Uber Driver Sob Stories

dahliaclone

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Mar 4, 2007
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I Lyft drive on weekends for extra money. I am friendly but can read immediately if a rider is a talker or wants to chat and let them dictate the ride. I am sure there are some that pander for tips, but that's not specific to this industry in any way. If you don't know what you're getting into as a driver in terms of putting tons of mileage on your car, tire changes more regularly, etc then that's your fault.

I do, however, feel that drivers for both Lyft and Uber are getting royally ****** by the companies. I only drive for Lyft so can't say what it's like for Uber. But when I started driving, when there was a high need for a driver (after a sporting event, concert, bar close, bad weather), we as drivers would see surge pricing. Any rider we picked up could be anywhere from 50% to 600% more. That means a ride that typically netted me $10 could be $50 or more. Weekends you could make bank...I could make $500 in a few hours due to surge pricing.

Then they went public and they are somehow not profitable and they got rid of surge pricing. But only for the drivers. Riders still show they could be paying an arm and a leg...but we as drivers don't see that. We get the bare minimum. So Lyft is reaping all the price increase while the driver sees ****. Now I could drive 5 hours on a Friday night and maybe make $100. Maybe.

It's a massive % decrease for drivers. And if you relied on that surge pricing you're in a world of hurt. That's basically what the Uber/Lyft strike was about last week.

Lyft does have a new 'personal hot spots' and random areas where you can pick up a couple extra bucks a ride. But since that was implemented a couple of months ago I have yet to see any of those.
 

baller21

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Mar 15, 2009
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I had no idea that the drivers rated us. I checked mine out and I've got a 5.00. That's good to know, I'll bet if you have a lower rating, you'll have a harder time getting picked up for rides.

A guy I know told me if you have less than 3 stars only the weirdos will pick you up.
 

Doc

This is it Morty
Aug 6, 2006
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Denver
I usually like talking to Uber drivers. A lot of times they're immigrants so you can get some good advice on where to eat. My rating is only 4.72, but that is my friends' fault ;)
 
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baller21

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Mar 15, 2009
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Basically that's kind of true. If you have a low rating drivers can pass on picking you up. Also, if I rate a rider a three star or lower they will never be matched with me as a driver again.

I usually like talking with drivers about their experiences. Have you had any crazies?
 

CyDude16

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Oct 2, 2008
22,320
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Heads in the sky
I somehow have a 4.98 which includes many trips to prairie meadows, a few other late night trips, a couple trips after football games, and a buddy throwing up in the Uber.

I’ll allow it.
 

DurangoCy

Well-Known Member
Jul 5, 2010
6,442
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Durango, CO
I think I threw out a few 4's until I realized there's places where a driver's score must be a certain number to keep driving. No one's ever been bad enough to receive a 1,2, or 3 for me.
 
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urb1

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Jan 23, 2010
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Urbandale
My brother and I took an Uber home from a bar after watching an ISU game. When the driver profile or whatever came up, it said he was deaf and could not converse. When we got it, he had the radio on low and Google maps with the audible directions. Deaf - yeah, right.
 
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alarson

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Mar 15, 2006
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Ankeny
My brother and I took an Uber home from a bar after watching an ISU game. When the driver profile or whatever came up, it said he was deaf and could not converse. When we got it, he had the radio on low and Google maps with the audible directions. Deaf - yeah, right.

Might just be that he doesnt speak english very well.
 

dahliaclone

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Mar 4, 2007
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I usually like talking with drivers about their experiences. Have you had any crazies?

I haven’t had many crazies. I typically do airport runs or bar close pickups. Lots of drunk stories you overhear which can be funny. Two girls once got in wasted and one decided it was time to get it off her chest that she slept with the other girls boyfriend and it was eating her up and she shouldn’t be mad about it. Needless to say it got heated.
 

runbikeswim

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Oct 23, 2014
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My brother and I took an Uber home from a bar after watching an ISU game. When the driver profile or whatever came up, it said he was deaf and could not converse. When we got it, he had the radio on low and Google maps with the audible directions. Deaf - yeah, right.

Music on low for you, doesn't hear audible maps so doesn't know its talking.
 

dahliaclone

Well-Known Member
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Mar 4, 2007
16,057
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Minneapolis
My only gripe with uber drivers is really smelly cars.

Also, if I'm paying a premium for peak, like when its raining, the driver should get peak rate cut.

Agreed. I also don’t expect tips every ride. But once I drove a couple 40 miles in a blizzard and they didn’t give one cent of a tip. That kind of stuff pisses me off.
 

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