What's your Uber experience?

[liamsal]

Anyone had any eperiences with Lyft in the States?
I'll be there in a few weeks and will need to do a LOT of driving around to airports and such.
I have signed up for the app just in case.

I've used it and found it pretty much the same as Uber. Often the driers used both apps and would swap between the two depending on surges etc

If you haven't already, check out the promo codes on the Lyft website and you can save some $$
$20 Official Lyft Promo Code - Free Rides

 

[Deleted member]

Had an Uber ride from BNE to home this morning. I chose to go with an XL. My reasons are 1. Generally speaking you get a larger car (we had baggage) 2. I don’t like the randomness of the Uber X. You can get someone in a Mazda 2 :-(
In any event including bridge toll and airport access fees the fare was about $88.00. Still cheaper than a taxi. What I am beginning to see is this ( and please don’t judge my observations).
1. The people who once were taxi drivers (new migrants from South Asia and Middle East) are now increasingly driving Uber.
My beef is that as recent migrants they have a number of bad (driving) habits learned in their home country. And old habits die hard!
2. The standard of cleanliness is beginning to fall with “some” drivers and their cars.
3. The enthusiasm that once identified an Uber driver is waning with “some” (see point one above)

So specifically today my grumbles are as follows: the car wasn’t as clean as it needed to be, in fact it was quite dirty, if we had ordered the ride late afternoon instead of early morning, I might have given leeway on this.
We drove through a vigorous thunderstorm, the windscreen wipers were woefully inadequate for the conditions.
The driver while not offensive in his manner was sloppy in his appearance, and attire, I don’t expect a peaked so and black and white uniform, but scruffy trousers and rubber thongs don’t do it for me.
He drove a Hyundai Diesel SUV. I considered buying one once. But this relatively new car was uncomfortable and didn’t ride well ( but part of that is possibly down to his slightly jerky driving style) .

I remember when my Dad taught me to drive, he gave me a few very important pieces of advice 1. Accerate as if you have a fresh egg between your foot and gas peddle. 2. Lift your foot (off the gas) a long way ahead of your need to break. 3 always be driving with a view on the road further ahead of where you are.
I’m sure there were other pearls of wisdom in there as well.
Now I don’t say I adhere 100% to those pieces of advice myself 100% of the time. However as a result, I have become less tolerant of drivers who accurate heavily, and speed right up to an intersection where they see they will need to stop, and then brake heavily.

The last criticism I have is more personal, and that is the heavy use of aftershave and or deodorizers inside the cabin. Too much for mrs GPH who suffers from an allergic reaction to many fragrances, she ended the 40 minute drive with a headache.

The irony here is that I still prefer this (Uber) to the taxi alternative.

We also asked that the distinctly middle eastern music be turned right down or off altogether, again, a personal issue.

It does occur to me though, as I rarely use Uber to get to and from an airport, I may (when necessary) spring a few extra $$ and book a limousine service. I’m too old to place price ahead of value.
I find that we have become (in some areas) obsessed with price, and overlook value).
I suppose that’s why do many of us here prefer to drink a quality wine vs a cheap one ?!
That’s my latest experience.

 

[Deleted member]

I had a different Uber ride yesterday. A young Indian guy told me he had a bad night (the night before). Was booked by a group a 6 drunks and he had to reject them as his car could only seat 4. They threw beer bottles at his car, damaging it. He said he earned $100 for the night and the damage will be a lot more than that.

I certainly felt sorry for him. That's just not on, however he also annoyed me somewhat as he didn't shut up about it the whole trip and he was sitting on 40km/h the whole way from H-CNS to CNS. I'm not sure if he thinks he can earn more by going slower or whether he was just an uneasy driver, but he'll certainly earn (learn?) the ire of pax running late for the airport if he continues at that speed!

I found the same thing in Lombok last week with taxi drivers.

 

[Milboo]

Ordered a Uber Select yesterday (my usual choice) and an Uber Black driver accepted the booking - which is at no additional cost to us. Got picked up by an Audi Q7 hire car with a professional driver. Can’t fault that!

