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This summer I had the chance to experience Uber in Europe as well as at home in Michigan. In Michigan the app might ask you to walk across the street as a conv

by rmason 3y ago

This summer I had the chance to experience Uber in Europe as well as at home in Michigan. In Michigan the app might ask you to walk across the street as a convenience to the driver. It's rare but it happens. But in Europe it might ask you to walk over a mile! I was careful (or so I thought) to find a place that made sense for the driver. But Uber wouldn't agree even if it meant getting picked up at a bus stop where by the time I arrived was already gone. I was always charged as the at fault party. In Poland and the Czech Republic Uber was super cheap and I had some amazing conversations with the drivers but never knew if getting picked up would go smoothly or not.

FireBeyond 3y ago
In Australia last week, over a dozen Uber rides over the course of a week and every single one had at least one driver cancelation, and many had 3+.
- hedora 3y ago
  In the US, at least, they used to penalize drivers for ghosting, but the courts ruled they would have to give them employee benefits if they had rules like that. I’d happily pay 2x for a service where drivers got health care, pto, retirement benefits, etc, but had to pass a driving test and were fired for repeatedly failing to pick up accepted fares.
- brendamn 3y ago
  It’s been a few years since my last US visit, but my experience has been that Uber (and Lyft) are much better in the States than Uber in Australia. Frequent cancellations, or a driver just not moving until you cancel the ride, is a major issue in Melbourne. Airport pickup is now basically no different than getting a taxi from the taxi rank. UberEats drivers will often just leave food at a different house on our street, or not at all, even though there is no issue with how our house is marked on maps. There is no quality control with Uber Comfort; 90% of the time it’ll be the same thrashed Camry being used for UberX. I could go on. We’ve stopped using UberEats as a bunch of restaurants we like have alternative options, but I’m surprised the taxi industry here haven’t gotten their game together. At least among my social group, which are moderate Uber users, the sentiment towards Uber (and the available clones, ie Didi) is negative and if there was any decent competition then we’d all switch in a heartbeat.
  - FireBeyond 3y ago
    Not to mention logistical impossibilities. I've booked Uber Max / XL rides (6, 7 riders) and had a Camry show up. Or a Prius.
cyberlurker 3y ago
A few times in Europe no one would accept my ride and I just gave up and made other plans. I never had that problem in the US.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- rmason 3y ago
  Experienced that as well. I had one ride where three drivers in a row cancelled. One of them pulled up and as soon as I reached the passenger door he just drove away leaving me flabbergasted. But the app automatically scheduled a fourth driver and he was excellent. Spoke to him about it and he said it was rush hour and drivers would get a chance at a more lucrative client and they'd drop you and quickly take it. He told me I can't just treat people like that even if it means I make less money.

by rmason 3y ago

FireBeyond 3y ago

In Australia last week, over a dozen Uber rides over the course of a week and every single one had at least one driver cancelation, and many had 3+.

hedora 3y ago
In the US, at least, they used to penalize drivers for ghosting, but the courts ruled they would have to give them employee benefits if they had rules like that. I’d happily pay 2x for a service where drivers got health care, pto, retirement benefits, etc, but had to pass a driving test and were fired for repeatedly failing to pick up accepted fares.
brendamn 3y ago
It’s been a few years since my last US visit, but my experience has been that Uber (and Lyft) are much better in the States than Uber in Australia. Frequent cancellations, or a driver just not moving until you cancel the ride, is a major issue in Melbourne. Airport pickup is now basically no different than getting a taxi from the taxi rank. UberEats drivers will often just leave food at a different house on our street, or not at all, even though there is no issue with how our house is marked on maps. There is no quality control with Uber Comfort; 90% of the time it’ll be the same thrashed Camry being used for UberX. I could go on. We’ve stopped using UberEats as a bunch of restaurants we like have alternative options, but I’m surprised the taxi industry here haven’t gotten their game together. At least among my social group, which are moderate Uber users, the sentiment towards Uber (and the available clones, ie Didi) is negative and if there was any decent competition then we’d all switch in a heartbeat.
- FireBeyond 3y ago
  Not to mention logistical impossibilities. I've booked Uber Max / XL rides (6, 7 riders) and had a Camry show up. Or a Prius.

cyberlurker 3y ago

A few times in Europe no one would accept my ride and I just gave up and made other plans. I never had that problem in the US.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
rmason 3y ago
Experienced that as well. I had one ride where three drivers in a row cancelled. One of them pulled up and as soon as I reached the passenger door he just drove away leaving me flabbergasted. But the app automatically scheduled a fourth driver and he was excellent. Spoke to him about it and he said it was rush hour and drivers would get a chance at a more lucrative client and they'd drop you and quickly take it. He told me I can't just treat people like that even if it means I make less money.