Who is using Uber?

[yvesg]

When stuck on an airport with no one (and no courtesy car), which is often what is happening here in Canada, the only option is often a cab... until recently when Uber started operating.

As a member of the CB club, I have always found those cab rides quite expensive. Uber seems to offer a cheaper alternative... but I have to admit I have not used it yet. The reaction I see from the cab industry worldwide makes me think that Uber is hitting them hard... which could potentially help users like me who often are gouged for short runs that should cost only half of what they ask for.

I believe this recent court ruling will re-align things:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/NewsAlert+Ontario+court+sides+with+Uber+legal+battle+with+City/11187119/story.html

Could recent Uber users provide some feed-back on their experience and how much savings are possible?

Yves

[PaulB]

I've used uber a few times. It's a really nice service and I like the seamlessness of paying with your account and never needing cash but my experience has been that it's a little more expensive than a regular cab. You also have to look out on busy weekends as they will sometimes have a multiplier on the rate to try to attract more drives to get out and drive. Recently when I was in New Orleans they had multiplier of 2.9 and a 15 min uber ride was $40.

[M20F]

Agree with Paul B at times it is more than a regular can ride but you can't beat seeing where the driver is and when they will be there. Given the choice I choose Uber for that alone, really good service in my opinion.

[eman1200]

I understand payment goes through your uber account but what about tipping?

[M20F]

I understand payment goes through your uber account but what about tipping?

No tip it's a flat rate.

[carl]

Tipping is not required , but always appreciated.

 

No cash is needed since it is transacted through the app.

 

But as a enrolled uber driver the problem is insurance, geico said they will drop me if I drive. So now i cant drive for uber.

 

A commerical policy makes it a loss situation.

 

carl

[Awful_Charlie]

Uber is under all sorts of pressure in Europe, France has just arrested a couple of Execs and banned the Uberpop service. I have a couple of friends here in Zurich who use it and like it, but having managed to get used to avoiding taxis (as they're so damn expensive!) I haven't bothered signing up yet.

 

I do wonder about the legaity of the Skyuber service though - wondered about getting some gas vouchers back!

[Jerry 5TJ]

Several of us used Uber in Paso Robles at the Mooney Summit.

Ride share works great too--two registered users can split the fare via the app.

[EDNR-Cruiser]

I would rather crawl on all fours than using Uber... - life is about live and let live and I pay others as happily as I expect to get paid for my job. Uber is another service using the fools and uneducated to make the rich guys even more rich and that's it! No service, no warranty, mostly no taxes (well, that isn't too bad in my opinion, at least one fact I like about Uber!!!)... - nothing I would like or support...

[M20F]

I would rather crawl on all fours than using Uber... - life is about live and let live and I pay others as happily as I expect to get paid for my job. Uber is another service using the fools and uneducated to make the rich guys even more rich and that's it! No service, no warranty, mostly no taxes (well, that isn't too bad in my opinion, at least one fact I like about Uber!!!)... - nothing I would like or support...

I really don't follow your concern. The drivers and the company all pay taxes, given how the system works it would be exceptionally difficult to hide income. All the cars are insured and it represents a stream of income for people. All the drivers I have met are great and most do it as a second job to earn extra income. I would say 30% of the time I get handled a bottle of water or some other treat from the driver which certainly is better service than I get from Yellow Cab.

Seems like a great example of the free market at work.

[Alan Fox]

There is no way you are insured (as a driver) unless you have a commercial policy , I believe this will be short lived in its current form....This will also drive up the cost of cabs , and the Uber will follow suit....

[Shadrach]

Über might be the new "cab". Prices will go up as regulators ensure that drivers are properly insured. Most cabs drivers opperate as independent businesses anyway. The Uber App is a fantastic way of interfacing with your driver. It beats the hell out of calling dispatch. Imagine if you could simply request a car service via app, anywhere in the country and see it making its way to you in real time?