Ride home was Uber Select again and got a BMW 5 series.

 

[Deleted member]

Ordered a Uber Select yesterday (my usual choice) and an Uber Black driver accepted the booking - which is at no additional cost to us. Got picked up by an Audi Q7 hire car with a professional driver. Can’t fault that!

Ride home was Uber Select again and got a BMW 5 series.

Maybe I should try select before I move away from Uber altogether?

 

[Milboo]

I’d give it a go. It’s only a few dollars more and still a few dollars cheaper than a taxi.

I won’t use the cheaper ones because the car quality is pretty average. Select tends to be more luxury model cars and better drivers.

 

[Deleted member]

Thanks Milbo

 

[andyhui01]

Uber Select is the way to go. I logged on the Uber website to see what the requirements are and the drivers need to have a higher rating, more experience and a better car to be an Uber Select driver. Still cheaper than a taxi (not by much) but it weeds out all the Hyundai's/Mazda 2 type cars with poorly rated drivers.

The cars are no different to Silver service taxis. I have gotten C class which is quite small at the back (I sit in the front of smaller cars now) but they use C Class for silver service taxis too so can't really complain.

 

[docjames]

Can anyone give me an idea of Uber cost from Gold Coast to BNE?

 

[andyhui01]

$120-160 on X, 200-260 on Select and 180-240 on XL

Most of the time with normal traffic the actual fare is closer to the lowest cost than the highest

 

[docjames]

Thanks, trying to decide rental car v Uber for 4 day stay.

 

[Bolthead]

Interesting comments on Uber select. I am a driver but only on UberX. I wanted to try UberSelect however my car does not fit the Select criteria. I currently drive a Holden CalaisV 2014 (current model however series 1) I have argued with Uber that my car should be on the Select list. As well I have a high driver rating of 4.96 and provide the usual extras (water, mints phone power) and car is always clean. I know that I would be disappointed if I ordered UberSelect and a BMW X3, Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Merc B class (to name a few) turned up. ( I am not saying they are bad cars but when it comes to comfort and space I would have thought the Calais won hands down) In fact there is never a day when someone says nice car (or nicest UberX car I have been in) and there is never a month when someone says did I order Uber Black by mistake.

In your honest opinion if you ordered an UberSelect and I turned up with my car would you be disappointed?

As as side note to @GPH I had a good chuckle with your comment from yesterday. I also catch a few Ubers (always UberX) and I have also noticed a slip in quality. My biggest gripe is with them talking on the phone (something I never do) and dirty cars.

Maybe I should try select before I move away from Uber altogether?

I’d give it a go. It’s only a few dollars more and still a few dollars cheaper than a taxi.

I won’t use the cheaper ones because the car quality is pretty average. Select tends to be more luxury model cars and better drivers.

Uber Select is the way to go. I logged on the Uber website to see what the requirements are and the drivers need to have a higher rating, more experience and a better car to be an Uber Select driver. Still cheaper than a taxi (not by much) but it weeds out all the Hyundai's/Mazda 2 type cars with poorly rated drivers.

The cars are no different to Silver service taxis. I have gotten C class which is quite small at the back (I sit in the front of smaller cars now) but they use C Class for silver service taxis too so can't really complain.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Thanks, trying to decide rental car v Uber for 4 day stay.

If you are looking at a 4 day rental returning to the same location, then that will likely be the winner. Uber BNE-GC works well for me because of the over-the -top one way charges that the hire car mobs love.

 

[Bolthead]

I believe this to be an Uber driver scam:
You book Uber ride
Uber finds you a ride
Driver then rings you and says where are you exactly because his app is playing up.
Then he asks where you are going.
I was asked this a couple of times in SAN Fran both times I said better I cancel because if there are problems with app - who knows if there might be issues during the ride.

