Uber in Calgary Thread

[Tik-Tok]

I took an uber today and was talking to the guy about it, he said Xmas eve, day, and NYE were insane, but he knew they were the exception. The guy on Reddit is going to be in for a shock if he thinks this is normal income.

It's a good week to drive if you don't have family or need the extra income.

[pheoxs]

Uber now has approval to pickup and drop off at the airport. Woot!

https://www.uber.com/airports/yyc/

Curious what finding one will be like. Is it worth a driver to sit and wait there until it gains more traction.

Edit: 4.50$ pickup fee, 2.25$ dropoff fee.

[schocker]

Awesome. Not sure if generally you would have many drivers in the area though compared to say downtown?

[Gestalt]

Officially, driving, for Uber sucks.

Been doing it almost a week. Very difficult to average $15 an hour before any expenses. Gas, car washes, and washer fluid in this weather.

The fares are just too cheap. Took a guy from cowboys Casino to the Westin, Uber takes 25%, my pay for the fare was $3.50. I keep busy, only a few minutes between fares. Dowtown to airport was $15 to me. Tried to hang out there, was fourth in line. System glitched, suddenly, I was 7+ means you have no idea how many in front so i went back downtown empty. Drove a blackjack dealer from Casino downtown, to some neighborhood quite a bit passed the ski hill, that was $16 and of course come back empty.

You dont know destination when you accept a ping. I use 2 phones, driver app and passenger app. No one tips. Maybe one in 20. My rating is perfect still.

You can occasionally have a good hour or two, but as an average, not so much.

Ok, back to work.

[Buster]

I thought tipping was specifically not part of the Uber experience?

[Gestalt]

Ubers policy is you are free to tip, and accept tips, but there is no way to do it in the app. I here lyft has the option, and pays more than 14 cents a minute when you are sitting still.


https://help.uber.com/h/d1a581ed-a0f...b-020e26fb613d

[speedog]

Originally posted by Gestalt
Officially, driving, for Uber sucks.

Been doing it almost a week. Very difficult to average $15 an hour before any expenses. Gas, car washes, and washer fluid in this weather.

The fares are just too cheap. Took a guy from cowboys Casino to the Westin, Uber takes 25%, my pay for the fare was $3.50. I keep busy, only a few minutes between fares. Dowtown to airport was $15 to me. Tried to hang out there, was fourth in line. System glitched, suddenly, I was 7+ means you have no idea how many in front so i went back downtown empty. Drove a blackjack dealer from Casino downtown, to some neighborhood quite a bit passed the ski hill, that was $16 and of course come back empty.

You dont know destination when you accept a ping. I use 2 phones, driver app and passenger app. No one tips. Maybe one in 20. My rating is perfect still.

You can occasionally have a good hour or two, but as an average, not so much.

Ok, back to work.

I've a friend who also started driving for uber about two weeks ago and after their initial enthusiasm, they have become very quiet when queried about it. The few fares/trips they've posted up have been in line with what you've stated and I certainly can not see where the money is in it.

So uber, are we going to see throngs of people driving for them in Calgary or will it be something else? If it's like what Gestalt and my friend are experiencing, then it seems destined to be a bust.

[sexualbanana]

Originally posted by Gestalt
Officially, driving, for Uber sucks.

Been doing it almost a week. Very difficult to average $15 an hour before any expenses. Gas, car washes, and washer fluid in this weather.

The fares are just too cheap. Took a guy from cowboys Casino to the Westin, Uber takes 25%, my pay for the fare was $3.50. I keep busy, only a few minutes between fares. Dowtown to airport was $15 to me. Tried to hang out there, was fourth in line. System glitched, suddenly, I was 7+ means you have no idea how many in front so i went back downtown empty. Drove a blackjack dealer from Casino downtown, to some neighborhood quite a bit passed the ski hill, that was $16 and of course come back empty.

You dont know destination when you accept a ping. I use 2 phones, driver app and passenger app. No one tips. Maybe one in 20. My rating is perfect still.

