Uber

[EnhancedFujita]

Also, Seattle resident here. Depending on your arrival time you should seriously consider the light rail as a time (and money) saving option. Seattle rush hour sucks so 7-9a or 4:30-6:30p it will take you longer to get downtown from the airport via road vehicle. There are signs for light link everywhere, you cant miss it. Ticket machines take cash or credit. The train is clean and nice. Nobody will stab you.

This is probably the best idea as I've looked into it more. I usually use public transit when visiting larger cities with a good system. Just hadn't used Uber yet and had been wanting to give it a try but hadn't had a reason. Might use it for trips around downtown if I have far to go.

Thanks for the tips everyone.

 

[dmclone]

I've only used Uber a few times and all of them were in Europe. My observations.

#1 Taxi cab companies think they are getting screwed because of the low prices. I think a large part of the popularity is the app and not the prices. It's so easy to use and at least in Des Moines, the cab companies don't have a good app. If I compare prices in Des Moines it's not that much cheaper to use Uber. In Germany Uber was a lot cheaper than a cab.

#2 It's really nice in foreign countries where there is a language barrier. You can just put in your destination, pay on the app, and they will take you there. There really is no need to talk. On the app you can see exactly where they are located.

 

[Cpech56]

I also drive for UBER in Des Moines on Friday and Saturday nights only. Much of what the other driver said is true, you must pass a background check, dot check and send in photos of the inside and outside of your vehicle as well as license plate. Not so that they can pass along to police if you kill someone but because they want to ensure your vehicle is nice so customers have a good experience and continue to use UBER.

Whomever said UBER is always surging is dead wrong, or possibly lives in a different market than DM. The reason I drive on Friday and Saturday nights is because that's about the only time all week it surges and it doesn't do so until about midnight downtown and in West Glen. The reason it surges is because there's more passengers than there are drivers in that area. One person posted that they walk outside the surging zone so they don't have to pay the surge prices. I recently inquired about that and UBER has made the area surrounding their surge zones bigger so that customers cant just walk into a cheaper area.

Passengers and drivers alike have the ability to rate each other on their trips. If I see a passenger rating below 4, I don't even mess with it because I don't want them in my car. On a typical Friday and Saturday night I do between 12-15 trips and gross about $150 each night after gas and the UBER charges. I figure it's money I'd be spending If I weren't working so it seems to be worth it. I work 10pm-3am those nights.

I do get a majority of drunk people because I work those times. I have only been driving for about a month now but have quite a few stories. Had a couple of lesbians from Detroit invite me into their hotel room to enjoy a "drink" with them, had a teacher invite me in as well, and had one lady give me a shoulder rub while driving. Kind of awkward. I always just reply with I'm happily engaged but appreciate the offer.

If you want a free $20 ride use my referral code: L4UUR

I think it tosses like $5 back to me but a free $20 ride for you can't be beat.

 

[CyFan61]

Where are you guys getting Uber that is cheaper than taxis? The whole point is that you pay more for a premium service. UberX on the other hand is generally competitive with taxis. The biggest perk of Uber and UberX is that you don't have a tax skirting ******* hassling you for cash only.

I've only ever used UberX, or UberXL with a group, and the prices have been universally less than what a cab would cost with tip.

This might be my experience only, but 99% of the time someone refers to Uber, they are getting an UberX.

 

[CyFan61]

On a typical Friday and Saturday night I do between 12-15 trips and gross about $150 each night after gas and the UBER charges. I figure it's money I'd be spending If I weren't working so it seems to be worth it. I work 10pm-3am those nights.

So you net about $150? Just curious as I am considering becoming an Uber driver myself for some weekends.

Would appreciate other Uber driver perspectives.

 

[cloneluke80]

Pretty much everyone loves Uber, except the DM city council

They actually re-wrote the taxi ordinance after uber came to town and got pretty progressive with it compared to some places like Las Vegas where the cabby lobby is too strong.

Props to the council for many recent actions like this and food truck pilot. They are getting better.

 

[cloneluke80]

Maybe it is just being a chick, but this and Tinder sound like an awesome way to get murdered.

Yeah right, all the murderers just laid in wait for uber to come to town so they could drive for them and execute their plan after all these years without uber...

seriously? all drivers have background checks and most have full time jobs and families, just want to make a little side money.

 

[Angie]

Do you have the same thoughts when using a regular taxi?

I believe most taxi drivers are bonded and insured, at least through their employer. There is also some pretty strict logging.

 

[cloneluke80]

I believe most taxi drivers are bonded and insured, at least through their employer. There is also some pretty strict logging.

when you are in a passenger in uber you are covered by a million dollar liability policy held by uber

 

[keepngoal]

I also drive for UBER in Des Moines on Friday and Saturday nights only. Much of what the other driver said is true, you must pass a background check, dot check and send in photos of the inside and outside of your vehicle as well as license plate. Not so that they can pass along to police if you kill someone but because they want to ensure your vehicle is nice so customers have a good experience and continue to use UBER.