[EDNR-Cruiser]

Gents, I cannot comment on what Uber is doing in the US, I don't live there anymore. When I saw their approach to market in Europe however it was an immediate "no go whatsoever"... - you can put a gun to my head but even then no way... - I am a very stubborn Prussian!!!  ;-)

Taxi services in Europe have a lot of "social" obligations and regulations that simply do not apply to Uber... - however those obligations are way more important to the "price" of a lift than anything else. For me life is always a give and take... - just asking for myself is impossible! I am in a very lucky spot and I know that I should give more than I to ask for.

...and Uber in Europe is just a VERY bad idea!
 

[jetdriven]

I would rather crawl on all fours than using Uber... - life is about live and let live and I pay others as happily as I expect to get paid for my job. Uber is another service using the fools and uneducated to make the rich guys even more rich and that's it! No service, no warranty, mostly no taxes (well, that isn't too bad in my opinion, at least one fact I like about Uber!!!)... - nothing I would like or support...

In the U.S. Most cabbies "lease" the 1991 crown Victoria cab for 100-200$ For 8 hours, and have to drive a lot to even begin making money. Many find its more money for them to drive for uber. That comment about all the minions making the few rich guys ever richer perfectly describes the cab companies.

[jetdriven]

Tipping is not required , but always appreciated.

 

No cash is needed since it is transacted through the app.

 

But as a enrolled uber driver the problem is insurance, geico said they will drop me if I drive. So now i cant drive for uber.

 

A commerical policy makes it a loss situation.

 

carl

Iirc Uber covers you under their million $ liability policy when you are driving for them.

[PaulB]

I asked a few uber drivers about this and they said they are required to have proof of insurance and uber does give them some coverage as well. They have all said they can make more money driving for uber. Uber makes their money in volume of rides.

[jetdriven]

I asked a few uber drivers about this and they said they are required to have proof of insurance and uber does give them some coverage as well. They have all said they can make more money driving for uber. Uber makes their money in volume of rides.

https://www.uber.com/driver-jobs

[22 others]

I'm looking forward to my first Uber ride. There's no cash involved, and I think that's great. Most of the cab drivers I've dealt with really prefer cash so that can evade the taxes, credit card fees, and regime fees. Several have been pretty frank about it.   Uber is a no cash kind of service.  I like that. It makes their drivers safer, and it means everything's above board.

[StinkBug]

I used Uber for the first time a couple weeks ago and it was fantastic. Being able to see where the driver was, and being able to gauge how long it'd take for them to get there is a total winner. I don't use cabs often, but the last time I called for one we sat around at a hotel (in vegas mind you) for over half an hour before calling back. The dispatcher acted like we were asking far too much of them to actually show up, and basically said "well it's busy, we'll get to you when we get to you". With Uber it was just a quick click and I could see exactly where the car was. No guessing, no wondering if I actually had a ride, and no missing the event I was trying to get to. The only reason the cab companies are pissed about Uber is because they know Uber does their job better and for less money.

[Amelia]

I thought I had replied to this topic. Perhaps another thread. Anyway, I had a chance to compare a traditional cab with Uber. I flew the Mooney into Washington Exec, called a cab for a ride to the nearest Metro stop. On the way home, at the urging of a friend, called Uber for the return trip from Metro station to the Clinton, MD airport.

Cab: took over 45 minutes to pick us up. No explanation, warning of delay, or even apology.

Uber: 4 minutes. Watched his progress on phone app.

Cab: Battered, dirty, personal items on seat, obnoxious scent swinging from rear view mirror, radio on loud hip- hop.

Uber: Spotless late model Taurus. Offered to turn NPR off first thing.

Cab: sullen, very poor English. Charged extra for two carry-on bags. Did not open door, grumped about opening dirty trunk for our bags.

Uber: charming retiree, picking up extra income when someone came in to care for his disabled wife. No charge for suitcases.in clean trunk. His manners were lovely, he opened doors, welcomed us to his town..

Cab: Took 40 minutes of shortcuts to subway, through areas of maximum traffic. $43, with tip, bag surcharge. Cash only. A grunt sufficed for thanks for our business.

Uber:Followed his two GPSs directly to airport. 15 minutes. As it was our first Uber ride, no charge. Tried to refuse tip. Then thanked us profusely for $5 to buy a cup of coffee on us. All $25 would have gone on credit card, had we not had the intro code.