Drivers don’t know your destination other than (in Sydney at least) if it takes more than 35min until the trip commences

You are right however not sure if it is a scam. It is the driver not playing to the rules. If this happens to you again then just tell the driver that when you get here you will find out where I am going. (he will most probably cancel on you anyway - you are better off without him) Some drivers think they have the right to know where they are going before they pick you up. I am a driver and I would prefer not to know where you are going. It adds intrigue to the job. As well the more shorter rides you get the more money you make. The other month on a Saturday I made over $50 in the first hour and I had done 7 small jobs in the local area.

As for your other point regarding problems with the App there is likely to be more problems with the mobile phone service provider. I have certainly experienced this in Sydney quite a few times however they have always sorted themselves out in the long run. Once I even had to reboot my phone as I had run out of ways to try and fix a problem with the phone. I had already accepted a job and after rebooting I thought I would have lost the job however it was still there and I could carry on. As for the 35 minute thingy it also states if it is 45 minutes long. The other week I scored a fare from domestic airport to Bringelly and then as I was dropping him off got another job from Bringelly back to Carlton. That was a good day.

 

[andyhui01]

I don’t mean to be rude but if a Holden Calais, basically a commodore with leather rocked up. I would rate 4* but will write why so you know what the issue is. Caprice on the other hand, the legroom feels like being in Regional J.

 

[Deleted member]

Interesting comments on Uber select. I am a driver but only on UberX. I wanted to try UberSelect however my car does not fit the Select criteria. I currently drive a Holden CalaisV 2014 (current model however series 1) I have argued with Uber that my car should be on the Select list. As well I have a high driver rating of 4.96 and provide the usual extras (water, mints phone power) and car is always clean. I know that I would be disappointed if I ordered UberSelect and a BMW X3, Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Merc B class (to name a few) turned up. ( I am not saying they are bad cars but when it comes to comfort and space I would have thought the Calais won hands down) In fact there is never a day when someone says nice car (or nicest UberX car I have been in) and there is never a month when someone says did I order Uber Black by mistake.

In your honest opinion if you ordered an UberSelect and I turned up with my car would you be disappointed?

As as side note to @GPH I had a good chuckle with your comment from yesterday. I also catch a few Ubers (always UberX) and I have also noticed a slip in quality. My biggest gripe is with them talking on the phone (something I never do) and dirty cars.

Uber started out well, but I suspect it was never supposed to be a another taxi service with the usual suspects.
Who knows where it will end up though.
My issue with Uber x is there is no minimum size in car. Frankly anything smaller than a Camry is not ideal IMHO.
Anyway we shall see where it all ends up eventually

 

[docjames]

If you are looking at a 4 day rental returning to the same location, then that will likely be the winner. Uber BNE-GC works well for me because of the over-the -top one way charges that the hire car mobs love.

Hertz @ $225 with ool pickup bne return

 

[Bolthead]

I don’t mean to be rude but if a Holden Calais, basically a commodore with leather rocked up. I would rate 4* but will write why so you know what the issue is. Caprice on the other hand, the legroom feels like being in Regional J.

There is a little bit more to it, however, when it comes to space yes it is the same as the other cars in the range. My gripe is with the cars they have listed which IMHO are are inferior to a Calais... (in comfort and size - both boot space and legroom)

 

[Bolthead]

Uber started out well, but I suspect it was never supposed to be a another taxi service with the usual suspects.
Who knows where it will end up though.
My issue with Uber x is there is no minimum size in car. Frankly anything smaller than a Camry is not ideal IMHO.
Anyway we shall see where it all ends up eventually

Totally agree, especially when I see the cars waiting at the airport waiting area (I just shake my head) and indeed we battled with a i30 Hyundai going to the airport with 3 x medium size bags.

 

[Buzzard]

Anyone had any eperiences with Lyft in the States?
I'll be there in a few weeks and will need to do a LOT of driving around to airports and such.
I have signed up for the app just in case.

I used Lyft more than Uber in the US.
Generally found it cheaper especially if you use the share option, whilst taking longer to get to the destination, for me it was like a free tour.