Uber comes to Australia

[UP4014]

Well I appreciate you responding Cynicor:
1. No taxi charges 10% surcharge in VIC now
2. Uber Black cars come from existing taxi / hire car stock - there are no such beasts as Uber only vehicles are there? So what guarantees cars are any cleaner than any standard booked taxi / hire car?
3. Uber Black drivers come from existing taxi / hire car driver stock - there are no such beasts as Uber only drivers are there? So what guarantees drivers are any more polite, efficient or better than any standard booked taxi / hire car driver?
Again serious questions - I just fail to see how nothing more than an alternative booking service can be viewed by so many as such a game changer.
I have a list of 5 different taxi operators who I call when I want to go out to airport - ALL are impeccable operators - could not bettered - I still don't get the Uber appeal.

They're not for everyone and I guess not for you. Not a big deal.

 

[yohy?!]

Hire cars in Melare a bit of an outlier with things like them being cheaper than taking a cab to the airport - not really a good test case/comparison for Uber Black

the game changer will be uberx when it gets regulation introduced in vic, will be interesting to see how the hire car operators react and if their drivers desert them to avoid hire car plate costs etc

 

[Alanslegal]

I'm sick of taxi drivers and now will try to avoid them, unless desperate.

One driver tried to preach to my boss and I why his religion was good, the rights and wrongs of life and how we should all good people. Now if he wants to be good, he should focus on driving than running a mobile church trying to get everyone to convert to what he believed in.

Next driver, tried to persuade me why Uber was bad and wrong. He wouldn't budge on his views / positions (and that's fine, each to their own). I tried giving examples on why I thought Uber was good (having ridden a few now) and why I would be happy to pay (usually) less to use their service. I gave examples of how a few regular taxi's have refused my fare because the distance was around 2.0 - 2.5kms. I gave examples how drivers have their lights switched off but when I flag them down, which some do pull over and have empty cars, that they then refuse to pick me up but would be happy to "ask" each other potential customer along the same stretch of footpath and then select the "best fare for them", usually happens around George Street Sydney after 11pm.

Anyway, taxi drivers are just plain scared of Uber and luckily the taxi association quite powerful and persuasive at the moment, because one day, and that day will come, the taxi industry will become obsolete just like many other businesses out there, like your local bread shop, butcher, chemist, convenience store, milk bar etc.

 

[nonpop]

Got my first very average UberX experience. A younger driver in a (felt like) 5 yr old Honda Civic. The car was dirty on the outside and very average on the inside. The car smelled heavily of smoke as well. He then wanted to hold his Uber iPhone using the navigation it gave him.

So I guess we will start to experience the less than glossy side of UberX as well.

For Uber Black ... this is our preferred service when we are going out for a night on the town. Though with the price increases we are questioning the costs.

 

[Daver6]

Got my first very average UberX experience. A younger driver in a (felt like) 5 yr old Honda Civic. The car was dirty on the outside and very average on the inside. The car smelled heavily of smoke as well. He then wanted to hold his Uber iPhone using the navigation it gave him.

So I guess we will start to experience the less than glossy side of UberX as well.

For Uber Black ... this is our preferred service when we are going out for a night on the town. Though with the price increases we are questioning the costs.

This is the beauty of Uber though. You can give that drive a poor rating. Sufficient poor ratings and he is kicked out.

 

[lovestotravel]

Got my first very average UberX experience. A younger driver in a (felt like) 5 yr old Honda Civic. The car was dirty on the outside and very average on the inside. The car smelled heavily of smoke as well. He then wanted to hold his Uber iPhone using the navigation it gave him.

So I guess we will start to experience the less than glossy side of UberX as well.

For Uber Black ... this is our preferred service when we are going out for a night on the town. Though with the price increases we are questioning the costs.