Whomever said UBER is always surging is dead wrong, or possibly lives in a different market than DM. The reason I drive on Friday and Saturday nights is because that's about the only time all week it surges and it doesn't do so until about midnight downtown and in West Glen. The reason it surges is because there's more passengers than there are drivers in that area. One person posted that they walk outside the surging zone so they don't have to pay the surge prices. I recently inquired about that and UBER has made the area surrounding their surge zones bigger so that customers cant just walk into a cheaper area.

Passengers and drivers alike have the ability to rate each other on their trips. If I see a passenger rating below 4, I don't even mess with it because I don't want them in my car. On a typical Friday and Saturday night I do between 12-15 trips and gross about $150 each night after gas and the UBER charges. I figure it's money I'd be spending If I weren't working so it seems to be worth it. I work 10pm-3am those nights.

I do get a majority of drunk people because I work those times. I have only been driving for about a month now but have quite a few stories. Had a couple of lesbians from Detroit invite me into their hotel room to enjoy a "drink" with them, had a teacher invite me in as well, and had one lady give me a shoulder rub while driving. Kind of awkward. I always just reply with I'm happily engaged but appreciate the offer.

If you want a free $20 ride use my referral code: L4UUR

I think it tosses like $5 back to me but a free $20 ride for you can't be beat.

great post, thank you. do you have anything in place to protect you? camera, bonded, extra insurance?

 

[Angie]

when you are in a passenger in uber you are covered by a million dollar liability policy held by uber

That's cool - but a million dollars doesn't do me much good if I'm dead.

 

[cloneluke80]

also all uber trips are logged electronically because drivers HAVE to have GPS turned on for the driver app to even work.

 

[Cycsk]

Going to Chicago Sunday morning. Where do they pick up at O'Hare?

 

[cloneluke80]

That's cool - but a million dollars doesn't do me much good if I'm dead.

in des moines, most taxi drivers are foreign and shipped in from chicago for 1 or 2 month stints then they are gone.

most uber drivers are locals who live and work here, have families here and have alot more too lose

you are just dead wrong, i challenge you to take a taxi then an uber and make a judgement after that.

 

[Angie]

in des moines, most taxi drivers are foreign and shipped in from chicago for 1 or 2 month stints then they are gone.

most uber drivers are locals who live and work here, have families here and have alot more too lose

you are just dead wrong, i challenge you to take a taxi then an uber and make a judgement after that.

I'm partially trolling on this - I think you're getting a little more worked up than this is worth.

 

[keepngoal]

in des moines, most taxi drivers are foreign and shipped in from chicago for 1 or 2 month stints then they are gone.

most uber drivers are locals who live and work here, have families here and have alot more too lose

you are just dead wrong, i challenge you to take a taxi then an uber and make a judgement after that.

were you a wrestler?

I kid, I kid. Great thread in here.

 

[cloneluke80]

no biggie if you're trolling, i get it

just trying to dispell the common mis-nomers, it really is a great service for all involved.

one of the best industry disruptions since amazon in my opinion.

 

[dmclone]

in des moines, most taxi drivers are foreign and shipped in from chicago for 1 or 2 month stints then they are gone.

most uber drivers are locals who live and work here, have families here and have alot more too lose

you are just dead wrong, i challenge you to take a taxi then an uber and make a judgement after that.

I think it was 13 who did a story on Uber. They did comparisons and Uber wasn't much cheaper but was actually more reliable than cab service.

http://whotv.com/2015/02/25/is-uber-really-cheaper-faster-than-a-normal-taxi/

 

[Angie]

no biggie if you're trolling, i get it

just trying to dispell the common mis-nomers, it really is a great service for all involved.

one of the best industry disruptions since amazon in my opinion.

In the end, it's all about whatever everyone is comfortable doing. Honestly, I rarely use public transportation because car seats + public transit are a pain in the ***, and I refuse to let my children go without a car seat. So this doesn't really affect me at all.

I would probably still favor a taxi over Uber just because it's a known quantity. There are almost always cameras, etc. But the market is evolving, and that's awesome.

 

[Cpech56]

great post, thank you. do you have anything in place to protect you? camera, bonded, extra insurance?

I personally carry commercial insurance because I manage Des Moines Meal Man also and needed it for that as well. All drivers must provide proof of insurance and starting May 1st all drivers will have to have a passenger license and use an Uber sticker on their car when working.

To the gentlemen who said he's potentially thinking about becoming a driver, yes I net roughly $150 on each night. Last weekend I took home $287 and it's paid into my checking account 4 days later from a company called Raiser which is similar to Paypal.

Uber has also been doing what's called a guarantee. If you "opt in" for the guarantee they promise you that if you are in the hot spots and work the required hours they'll guarantee you make $250 between Friday and Saturday night. You must work those hours and you must average at minimum one trip an hour. Which if you park in the "secret spots" as I call them you will have no issue doing. For my first couple weekends I chose to Opt in just so I had a guarantee of making money, I stopped doing that last weekend. Remember UBER will page the closest driver to the customer.

Personally I think Des Moines is starting to get a little saturated with drivers. On an average Saturday night there's anywhere from 15-25 drivers out, where as during the week most nights there's only like 5-10. Just supply and demand.

Good Luck if you try it and anyone wanting to use my referral code feel free and enjoy the free $20 trip.

Referral Code: L4UUR