Uber is berkeleying awesome

We now have UberXL in Seattle, which is UberX but with larger vehicles (MDX, Highlander, etc). We use that now when going to the airport as it's usually more comfortable than squeezing us and our stuff into a Prius but still cheaper than a cab. Coming back from the airport we'll grab whatever looks closest (usually a "black"). When I'm using it around the city on nights out and such I'll pretty much always use X unless there isn't one around (rare).

It's true that Uber and it's competitors really have the taxi companies losing their collective E36 M3, and I couldn't be happier about it. The sad thing is that the taxi companies are fighting back in exactly the opposite way than they should. If they'd work on their product and pricing they'd have more sympathy from me.

Resurrecting this.

Does anyone know about becoming a driver? What's the cut? Are there any universal vehicle restrictions?

In reply to tuna55:

I for one would be ecstatic if the Tunatruck showed up when I requested an uber.

I think the car must be less than 6 years old and 4 doors. That's what I remember a friend telling me. He drives Uber a couple days a week in his Evo X.

In reply to Lancer007:

I think this is right a buddy of mine looked into doing it and his rig was like 1 year past the cut off. More than likely cared for far better than many of the cars being used.

Though they have also recently announced that neither the driver or customers can carry a concealed weapon (even with a legal permit) by their new rules.

My neighbor is an immigrant and a black car driver who currently owns his own car and has worked as a driver for at least the 10 years I've known him. It's really the only thing he knows how to do here in America. He's worked for several cab companies and a few limo services. He tried Uber when I suggested it because he'd been struggled all through the recession due to lack of tourism then Uber started gaining popularity about the time tourism began rebounding and took fares the black cars would get at the airports. After a couple months he said the cut Uber's taking now and the way their trip charges are set he couldn't earn a living. The black car is parked, he's been trying to find work, meanwhile we all pay.

In reply to rebelgtp:

There is about no way to enforce that.

In reply to tuna55:

True but if you are a driver and they find out you are carrying you will no longer be a driver.

In reply to rebelgtp:

Which is sad is that the ruling came due to a driver in Chicago stopping an active shooter(allegedly)

My dad drives for uber. He's running a 2013 Prius that they had bought prior to his getting started. I looked into it also, it sounds like the car restrictions are 04 and newer, 4 doors. I think in some cities the panther chassis cars are specifically excluded. The smallest car I've been picked up by was a corolla.

Dad says he is making decent, but not amazing money. Since he's doing it as a side job, it works out ok for him that he's only netting a couple hundred dollars a week. He's essentially driving his Prius for free, with maybe a few dollars on top.

^Was just gonna say, If you think Uber is awesome, you obviously weren't the driver.

I still don't have any hard numbers as to the actual cut. Can I make a hundred bucks a week if I work just three late nights? Are there tips, or is that pretty much an old fashioned thing?

szeis4cookie wrote: My dad drives for uber. He's running a 2013 Prius that they had bought prior to his getting started. I looked into it also, it sounds like the car restrictions are 04 and newer, 4 doors. I think in some cities the panther chassis cars are specifically excluded. The smallest car I've been picked up by was a corolla. Dad says he is making decent, but not amazing money. Since he's doing it as a side job, it works out ok for him that he's only netting a couple hundred dollars a week. He's essentially driving his Prius for free, with maybe a few dollars on top.

Can you ask your Dad for specifics about the typical take and how much he gets to keep? How are taxes handled? Tips?

http://www.nwitimes.com/business/technology/french-taxis-strike-after-weeks-of-rising-tension-over-uber/article_8e46a6be-e629-580c-860d-5ef99e2eebf1.html

Thanks guys.. this thread made france protest.. sheesh

pinchvalve wrote: So explain Uber to those of us who live under a rock, in outer Mongolia, in Pittsburgh or anywhere else that is way behind the times. As it stands, Pittsburgh is the sux for everything but Donnie Iris concerts.

FTFY.

i can't do it, don't have something new enough. my sister and my buddy both love it. she can catch a ride to go out and uber it home and leave her car at home when she has some drinks, and he should have done the same thing a few weeks ago but now he has to use uber because he dui'ed it.

friedgreencorrado wrote: I'm actually a little angry. Love the concept, wanted to try to join, recently saw ads asking for drivers. Locally (Atlanta!), the ads say they won't take anyone with cars older than 2006 (mine's from 2002). Oh, and should I mention they offered loans to get people to *buy* cars new enough to participate? I won't say that "I smell a rat", but I will say that "It ain't all that..". JG, I will admit that their business plan (as far as potential participants are involved) is brilliant. Perhaps I'm just jealous that they won't let me support it.

I'm in Atlanta, and just so happens that our Start-up is partners with Uber to provide vehicles to those that don't want to get caught up in a sub-prime loan. There's another option: www.flexdrive.com

We're providing UberX, Select, and XL vehicles to drivers for rent on a weekly basis. Insurance, Maintenance, and Roadside Assistance included in price.

