Poll of the Day > I got to try a Uber for the first time today

(+) Yeah! (+)

That was weird but not unpleasant. I used the app and a car came and picked me up. The driver didn't talk too much, which is fine because I don't really like small talk anyway.

The ride was free though so I can't speak to the cost benefit, but from what I've heard it's cheaper than a taxi would've been.

Future's weird, man.
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Yeah I used Lyft for the first time on Saturday. The dude picked me up in the middle of nowhere, had waters, was nice, didn't think it was weird I wanted to sit in the front with him.

Cost me 12 bucks for a 20 minute ride.

I had no complaints.

Lyft is my jiggy jam
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Never heard of Lyft, and a cursory app store glance has no results, I'm guessing it's some US-only analogue?
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Kana posted...

Never heard of Lyft, and a cursory app store glance has no results, I'm guessing it's some US-only analogue?

It's basically another version of Uber.

From Wikipedia it looks like its US only though.

How long before they combine an uber-like service with a tinder-like app where a driver picks up 2 matched people for a blind date?
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SunWuKung420 posted...

How long before they combine an uber-like service with a tinder-like app where a driver picks up 2 matched people for a blind date?

That's a terrible idea

*patents idea*

Uber is so much cheaper than a taxi. Which is one of the main reasons it's so popular. Sure, the convenience of the app certainly contributed to its success, but without being a literal fraction of the price of a taxi it never would have gotten very popular.
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Dynalo posted...

Sure, the convenience of the app certainly contributed to its success, but without being a literal fraction of the price of a taxi it never would have gotten very popular.

Aye. The app is definitely useful but the price difference is a huge incentive. Being able to pay with a debit/credit card is another boon I'd say. I recall once calling a taxi dispatcher and being told the driver accepts credit only to find out at the end of my ride that he only takes cash. I was livid that I had to spend another $6 in withdraw fees to get cash from an ATM.
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Ive used uber a few times. It's pretty sweet. You can see literally how far the driver is and how close they are.

The only downside is that the driver has no idea where your destination is going to be before they pick you up. I once called an uber to drive me about an hour away, and she was like "uhhhh" but she reluctantly agreed. I think she didn't want me to give her a bad review if she backed out. She wasn't particularly happy though
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No way will I ever use Uber. They don't do background checks on the drivers so you could easily get some asshole criminal looking to rob and rape you.

MICHALECOLE posted...

Yeah I used Lyft for the first time on Saturday. The dude picked me up in the middle of nowhere, had waters, was nice, didn't think it was weird I wanted to sit in the front with him.

Cost me 12 bucks for a 20 minute ride.

I had no complaints.

He didn't wanna lose out on money so of course he didn't say anything.
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Erik_P posted...

you could easily get some asshole criminal looking to rob and rape you.

I'm so glad I'm not paranoid like this.
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Anyone who wants to rob a 6"1 260 pound bear deserves what he or she gets.

I'm down on using Uber, gonna do it sometime soon for the first time as well. I keep hearing how it's pretty freaking cheap, which is awesome. I'm tired of driving, my eyesight is getting worse and worse and I'm afraid I might hurt someone.

Uber came along just in time for me.

And yeah, I'm old, but I'm still big, and I took a variety of martial arts for years. Sadly you can kinda tell by looking at me so I don't think anyone is gonna be dumb enough to ever try anything. If they did, it would certainly wake me up for a day or so:)
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He didn't wanna lose out on money so of course he didn't say anything.

Fine with me. I tipped him about 80%, so it worked.

AllstarSniper32 posted...

Erik_P posted...

you could easily get some asshole criminal looking to rob and rape you.

I'm so glad I'm not paranoid like this.

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/06/01/16-year-old-girl-charged-in-uber-drivers-gruesome-stabbing-deat/22120352/

A 16-year-old girl was captured on Walmart surveillance video "walking nonchalantly throughout the store" holding a knife in one hand and a machete in another.

Authorities say Eliza Wasni used those weapons kill her Uber driver, Grant Nelson, in Lincolnwood.

Nelson was able to maneuver his car into a condo apartment building driveway near Lincoln and Touhy. He got out of the car and was heard banging and screaming at the lobby door saying "Help me! Help me! I'm going to die!" That's when residents called 911. He died shortly after.

See....tipping is my sore spot here.

I'm down with using uber, and in fact switching to doing that all the time.

But if I have to tip (and if it's expected I'm gonna tip), then that is going to ruin everything.

Look, if they get paid something like $15/hr+ while driving (After expenses etc), that should be good enough. Don't do the damn job if it isn't.

From what I understand that is around what you make.

If you add tipping though, then that is going to probably just about double (and half of it won't even be taxed...at least till they allow you to tip through the website).

Now, if I can call an uber to drive me 5 minutes away, for $6, and another to bring me back for the same, then yeah, i'll totally do that instead of drive from now on.

If I am expected to tip them (even if I only tipped $2 a pop), then it's gonna mess with the economics too much and make it not be cost effective at all (although I guess it would still be slightly more convienent in some ways).

Tipping uber drivers is going to ruin my plans!!
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wolfy42 posted...

Look, if they get paid something like $15/hr+ while driving (After expenses etc), that should be good enough. Don't do the damn job if it isn't.

They don't get any wages, they get a portion of the ride cost. They also have to pay for their own vehicle, gas, and maintenance. And they're doing it because they need money.

My friends that have been Uber drivers have said that in the end they typically made less than minimum wage and it wasn't worth the car wear or stress. But when you can't find a job (or can't find a second or third job that fits with your schedule) then it seems appealing. That goes downhill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT4vhl8slbE
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wolfy42 posted...

