other in the airport and at meet ups!

 

[Skyring]

I am of the opinion that there needs to be another size category, I can't see it happening though as it might discriminate against the wee small cars.
Frankly I think the minimum car size needs to something more like the Golf Wagon Skyring describes.

Yup. Most of the time it's just driver and passenger, maybe a couple of bags, and pretty much any car will handle that.

But every now and again it's going to be four adults, possibly with luggage, and if they won't fit, or are going to be uncomfortable, that's on the driver, not the passengers. Cancelling the ride and hoping for a bigger car is just going to add inconvenience, and possibly worse if you're in a hurry for a plane.

Uber probably allows smaller cars because it gets more drivers on the road, and it allows them to sell higher levels of service such as Uber Black, where the passengers know that they will fit and be comfortable, albeit at a higher cost.

Then again, I'm not entirely sure that Uber has a firm grasp on what they are doing. They may be just winging it.

 

[Skyring]

As a Canberra resident who takes a lot of Uber trips, I always wonder if I might be riding with Skyring. Hopefully I can make the next cbr meet up and know for sure!

I tell ya, there should be a little AFF coat pin to help us spot each other in the airport and at meet ups!

Heh. I usually check out luggage tags. Anyone who seems like they have an interest in frequent flying gets more attention.

Blue Golf wagon, almost entirely on weekday mornings between 0400 and 0800. Otherwise I'll be at home catching up on sleep or blogging.

 

[QF WP]

As a Canberra resident who takes a lot of Uber trips, I always wonder if I might be riding with Skyring.

I was thinking the same thing on Monday when I had 3 trips using Uber - but no, an Indian every time

I tell ya, there should be a little AFF coat pin to help us spot each other in the airport and at meet ups!

Well there are AFF baggage tags and the like.

 

[Himeno]

As a Canberra resident who takes a lot of Uber trips, I always wonder if I might be riding with Skyring.

Was just thinking the same thing.
I've only had 3 Ubers in CBR, to/from the airport.

Blue Golf wagon, almost entirely on weekday mornings between 0400 and 0800. Otherwise I'll be at home catching up on sleep or blogging.

At those times, I've always been booking taxis, thinking that no one would be on the road for Uber at those times.
Assuming work doesn't screw me over, my next trip should be within those hours.

 

[OzEire]

I was thinking the same thing on Monday when I had 3 trips using Uber - but no, an Indian every time.

This is my experience. ... twice Ive had non-Subcontinent drivers in over 100 trips in Cbr. Many are ex-taxi (or still driving for Elite but doing Uber on the side). I have no qualms, good on these young (almost exclusively guys) paying for uni or supplementing income.

 

[Jamie R]

Just user Uber Pool from JFK to midtown in a Lincoln SUV. Fixed cost of USD35. Shared with a couple, I got dropped off first and was an excellent experience.

 

[Jacksond]

I left a wallet in a taxi in Hobart a few years ago. I rang the company who contacted the driver. He drove back to my location and I found the wallet. I was happy to pay the fare from his home and back plus a tip. Can't beat Hobart!

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Uber's New Pricing Model May Charge You More, Make You Wish for a Return "Surge" - View from the Wing

Still there was blowback, so a year ago Uber started to replace ‘surge pricing’ with ‘total trip pricing’. Instead of telling you a ride would be 2x, 4x, or 10x ‘normal’ they just started telling you the price. Sort of like Delta award tickets. It was still a surge but it was hidden. And much of the uproar disappeared. Because people are easily fooled by ‘framing effects’.

Total trip pricing also turns out to be worse for drivers, because they aren’t always getting their historical share of the increase.

And now that Uber presents a price, they’re no longer locked into charging for each trip based on time and distance.

In the 14 cities where Uber offers UberPOOL, they offer route-based pricing which “charges customers based on what it predicts they’re willing to pay.”

