Uber Review

[awilcockson]

As part of the trip to rockpool this week, thewinchester talked to the owner of Uber who offered a free trip to anyone who registered for the service and sent through their email address. Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I took up the offer. All that the owner asked was that people give feedback on the service. So here it is.

I fired up the app at about 3pm on Tuesday afternoon, finessed my location down to Rockpool and selected Sydney Domestic as my destination. An estimate of $42 was presented, and a wait time of 17 minutes. I was also presented with a live location for the car, the drivers name, photo, mobile phone number and the car's number plate. All very cool.

15 minutes or so later the car arrived and I received a text message to say it was waiting.

We hurried down stairs and found the car easily (they are all black), jumped in and we were off. We mentioned that we were in a bit of a hurry, not break any laws but we'd appreciate getting to the airport as soon as possible. The drive was fast but smooth, far better than any taxi ride I've ever taken. Not once did I feel unsafe.

When we arrived at the airport a charge of $65 appeared on the "meter" but I wasn't concerned about the difference from the $42 quoted as it was a free trip.

The only downside to the whole experience was that I was paying my credit card this morning and noticed a $65 charge from Uber on my card .. along with a $1.95 foreign currency transaction charge! I'm sure the charge going to my card was a mistake, and hope that it will be rectified, but I REALLY hate it when I am in Australia, paying an Australia company in Australian Dollars, and I get charged a stupid fee because they use an international merchant account.

 

[Tooner]

Sorry to hear about the charge on the card. I've not had a problem with Uber when I've used them. Both times the fare charged was very close to the expected cost. I know they do change the fares when cars are in short supply, but I'd be interested on the feedback you receive from them.

 

[AaronBradford]

First time I've bothered to have a second look at the Uber charges on my card, and I've also got an additional fee for a trip on Tuesday night ($0.98 for a $39 fare). Annoying.

Other than that I can't fault the service.

I think you'll find they've recently introduced a flat fee for CBD to the Airport in Sydney and Melbourne: https://www.uber.com/cities/sydney. They really need to get that in a notification in the app when booking.

 

[DeKa]

David's told me they're setting up a merchant account here to avoid this.

Saying that, reply to the receipt and complain. You'll be happy.

 

[AaronBradford]

Interestingly, I got a different answer from Uber's Twitter account regarding the additional charge:

@AaronBradford the $1 is a verification, we take out and put back in to confirm your card is real, not a charge! Similar to what hotels do.

Source

 

[awilcockson]

Interestingly, I got a different answer from Uber's Twitter account regarding the additional charge:

My charge is specifically listed as a foreign currency conversion charge (which of course it isn't, but it is due to an offshore merchant account).

 

[DeKa]

Interestingly, I got a different answer from Uber's Twitter account regarding the additional charge:

There's a difference between a pre auth and an overseas surcharge.

 

[DeKa]

My charge is specifically listed as a foreign currency conversion charge (which of course it isn't, but it is due to an offshore merchant account).

Reply to the receipt and mention it.. You'll be surprised.

 

[JohnK]

I had 2 experiences with them on Tuesday (OK, I did not book as I do not have any apps on my phone) and both were quite positive.

Got to the destination with the minimum of fuss and curteous and friendly service.

 

[Rohrsheim]

Hi Everybody!

Thanks for your interest and review of Uber.

1. Uber is a global company and we do process credit card transactions in one overseas location. We were quite surprised and disappointed to discover here that a very small number of Australian credit cards add a fee to Uber transactions, even though Uber bills our customers in domestic AUD.

2. New clients will see a $1 temporary authorisation to verify that their card is indeed their own card. We do require valid payment information & a verified mobile phone number before processing a booking for a limousine through our app.

3. In @awilcockson's case: Our fare estimates are always a range, in your case we displayed $43-56. To make planning easier for clients, our drivers do have a flat rate between CBD and the Domestic Airport of $65+ any applicable tolls & parking. This has been listed on our website for quite some time, but to Aaron's point, I will investigate why this flat rate wasn't displayed in the app. Regardless, I've refunded your fare, since this one was meant to be on us!

Hope to see you all Uber-ing again soon.

Cheers,

David

 

[Skyring]

I had the special deal arranged by Thewinchester, but my antique iPhone wouldn't take the app, and I couldn't see much point in using my wifi-only iPad to hook up with a driver, so I was a guest in Pushka's car.

