My first uber

[+ poolboy48220]

I did my first uber ride last night. I had to drop my car off at the shop and didn't feel like bugging the friends who usually give me a ride to and from there again. Quite pleasant once I got signed up. One oddness - I tried to set up my pickup before I brought the car to the shop (a delayed pickup at 7:15 from the shop), since I knew I'd be there by then. It told me "delayed pickup was not available in that area" (only about 10-15 miles from me). I wonder what that restriction is for?

 

Other than that, the driver showed up within 10 minutes once I got to the shop and requested the pickup from my current location, and we had a nice chat (in her very-clean car) about our dogs on the way home.

 

I'm curious - does one tip an uber driver? I've heard conflicting advice on this.

[+ OliverSaks]

I prefer to use Lyft - it allows you to tip within the app.

 

I tip Über drivers almost always.

[LADoug1]

I prefer to use Lyft - it allows you to tip within the app.

 

I tip Über drivers almost always.

 

I've heard that Lyft has better corporate policies and treats their employees better. I prefer to use them vs. Uber. Like the tipping option as well.

[mike carey]

I have only one Uber experience, in the Jan 16 snowstorm in DC, where a hotel staffer booked me a Uber to the airport. I remain concerned that she was actually charged more than I paid, given the circumstances. (I didn't have a smart phone.)

[+ José Soplanucas]

I once dropped my wallet in an Uber car.

 

15 minutes after I was dropped in my destination, I realize my wallet is not in my pocket. I start to sweat in panic, trying to remember when was the last time I saw it. Right when I am in that task, ring, an email comes. It is from an Uber agent, letting me know that a driver has found my wallet and asking where I am. 30 minutes later the car is back and his sexy driver is giving me my wallet back, and receiving an extremely generous tip. Since then I love Uber.

[MikeBiDude]

I've never had a bad experience with über, although the media hypes the colorful tales. I like it when a young man is on his way to me via my über setup/account and I can track the car and exact arrival time on the app!! Eliminates "some" of the waiting and wondering...

[+ pitman]

I know a couple of people who used to be Uber drivers. They liked it at first, but after a while realized they were being jerked around and screwed over by the company, which is pretty much standard procedure for "sharing economy" jobs. Beware when you hear that phrase. Having said that, Lyft generally has a better reputation than Uber (I have never used either). I'm sure the people trying to make a living in these types of jobs are mostly honest people, but the business models of these types of enterprises are rife with exploitation.

[rocky]

the half assed legislature of NY just approved UBER outside of NYC; I mean half assed because it took soo long and for political and dollar reasons. I am a Uber adict. Was in Fort Lauderdale and took many, in NYC a couple of weeks ago and to travel someplace I would never walk, $8 bucks, come on. In upstate NY we have filthy cabs, unrelieable, terrible. Bring me uber soon

[+ azdr0710]

first used Uber almost a year ago and, when I mentioned that fact to the driver, he gave me a code to make the ride free!....tipped him, of course.....next used it several times in Atlanta last fall with universally friendly and cool drivers there.....embarrassingly inexpensive: in Atlanta, it took about 5-10 minutes for the driver to arrive, about 20 minutes for the drive from a downtown Atlanta hotel to Swinging Richard's , then perhaps another 5-10 minutes for the driver to get "re-listed" as ready to drive again....that 40-ish minutes, plus the driver's car use and gas came to a total of about $8.....I don't know how these drivers do it.....I certainly tipped generously - with cash

[LADoug1]

I once dropped my wallet in an Uber car.

 

15 minutes after I was dropped in my destination, I realize my wallet is not in my pocket. I start to sweat in panic, trying to remember when was the last time I saw it. Right when I am in that task, ring, an email comes. It is from an Uber agent, letting me know that a driver has found my wallet and asking where I am. 30 minutes later the car is back and his sexy driver is giving me my wallet back, and receiving an extremely generous tip. Since then I love Uber.

 

A nice uplifting post. But still I would expect this from any professional service provider.

[LADoug1]

I recently rode with Lyft and the driver told me that when a driver accepts a job they don't know the route of the fare and they can't subsequently decline if the fare is inconvenient. If this is true it is a flaw in the Lyft business model. Still I'd choose Lyft over Uber for reasons explained above.

[handiacefailure]

I recently rode with Lyft and the driver told me that when a driver accepts a job they don't know the route of the fare and they can't subsequently decline if the fare is inconvenient. If this is true it is a flaw in the Lyft business model. Still I'd choose Lyft over Uber for reasons explained above.

 

I know a couple people that drive for Uber and/or Lyft and Uber app is the same way, they have no idea if the fare will be a three block ride or really look fare into a bad area. It just tells the passengers first name, the pick up location and their rating and they decide if they want to take the ping and I believe they have 30 seconds to accept before it goes to the next nearest driver.

 

As to the OP's question you should tip the driver just like a cab. You are getting a cheaper fare than a cab, usually a cleaner car and you can track where the driver is on the app.

 

You tip a cab driver, the person that cuts your hair, a bartender, and a lot of people tip an escort (funny enough my friend in SF that drives for Uber has given rides to two well known escorts that stiffed him on a tip) so people should tip their Uber driver.

 

I'm told a lot of passengers don't tip and the drivers are getting pretty pissed off at non-tipper because they have taken a couple pay cuts due to Uber cutting fares. The drivers I know will rate a passenger lower for non-tipping and when it comes to pickups will only pick up higher rated passengers figuring a lower rated won't tip

[handiacefailure]

I once dropped my wallet in an Uber car.