 

[PLANT]

Just read "The undoing project"...... I think Uber did too!!!!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I guess at the end of the day, the three parties (driver, Uber, pax) all have to be happy. So far, I've been very happy with Uber. The service, the drivers, the vehicles and the fare. I've asked each driver how they like Uber and each have replied pretty much similar, they are happy but they are using Uber driving as a means to an end, paying the bills whilst they're working toward something different. My last driver was a young accountant. He was Uber driving to make ends meet at the moment as he's between jobs (not really, transferred internally with the same big company and he asked for a year off in between to travel). His big Euro trip is coming up shortly and he's driving until then. When he returns he'll be starting back accounting! Another driver I had recently, was an Indian who was travelling around Australia. Uber is helping to support him whilst he does it. I assume that he has the proper working visa as it was in Qld and Qld regulates Uber drivers. I guess it's an alternative to fruit picking and I know which I'd prefer (definitely Uber driving).

I guess Uber has big plans to stop bleeding money, but if they simply become another overpriced taxi service, I'm sure there will be other companies keen to fill the gaps. For Uber to stay dominant, they need to keep prices down, even though they do have a lot of nice features over a taxi.

 

[Deleted member]

The issues with Uber HO notwithstanding, the (Uber) model does have flaws, plenty of them in fact. many drivers struggle to make meaningful returns, Uber takes an unreasonable cut (20-30% by all accounts), issues with some of the cars being ideal for the trip, surge fares etc. the list goes on. I do however point to the following as positives.
1. there are plenty of people who would otherwise be relying on centrelink benefits driving for Uber, this provides a flexible, working environment, allows them the opportunity to earn whilst looking for a "Real" job in their chosen filed.
2. people who want to work Part time, but cant get hours to suit them.
3. People who just want a bit of extra cash outside of their normal working hours.

so I believe that too much government interference will be a bad thing, if you make it untenable, then the dole queue will lengthen again, and a service that is used and appreciated could disappear .
Ride sharing (like so many digital technologies) is here to stay, it just depends on how we adapt . it will be an interesting ride

 

[dajop]

Going OT, I used Lyft for first and second times in recent US trip, First one in Phoenix went without hitch. Second in San Francisco booked a car to take me from Hilton to the airport. I was tracking driver and as he approached the hotel, he just kept driving at full speed (I saw him go past) and continued on for about 3-4 blocks (you may accidentally not be able to find the hotel entrance and go around the block - but not miss a fairly major hotel entirely. At block 4 I cancelled and rebooked and guess what the fare went up $7. I did contact customer service and as with modern customer service, completely missed the point but gave me a $10 credit anyway - that is useless as I will not be in another Lyft city before it expires in 2 weeks.

 

[Skyring]

I do however point to the following as positives.
1. there are plenty of people who would otherwise be relying on centrelink benefits driving for Uber, this provides a flexible, working environment, allows them the opportunity to earn whilst looking for a "Real" job in their chosen filed.
2. people who want to work Part time, but cant get hours to suit them.
3. People who just want a bit of extra cash outside of their normal working hours.

Probably a lot of people like me. Retired, drawing a service pension of some kind, looking for easy part-time work that won't push them into a different tax regime.

I maintain that anybody relying on Uber for a full time job to pay a mortgage and raise a family is a fool. It won't pay the bills unless the hours are insane. They should go find a real job.

Likewise, anyone accepting one of Uber's lease or buy deals to get a car is paying way too much. Far more than TCO, and with a lease, you don't even own the car at the end.

I paid cash for my car and my income stream is repaying that capital. I have my pension income.

I'm selling my pre-dawn hours cheaply, compared to what I could earn doing something else, but I really enjoy being out on the unobstructed roads doing something useful and meeting people.

If I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't do it. I suspect that Uber is making money off my willingness to spend time driving, and building up goodwill from all those like me who are engaged, focussed, attentive, and cheerful.

As opposed to your typical grumpy taxidriver with his twelve hour shifts.

 

[get me outta here]

On the actual app, is it normal that when I open it, it immediately shows available cars and asks for destination? I'd prefer to see a quote and an option for Uber pool (still swanning around in NYC), etc.

 

[Daver6]

On the actual app, is it normal that when I open it, it immediately shows available cars and asks for destination? I'd prefer to see a quote and an option for Uber pool (still swanning around in NYC), etc.

Yes. Once you've entered your destination the options for different cars and a quote appears.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Uber is a Ponzi scheme - enjoy it while you can.