What's your Uber experience?

[Deleted member]

I agree there are some good and bad drivers everywhere.

But think of it this way...you have been waiting for a job for 2 hours (which means NO INCOME)
Someone comes along and offers you a $10 job.

Drivers have 2 choices
A) Take it and earn $10, $5 per hour if you are the cab owner, or $2.50 per hour if you are a driver
B) Refuse it and hope for a bigger fare.

In non surge time uber this fare would be say $6, minus $1.80 for ubers fee, leaving the driver $4.20 and ALL the expenses.

As a driver the difference in $0 and $2.50 per hour is not much so the gamble of refusing and hoping for a bigger fare will pay off more often.
If you land a $50 fare, suddenly you are making $25 or $12.50 per hour, which is at least sustainable.
This behaviour is worst at Airport ranks as drivers know there are bigger ones coming...city ranks the fares are more random.

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With rideshare meaning less jobs for every driver, the "pie" is cut into more pieces, meaning a lower hourly income for ALL drivers, more drivers will take the choice of picking and choosing a "good" job only.
Luckily there are still some drivers who will take every job and those ones are the ones who may survive in the business.

In some cities after a certain time if you want a taxi there is a "callout" fee of $20 plus the fare for example.
No different than a tradie who has a "minimum charge" of $100 for a 5 minute job.​

Uber drivers get to logoff and go home as it is a second job for most of them, but taxi drivers generally do the whole shift...though this is getting harder to enforce...no one will sit out there without being paid.
Many days of the week the dole pays better, which again leads back to no/bad drivers and no/bad service.

I think on paper that sounds reasonable.
However Uber drivers seem to me to be constantly on the move. And will do more jobs more often, small or not.
There is an ingrained culture with cab drivers in this country, and it has been around for many many years. Before mobile phones were even thought of, cab drivers were (IMHO) in the main, lazy, rude and the worst drivers on the road.
There is a third option for cabbies. Get a different job.
That said I know things are never as simple as we might want them to be.
Someone noted that poor service in uber was as a result of cab drivers moving across from their taxi jobs. That is definitely true of some, but not necessarily of all poor Uber drivers.
I actually think that those drivers with low standards have worked out that rather than become a cabbie, they go straight to uber.
My position now is that I am only interested in using Uber select / black. Even some of the Uber XL drivers are arriving in dirty cars, with their music blaring and a disinterested attitude.
The difference in attitude with select is huge.
If the taxi industry were really serious, they would meet uber head on, and use their own “app” technology in addition to their cab rank advantage. Mind you, I can’t see taxi drivers responding well to a system where they are rated on every ride they work, some wouldn’t last a day.

That’s my two cents worth

 

[Deleted member]

Ordered Uber select on the G.C. the other night, really good experience, im thinking this is my go to option form here

From here. ....
Not form. (Fat finger typing ....grrr)

 

[ALH]

Caught a cab with a friend in Brisbane last night. Only a short trip but of the four of us, two have mobility issues. Taxi driver didn’t want the fare. We pointed out he was behaving illegally by refusing a reasonable trip. My mate gave him a tip anyway. But it goes to the heart of why Uber is killing cabs.

I had caught Uber Select 1/2 hour beforehand to meet up with GPH. Beautiful clean Mercedes. Driver handed me a cold bottle of water, and jumped out to open my door when we stopped. All for $ 10.
1/2 of what we ended paying the horrible cabbie in his uncomfortable, grubby Toyota Prius.

 

[9gedan]

not perfect but I can say that is better than TAXIs

 

[jastel]

I thought taxi drivers had to use meters, has this now changed?

For QLD yes...unless it is a rank fare or TSS (disabled transport scheme)
The driver must tell you upfront what the fare is and you must agree to it.
I think other states have similar rules but am not 100% sure.
It was changed to allow uber to surge price...there is no maximum or minimum.
In reality 99% of taxis still use the meter...for now...

 

[jastel]

I use to be a short fare (ie $25 approx) from Sydney Airport and the number of times I had drivers complains at International when I told them my destination and then drive like a maniac to do the fare.

