Has anyone used uber?
- Thread starter wazup
- Start date
If the quote is half the price of taxi it's Uber X and not Uber.
There is a difference in the platforms, the cars, the licensing and the insurance each platform carries.
There is no way to tip them unless you carry cash, which I don't. Once you hail the car you will see it on the map in your phone, driving towards you, and there will be an ETA telling you how long to wait. That is great if you are indoors. You don't need to go out on the street until the app shows your car is arriving.
Tip is automatically included in your payment, but I'm not sure if it's with all uber vehicles or just Uber taxi. Either way there's no expectation, which is the point I think. You can adjust the percentage if you want, on your account. But it's a cashless and cardless way to travel.
Another Uber fan here!
Uber X, Uber black, Uber select (the two latter are more "upscale" , but all of my uber x experience have been mostly positive.
You enter your name/credit card info and you get billed a receipt at the end of your trip.
you can ask an estimate of the cost before ordering your car. Surge price sometime suck but as long as it's under 2.2X time it's the same as a cab price.
Normally from my place for example to go to Pearson it's a flat fee of 60$, and last time I used Uber and it was 38$. Including tip.
Uber X, Uber black, Uber select (the two latter are more "upscale" , but all of my uber x experience have been mostly positive.
You enter your name/credit card info and you get billed a receipt at the end of your trip.
you can ask an estimate of the cost before ordering your car. Surge price sometime suck but as long as it's under 2.2X time it's the same as a cab price.
Normally from my place for example to go to Pearson it's a flat fee of 60$, and last time I used Uber and it was 38$. Including tip.
Would be an awfully long ride if the drivers did nothing....
As I pointed out in another thread, Uber drivers are making below minimum wage most of the time. The only other workers I know who get that treatment are waitstaff, and tipping them is basically mandatory at this point.
Another fallacy is that a tip is included in the fare. It's not. At least not for UberX where, as mentioned above, drivers are making really shitty wages. Uber can perpetuate this on drivers' ignorance of the cost of supplying your own vehicle, the upkeep for said vehicle, fuel costs, and unpaid km/time looking, and travelling to the pickup location, for a passenger.
Uber = great for riders
Uber = bad for drivers
I got interested in this when the whole taxi protest fiasco occurred a little while ago. At first I was totally on Uber's side, but after doing some research I now see it slightly differently. I still believe Uber is fantastic idea, and is the future of short-distance travel. But drivers seriously need some regulations put in place to make sure they can make a livable wage. Otherwise the only difference between Uber and taxis will be the technology and a rating system that keeps drivers in line. Basically, drivers are Uber's bitches, and Uber knows it...and is pleased.
In order to make minimum wage, Uber needs to raise fares about 25%. In some areas, more.
Would be an awfully long ride if the drivers did nothing....
As I pointed out in another thread, Uber drivers are making below minimum wage most of the time. The only other workers I know who get that treatment are waitstaff, and tipping them is basically mandatory at this point.
Another fallacy is that a tip is included in the fare. It's not. At least not for UberX where, as mentioned above, drivers are making really shitty wages. Uber can perpetuate this on drivers' ignorance of the cost of supplying your own vehicle, the upkeep for said vehicle, fuel costs, and unpaid km/time looking, and travelling to the pickup location, for a passenger.
Uber = great for riders
Uber = bad for drivers
I got interested in this when the whole taxi protest fiasco occurred a little while ago. At first I was totally on Uber's side, but after doing some research I now see it slightly differently. I still believe Uber is fantastic idea, and is the future of short-distance travel. But drivers seriously need some regulations put in place to make sure they can make a livable wage. Otherwise the only difference between Uber and taxis will be the technology and a rating system that keeps drivers in line. Basically, drivers are Uber's bitches, and Uber knows it...and is pleased.
In order to make minimum wage, Uber needs to raise fares about 25%. In some areas, more.
I've used Uber (both UberX and the other Uber platforms) many times and am a big fan. However, as far as drivers making below minimum wage - many of the UberX drivers I've spoken to have told me that they do this on a strictly part-time basis and either have other jobs (or in a couple of cases were retired). So I think we need to be careful not to conclude that UberX are somehow being taken advantage of, because that may not be the whole story.
In addition, once you select "Request UberX" you are sent the name/photo of the driver, make/model of the vehicle and their rating out of 5. When the car is near, you'll get text telling you your car is arriving. As fuji mentioned, you can also follow the car's progress prior to arrival on your phone. Shortly after you get to your destination, you'll receive the total with your route shown on a map.
You will also be asked to rate the driver between 1 and 5 stars. The driver will also rate you. If you're a dick and have a 1 star rating, the driver will see this before accepting a ride and may choose not to. It pays to be courteous and respectful for both drivers and passengers.
A word of caution. Make sure the Uber vehicle of your choice is selected before you hit "request". I always take UberX but one time a regular cab showed up. I must have accidentally pressed "Taxi" at the bottom of the screen and didn't notice it. Might have been drinking... Maybe...
The distance is 16.2 kms, maybe 3-5$ in gas and 23 minutes travel time (google maps) for 40-45$, that does seem expensive, never really looked too deeply into cab costs. Throw in 5$ for maintenance costs on vehicle (average) and still doesn't come to 10$.
I want to pay for time I'm in vehicle, not the time he's waiting for a fare, I guess it doesn't work that way though.
I want to pay for time I'm in vehicle, not the time he's waiting for a fare, I guess it doesn't work that way though.
In the past I have called a standard taxi service and uber to take me from Yonge/Adelaide to Don Mills/Steeles. Both of these were on a weekday evening during rush hour.
The taxi service told me that a car would arrive "soon". However after waiting and watching a number of empty taxis from the same company drive by, my car arrived in about 30 minutes
The uber service gave me the time, make, model and driver name. He was waiting for me at the exact time of pick up.
The taxi was not dirty, but was old. Leather seats were torn and faded, the driver had not shaved and looked like he lived in his car. the uber driver and car was clean. Guess which one I preffered.
The uber ride cost me a little less, about 20%, which I added as a tip. So the difference in price was not significant.
Times are changing and the was way we live and do business is also changing. The Taxi industry needs to change if they are to survive.
The taxi service told me that a car would arrive "soon". However after waiting and watching a number of empty taxis from the same company drive by, my car arrived in about 30 minutes
The uber service gave me the time, make, model and driver name. He was waiting for me at the exact time of pick up.
The taxi was not dirty, but was old. Leather seats were torn and faded, the driver had not shaved and looked like he lived in his car. the uber driver and car was clean. Guess which one I preffered.
The uber ride cost me a little less, about 20%, which I added as a tip. So the difference in price was not significant.
Times are changing and the was way we live and do business is also changing. The Taxi industry needs to change if they are to survive.
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