What's your Uber experience?

[jastel]

Yep, they’re ex taxi drivers.

The only time taxi drivers get the destination before picking up the person is if it is a minor/disabled person.
Experience does teach you where addresses travel to but.

You are correct that lots of uber drivers are ex or current taxi drivers who only work the surge periods.
They start of in a taxi, then once it gets busy and uber surges they park the taxi and go ubering.

 

[Deleted member]

I reckon I'd be correct in saying you haven't asked for government protection over the years to maintain and protect a failing business model. Nor are you asking for an ongoing subsidy to pay you while you fail to recognise that you need to change your business model.

Yep. You’d be right there. Imagine if the government legislated 30% or your income ( turnover) out of existence. And then doubled the compliance cost of running said business. Like taxis. We too deal with disrupters who seem immune to the rules we are forced to work with. But such is life.

 

[jastel]

You make it sound like the falling revenue , rising costs story is unique to taxis.
I have had to deal with similar issues in my business.
In my case I have had to completely reverse engineer my business to meet the new challenges.
It’s a long story, so I won’t bore you with the detail, it is a conversation best had off line.

I think the treatment of taxis by the government has been pretty unique...and appalling.
Nobody expected the government to destroy families and hand a $1.5 BILLION industry to a foreign multinational for free.
I always though the law meant something and the government would enforce such laws...apparently it doesn't anymore.

Industries have been closed before logging, fishing etc but compensation was always paid.
And those industries were closed for a public environmental benefit (allegedly)

 

[jastel]

I reckon I'd be correct in saying you haven't asked for government protection over the years to maintain and protect a failing business model. Nor are you asking for an ongoing subsidy to pay you while you fail to recognise that you need to change your business model.

Correct, we didnt ask...we EXPECTED protection as that is why we paid for a license in the first place. No owner wanted to just hand the government money for the license...it was the LAW...you had to have one.
That was the contract, and in QLD anyway there was a contract between Transport, the booking companies and the owners/drivers.

Failing business model?? You wont believe me but QLD was a world leader in taxis, other countries wished they could have our model. We were amongst the first to have GPS, computerised dispatch, security cameras, credit cards, apps etc years before uber.

The biggest mistake the industry made was thinking the government would enforce the law.

Cant comment on other states/countries but having travelled a bit they were not as advanced as Qld.

The contract was breached we want our license fee refunded...simple.

 

[odysseus]

I reckon I'd be correct in saying you haven't asked for government protection over the years to maintain and protect a failing business model. Nor are you asking for an ongoing subsidy to pay you while you fail to recognise that you need to change your business model.

Gerry Harvey for Harvey Norman, and QANTAS, have asked for government protection at different times due to their revenue failings. Not sure how that makes them anything special.

 

[Hvr]

Correct, we didnt ask...we EXPECTED protection

And that is the problem. With rights/privileges comes responsibilities. The taxi industry became self serving and customers were (are) a nuisance. There are myriad examples posted on this site where fraud/theft is rife by drivers. Drivers are meant to take customers where they want to go not for a ride.

If clean and well behaved with proof of funds there is no legal reason why a taxi driver is allowed to refuse a fare. Yet we all know that the potential fare is the first thing considered by the driver and refusal is common if not big enough.

That owners let unlicensed/undocumented people drive their vehicles should be a crime but is excused by the various self regulating taxi bodies because they don't want to upset their owners, i.e. the taxi industry.

Taxi licences are/were totally speculative, some won some lost. That's business. Much like Bitcoin/tulips et al.

You wont believe me but QLD was a world leader in taxis,

And Kodak invented the digital camera. Look at them now. Self praise is no recommendation.

Maybe the QLD taxi industry was world class. But it was from a very low base. And self serving, not customer focused. The usurious credit card fee still exists. A world class rip off.

 

[Deleted member]

And that is the problem. With rights/privileges comes responsibilities. The taxi industry became self serving and customers were (are) a nuisance. There are myriad examples posted on this site where fraud/theft is rife by drivers. Drivers are meant to take customers where they want to go not for a ride.

If clean and well behaved with proof of funds there is no legal reason why a taxi driver is allowed to refuse a fare. Yet we all know that the potential fare is the first thing considered by the driver and refusal is common if not big enough.

That owners let unlicensed/undocumented people drive their vehicles should be a crime but is excused by the various self regulating taxi bodies because they don't want to upset their owners, i.e. the taxi industry.

Taxi licences are/were totally speculative, some won some lost. That's business. Much like Bitcoin/tulips et al.


And Kodak invented the digital camera. Look at them now. Self praise is no recommendation.

Maybe the QLD taxi industry was world class. But it was from a very low base. And self serving, not customer focused. The usurious credit card fee still exists. A world class rip off.

The real story here is missing the point of difference. Just as Kodak didn’t want to loose film sales, the taxi industry wanted pax to walk to ranks or call a despatch. Air B&B did / does to Hotels what uber is doing to taxis.
Embrace it, or die.
Taxis are NOT copying the model, they are fighting it. Eventually they will go the way of the dinosaurs, but they will continue to fight and fail

 

[Pleb Status]

I once had a driver call me for my destination after a late night flight into BNE.

He obviously did not think it was far enough so he cancelled. I then ordered another Uber and ended up with the same driver again. As he could not cancel it again, a frosty drive home and a one star rating was the end result.

 

[Quickstatus]

I once had a driver call me for my destination after a late night flight into BNE.

He obviously did not think it was far enough so he cancelled. I then ordered another Uber and ended up with the same driver again. As he could not cancel it again, a frosty drive home and a one star rating was the end result.

can an Uber driver only cancel once per???