Rate them 1 star
Leave feedback after the trip in the comments section
A few 1 stars and they will no longer be driving as they need to maintain a 4.5 rating and above

Feedback is why Uber is so much better thsn a taxi

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Hire cars in Melare a bit of an outlier with things like them being cheaper than taking a cab to the airport - not really a good test case/comparison for Uber Black

the game changer will be uberx when it gets regulation introduced in vic, will be interesting to see how the hire car operators react and if their drivers desert them to avoid hire car plate costs etc

I look at uber as a replacement for car ownership/rental - not a taxi replacement. Car rental companies might get hit - unless they were smart and rented cars out on a weekly basis for people wanting to be uberX drivers ;-)

 

[puppysparkes]

Well I appreciate you responding Cynicor:
1. No taxi charges 10% surcharge in VIC now
2. Uber Black cars come from existing taxi / hire car stock - there are no such beasts as Uber only vehicles are there? So what guarantees cars are any cleaner than any standard booked taxi / hire car?
3. Uber Black drivers come from existing taxi / hire car driver stock - there are no such beasts as Uber only drivers are there? So what guarantees drivers are any more polite, efficient or better than any standard booked taxi / hire car driver?
Again serious questions - I just fail to see how nothing more than an alternative booking service can be viewed by so many as such a game changer.
I have a list of 5 different taxi operators who I call when I want to go out to airport - ALL are impeccable operators - could not bettered - I still don't get the Uber appeal.

For me it's on average 40% cheaper than a taxi. For example my last fare from home in South Brisbane to BNE domestic was $17. Regular taxi is approximately $60. Pullman Auckland to AKL international 43NZD compared to a taxi 80NZD. I expect to get a bad car every so often as I do when I book a taxi. Best uber x so far was a Toyota Pado in Sydney.

 

[puppysparkes]

I just received this interesting email from Uber:

Dear puppysparkes,


We're asking riders like you to get in contact with your local candidates to tell them why you support Uber in Queensland.

Since launching in Queensland nine months ago, tens of thousands of Queenslanders have chosen Uber for a safer, more reliable, and more affordable ride.

Desperate to protect their outdated monopoly, the taxi industry has been pressuring politicians and candidates. The taxi industry wants to shut down Uber and stop you from having a choice about how you get around your city. Uber has been calling for the Queensland Government to introduce sensible, safety-based regulations, rather than applying outdated laws that just protect the taxi industry from competition.

Candidates in the election want your vote, so it is important that you know where they stand on the future of Uber.

You can search below to find your local candidates. Click on the map to find their details and send them an email. Even better, give them a call or visit their offices and let them know why you want them to support Uber.


CONTACT YOUR CANDIDATE
To hear what other riders and driver-partners have to say, check out love.uber.com.

We want Uber to remain the safe, affordable, and convenient transport option that people have come to love, and we need your help to show politicians that Queenslanders want the right to choose to ride with Uber.

Thank you again for your support.

The Uber Queensland Team

 

[OzEire]

I just received this interesting email from Uber:

Dear puppysparkes,


We're asking riders like you to get in contact with your local candidates to tell them why you support Uber in Queensland.

Since launching in Queensland nine months ago, tens of thousands of Queenslanders have chosen Uber for a safer, more reliable, and more affordable ride.

Desperate to protect their outdated monopoly, the taxi industry has been pressuring politicians and candidates. The taxi industry wants to shut down Uber and stop you from having a choice about how you get around your city. Uber has been calling for the Queensland Government to introduce sensible, safety-based regulations, rather than applying outdated laws that just protect the taxi industry from competition.

Candidates in the election want your vote, so it is important that you know where they stand on the future of Uber.

You can search below to find your local candidates. Click on the map to find their details and send them an email. Even better, give them a call or visit their offices and let them know why you want them to support Uber.


CONTACT YOUR CANDIDATE
To hear what other riders and driver-partners have to say, check out love.uber.com.

We want Uber to remain the safe, affordable, and convenient transport option that people have come to love, and we need your help to show politicians that Queenslanders want the right to choose to ride with Uber.

Thank you again for your support.