So, which option do you think THIS country girl will choose on her next trip to the big city?

[Ftlausa]

I have used Uber instead of cabs at several airports I fly into.   I have been very impressed with the service.  The cars are nicer than cabs; the driver's seem nicer and more motivated; and I know exactly how long its going to be until they pick me up and there is no hassle in "hailing" an Uber.  Uber is not perfect, but seems way better than a cab to me.  

 

On a trip last week to Philly, however, they had the multiplier in, and it was way more expensive than a cab.  Generally, its the other way around. 

[Cabanaboy]

I think it would be cool if we/someone could compile a Great Uber city trip report and list price,

 

 

Example: fly to KMRH Morehead City NC (Michael J Smith Field Airport) 180 Airport Rd Beaufort, NC 28516

Travel to Crab's Claw Oceanfront Caribbean Restaurant 201 W Atlantic Blvd Atlantic Beach, NC 28512

 

Ramp Fee: $20

Uber Cost: uberX $15

Trip: 8 miles

 

Like going to Charleston SC from airport pushes $40, not sure I would like that one way fee....

[jlunseth]

I have never tried Uber myself.  I was at a benefit gala for one or our regional theaters this past winter.  The Chairman of our Board does not live far from where the gala was held, and he used Uber to get there with his wife, making sure they understood he would need to return home some time after midnite.  I was leaving in my car at about 1 a.m. and saw him outside the theater talking into his cell and he was very upset.  Apparently Uber was not going to pick him up, they had decided it was too late for them and not convenient.  I took them home.  I just don't have time to mess with transportation services that can't make a pick up on time or when they say they will, not even once.

[jetdriven]

Taxis do that all the time. I've had them refuse to take me because I was paying with a credit card for a 10.00 ride, even though I could see the credit card machine. I've been charged 27.00 to go from DFW to the holiday inn (6 miles). I've had them refuse to turn on the meter, saying it's cheaper to pay the 20.00 flat rate (the way back was metered at 12.00). I've had them "oops" the exit and take the next one, driving extra miles and charged me 129$ to go from IAH airport to Clear Lake (38 miles). I had one guy showed up 39 minutes late at the hotel, let me go into a wall mart in MIA and when I came out 4 minutes later he was gone. He came back after 10 minutes and the meter had run up an extra 15$. He took someone else while I was in the store, then refused to own up to it, then called me a mofo when I handed him the credit card at the airport. I took it back and walked, then he changed his mind. Nearly all of them have the cop car style vinyl covering on the back seat with God knows what stains on it, check engine light on. ABS light on. Airbag light on. Engine missing running on 7 cylinders. Rear bumper falling off. 400K miles and really, after paying one of them 80$ they should hand me the title, not the receipt. They have their place, but for most inter urban travel, Uber totally kills them. The cars are 9 years or newer, most much newer. The drivers make more. Win win win. Well, except for the taxis. But I don't feel sorry for them.

[StinkBug]

I have never tried Uber myself.  I was at a benefit gala for one or our regional theaters this past winter.  The Chairman of our Board does not live far from where the gala was held, and he used Uber to get there with his wife, making sure they understood he would need to return home some time after midnite.  I was leaving in my car at about 1 a.m. and saw him outside the theater talking into his cell and he was very upset.  Apparently Uber was not going to pick him up, they had decided it was too late for them and not convenient.  I took them home.  I just don't have time to mess with transportation services that can't make a pick up on time or when they say they will, not even once.

 

The chairman of your board doesn't understand how the system works then. You don't get to just tell them when to come pick you up hours ahead of time, they aren't dispatched from a central office like a taxi service and they don't take reservations. When you're ready to go somewhere you go to the app on your phone and put in a request. If there is a driver in your area who is willing to take the trip they will click on their own phone and head to pick you up. Sounds like he decided to leave when nobody was available and expected the service to work differently from how it does. It's not Ubers fault he was asking for something they don't offer. What your chairman needed was a car service, which Uber is not.