 

15 minutes after I was dropped in my destination, I realize my wallet is not in my pocket. I start to sweat in panic, trying to remember when was the last time I saw it. Right when I am in that task, ring, an email comes. It is from an Uber agent, letting me know that a driver has found my wallet and asking where I am. 30 minutes later the car is back and his sexy driver is giving me my wallet back, and receiving an extremely generous tip. Since then I love Uber.

 

Another advantage to using Uber over a cab. And another good reason to tip your driver. If you tip your driver and leave something in your car you are going to be a lot more likely to get it back. My friend that drives for Uber in SF will try to track down a tipping passenger if he finds they left something in their car. If it's a non-tipper he normally throws the item away figuring he isn't going to waste his gas and time to get an item back to a passenger that stiffed him on a tip and I don't blame him

[tanman4u]

When I first signed up I though you could choose to automatically add-in a tip. That apparently isn't the case so I've been tipping $5 to $10. The driver always seems very happy that I did so. Earlier this year I left my phone in an Uber. I realized it just as he drove off and I, of course, couldn't call. I went through their website to contact him and he drove back (20 minutes) later that day to bring my phone back. That was, of course, worthy of a nice tip.

[handiacefailure]

If you are riding in Lyft something's else to keep in mind Is that if you tip on the app the driver gets it included on his 1099 and has to

Pay tax where they don't pay tax if it's cash. Well they should pay tax but I'm sure like most service people they don't claim it

[instudiocity]

I'm told a lot of passengers don't tip and the drivers are getting pretty pissed off at non-tipper because they have taken a couple pay cuts due to Uber cutting fares. The drivers I know will rate a passenger lower for non-tipping and when it comes to pickups will only pick up higher rated passengers figuring a lower rated won't tip

I almost NEVER tip an Uber driver. I was recently advised by an Uber driver that I have a 4.9 Star rating.

 

Recently, when getting picked up from LAX on an Uber Pool (sharing the ride with another rider), I had a call from the Uber driver, who told me that Uber didn't allow Pool riders from LAX. I hung up on the call, canceled my ride with him, resubmitted for another Uber Pool and spend $16 bucks getting from LAX to Studio City (24 miles along I-405).

 

I use Uber and Left. I open both apps, put in my destination and choose the lowest price between the two. I use Pool or Lyft's Lyft Line (shared ride) frequently also.

 

Yesterday, I rode Uber Pool from Studio City, 4 miles to downtown Hollywood. 21 minute ride, $6.10 fare. No one shared the ride.

 

I haven't owned my own car now for over 2 years. I use Uber/Lyft, ride the Metro busses and subways, and rent cars when I need to make a business trip. Last year, I spent $330 on Uber/Lyft, $120 on Metro buses and subways, and $3,500 on rental cars. Less than $4,000 to accommodate all my ground transportation needs, no car insurance, no maintenance, no downtime on my vehicle. I traveled well over 25,000 miles.

[Mydavid]

I use Uber/Lyft, ride the Metro busses and subways, and rent cars when I need to make a business trip.

 

I guess you don't have a family so that you seldom go to the supermarket for shopping. It is very inconvenient if you don't have your own car.

[+ Funguy]

I know a couple people that drive for Uber and/or Lyft and Uber app is the same way, they have no idea if the fare will be a three block ride or really look fare into a bad area. It just tells the passengers first name, the pick up location and their rating and they decide if they want to take the ping and I believe they have 30 seconds to accept before it goes to the next nearest driver.

 

When I book Uber, it always asks me the destination.

[handiacefailure]

When I book Uber, it always asks me the destination.

 

But the app doesn't tell the driver until he's arrived at your pickup stop

[instudiocity]

I guess you don't have a family so that you seldom go to the supermarket for shopping. It is very inconvenient if you don't have your own car.

I live less than a mile from a Ralph's Supermarket. If I don't want to schlep it home, I can Uber home for about $3

[rguer]

I'm told a lot of passengers don't tip and the drivers are getting pretty pissed off at non-tipper because they have taken a couple pay cuts due to Uber cutting fares. The drivers I know will rate a passenger lower for non-tipping and when it comes to pickups will only pick up higher rated passengers figuring a lower rated won't tip

 

A Lyft driver recently told me that he wouldn't find out how much I tipped. Maybe he meant that he wouldn't find out immediately.

 

I don't see my rating; is it visible to me somewhere? I also don't see how to change my music preference, so maybe I just don't know how to use the app.

[instudiocity]

But the app doesn't tell the driver until he's arrived at your pickup stop

Right. Uber/Lyft know where you're going and how much it will costs. But the driver doesn't know where until you are picked up.

 

This keeps the drivers from cherry picking the higher dollar value rides.

[fedssocr1]

I use Lyft - the drivers generally seem happier and more friendly. Of course many drivers work for both. Although I just saw a news story about Uber doing some sort of shenanigans to figure out which of their drivers also drive for Lyft and screwing with them. Basically Uber just seems like such a scummy company that I prefer not to use them. I'm sure Lyft isn't all rainbows and unicorns either, but I prefer it. And I do like being able to include a tip in the app. I don't use it a lot - mostly just to and from the airport. One driver I chatted with told me he prefers the riders from Lyft. Lots of crazy drunk kids use Uber apparently.

[instudiocity]

A Lyft driver recently told me that he wouldn't find out how much I tipped. Maybe he meant that he wouldn't find out immediately.

 

I don't see my rating; is it visible to me somewhere? I also don't see how to change my music preference, so maybe I just don't know how to use the app.

You have to request it. Or flirt it out of your driver.

[instudiocity]

One driver I chatted with told me he prefers the riders from Lyft. Lots of crazy drunk kids use Uber apparently.

they told me Beverly Hills is Uber country while WeHo is Lyft country.