 

[Quickstatus]

Gerry asked for equal GST treatment
Qantas asked for relaxation of foreign investment cap in QAN, and then failing that a govt guarantee of debt to secure its credit rating like the banks because it’s an essential service.

I think Gerry and QAN wanted an even playing field. I agree - regulation and legislation should apply equally, and any assistance if given should be available equally

Gerry Harvey for Harvey Norman, and QANTAS, have asked for government protection at different times due to their revenue failings. Not sure how that makes them anything special.

 

[docjames]

I once had a driver call me for my destination after a late night flight into BNE.

He obviously did not think it was far enough so he cancelled. I then ordered another Uber and ended up with the same driver again. As he could not cancel it again, a frosty drive home and a one star rating was the end result.

One star for you or for him or both?

 

[Bolthead]

I once had a driver call me for my destination after a late night flight into BNE.

He obviously did not think it was far enough so he cancelled. I then ordered another Uber and ended up with the same driver again. As he could not cancel it again, a frosty drive home and a one star rating was the end result.

That's a little odd... If he had cancelled then he should have lost his place in the queue.(unless he was the only one in the queue) ...and as I have previously mentioned never tell them where you are going.

can an Uber driver only cancel once per???

No, however if you cancel too many times in a row you will be kicked off the platform for at least 2 minutes...(sin bin) As well your acceptance rating and cancellation rating are recorded by Uber and apparently can affect the your chances of getting another job especially if you are in a busy area.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Had my worst Uber ride today. The guy was a terrible driver ... I've previously experienced surge pricing, but now I've also experienced surge driving, continuously from Brisbane to the Gold Coast. He was also continuously fidgeting about in his seat, which made me think he was either a very nervous driver or he was fatigued. I even considered telling him to pull over and let me out.

Does Uber have a mechanism to prevent giving fares if they've been driving for too many hours?

 

[Quickstatus]

Does Uber have a mechanism to prevent giving fares if they've been driving for too many hours?

Apparently yes but not sure if it’s applies globally:
Uber Will No Longer Let Drivers Work for More Than 12 Total Hours Without a Break

 

[Pleb Status]

One star for you or for him or both?

I gave one star but my rating stayed at 5.0 (at that time).

That's a little odd... If he had cancelled then he should have lost his place in the queue.(unless he was the only one in the queue) ...and as I have previously mentioned never tell them where you are going.

I was an Uber noob at the time and have since been 'educated'...

 

[Bolthead]

Had my worst Uber ride today. The guy was a terrible driver ... I've previously experienced surge pricing, but now I've also experienced surge driving, continuously from Brisbane to the Gold Coast. He was also continuously fidgeting about in his seat, which made me think he was either a very nervous driver or he was fatigued. I even considered telling him to pull over and let me out.

Does Uber have a mechanism to prevent giving fares if they've been driving for too many hours?

Apparently yes but not sure if it’s applies globally:
Uber Will No Longer Let Drivers Work for More Than 12 Total Hours Without a Break

Yes it applies here as well.... you are allowed to be "On Line' for only 12 hours and then you get kicked off the platform for that day. The problem with that system is you can easily sit for 2 hours and not have a job. I did the other day and I was at home...The system doesn't count driving time. Saying that if you are driving a full day then once you stop for toilet breaks, meal breaks and other issues 12 hours on line is plenty of time.

 

[jastel]

And that is the problem. With rights/privileges comes responsibilities. The taxi industry became self serving and customers were (are) a nuisance. There are myriad examples posted on this site where fraud/theft is rife by drivers. Drivers are meant to take customers where they want to go not for a ride.

If clean and well behaved with proof of funds there is no legal reason why a taxi driver is allowed to refuse a fare. Yet we all know that the potential fare is the first thing considered by the driver and refusal is common if not big enough.

That owners let unlicensed/undocumented people drive their vehicles should be a crime but is excused by the various self regulating taxi bodies because they don't want to upset their owners, i.e. the taxi industry.

Taxi licences are/were totally speculative, some won some lost. That's business. Much like Bitcoin/tulips et al.


And Kodak invented the digital camera. Look at them now. Self praise is no recommendation.

Maybe the QLD taxi industry was world class. But it was from a very low base. And self serving, not customer focused. The usurious credit card fee still exists. A world class rip off.

Excluding the license bit...which to owners IS the main problem...losing their assets and superannuation due to an illegal foreign corporation...all these complaints and some much more serious ones are being made against uber and other rideshares as well.
Not sure why they keep getting a free pass from everybody while the locals get kicked in the guts??

Unregulated competition does not always lower prices and improve service, just look at electricity, telecommunications or insurance if you are not living in the CBD areas...only the profitable areas get good service and prices.

We are obviously never going to agree on this.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I think the title of this thread is "What's Your Uber Experiences".

I get it that taxi licence owners are unhappy, but the fact Uber exists at all seems to suggest to me that the taxi industry was failing in the public eye, however, may I suggest another thread Uber vrs Taxi might be more appropriate to discuss the pros and cons of each. I come to this thread to read about peoples experiences (remember, the public can be fickle and if Uber deteriorates then the ball park may change ... again.)

There was also A Current Affair bit last night (in Qld at least) where they did a hidden camera test in Brisbane between Uber and Taxi's. The result was Uber was cheaper on all three test runs, but the taxi's were quicker on two occasions as the Uber driver got lost, so not all is lost for the taxi's.

 

[BAM1748]

I'm happy to come here and read all about 'hire' car transportation that has any connection to uber. Uber exists because the taxi industry failed to keep up......

The titles on AFF are often too narrow and the conversation goes broader in it's natural course.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I was really meaning that the continual reiteration of the taxi industry woes is what is detracting from the thread. We've heard it, we get it.