Hit me up..

Update: If Uber gives you the libertarian warm-n'-fuzzies, you should give this a read:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2015-06-23/this-is-how-uber-takes-over-a-city

Uber doesn't let the market decide, they methodically besiege cities with lobbyists, get laws passed that favor them, and then they move in.

GameboyRMH wrote: Update: If Uber gives you the libertarian warm-n'-fuzzies, you should give this a read: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2015-06-23/this-is-how-uber-takes-over-a-city Uber doesn't let the market decide, they methodically besiege cities with lobbyists, get laws passed that favor them, and then they move in.

This is different from every other corporation in American, how?

You're right, it's sadly typical behavior - which is the point. Uber's corporate behavior is not nice by either liberal or libertarian standards.

We are only scratching the surface of what Uber really wants to be.
Uber has the cash to be placing a $3 Billion bid to purchase HERE Maps from Nokia.
http://time.com/3851639/uber-here-nokia-maps/

Also, Uber wants to get into deliveries of packages as well as be at the forefront of driverless cars.

Just heard the first "drive for Uber" radio commercial today. They will even help you lease a car.

tuna55 wrote:

szeis4cookie wrote: My dad drives for uber. He's running a 2013 Prius that they had bought prior to his getting started. I looked into it also, it sounds like the car restrictions are 04 and newer, 4 doors. I think in some cities the panther chassis cars are specifically excluded. The smallest car I've been picked up by was a corolla. Dad says he is making decent, but not amazing money. Since he's doing it as a side job, it works out ok for him that he's only netting a couple hundred dollars a week. He's essentially driving his Prius for free, with maybe a few dollars on top.

Can you ask your Dad for specifics about the typical take and how much he gets to keep? How are taxes handled? Tips?

I'm really sorry it's been like five months since you asked this question, and I just now saw it. Tips are not provided for in the app, that happens on the side, and I've heard of some drivers signing up for Square to accept credit cards for this purpose. Last time I talked with him about it he said Uber was taking 20%. Normal pricing is somewhere in the $1.00-$1.50 per mile range; surge pricing happens sometimes in Greensboro where he is but he rarely goes. Based on what he's doing, I think you could clear $100 a week working Thursday/Friday/Saturday nights depending on the city. When he first started, Uber was guaranteeing $15 an hour if you kept your app on 6p-3a Friday and Saturday nights and took at least 80% of ride requests routed to you. That said, that appears to only happen in markets where Uber is brand new.

He's also renting their smartphone at $10 per week - since his personal phone is an ancient flip phone, it makes sense for him.

Here in Ft. Lauderdale, the Taxi industry has been totally owned by one man for years. Very strong connection to government folks. NOONE can pick up or drop off at the airport or cruise port unless you were attached to Mr. Jessie Gaddis. Absolutely notorious for carrying minimal insurance for the taxis. Get hit by one? You ain't getting E36 M3. Drivers are not taken care of and are considered throwaways. A really bad corrupt system. So, of course, taxi man was most unhappy about Uber arriving here. Funny, everybody else was happy, including me

I haven't tried it yet, but my FIL says its awesome and it downloaded the app last night. Taxis in Seattle suck, seriously.

Id think about grabbing someone headed my direction on the way to or from work etc, but my car is too old I believe....and I might have to actually wash it.

cwh wrote: Here in Ft. Lauderdale, the Taxi industry has been totally owned by one man for years. Very strong connection to government folks. NOONE can pick up or drop off at the airport or cruise port unless you were attached to Mr. Jessie Gaddis. Absolutely notorious for carrying minimal insurance for the taxis. Get hit by one? You ain't getting E36 M3. Drivers are not taken care of and are considered throwaways. A really bad corrupt system. So, of course, taxi man was most unhappy about Uber arriving here. Funny, everybody else was happy, including me

When I visited Ottawa last, the taxi companies (well, I say companies but really they're the same one) were having a fit over Uber. Uber's not legal there, BTW. They were calling for rides, videoing the driver, asking for things like home phone numbers and then posting the videos to YouTube to "help the police arrest the lawbreakers". What they were really doing was making themselves look like juvenile idiots. I can only imagine what would happen if you tried that in a Blue Line cab...

A few days later, the "company" that had the exclusive rights to the airport pickups got upset when their airport surcharge for the exclusive access got bumped up. Day 1, the taxi drivers drove around the airport pickup area waving $5 bills out the window and refusing to pick up passengers. Passengers that had just arrived, remember, so they had no idea what the hell was going on. Uber offered a "two free rides" signup bonus in response It then escalated to picketing and a day later, a phalanx of cabs drove down the airport parkway (access road from downtown) slowly to hold back traffic.

Meanwhile, everyone in Ottawa has had a run-in with a cab over the years. Bikes getting forced off the road, near-misses with pedestrians and - in my case - threats of physical violence and road rage. The cab companies don't care. They've got a serious PR problem and they're only making it worse with their antics.