Originally Posted by
pinniped
I don't blame you for driving less. That's the way economics works. An appropriate reaction to the drop in rates...if enough people do it, the market will reset itself to a higher rate. Uber will have to do it - or lose all of their drivers to Lyft.
Do you drive for Lyft? I happily tip Lyft drivers. Probably 25% on average, since it's equally easy click $2 as it is $1, and my rides are often $6-8 base rate. @:-) Several of them have commented that they prefer getting Lyft rides over Uber rides.
UberX and UberXL are the only rideshare products in my market. I don't have much choice. Lyft is planning on onboarding soon. I have an application in and plan to run both apps as soon as I am turned on.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of very desperate drivers. The non stop push for more and more drivers has saturated this area tremendously. If Uber would balance their marketing budget for new riders as much as they spend on recruiting new drivers, there probably wouldn't be a taxi left in this town.
New drivers, getting pilfered an extra 5% from Uber, expecting $0.85/mi and have never seen what $1.50 is are ecstatic to drive. There are going to be many bankrupt drivers the moment they start having real work done on their car. I mitigate my low rates by driving about the oldest vehicle that is allowed on the platform (yet I get compliment by folks thinking it's still pretty new). I owe little enough on it, that if it gets totaled, I won't be at a loss.
I get that the riders have been told by Uber that tipping isn't necessary. It's really unfair for Uber to drop the rates 45% and build that wedge between the driver and the rider. I've never solicited a tip. When asked, I simply say that it's not necessary, but not included in the fare. But it does sting when your rate drops from $1.5/mile to $0.85/mile. My basic expectation from a rider is toes on the curb when I arrive (within a minute or two), communication otherwise, no drinks, food, or smoking/vaping. Don't slam my doors. Do let me know if you aren't comfortable. I will take being uncomfortable whether it's music, temp, or squishing my fat gut up against my steering wheel for the comfort of my passengers. Tipping generally isn't a 5 star criteria for me, unless it's flaunted like it was in the above example. People are proud NOT to tip Uber drivers, and it's a shame.
Originally Posted by
chrisny2
I don't think it's very cool to join a website that's been around since 1998 just to berate its members.
I've been here 10 years. Can I?