I have no patience for attitude like that. I appreciate they have waited a while and this means no income but frankly if you choose to take airport fares then you have to expect shorter fares. I have just as much right/ need to get home as someone who lives on the North Shore or Parramatta.

WOW $25!! I dream of fares that large...I dont live in SYD.

You do have just as much right as anyone else to service but my point was to make people aware the service will only get worse as we all struggle to make money due to deregulation.

 

[jastel]

I'm actually talking about being in the city or suburbs. If you sit in the city waiting 2 hour for a big fare when you could have had multiple short fares you're doing it wrong IMO.

Waiting 2-3 hours for ANY fare is the norm at some parts of the day now the market is flooded with cars.

 

[jastel]

I had caught Uber Select 1/2 hour beforehand to meet up with GPH. Beautiful clean Mercedes. Driver handed me a cold bottle of water, and jumped out to open my door when we stopped. All for $ 10.
1/2 of what we ended paying the horrible cabbie in his uncomfortable, grubby Toyota Prius.

Lucky you!
Let's see if he is still working in 6 months time...

 

[jastel]

By “mobility “ issues, I actually meant that Mrs GPH is still in recovery mode from her severe head on collision (car crash) in October. She still requires a walking stick, is unable to move quickly, or very long distances. Anything more than 100-200 metres is tiring and done at a slow pace. The other person was suffering from a combination of torn meniscus and torn AC .

Sorry to hear that...I only asked as there are slightly different rules for wheelchair users.

I treat everyone as if they were my mother...the elderly and infirm need good service by taxis...most of them are not uber savvy anyway.
My shortest fare was literally the building next door to the pickup point...10 metres.
(not implying you are elderly...just generally)

The problem is being nice and giving good service doesnt pay the bills in the long run...Taxi incomes have gone down by a minimum 20-30%, none of the expenses have decreased...except using less petrol. The banks haven't knocked 30% off the loan owners took out to buy the license plate, they still have to pay that back. They were the rules we played under when the govt moved the goalposts.
So take 30% off your income, value your house at 1/3 of what you paid (or still are paying) for it and you will be as happy as the average taxi driver.

Yes, that is not the customers problem...until the service suffers.

If a company treated its workers like the government and uber treats taxi owners/drivers there would be an outcry.
I am just trying to get across the other side of the story.

I hope your wife recovers.

 

[TomVexille]

Waiting 2-3 hours for ANY fare is the norm at some parts of the day now the market is flooded with cars.

All examples are pre-uber and pre competition.

If only more cabbies were like you, uber wouldn't have grown as quickly as they have.

 

[Bolthead]

Sorry for your experience but this will only get more common as the old rules and standards of pre uber days are gone now.

By mobility issues were you using a wheelchair taxi or a normal one?
Wheelchair ones are meant to pick up wheelchair users and need a good reason not to.
Normal taxis are gettng picky with fares as they seek only the more profitable fares like uber does.

Uber drivers can pick and choose fares and blacklist customers...so can taxis now.

Please tell me how I do this. Unless I ring up the customer and ask (which I have never done in over 2000 rides) or I start the trip before I get to the customer. Both options will get you kicked off the platform if reported. As for blacklisting.... not sure there is one. I can 1 star somebody but it doesn't mean they are on the Blacklist.

Uber drivers can surge price so can taxis...meter use is only compulsory from Taxi ranks and for TSS customers.
Customers can pick whichever taxi they like just like they always could.

Not quite sure what you mean... how do drivers create surge?

This is under what is left of the Qld Transport Act...not the Federal Anti Discrimination acts
Uber dont obey that either so Taxis are starting to ignore it as well.
It's a race to the bottom now and nobody will win.

This gig economy "disruption and innovation" has a long way to get sorted yet...

Please complain to Queensland Transport...they need to hear the truth.

 

[jastel]

Many drivers do ring the customer and ask the destination.
You can just go home...you are not expected to pick up anyone that comes along like taxis are.
You can also cancel jobs...which you still get paid for.
You get passenger ratings and then decide wether to do the job or not.
You would be stupid to pick up a one star passenger.

I meant uber the company implements surge prices that you the driver benefit from.
But drivers can get together and all log off and create a surge as well.
So you can take it either way.

