Is Uber For Real ?
 

I hear the commercials, "Make money on Uber", (which I dont quiet believe is true for the average driver) ... but what about the passenger ?

It seems like a good idea in concept, but are people really using Uber and happy with it ? Craiglist seemed like a good idea until you run into all the dbags !

I've been riding in them a lot lately. Personally it's hard for me to sit in the back with some questionable drivers, but that's no different from a taxi, limo, bus or any other service. But other than that, it's great - pickup times are quick, no need to worry about parking, and the prices at most times are significanly cheaper than taxis. The main downside seems to be ending up with a driver with bizarre/bad habits, e.g. them wanting to listen to a particular radio station at high volume while I'm on the phone trying to coordinate where I'm going.

As far as the drivers, most of them seem to like it. Drive around, talk to random people, drive around some more... doesn't seem to be a huge money maker for them personally. Apparently good enough though.

There's now a forum on FT for ride services such as Uber, etc. Was created recently.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ride-...uber-lyft-747/

Cheers.

I use it all the time...definitely better than taking a cab especially in areas where cabs are scarce. No messing with payment either which is great when overseas where cab drivers will usually (claim to) not take credit cards.

Is Uber For Real ?
 

Use it every week. It's more of a car service. Fast, efficient, and cheap. Like my women. :D

Used it multiple times. Very happy with both the service and the price (vs. cabs).

Use it (or Lyft) at least a few times a week. While there is definitely the occasional bad/obnoxious driver, in my experience there are fewer than with conventional taxis and there's better accountability.

Plus, it's way cheaper and the cars and drivers are nicer at least 90% of the time.

I like it, however there are a couple of drawbacks. 1) in NYC the drivers don't always know the quickest route to get places. I've had to provide directions a few times to befuddled drivers. 2) beware of "surge pricing". During busy times, especially in bad weather, Uber raises fares. Sometimes it's not too bad. 1.6 times the normal fare. During one snowstorm, I was quoted 6 times higher! Naturally, I declined.
Other than this, I like the service.

Regular user here as well - overwhelmingly positive experience. A few hiccups here and there, involving bad pin drops or confusion over pick up locations on Market St in SF. Always an interesting driver with story to match: some are looking for their dream, others have found it, most just trying to pick up some extra cash and meet new people, some just trying to do something they feel is worthwhile during their downtime. And always a clean new car.

I'm technologically stupid and too scared to use Uber.

Is Uber For Real ?
 

Uber is real, we even use it here in China. What is not real is their valuation...but that's a different topic.

hope to see more things like uber black and uber taxi

i personally am not interested in things like uber x

I get to write a long post about Uber!
 

I've been using Uber since the early days of black car over three years ago. I actually learned about it from another flyer talker in the SFO forum. Cooper got their start here in San Francisco because cabs are absolutely horrible here. I live in a lovely neighborhood, but was never able to get a cab, whether by calling, hailing, or setting up in advance. The only time I was able to get a cab was if they were coming down the hill from the hospital nearby. So I was very willing to pay the premium that black car charges over a regular cab just to get where I was going.

If you know me, you'll know I'm the last person to try something like Uber X. Random stranger, barely vetted, driving a random car that hasn't been checked out? yeah I'm just not that kind of person. But I tried it the minute they started and love it! I would not have been able to have worked as long as I did in Oakland if it wasn't for Uber X.
There are drawbacks. Major drawbacks. As I said, Uber X drivers are random people in random cars. Sometimes they know how to drive; in fact most of you know how to drive – but not all of them drive well. Those who come from other parts of the Bay Area to drive in San Francisco, where the rides are more consistent, don't know the city at all and have to rely on Uber’s marginal GPS system. Those who don't install Waze, a GPS app that also tracks traffic in real time suffer the most.

A few times I've actually had true nut cases where I stop the ride almost immediately, as the person and the car were so sketchy that I didn't feel safe. Those rides are far between – usually it's just a driver who seems hostile, lost, or otherwise unhappy with their situation.
Having taken Uber in many cities throughout the US and elsewhere, drivers differ depending on the city. In San Francisco many drivers work part time, or the most enterprising ones take out car loans and then rent those cars to other drivers , operating as a mini taxicab company within the framework of Uber. in New York and other cities, many of the drivers for Uber black car and Uber X were professional drivers before they joined Huber, and work full time to support their families.

However, I don't think Uber’s model can last. Not talking about the valuation – that's an area I know very little about. but while over calls its drivers "partners" drivers are more of a hybrid between a contractor and an employee. For example, Buber drivers are paid through direct deposit – that's one of the absolute tests used to determine if someone is an employee. The thinking is if someone's a contractor, their paid by the project or a certain milestone, not on a weekly regular basis through a direct deposit to their bank. And while Uber drivers can turn the app on and off as they like, a driver who refuses rides too often or who doesn't work prime time will quickly find themselves deactivated regardless of their rating. Again, this speaks to more than a part-time employee in a true contractor. while I don't know the ins and outs of what the Uber insurance covers, the fact that they do cover their drivers there were general liability policy point somewhat to the fact that they may be employees.


However the drivers are not exactly employees either. They can generally work when they want, accept or refuse rides as they see fit, and are responsible for the maintenance of their equipment. my best guess is that at least in California, the state will have to come up with a new definition of a hybrid employee/contractor that covers not only ride services but delivery services like Instacart and Postmates. without some kind of new definition, Uber will have difficulty keeping a steady supply of new drivers who are competent and serve the public. I can already see a time commenting where Uber will become just like taxicabs, where drivers will blacklist certain areas of towns or neighborhoods as being unsafe or not worth their time to pick someone up and only the very desperate drivers will take those calls.

Or, as I fear most commonly, someone who is blacklisted from over as a passenger for having their rating be too low will sue Uber for the right to be able to use the service. It's not operating as a public benefit but it wants all the benefits of doing so.
I just don't see the current situation, where Uber rakes in the millions and drivers are responsible for costs that are usually handled on an employee basis, being tenable in the long term. My prediction is that it will wind up looking more like a standard taxi that you call using your phone with the ups and downs that that entails. I

Some coworkers have used Uber with generally good results. However there were some instances where they felt really ripped off. It isn't as easy to schedule as a regular cab.

Of course some cabs are very scary. They often do 95 on the way to the airport. "Excuse me sir? If you kill me it would adversely effect your tip."

Another coworker was in a cab that rear ended another cab. He was belted in but his face hit the divider between the front and rear seats. He looked like he went 10 rounds with Joe Lewis and was a bloody mess when he got to the airport.

YMMV.

I use it even locally the cars are already nice, drivers polite, and app based hailing and tracking already exist.

Reasons is the cashless payment, automatic email receipt, and its slightly cheaper. 1 fewer receipt to lose during expense report.

In foreign countries its great because many are fraught with scams, haggling, etc. for example Lisbon at the airport. Uber bypasses all this nonsense with the transparency of map and routing. And cuts through language barrier too.