Random Uber stories

Fwiffo

Fwiffo

Comes off as a condescending prick
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Since I use it at least 5 times a week or more I thought I'd share all of my ongoing Uber experiences.

Today I got a ride from the office to my Airbnb. What is a $11 fare turned into a $15 fare. I wouldn't normally notice that if it weren't for the fact when he pulled out of my office's near empty parking lot he made a 720 degree turn. I thought he was lost after 360 degrees then I suspected he was trying to get more mileage.

When I left the car he said good night and as I was unpacking I saw my mobile say after some minutes that Uber wants me to thank and tip my driver. I look on the map and the wanker drove 2/3 of the way back to my office and stopped at an A&W for a burger presumably at my expense.
 
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I got the local deaf driver in this village. He fist bumps me after pointing at the screen to see if I am that rider. For a man who lacks one sense he surely has no fear speeding on residential streets.
 
Pretty sure the driver I got now who took 10 minutes to come to my location rated at 7 minutes is high or drunk or both. Problem is I can't really complain as I am piss drunk too.
 
I've been travelling every other week since August, and every Lyft I get is rated a 5.0. Every single one. I'm wondering if the ratings even signify anything anymore.
 
ballmouse said:
I've been travelling every other week since August, and every Lyft I get is rated a 5.0. Every single one. I'm wondering if the ratings even signify anything anymore.
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No they don't. Ever since they started giving discounts to high rated people everyone rates everyone a 5. I did 4s forever until someone told me I was missing out on the Uber specials that they run in urban areas.
 
splinternews.com

Uber and Lyft Drivers Talk About Getting Ripped Off

After a monumental political battle, California passed AB5, a law that will make it much harder for gig economy companies to classify their workers as “independent contractors.” Now, the same political battle is coming to New York. That means it’s a perfect time to hear from Uber and Lyft...
splinternews.com splinternews.com
 
Rambo said:
splinternews.com

Uber and Lyft Drivers Talk About Getting Ripped Off

After a monumental political battle, California passed AB5, a law that will make it much harder for gig economy companies to classify their workers as “independent contractors.” Now, the same political battle is coming to New York. That means it’s a perfect time to hear from Uber and Lyft...
splinternews.com splinternews.com
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To be honest I thought Uber used to show the destination of the rider before you could choose to accept. I have had drivers who had to stop to buy fuel on my dime, or cancel multiple times because I was asking them to drive 100km into an urban city from a satellite city.
 
I had this strange Uber driver who showed up as completing a ride but was empty in front of me at the rail station. I hesitated to approach the vehicle to let the previous passenger out but he was actually finished with that rider. I get in and he drops me off at the office. Again he seemed to hold my ride after I exited and went up to my floor. At the end it was okay as I only paid $66 for a $75 ride. You would think someone would tell him to end the ride before looking for the next one even if you are stationary.
 
Now that I have the deaf Uber driver in this village again and the days are shorter, I noticed his car is heavily tinted. Again, when you are missing a sense then why do you handicap your one and only working sense?
 
I had a driver pick me up from the hotel near my office. We're talking 2km distance. What is normally a less than 10 minute trip including pick up and drop off turned into a 25 minute nightmare. First he followed his GPS like a slave further away from the office. There was a smaller road where he could have turned down and hit a set of lights that would have reversed his direction. Then as he came closer to the location he completely blew by the hotel and kept going down yet another road where making a U turn was near impossible. I gave up waiting for him to show up in front of the lobby and walked all the way out the parking lot to the side of the road to flag him down. He makes an abrupt stop that causes the car behind him to give him the horn. I can already see him driving in circles one day if GPS goes down. You can't blame the GPS if you're completely daft.
 
It’s happening here too. Bloody drivers who not only don’t know where they are going, in their own home territory, but ones who can’t even follow a map/GPS properly. And ones who despite knowing sfa won’t follow my instructions. Uber here is getting nearly as bad as taxis. Crappy music/radio stations, private phone calls, no driving skills, over promise “arriving in 5 mins” then 10 minutes later “arriving in 4 minutes”, idiots waiting on other side of road where I can’t see them even tho my pickup address shows exactly here I am.
 
fxh said:
It’s happening here too. Bloody drivers who not only don’t know where they are going, in their own home territory, but ones who can’t even follow a map/GPS properly. And ones who despite knowing sfa won’t follow my instructions. Uber here is getting nearly as bad as taxis. Crappy music/radio stations, private phone calls, no driving skills, over promise “arriving in 5 mins” then 10 minutes later “arriving in 4 minutes”, idiots waiting on other side of road where I can’t see them even tho my pickup address shows exactly here I am.
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I've had drivers who wave for me to run across a six lane road to the opposite side. I had a black man who strangely had Voice of America on via satellite radio.

The worst these days are the wankers who press "I have arrived" when they're almost 1km away. Reckon they start the billing too. It's apparently very prevalent in London where you're four blocks out and you press the "I have arrived" . One of my co-workers rang them back and said I'm here - where did you arrive?
 