As an ex-taxidriver, I was particularly interested in seeing how the system worked. Pushka had reported a problem the previous night, when all the cars were busy, apparently, so we four were a little dubious.

The app hooked us up when we emerged from Rockpool, and we stood on the corner - in hindsight, not a great pickup location - watching the screen icons jiggle around and scanning the number plates of the hire cars. After a short time, probably mostly made up from traffic light delays, we were in the centre of Sydney after all, one of our group spotted the right number plate and we waved to get the driver's attention. He was on the other side of the street, prohibited from making a right into our cross street, so he took a left and found a loading zone. Really nice work. I woulda just stopped in traffic and made rude signs to other drivers, or ignored the "no right turn" sign. Then again, I was a night cabbie, and we followed a more flexible traffic code.

The driver was courteous, helpful and professional. He made sure we were tucked in comfortably, engaged us in conversation, took the shortest route to the airport, and gave us his card. The car was immaculate. A Statesman/Calais with soft leather chairs, smelling fresh, perfectly clean. I always take a look around a taxi, because I know where drivers skimp on upkeep, and there was no skimping going on here. I was impressed.

All too soon we were at the airport, pulled up right outside the doors, help with luggage, absolute minimum of fuss, as the old British Airways ads used to say.

Thanks, Über, it was a delight to use the service.

As a cabbie, I really like the system where both passenger and driver are rated. Deadbeat drivers and pax are quickly weeded out, and the good'uns flagged. I always aim to be a good'un, either way - life is so much smoother when everybody is happy - and it's great to have a system that recognises this rather than have a lottery every time as to whether as a passenger you get a clean car with a good driver, and as a driver you don't get some passenger who picks awkward pickup points and tells you to ignore red lights because they have to get to their special lounge at the airport.

The map display showing the driver steadily moving closer is a great reassurance when waiting for pickup. How many times I've nervously checked my watch every few seconds, conscious of my flight deadline, wondering if my cab was around the corner or on the other side of town. With the map display, you know exactly where the car is.

The next day, I went out to the Apple Shop, bought a new iPhone 5, and promptly loaded the Uber app. I'm sold!

 

[AaronBradford]

There's a difference between a pre auth and an overseas surcharge.

Yes, I realise that.

1. Uber is a global company and we do process credit card transactions in one overseas location. We were quite surprised and disappointed to discover here that a very small number of Australian credit cards add a fee to Uber transactions, even though Uber bills our customers in domestic AUD.

I didn't think it was a verification charge because I've used this card with Uber before. Oh well, not important. I've sent an e-mail as requested by the Twitter guys.

 

[Ewing]

I've used Uber about half a dozen times now for quick ad-hoc rides especially when availability of normal taxis has been limited.

No complaints about the service, apart from availability issues early on.

I don't however use them to/from the airport as it's not competitive, eg for home to the airport:

- Silver service taxi: $27
- Hire car (through another service): $47
- Uber: $55

I also can't pre-book to/from the airport, whereas I can with the other HC service.

So for me:

- Ad-hoc trips: Taxi or Uber
- Pre-planned trips: Hire Car or Silver Service

 

[chrisb]

I'm pondering using uber in the states - it says not to tip. Really?

has anyone had any experience using it in the USA?

 

[bismarck]

Well I'm in an uber right now and it's great.

Not used them in LOTFAP yet...but definitely no need to tip here, just jump out at the end. Assume the same model over there.

 

[lovestotravel]

Too expensive, not a fan really

Have tried to use them a few times and no cars were avaiable

 

[bismarck]

It really does depend on location. I live quite close to the Sydney CBD so have never had to wait more than 10 minutes. As they say, YMMV.

 

[jmphoto]

First time I used it from Sydney Domestic to Surry Hills was charged $43, and the airport toll noted on the bill. Used it last night to Kings Cross from the airport, got charged flat-rate of $65+airport+distributor, taking it up to $75. Way too expensive. Have emailed them to ask if you are meant to get tolls on top of the flat-rate.

Good value to Surry Hills, poor value to go the extra 2km to the Cross.

 

[Andyc]

Big fan of Uber. Ive been using then for short journeys in Sydney city and eastern suburbs and love it.

 

[DeKa]

Uber have launched Uber Taxi in Sydney. Select Taxi in the uber app a normal taxi picks you up. They run the meter, and then key the meter fare into the app.

The best part - no credit card surcharge!