See....tipping is my sore spot here.

I'm down with using uber, and in fact switching to doing that all the time.

But if I have to tip (and if it's expected I'm gonna tip), then that is going to ruin everything.

Look, if they get paid something like $15/hr+ while driving (After expenses etc), that should be good enough. Don't do the damn job if it isn't.

From what I understand that is around what you make.

If you add tipping though, then that is going to probably just about double (and half of it won't even be taxed...at least till they allow you to tip through the website).

Now, if I can call an uber to drive me 5 minutes away, for $6, and another to bring me back for the same, then yeah, i'll totally do that instead of drive from now on.

If I am expected to tip them (even if I only tipped $2 a pop), then it's gonna mess with the economics too much and make it not be cost effective at all (although I guess it would still be slightly more convienent in some ways).

Tipping uber drivers is going to ruin my plans!!

With lyft I didn't have to tip until after I left the car. It was my decision.

I'll always tip though.

Also I didn't read your post

AllstarSniper32 posted...

Erik_P posted...

you could easily get some asshole criminal looking to rob and rape you.

I'm so glad I'm not paranoid like this.

It's nice to naturally be strong enough to defend yourself. *nod*

I've always been a little mystified that women don't train for strength more. I would feel so vulnerable if I were weak enough for strangers to easily pick off at will. Same reason I don't play support much any more in LoL.
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My wife drives for Uber at night sometimes or on the weekend, she makes pretty good money. We just got a 2017 Kia Sorento with a third row so she gets the xl rides too.

Action53 posted...

My wife drives for Uber at night sometimes or on the weekend, she makes pretty good money. We just got a 2017 Kia Sorento with a third row so she gets the xl rides too.

How much does she average per hour if I might ask?

I get wildly different reports from people lol.
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Lightning Bolt posted...

AllstarSniper32 posted...

Erik_P posted...

you could easily get some asshole criminal looking to rob and rape you.

I'm so glad I'm not paranoid like this.

It's nice to naturally be strong enough to defend yourself. *nod*

I've always been a little mystified that women don't train for strength more. I would feel so vulnerable if I were weak enough for strangers to easily pick off at will. Same reason I don't play support much any more in LoL.

You can be able to defend yourself and still be taken by surprise by an attacker.
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MICHALECOLE posted...

I'll always tip though.

Good! People who refuse to tip are terrible. I can see if you got your service and it was terrible service, I wouldn't tip then either. But if you got good service, $2 at the minimum should be nothing and should be given.

Lightning Bolt posted...

AllstarSniper32 posted...

Erik_P posted...

you could easily get some asshole criminal looking to rob and rape you.

I'm so glad I'm not paranoid like this.

It's nice to naturally be strong enough to defend yourself. *nod*

I've always been a little mystified that women don't train for strength more. I would feel so vulnerable if I were weak enough for strangers to easily pick off at will. Same reason I don't play support much any more in LoL.

I don't mean about defending oneself, I just mean that I'm glad I'm don't have a paranoid mindset where I think something like that is going to happen.

Also, I dislike playing support roles XD
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CharlesBronson posted...

AllstarSniper32 posted...

Erik_P posted...

you could easily get some asshole criminal looking to rob and rape you.

I'm so glad I'm not paranoid like this.

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/06/01/16-year-old-girl-charged-in-uber-drivers-gruesome-stabbing-deat/22120352/

A 16-year-old girl was captured on Walmart surveillance video "walking nonchalantly throughout the store" holding a knife in one hand and a machete in another.

Authorities say Eliza Wasni used those weapons kill her Uber driver, Grant Nelson, in Lincolnwood.

Nelson was able to maneuver his car into a condo apartment building driveway near Lincoln and Touhy. He got out of the car and was heard banging and screaming at the lobby door saying "Help me! Help me! I'm going to die!" That's when residents called 911. He died shortly after.

Am I reading that correctly?
Isn't that the opposite of the situation in question?

Some people are paranoid about the driver killing the customer, not the other way around.
But you could still as easily get a criminal driver by using taxis as you can with Uber so...

wolfy42 posted...

Action53 posted...

My wife drives for Uber at night sometimes or on the weekend, she makes pretty good money. We just got a 2017 Kia Sorento with a third row so she gets the xl rides too.

How much does she average per hour if I might ask?

I get wildly different reports from people lol.

Depending on the night, 15~25. We live in a college town with a fairly active airport

Erik_P posted...

No way will I ever use Uber. They don't do background checks on the drivers so you could easily get some asshole criminal looking to rob and rape you.

Erik, you have so little faith in me! I can take care of myself. But I certainly would not have proceeded if I got any bad vibes. It's kinda hard to get away with stuff like that on an app that needs a smartphone. Help would be just a phone call away.

Though, if I lived in a country that didn't control its guns I might be a little more concerned, I suppose.
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The reason I love Kana is because she's so bad ass
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@RCtheWSBC

Do they still have Via in Chicago? When I was there it was so low in price in order to get started.
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DrPrimemaster posted...

@RCtheWSBC

Do they still have Via in Chicago? When I was there it was so low in price in order to get started.

I believe it is. I heard some other folks I worked with talk about using it, but I've yet to test it out.
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FrozenBananas posted...

The reason I love Kana is because she's so bad ass

Haha, thanks, but I'm actually a complete bumbling fool most of the time.
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I always use them when I go out of town. Much better than paying for a rental car. Plus I ask the drivers about local stuff to see and good places to eat.
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