What's your Uber experience?

[Pleb Status]

How far were you going? I guess it shouldn't matter. I very nearly called a cab to take me from the BNE Int. to Air Park. I'll never use that park again, ever (first time). They claim 7 min. to the terminal, but what they don't say is that it can be 25 wait for the bus and then it goes via Dom first. 7 minutes is a crock!

It is a $25 ride. I assume trips to the western suburbs etc are far higher.

I think I will just not answer any future calls...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

It is a $25 ride.

I would have thought a $25 ride was worthwhile.

EDIT: Most of my Cairns rides are less than $20, so are these Brisbane Ubers being a bit precious?

 

[NoName]

I would like Uber to institute a complete ban on drivers calling riders prior to pickup (except in an absolute emergency).

I had another driver 'cancel' at BNE airport last night after calling to determine where I was going and deciding that it was not far enough (I have learnt not to say but this does not appear to help). I have never had a driver call other than to try to cherry pick the best ride.

There is no reason for the driver to cancel due to a short trip when picking up at the airport. They either don’t have much going on upstairs, don’t read their emails or both. When a driver gets a short trip from the airport Uber will hold their place at the front of the queue to allow them to return and immediately get another job.

 

[NoName]

I can’t believe they don’t know where they’re going before they pick you up; the whole premise as sold to the world was that it was about drivers who were already going somewhere getting a bit of cash for picking someone else up who was heading in the same direction.

The driver does not know where you are going until they swipe the screen to begin the trip after you get in the vehicle. There is a seperate destination feature that you can use twice a day which will only give you riders going roughly along the same route as you to your specific destination.



EDIT: the only indication of trip distance the driver gets is on the occassion that it is a long trip. The driver app will tell you that the trip is going to take longer than 30 min. This is so you are aware of the long trip prior to accepting it. There is still no indication of the direction or destination though.

 

[Quickstatus]

The driver does not know where you are going until they swipe the screen to begin the trip after you get in the vehicle. There is a seperate destination feature that you can use twice a day which will only give you riders going roughly along the same route as you to your specific destination.



EDIT: the only indication of trip distance the driver gets is on the occassion that it is a long trip. The driver app will tell you that the trip is going to take longer than 30 min. This is so you are aware of the long trip prior to accepting it. There is still no indication of the direction or destination though.

That’s why they ring and sus it out.
Any indication if it’s the UberX who tend to do this or all Ubers

The only way any system is going to work if when all stakeholders at least perceive they are benefitting. Currently the drivers don’t feel as though they benefit

 

[Quickstatus]

No idea what ramp you are on about? But money raised from taxis went to public transport government projects.
I doubt it was used to build an airport road.
That money is now gone and must come from somewhere else.

The airport tolls that the airports charge taxis for pick up and drop off pay for taxi parking areas and maybe an amenities block and security etc. The same way they charge a normal car to park there.

Money raised from taxis due to govt goes into consolidated revenue. Then it goes into whatever the govt wants to spend it on Same with airport fees. Some goes into the projects you mention.

Most taxis were running cash businesses. Then this would have been a drain in govt according to your premise. Uber not a cash business except for the tip

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Here's how much Americans spend on Uber and Lyft in 32 major cities - CNBC

 

[Happy Dude]

I'm in Canberra and I just tried to request an Uber for my parents at MEL. Computer said no (some type of error processing the request), despite following the Uber help menu which has a section on how to do it. Tried a bunch of things like turning off the location, different terminals, log out/in.

Has there been a change?

 

[Millie]

There is no reason for the driver to cancel due to a short trip when picking up at the airport. They either don’t have much going on upstairs, don’t read their emails or both. When a driver gets a short trip from the airport Uber will hold their place at the front of the queue to allow them to return and immediately get another job.

I had this experience in London and the driver cancelled as I was standing the door of his car! I worked hard, via twitter to get a credit for the 6 pound charge - the credit is only able to be used in the UK - I have no plans to return to the UK in the near future and Uber refuse to transfer the credit to my account here. I am quite underwhelmed by Uber. I have also had my Uber account hacked - another significant hassle and time waster getting that resolved.