The Uber Queensland Team

Dear Uber,

Thanks for your suggestion that I do your lobbying for free. How about this, you set up an email / mail address that Uber users can CC when contacting their local member or candidate. All confirmed letters & emails will receive an Uber code for $50 credit.

You're welcome.

OzEire

 

[dajop]

I'm sick of taxi drivers and now will try to avoid them, unless desperate.

Likewise. The day five taxis in a row refused to accept my fare at 5pm because I was only travelling 10km, instead preferring to travel 4km empty in hope of picking up fare in CBD [coupled with one of those taxis who started driving off when people were getting into the taxi], was the day I vowed to avoid taxis as much as possible. Not to mention grumpy drivers who insult you because your fare from the airport is only $35. I have no sympathy for an industry that systematically treats its customers like this (and not necessarily the fault of the drivers either , many of whom are really just feeding on the crumbs). Something is broken and needs fixing. No wonder there is an opportunity for uber.

 

[N860CR]

Likewise. The day five taxis in a row refused to accept my fare at 5pm because I was only travelling 10km, instead preferring to travel 4km empty in hope of picking up fare in CBD [coupled with one of those taxis who started driving off when people were getting into the taxi], was the day I vowed to avoid taxis as much as possible. Not to mention grumpy drivers who insult you because your fare from the airport is only $35. I have no sympathy for an industry that systematically treats its customers like this (and not necessarily the fault of the drivers either , many of whom are really just feeding on the crumbs). Something is broken and needs fixing. No wonder there is an opportunity for uber.

I regularly take a cab from the airport to Brighton Le Sands which is $25-30. Work allows about $80 for transport. I always enjoy informing the cabbie of this after they've behaved like a tool for the entire trip... And then paying the exact fare to the cent

 

[puppysparkes]

It looks like the Uber vs Goggle contest has begun: Uber Opening Robotics Research Facility In Pittsburgh To Build Self-Driving Cars | TechCrunch

 

[puppysparkes]

Uber Australia hiring lawyers, PR flaks

 

[puppysparkes]

Mercedes CL Class as an Uber X today. The grand sum of $6 from the brisbane cbd to south brisbane. Almost on par with translink!

 

[penegal]

Mercedes CL Class as an Uber X today. The grand sum of $6 from the brisbane cbd to south brisbane. Almost on par with translink!

CL or CLS?

IIRC uberX vehicles have to have at least 4 doors?

 

[puppysparkes]

Apologies CL??. I should pay more attention than noting the brand..

 

[DeKa]

Apologies CL??. I should pay more attention than noting the brand..View attachment 42844

C Class (a Mazda 6/ Toyota Camry sized sedan or wagon). Not bad for a cheap ride.

 

[puppysparkes]

Exceptional value considering public transport was $2.80 plus a 1min walk to my apartment. Consider that I usually travel in a group of 2 or more; then Uber is more economical than public transport. The taxi industry is dead walking. Why would anyone pay 30-40% more for anything???

 

[BillytheFIsh]

Like many others in this thread, after flirting with Uber for a while, I'm now a complete Uber convert and will avoid getting taxis now unless absolutely necessary.

The straws that broke the camel's back from Saturday:

1. 5 pm pickup to the Brisbane CBD - It's ~28 degrees and the cabbie has no air con and drive likes a maniac all the way into town.

2. 11:30 pm leaving the CBD - restaurant was right in front of a cab rank, so thought we would join rather than wait for a Uber. Rather than going to the front of the queue, cabs were picking people up from 10 - 20 m behind the rank. Presumable so they could reject any fares they didn't like the sounds of.

The icing was a "business class" cab who tried to pick me out of the line when I was 3rd or 4th, rather than the guy in his mid 20s at the front (not drunk, just wearing jeans and a t-shirt). I told him it's a rank and he needs to take the person at the front. "I can pick and choose who I want to take." "Mate that's not how this works." "Do you want a ride or not?" To my discredit, I used some language that made him speed off. I should have been nicer to him while I took down his number.

You would think that with competition, they would be trying to lift their game, not sink to what seem to be all time low levels of customer service.