Took an Uber yesterday - first time
 

I needed a ride back to our old home, looked around for options and settled on an Uber. I don’t see how this is a sustainable income model for the drivers. The trip is 45 miles each way and it cost me $54. I don’t know how much Uber took. It took 2 1/2 hours for the driver to complete the trip. After he figures in 90 miles worth of gas and wear and tear on the car he’s not making much. It looks like the business model is to buy a car and trade the declining value of the car as you put miles in it for lunch money. The car was a clean nice looking Hyundai with good tires, bad rear wheel bearings, and a cracked windshield.

Uber's business model, at least in the UK where we used it quite a bit this past summer, is to continually reduce pay and transparency with their drivers (one told me they have no idea what customers pay for a trip) which forces the more professional drivers out which spots are then filled by recent immigrants who are willing to work for less and less $$.

I had some long uber rides while overseas and the honeymoon is over for the drivers. Turns out Uber is a nasty, greedy, heartless company.

Wait, you took the same car back and forth? For $54?

You're supposed to tip heavily for that. Especially if you tip cash. I'm actually surprised you got a driver at all, since you're a zero ride person on a new account asking for a 90 mile round trip, most drivers probably would ignore that request.

But, the drivers (and cars) on Uber have fallen off the cliff the past few years. I've been Ubering for 12 years, back in the day it was courteous drivers in nice cars picking up Friday evening shifts, enough to pay the car note. Now it's angry drivers that don't speak much English driving cars that clearly don't pass the Uber requirements pulling 12 hour shifts.

I agree the last UBERS that I have been on here in MA are old, stinky, stained not nice vehicles.

For me, the trip was one-way. The driver originated in the town next to me, drove me 45 miles, dropped me off, and went back home. I tipped him $10. My schedule was flexible enough that the driver could pick his time and day. I requested any day this week between 9AM and 3PM. They came back with Tuesday noon.

I'd never taken an Uber before either.

But I had to fly back to Chicago and then go out to the Northwest Suburbs...

I was expecting a junker. However what I got was a middle aged Indian man in turban driving a brand new Cadillac. It was a great ride, cost me $55 to get to Lake Zurich from O'Hare.

I’ve taken hundreds of Ubers, and I find the quality varies dramatically by location. For ex., in Naples FL, vehicles are 98% new, immaculate Tahoe’s or Teslas or something equally nice. A lot of eastern european drivers. In major cities, I find it’s a crap shoot….I’ve had some great ones in DC area and some horrible ones in NYC. The business model sucks for the drivers and is getting worse. I’d say 75% of the time the drivers hand me their personal card so I can call them directly and bypass the uber app entirely.

My understanding is they’ll rent a large suv at $200+ a day and run it between two people.

I asked a guy and he said he does fairly well. (relative I know)

we paid the guy $150 from northern CA city to Sacramento at 3;30am. it was brutal. he was so chatty and enthusiastic..and I was suffering no coffee, sleepy, had to poop...

my friend paid!! hahha..

We spent the winter in Baja last year and used Uber's extensively. They were dirt cheap. I dont think we paid more than $5-6 for in town rides. It was a shocker getting a Uber back in the states. What would have been $3-4 in Baja was $30.

80% of the time, the drivers wears way too much cheapass cologne..

I have used Uber for a very long time as well. A $30 Uber is cheaper than a DUI back when that was a concern.

Like everyone has said, it really varies based on where you are. I always tip pretty well and give them 5 stars. In the end it is not much $ to me, but it could make a difference for them.

By the far the best Uber experiences I have had are in Key West. Unreal quick service and clean vehicles.

Worst, Atlanta and Chicago, taxis there suck too.

Not nearly as bad as the last UBER driver I had who was coughing his head off the whole trip, but was careful not to start hacking 'till it was too late to be let out. Despite opening up the back windows for fresh air, I came down with whatever he had and felt lousy for several days of a vacation.

Haven't used a ride-share since then...

I had a guy in a Tesla as Uber driver. It was a between season, not too hot, not too cold, day and was raining a bit. So he was trying to save his range by not using the AC. By the time I got to destination the windows were fogging up and he finally relented and turned on the AC to rectify.

The Tesla was totally unimpressive. Poor ride in the back.

The other thing that gets me is when the driver lists his/her car as something of the luxury variety. News flash: a Chevy Equinox or Traverse is not a luxury vehicle.

I won't use Uber for anything.

They failed to show up for two pickups to go to an airport - one in Denver, one in NL and I do not trust them at all,.

Will never use them again for anything, ever.

D.

I only use Uber to bring me back and forth to car dealer when I need work done instead of waiting or taking day off work. Works out good for this.

My first Uber drive blew a red light while making a left on a 4 lane 55 mph road.

The system works great for me….but I have not felt safe with any of them. Probably used a dozen times.