You can occasionally have a good hour or two, but as an average, not so much.

Ok, back to work.

Mid-January isn't exactly a fantastic time to be doing it either, though. There aren't any big conventions in town and most people are in a Xmas/NYE financial hangover.

June and July should be good with the Petro Show and Stampede.

[flipstah]

Why would you tip?

I thought drivers dictate the fare, so you should include tip within it. You hopefully weed out the lowballers based on expenses you stated (you can't sustain lowballs unless they have large capital to begin with), and then market dictates the price after.

[ExtraSlow]

Yeah, when I looked at the fixed costs to get started, plus the ongoing cost of higher insurance, plus some not insignificant wear and tear, I can't see the appeal. Sounds like you basically end up with a minimum wage job.

If you happen to enjoy it, sure, you can make a lot more for probably six weeks per year, but overall, you'd make more money at McDonald's.

[Gestalt]

Uber dictates fares. Driver has no input.

, I stay pretty busy, so I cant see how it would get better. Talking to guys that did it a year ago, they say there was a big fare drop with the re introduction. 14 cents a minute, and 90 cents a km is just too low.

There's a forum for drivers, and when we rate passengers, the suggestions are they only get a 5 if they tip. If its a minimum fare trip, and they dont tip, and we have to wait more than a few minutes for them, they get a 1. The only info you have when the ping comes is location, distance, and approximate time, and passenger rating. Ive been giving everyone a 5 as long as they dont puke in the car, and are half pleasant.

[speedog]

Originally posted by flipstah
Why would you tip?

I thought drivers dictate the fare, so you should include tip within it. You hopefully weed out the lowballers based on expenses you stated (you can't sustain lowballs unless they have large capital to begin with), and then market dictates the price after.

Drivers dictate the fare? I thought it was Uber that controlled/dictated the fare?

[Gestalt]

Yes. Its 100% Uber.

[Mitsu3000gt]

I thought one huge perk of Uber was no payment interaction and no obligation to tip?

Rating customers "1" because they don't tip is like people rating a vacation resort 1 star out of 5 because of one tiny thing that bothered them that they were not entitled to in the first place. Also in the end it seems like that would only hurt the drivers - if 99% of customers have a low star rating because of the 1 star ratings, and drivers don't pick them up due to low ratings, drivers don't make money. Sounds dumb.

[flipstah]

So the 'market' doesn't really dictate fare. That's flawed. Sounds terrible. Sorry to hear.

They're purposely undercutting lol.

[Gestalt]

I've never driven cab, but am told Uber fares are much lower.

Uber customers are techy and love Uber. Most claim they are done with cabs.

I didnt come up with the ratings, just relaying what I hear. The US guys are fighting for even minimum wage, seems Uber underpays everywhere.

Tipping. When we visit in the US, I always Tip Uber drivers. I have never seen a suggestion from Uber that you should not Tip, and even $2 would make the job worth it.

Now i understand why every other Uber car I see in this weather is covered in road grime and looks gray. Even $2 to $3 to wash your car a couple times a shift bites in.

You sure re learn the value of a dollar with this job.

[Gestalt]

Originally posted by flipstah
So the 'market' doesn't really dictate fare. That's flawed. Sounds terrible. Sorry to hear.

They're purposely undercutting lol.

They have surge pricing. Again, Uber decides rates, but a little more. Only kicks in with very busy areas when you are short drivers. After a hockey game, or even bars close, you might get one trip. By the time you get back it's usually over.

I'll drive a few hours tonight since its Friday and maybe post my trips, distance and fares tomorrow.

[OTown]

Beyond finally realizes why the city was so concerned about Uber coming in without any regulations. I say good on them for standing up to the public and private pressures

[ercchry]

As a rider, you as for a tip. I give you a 1 star, good luck with your uber career. It will be short

Drive only during surge pricing if it's not worth your time. Your hero trump would be embarrassed

[ercchry]

Uber gives you an audience, don't squander it

https://www.google.ca/amp/www.forbes...252000-a-year/