 

[JessicaTam]

You are sneaky...
The airport do not like this as this would usually mean they miss out on toll revenue.
Parking naz_s will often try and stop this I have observed.
Neither do the other 100 taxis waiting at the arrivals area.
But it is everyman for himself these days, I would take you and call in saying "Customer has a sore leg and cant walk up to arrivals "
This has kept me out of trouble so far.
You win...I win...airport loses.

Yes it is sneaky, and I have been stopped once by one of the parking people. I usually try to duck into a taxi just as the last pax is getting out.

When I was pulled up that one time I challenged him to travel in the cab home with me so I could avoid the threatening attitude of the driver. He declined, and I went and caught a bus.

I know I can report a driver, but my well being during the drive is more important to me. Should I live near the airport again in the future, I won't hesitate to do it again.

 

[NoName]

Many drivers do ring the customer and ask the destination.
You can just go home...you are not expected to pick up anyone that comes along like taxis are.
You can also cancel jobs...which you still get paid for.
You get passenger ratings and then decide wether to do the job or not.
You would be stupid to pick up a one star passenger.

I meant uber the company implements surge prices that you the driver benefit from.
But drivers can get together and all log off and create a surge as well.
So you can take it either way.

You seem to be somewhat misinformed.

Ring the passenger and then cancel when you don’t like the job will result in being booted off the system.

Cancel jobs and get still get paid? Ummm no. Only if the passenger is a no-show. After 5 min of waiting. Say they were a no-show when they weren’t are you’ll get booted off the system.

1 star passengers don’t exist. Why? Because they are booted off the system.

Logging off to create surge is counter productive. It requires a period of time where you are not available to take rides. That costs you money. Same with refusing short trips. Counterproductive. But then those taxi drivers who do it aren’t exactly known for their smarts.

 

[Milboo]

Not once have I had an Uber driver call me and ask me my destination.

 

[Bolthead]

Not once have I had an Uber driver call me and ask me my destination.

Me too however it definately happens.... There are a number of drivers out there that believe it is their right as contractors to know the destination.

 

[Deleted member]

Me too however it definately happens.... There are a number of drivers out there that believe it is their right as contractors to know the destination.

Yep, they’re ex taxi drivers.

 

[Deleted member]

Sorry to hear that...I only asked as there are slightly different rules for wheelchair users.

I treat everyone as if they were my mother...the elderly and infirm need good service by taxis...most of them are not uber savvy anyway.
My shortest fare was literally the building next door to the pickup point...10 metres.
(not implying you are elderly...just generally)

The problem is being nice and giving good service doesnt pay the bills in the long run...Taxi incomes have gone down by a minimum 20-30%, none of the expenses have decreased...except using less petrol. The banks haven't knocked 30% off the loan owners took out to buy the license plate, they still have to pay that back. They were the rules we played under when the govt moved the goalposts.
So take 30% off your income, value your house at 1/3 of what you paid (or still are paying) for it and you will be as happy as the average taxi driver.

Yes, that is not the customers problem...until the service suffers.

If a company treated its workers like the government and uber treats taxi owners/drivers there would be an outcry.
I am just trying to get across the other side of the story.

I hope your wife recovers.

You make it sound like the falling revenue , rising costs story is unique to taxis.
I have had to deal with similar issues in my business.
In my case I have had to completely reverse engineer my business to meet the new challenges.
It’s a long story, so I won’t bore you with the detail, it is a conversation best had off line.

 

[Daver6]

Not once have I had an Uber driver call me and ask me my destination.

I've had an uber driver text me. I just ignored it. I wasn't in a rush (leaving a party) and just waited him out till he finally turned up. He got 4 stars for making me wait so long and texting to ask though.

 

[Hvr]

You make it sound like the falling revenue , rising costs story is unique to taxis.
I have had to deal with similar issues in my business.
In my case I have had to completely reverse engineer my business to meet the new challenges.
It’s a long story, so I won’t bore you with the detail, it is a conversation best had off line.

I reckon I'd be correct in saying you haven't asked for government protection over the years to maintain and protect a failing business model. Nor are you asking for an ongoing subsidy to pay you while you fail to recognise that you need to change your business model.