Uber
- Thread starter i8uP
- Start date
Have used and would recommend. However, on busy nights, such as NYE, they have surge pricing. This essentially multiplies the fare by an amount based on volume. For instance, people looking for a ride in Omaha after 12:30 on NYE were subject to a 8.5 multiplier, making long distance rides ridiculously expensive compared to a cab. They do include a fare estimator in the app, which is a useful tool for such nights. The thing I like about Uber is that all payment is processed electronically, which eliminates cash transactions. I still tip, even though they say you don't have to.
We used it when my friend was back from Texas on Thanksgiving. It is very convenient, they were to my place in 5 minutes, it shows you on your phone where they are, eta. It only cost 10 bucks to get from my house in SW Lincoln to the railyard. But..at 2 am coming home hammered my buddy said his statement read 60 bucks. Must rape the drunks. LOL...Or prices go way up after midnight.
My son has used Uber to/from airports in Denver, Houston, San Francisco, Newark with no problems at all.
Sometimes the driver even speaks English!
Used it twice. both times it was more expensive than i expected.
there are several classes of cars-each with a diferent price.---and only one will give you a firm flat rate price-that is Uber X i believe. Others have a charge for time, mileage, airport fees, etc. Most everyone i have talked to speak highly of UBER, but watch out for the "gotchas" i have mentioned
there are several classes of cars-each with a diferent price.---and only one will give you a firm flat rate price-that is Uber X i believe. Others have a charge for time, mileage, airport fees, etc. Most everyone i have talked to speak highly of UBER, but watch out for the "gotchas" i have mentioned
I use them in Atlanta. Longest wait has been 10 minutes. I had to get my transmission redone, thought I would rent a car but decided to use Uber instead. Saved a lot of money over a rental.
I use Uber all the time. It's a great service, so much more friendly than jumping in a taxi, IMO.
The surge pricing does stink, but its driven purely by economics. It's rough on consumers when its high, but its simple supply and demand. From what one driver told me, when surge pricing occurs, drivers near the surge area or Uber drivers who are not currently working are alerted of the surge and given the opportunity to deliver supply to the high demand area. The "surge" is re-evaluated every 5-15 mins and re-priced. If you don't like paying the surge price, then wait for a taxi, chances are you'll be waiting a while. If you want a service when the supply of the commodity is low and demand is high, you have to pay for it.
UberX works just like the others types of Uber options I've used - you pay a small base rate plus a fee and then you pay time and mileage factors.
The surge pricing does stink, but its driven purely by economics. It's rough on consumers when its high, but its simple supply and demand. From what one driver told me, when surge pricing occurs, drivers near the surge area or Uber drivers who are not currently working are alerted of the surge and given the opportunity to deliver supply to the high demand area. The "surge" is re-evaluated every 5-15 mins and re-priced. If you don't like paying the surge price, then wait for a taxi, chances are you'll be waiting a while. If you want a service when the supply of the commodity is low and demand is high, you have to pay for it.
UberX works just like the others types of Uber options I've used - you pay a small base rate plus a fee and then you pay time and mileage factors.
I've been with friends when they've used it, good experience both times. Strongly considering driving for some extra income once I get a newer car. Probably gonna get a sweet minivan to drive around my (soon to be) two kids and existing big dog. Try not to be jealous of my sexy van.
Never used Lyft, but I have friends who have used it and swear by it over Uber, mainly due to a bad experience with an Uber driver. From what I understand, the services are similar, though with Lyft I think you have a little more control over who your driver is...maybe? Not completely sure on that.
Lyft is ridiculously easy, with little "options". Literally push a button "request Lyft" and they show up. Only other things you can really do is "cancel Lyft" while they're en route. Shows you a picture and rating of the driver as well as a virtual map of where they are. Ridiculously slick. Longest I've ever waited was 25 mins but that was because it was 5pm on a work day. Everything else is typically under 10 mins.
Only drawback is they charge you $5 for not showing up, which isn't bad imo.
Now that is something I hadn't heard of until all the news stories going around over NYE, but I'm glad I know now. I've looked at a few receipts after the fact and they do have a "premium time" charge for the Friday night rides. So yeah, I think they also do that.
Not at all. Uber is valued at $53B. Their method for pricing is Machine Learning generated and will correct itself based on supply and demand.
Last edited:
Wholeheartedly agree. They have changed the game on how we transport ourselves.
I read a tech/business article a few months ago about how companies like Lyft and Uber have created/filled a massive need - and they use other people's equipment. Just genius.
It came along at a very opportune time. If wages overall had kept pace with productivity like they did once upon a time, I don't think you could get people to sign on to get paid ~$10 an hour to burn their own gas and run up their own miles. For that matter I don't think there would be as much demand to cut out taxis from the equation.
They eliminated the two largest reasons people don't wanna drive a taxi:
1) The taxi itself
2) Getting licensed as a cabbie
It's both modern and very throwback. You're technically working for a huge company, but you feel like you're working alone and doing business directly with your customer.
Use it. It's a good service. For the reasons Beav mentioned, don't feel all that great about using it.
This is not Business 101. Taxi companies are forced to buy liability policies to protect passengers, I think with a $1 million limit. Uber has none. In fact, if you are driving your car for Uber and you have an at fault accident, you are personally liable for the damages, injuries, pain and suffering, etc. You personal auto policy specifically excludes carrying passengers for a fee. You could lose everything you have. Conversely, if you are riding in an Uber car and are injured, you will have to personally sue an Uber driver who may have no assets. I can see why the taxi companies are not happy with this. You wouldn't be either. I can't believe the governments allow this to even operate because they are clearly not protecting anyone in the current format. That's why everyone has to buy liability insurance on their car. I'm not saying that's right or wrong. It's just a fact. Uber should be playing by the same rules as everyone else. And no, I don't work for a taxi company or any transportation industry. I do have insurance claims experience and you are already seeing lives being adversely affected when you have accidents in these situations. Just a word to the wise.
Conceptually, yes, it's Business 101. You either get their first or you do it better. It's that simple.
Reeeeeeally? I did not know that, and it has drastically altered my desire to do any Uber driving...
Sure it sucks for them but sometimes that does happen in business...I bet all those taxi companies wish that they would have thought of their Uber idea...it happens, things change.
Well I'll be...a thing somebody posted as an internet comment didn't pan out after a fact check. Wonder what the odds are of that?
Hey, I apologize. Did not realize they finally bought liability insurance. I know several states were trying to shut them down for that reason.
My main point is still correct. Personal auto insurance will not cover carrying passengers for a fee. If you don't believe me check with your local agent. I worked claims for 20 years so that much is true. If you drive for Uber, proceed with caution as different states have different laws on which coverages are primary and secondary, etc.
My main point is still correct. Personal auto insurance will not cover carrying passengers for a fee. If you don't believe me check with your local agent. I worked claims for 20 years so that much is true. If you drive for Uber, proceed with caution as different states have different laws on which coverages are primary and secondary, etc.
Personal auto coverage will not cover you if you are driving a passenger for money. This is where Ubers million dollar policy comes into play. Notice the coverage they provide when not transporting a customer is state minimum in most states. This will only pay in the case of your personal insurance not paying. If you aren't toting a customer at that point it shouldn't be a problem.