One Uber ride from the auto shop like ramone. It was fine. The shop paid so I didn't tip. I've wondered about that since. The guy was cool and drove well. A shop I use now has their own shuttle. No extra and I like it. I let them leave me short of my house at a convenient drop point headed back their way. I use the walk the rest of the way to get in my quota. I have walked a couple miles from some shops. The tire shop might not even be a whole mile so that's a certain. They would drive me if I asked.

I use them all the time, some are definitely better than others but I’ve never had what I would call a bad experience. Still better than a taxi in the US.

In Korea, Uber basically reserves you a taxi which are quite nice. It also lets you type in your destination in English to get around the language barrier of hailing a cab.

100%. That’s the way I look at it….

That's to cover up the smell of weed. [emoji1787]

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If we could just get some regulation, vetting of the drivers, and some standardized prices Uber would be much better, but we would have to come up with a name for it.

I suppose we could call it TAXICAB

I've used Uber a lot. I have had some interesting trips.

In San Diego, I had a driver tell me he had paid off his second mortgage driving an Uber.

My last Uber ride was such a good experience, I tipped her 100%. I told the driver she was the safest driver I had ever had. She was truly shocked.

In Seattle, I had a driver whose day job was "magician". He was a character for sure.

In Nashville, I had a driver hit on me, and he concerned me so much, I contacted Uber while on the ride. They called him on the spot. He finished my ride while they were on the phone. Uber refunded the full price of the ride, and I received a substantial credit. They followed up later to tell me he would not be driving again.

I do this for getting back and forth to the MC shop.

I have only used Uber once In Dulles, VA. Evidently a new user starts out as a 5 star passenger, so the Uber driver that is close get to the passenger ASAP. He was a nice enough man, that drove safely, and we chatted about the area, and he got me to my destination safely and I tipped his a nice tip. I have no idea what my rating is now, as that was 8 years ago.

It is not a job that I would want.

Do you tip Uber drivers? I thought it was in the price? I don't have an account as my phone is too old for the APP.

yea I always give them at least $5. Im not usually going more than 10 or 15 miles. Wouldn't want them to downgrade me so nobody comes to pick me up.....sorta like telling the chef his sauce sucks and then he spits in your penne arrabbiata

Yes, tipping is separate from the price. I usually take mostly short trips, so my tips end up being pretty nice from a percentage standpoint. I love the business model from a consumer standpoint but feel bad for the drivers, they have really gotten squeezed over the years.

When I lived in the DC metro area the Uber drivers were running a scam to get more in fares by waiting in nearby parking lots until the surge rates would hit due to demand.

https://wjla.com/news/local/uber-and-lyft-drivers-fares-at-reagan-national

I’ve used them 20 or so times. Never had a dirty car although I often get a driver who doesn’t speak English. Often expensive, but cheeper than a taxi

I tried ordering a LYFT the other morning and the driver's would cancel it and when I went to order a new ride it was 50% more.

I took the bus.

I agree UBER has gotten worse in the last few years but the scariest ride I've ever had was in a Yellow Cab. I called Yellow Cab with the driver number and they couldn't care less.

These days, my main complaint is if they drive too slow or drive slower than traffic in the left lane.

Prices in the US have gotten up to where taxi's are so not much savings but it seems in the rest of the world it's still pretty cheap.

It is nice to take an UBER into the city, not worry about parking, and then be able to jump in another UBER, go to a club after dinner or where ever and not worry about DWI. Of course this leads to possibly excess drinking and goofy old white guy dancing in public.

I've probably used Uber 10-15 times since it started, so not much at all, last time was last fall. Edit: a few months ago in Montreal. Every car was nice and new. Drivers don't try to talk which I like. Cab drivers like to talk. The part I like is they are there in minutes. And cars are nice.

I too have no idea how they make money.

I have a buddy who says it's a great job for people who are horrible at math.

A good portion of them do it just to show off their vehicle. They have no need for the money, but do it as a hobby.

I’ve seen that. Usually the foreigners that game that system.

The apps tell the riders how many souls on board for each incoming flight as well.

OMG, Yes!!!!

the pickup spot at the San Diego airport where you meet the drivers is like Thunderdome. total chaos.

I actually laughed out loud, so glad I wasn't drinking my coffee!SmileWavy

I’ve actually had some really interesting Uber conversations over the years. Had one in Tampa earlier this year where the guy was a part time executive at a marijuana company and drove because he likes talking to people, he gave me an hour dissertation on the national marijuana industry while we were stuck in traffic. I will say it’s a far more advanced business than I realized. No, he didn’t reek of weed either!:D

I've had some good Uber conversations too, unfortunately I can't remember the best ones because... alcohol. Recently I had a Cuban driver that really laid out the Cuban political system and I recall it being terribly fascinating. No idea what he said now.