I reckon I’ve had the “I have arrived” trick. Although don’t they stick to the pre advised price?

I was told that they are subsidising (for drivers) the Share option as it isn’t as popular here as it is in USA. Apparently in USA is the majority of their rides. Here it’s SFA.

I’ve tried it a few times. Often there’s no one to share and it’s very cheap. However once I had an idiot who got lost for 10 minutes looking for his pickup when I was half a block from my destination and wouldn’t let me out to walk.
 
fxh said:
I reckon I’ve had the “I have arrived” trick. Although don’t they stick to the pre advised price?

I was told that they are subsidising (for drivers) the Share option as it isn’t as popular here as it is in USA. Apparently in USA is the majority of their rides. Here it’s SFA.

I’ve tried it a few times. Often there’s no one to share and it’s very cheap. However once I had an idiot who got lost for 10 minutes looking for his pickup when I was half a block from my destination and wouldn’t let me out to walk.
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They call it UberPool in Canada. One of female acquintances who is 60 uses it all the time hoping to meet interesting young men. She is of course single.
 
My uber driver this am was good. He listened to me. The Uber map app is fucking hopeless. Just defaults to use freeway/s. Even though it takes a lot longer and is longer in distance.
 
Where I live there is one toll highway. It always defaults to go there too. I don't know the compensation for the toll highway. They do get compensated but if you don't have a transponder your licence plate gets photographed and they send you a bill later. Reckon there is some kind of time lapse that a lot of drivers ask to take the free highways.
 
Uber drivers who insist to drive through the Santa Claus parade. I know the GPS doesn't show it but the wall of cops and metal barriers means you need to find an alternate route.
 
When your Uber driver yawns uncontrollably with audible sound effects you begin to wonder...
 
Uber drivers who lecture you on where and when to hail a ride.
 
Rambo said:
be lucky you didn't get added to the murder statistics.
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I had one Muslim driver in a cap and robe keep calling me brother. I was in a jacket, odd trousers and tie.

I am used to rural Ohio and Virginia where men call me brother but that I attribute to colloquialism not conversion to a religion.
 
Bloody Uber driver tells me not to put my wet brolly on the other leather seat in the back. There's a way you can say it and then there's some African wagging his finger at the seat.
 
I had a 40 dollar uber ride where the driver was determined to break some kind of speed record. I never said I was in a rush but he passed idle cars, school buses and slipped in and out of the car pool lane to bring me from uptown to downtown. I couldn't see the speedometer since I was behind the driver. I did worry for my employee who sat in the passenger side without a seatbelt.

Uber's app has a speed indicator and I swear this driver was red for the entire trip.
 
fxh said:
Isn’t it illegal to not wear seatbelts
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If it's a certified taxi or limousine you don't have to. If the certified taxi or limousine driver does not have a passenger, he/she can drive without one on the basis that he/she is unencumbered scanning for the next fare. I believe that's what I was taught.

For UberX I always wear it because I'm rather the non-professional driver not be pulled over by cops resulting in my trip being delayed.

fxh said:
Do Canadians get in the front seat like Australians?
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No. First seat choice is the rear on passenger side. Second seat choice is rear behind the driver. If there are three or four people then it is expected the front seat is occupied. Most drivers and taxis will have the front passenger seat pushed all the way up to give more room in the rear.
 
It's one extra thing I hate about going overseas - the expectation that you'll sit in the back seat.
 
One time my ex lady friend parked too close to the other vehicle making it impossible to get in on the passenger side. She got into the driver's seat and I shooed myself across the bench to be in the rear behind the passenger. As she pulled out she kept saying, "This is so weird...this is so weird..."

To me it's quite normal as I am in the back 10 times of 10 every week whenever I'm in a motor vehicle (Uber, taxi, limo)

This Uber driver picks me up from a rail station and says, "Oh you go to X? How much Uber charge you?" In her Indian aunty voice. I almost assumed she didn't want the fare or was going to let me off half way in the middle of nowhere.

X is about a 30 minute drive away.
 
I took 3 Ubers in New York and 2 were Kazakh guys. How many Kazakhs are in New York?
 
A few weeks ago I had to go to an 8.30am meeting in Clarendon Street East Melbourne. I got ready and used the app well before I walked out the door. Initially it said driver will be there in 6 minutes. 5 minutes later it said 7 minutes. I watched the little graphic on the app and then car was doing a convoluted 360 degrees drive around me. Through busy lights and intersection. Then he did it again.

I thought he’s probably dropping someone off and has booked me before he’s finished. Or he’s an idiot.
When he finally arrived he took off and as usual I asked if he knew the way or wanted me to navigate. And was he using Uber maps or google maps. He assured me he knew and was using Uber maps. A bad sign as for some reason Uber maps almost always makes them take a freeway. The freeway is way way out of the way, much longer distance and takes more time as it drops onto Punt / Hoddle the busiest blocked cross road in melbourne in peak.