 

[MAX_1]

I have had nothing but good experiences with Uber drivers BUT I have had a bad run in with their head office in Brisbane. A couple of years ago I needed to use Uber for a few days from home to work. This trip was about $50 . I called for a Uber and a lovely driver picked me up. He took me to work but 3/4 of the way there he lost connection. On arrival , he could not finalise the trip and my app also showed that the trip had not finished. He called me and told me that he had to go to the Office and they would give him new hardware. After about a few days , I emailed Uber and told them that I had not been charged for the trip and wished to pay the driver for his work. After several emails , I finally told them that I AM A CUSTOMER TRYING TO PAY FOR A TRIP. I was threatened with being banned. The end result is that a driver never got paid about $50.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

This morning H-CNS to CNS Uber range $40-45

Taxi was $23.

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

This morning H-CNS to CNS Uber range $40-45

Taxi was $23.

Uber is not the cheapest any more.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I would like Uber to institute a complete ban on drivers calling riders prior to pickup (except in an absolute emergency).

I had another driver 'cancel' at BNE airport last night after calling to determine where I was going and deciding that it was not far enough (I have learnt not to say but this does not appear to help). I have never had a driver call other than to try to cherry pick the best ride.

Since reading this post, yesterday was my first Uber from BNE so I was a bit hesitant. Booked from BNE (destination H-BNE). Standing waiting, I received a call. This is it, I thought, the Pleb Status curse is going to get me! However all he did was confirm which stop, QF or VA. No question at all about where I was going. Cost $41.15 which given I had my Mum with me, was pretty good value I thought.

Speaking of my Mum, she has gone from barely not even knowing what an Uber is, to having 4 Uber rides in one day! She has made the comment that it's such a great service and is very happy with the drivers ability that we had. She couldn't believe how easy it was to order and pay and how quickly they arrived from ordering (yesterday, max wait was about 3 min). To earn the mama-swanning_it seal of approval is no easy feat!

Apart from the one mentioned above, the rest were all very short city trips, all three $7.50, which I assume was the minimum and no worries at all due to the short trips.

 

[Pleb Status]

Since reading this post, yesterday was my first Uber from BNE so I was a bit hesitant. Booked from BNE (destination H-BNE). Standing waiting, I received a call. This is it, I thought, the Pleb Status curse is going to get me! However all he did was confirm which stop, QF or VA. No question at all about where I was going. Cost $41.15 which given I had my Mum with me, was pretty good value I thought.

Speaking of my Mum, she has gone from barely not even knowing what an Uber is, to having 4 Uber rides in one day! She has made the comment that it's such a great service and is very happy with the drivers ability that we had. She couldn't believe how easy it was to order and pay and how quickly they arrived from ordering (yesterday, max wait was about 3 min). To earn the mama-swanning_it seal of approval is no easy feat!

Apart from the one mentioned above, the rest were all very short city trips, all three $7.50, which I assume was the minimum and no worries at all due to the short trips.

I am happy it worked out for you @swanning_it... they cannot all be bad but be warned....

For interest, when you requested the Uber, did you get the normal QF/JQ and VA/TT drop down box?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

For interest, when you requested the Uber, did you get the normal QF/JQ and VA/TT drop down box?

Yes I did and I had it marked correctly as QF, but I must admit to wondering if it worked as it didn't seem to progress.

 

[VPS]

I'm sure I asked this before but how do you guarantee you're going to get a larger car. Just about to go away with four people and only one of us if petite

 

[Quickstatus]

Uber is not the cheapest any more.

That’s always been the model
Market share first drive out competitors
Then raise price

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I'm sure I asked this before but how do you guarantee you're going to get a larger car. Just about to go away with four people and only one of us if petite

It does tell you the vehicle type and expected No. of people after you book. You could always make the booking and then cancel if it's no good.

That’s always been the model
Market share first drive out competitors
Then raise price

But if you do it before the competition goes extinct, you run the risk of sending yourself broke first.

 

[Quickstatus]

But if you do it before the competition goes extinct, you run the risk of sending yourself broke first.

Correct, that’s the risk, but the rewards are enormous. And the competition with taxis is not on an even playing field.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

how do you guarantee you're going to get a larger car.

See if uberXL or UberSUV are available in your location/destination.