help me tweak uber experiences as a passenger
#16
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Seattle
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We use Uber Black in Seattle and are very satisfied. When I am alone, I use UberX and it's usually fine but the number of drivers who don't know the city seems to be increasing. I have noticed that my score has dropped from 4.9 to 4.75. Not sure why.
I had one UberX driver who was constantly complaining about the downtown traffic - duh! When he had a chance, he switched to the empty bike lane and drove about 45 mph for more than a block to my destination. I asked him to slow down and he got angry. Started yelling "you get a 1". I got out of the car and before I could shut the car door, he took off and the door slammed. He stopped, backed up and started yelling at me about slamming the door. I went into the restaurant to get away from him. Immediately emailed Uber and told them to fire the guy.
I had one UberX driver who was constantly complaining about the downtown traffic - duh! When he had a chance, he switched to the empty bike lane and drove about 45 mph for more than a block to my destination. I asked him to slow down and he got angry. Started yelling "you get a 1". I got out of the car and before I could shut the car door, he took off and the door slammed. He stopped, backed up and started yelling at me about slamming the door. I went into the restaurant to get away from him. Immediately emailed Uber and told them to fire the guy.
#17
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Uber in Hyderabad has about 5 different options. I *almost* selected one that was insanely cheap, until I realized what it was: the back seat on a moped. However, for locals who are used to riding on the back seat of a moped, that's definitely the fastest way through traffic.
They also had a 2-passenger option in a TATA car smaller than a typical UberX, Uberpool (although I never saw active drivers for it), regular UberX, and UberSUV. Used the TATA car once and UberX a couple times...no issues.
They also had a 2-passenger option in a TATA car smaller than a typical UberX, Uberpool (although I never saw active drivers for it), regular UberX, and UberSUV. Used the TATA car once and UberX a couple times...no issues.
#18
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 7,992
I think the local app, Ola(?) even let you get an autorickshaw.
Either way I purposely ignored the small car option for Uber in Chennai. The second worst was bad enough.
The one thing I like about Uber is that it's the same everywhere, functionality wise. No need to research local taxis whether I'm in Prague, London, New York or Singapore. Just a couple of clicks and wait for the car.
Either way I purposely ignored the small car option for Uber in Chennai. The second worst was bad enough.
The one thing I like about Uber is that it's the same everywhere, functionality wise. No need to research local taxis whether I'm in Prague, London, New York or Singapore. Just a couple of clicks and wait for the car.
#19
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Agreed.
Only minor issue is that I've noticed in a few countries the ETA is often way off. In Hyderabad, for example, it would say the car is 3 minutes away when it was really more like 10-12 minutes away. I get the sense that Uber doesn't have as much real time traffic data and is calculating based on some sort of speed limit for the road, even though that particular road *always* moves along at 10-20 MPH in "normal" traffic.
ETA was also off by quite a bit in Dubai and Lima, so I don't think it's purely an India thing. Granted, still way better than a taxi in all cases...the Ubers in Dubai were mostly Lexuses!
Only minor issue is that I've noticed in a few countries the ETA is often way off. In Hyderabad, for example, it would say the car is 3 minutes away when it was really more like 10-12 minutes away. I get the sense that Uber doesn't have as much real time traffic data and is calculating based on some sort of speed limit for the road, even though that particular road *always* moves along at 10-20 MPH in "normal" traffic.
ETA was also off by quite a bit in Dubai and Lima, so I don't think it's purely an India thing. Granted, still way better than a taxi in all cases...the Ubers in Dubai were mostly Lexuses!
#20
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Location: Seattle
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Does Uber in the US deal with problems that happened in France? A driver in Paris was having traffic problems getting to me and after trying for about 15 minutes, he canceled. I receive a message that since I canceled I would be charged 6 euros. I sent a text back stating that the driver canceled, not me. Nevertheless, the charge appeared on my account.
#22
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I only use lyft (i.e. Not uber) in San Francisco and many non-English-speaking drivers use directions that are in other languages. Amazing technology. Spanish Chinese others - they all work in gps etc. Many drivers are from outside SF - some drive 1-2 hours to get to SF.
Overall it's better than pre-Uber when we depended on cabs with consistently rude drivers who didn't want to accept credit cards. Now we still use Cabs out of airports but the cab drivers usually are friendlier and more professional.
I am clueless about what to do in NYC but in the way-smaller city of SF, I've never had a bad ride-hail experience. But again we are a much tinier city!
Overall it's better than pre-Uber when we depended on cabs with consistently rude drivers who didn't want to accept credit cards. Now we still use Cabs out of airports but the cab drivers usually are friendlier and more professional.
I am clueless about what to do in NYC but in the way-smaller city of SF, I've never had a bad ride-hail experience. But again we are a much tinier city!
#23
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This x1000. I hate the taxi cartel and their rude drivers in pretty much every U.S. city except New York. I was mostly on Uber's side when they were first growing and using some admittedly-shady techniques to combat the cartel and their political cronies. Their internal corporate culture stuff has mostly turned me off to them, but still...I'm glad they disrupted the market in one of the purest senses of the world "disruption".
#24
Moderator: Information Desk, Women Travelers, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
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Posts: 15,637
Oh, I had a doozie today. Got an Uber to take me to the doctor's office. Uber driver has the nerve to ask me how my health was and if I was going for any particular concern. Then proceeded to tell me he's an aspiring Christian hip-hop artists, wants to share his ministry with me and talks to me about God for the remainder of the trip.
#25
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: CLT
Posts: 7,249
Oh, I had a doozie today. Got an Uber to take me to the doctor's office. Uber driver has the nerve to ask me how my health was and if I was going for any particular concern. Then proceeded to tell me he's an aspiring Christian hip-hop artists, wants to share his ministry with me and talks to me about God for the remainder of the trip.
back when Lyft used to sponsor driver groups on Facebook there were people who said they witnessed to everyone. Lyft didn’t really do much to address them.
#26
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New York and Vienna
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When using Uber, I always select the Uber VIP option if available in that city as that does get you better and more experienced drivers.
I have had some pretty good experiences with Uber in a variety of countries and nothing horribly bad.
I have had some pretty good experiences with Uber in a variety of countries and nothing horribly bad.
#27
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Redondo Beach, Ca
Posts: 30,698
Oh, I had a doozie today. Got an Uber to take me to the doctor's office. Uber driver has the nerve to ask me how my health was and if I was going for any particular concern. Then proceeded to tell me he's an aspiring Christian hip-hop artists, wants to share his ministry with me and talks to me about God for the remainder of the trip.
I would have shut that crap down from the get go.
#28
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Orlando, FL Area
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I've never had any problems with Uber or Lyft. I hope I never have to ride in a taxi cab ever again. They cars always seemed to be poorly maintained and mostly sleazy drivers.
#29
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
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#30
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I check them both out of habit. Once in a while I find one with a different surge factor than the other, but more often than not they're essentially the same price.