I direct him a bit and remind him it’s Clarendon st East Melbourne not Clarendon st South Melbourne. He sounds a bit miffed when he says he knows the way. He glues his eyes to the GPS/ Map looking one turn ahead in that way you know there’s nothing in his head. No planning. No big picture. No road knowledge. Nothing.

Down Barker’s road he turns left into Power St. I remind him it’s east melbourne not south melbourne. He’s says he knows and is taking most direct route.

I remind him 8, yes eight times, in the next 10 minutes it’s EAST melbourne not South Melbourne. He gets irritated and tells me he’s following the map.

In the middle of City Road in the middle of traffic. just under bridge before Casino I say. “ Stop. Now and let me out”

He looks hurt.
It’s now meeting time and I’m in a spot where there’s no hope of a ride. I have to walk across river, past Flinders Street station.

I’m 30 minutes late for very official important meeting.

There’s no phone to complain to Uber. The app is so convoluted to make a complaint that I give up.

The Uber app asks me if I want to give driver a tip.
 
fxh said:
There’s no phone to complain to Uber. The app is so convoluted to make a complaint that I give up.

The Uber app asks me if I want to give driver a tip.
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It's no consolation to your lost time but your trip is archived in your Uber profile for I believe 90 days. I'd use the app to say the driver took the wrong way and if the route is spinning in circles on a map, 99.9999 percent of the time Uber will side with you and refund your cost or give you the difference between the shortest distance/cost from point A to point B. Uber is good that way. They're like American Express.

You can be punitive and rate 1 star. You can even do that long after that ride (within the 90 day window I think). That's the only way to retaliate but he will retaliate and rate you low too.
 
Uber customer support is unusable if you aren't selecting one of the default options (and even then, it's still like pulling teeth).
 
Fwiffo said:
It's no consolation to your lost time but your trip is archived in your Uber profile for I believe 90 days. I'd use the app to say the driver took the wrong way and if the route is spinning in circles on a map, 99.9999 percent of the time Uber will side with you and refund your cost or give you the difference between the shortest distance/cost from point A to point B. Uber is good that way. They're like American Express.

You can be punitive and rate 1 star. You can even do that long after that ride (within the 90 day window I think). That's the only way to retaliate but he will retaliate and rate you low too.
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He didn’t take the wrong way. He was going to a totally different place.

Thanks for the reminder about 90 days. I’ll take it up.
 
I've been an Uber customer since 2012 and I live between two sports stadiums, some tourist landmarks and the main rail station so I often have to walk three blocks to get out of the surge zone. Surges are easy to predict - general gridlock or people arriving/departing concerts or sports games.

Surge pricing in Manhattan is like a stock market. From lower Manhattan to Newark I did some random price tests on weekdays and weekends at different times and it can fluctuate from $58 to $120. Usually you can see surge pricing work because all the Uber cars start swarming into the surge area you're at. Surge pricing fluctuated from $110 to $64 for that route and I didn't see many of the cars even budge. I literally looked out of the hotel and saw no difference in traffic and the price changes. It's definitely not related to GPS as I specified my pickup location to a building.

There must be some computer algorithm at work and I was about to hit the PATH train instead of paying nearly double for the same ride in the same car.
 
Should I worry if I get into Uber and there is a distinct smell of marijuana?
 
I get this Uber that is literally on the other side of the strip mall as me. 2 minute arrival time. 2 minutes later the bloody car hasn't moved and I'm dragging myself towards his car. Later I found out the bloke was buying a coffee when he accepted to drive me. Greek chap. Long story about the woman in queue in front of him being indecisive.
 
Fwiffo said:
I get this Uber that is literally on the other side of the strip mall as me. 2 minute arrival time. 2 minutes later the bloody car hasn't moved and I'm dragging myself towards his car. Later I found out the bloke was buying a coffee when he accepted to drive me. Greek chap. Long story about the woman in queue in front of him being indecisive.
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Could be true- I'm always behind someone who cant make u their fucking mind about choices -and I'm guessing they always have the same thing.

I have a brother in law who drives me to tears. He has very pedestrian tastes - thats OK - i can cope. Except he is a bit militant about it. In a boofheaded way. Any way - should one be on a car trip with him over 1 hour or so - (explainer thats "just down the road" in Oz). He'll want to stop for a cup of tea and something to eat. Not withstanding hes just had a HUGE breakfast or whatever. And been snacking on lollies. And just like a few others in that family - he gets panicky if it going to take more than 5 mins to find a place. However when he gets to the dodgy looking cafe, he'll yak yak yak in a loud voice about nothing, or xenophobic non sequiturs about Chinese or Indians or women or gays ...... then after 20 mins - when asked what he want to order - say he hasn't made up his mind. Then after another 5 mins order what everyone knew he would order. Than 10 mins later after slurping a dodgy half warm warm cup of water that has had a stale tea bag waved over it loudly proclaim " That was great. Nothing like a good cup of tea" to the server - just as everyone else who have long left their half finished cup is muttering what an overpriced cup of slop and lets make sure we never come here again.
 
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