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61 - 79 of 79 Posts
#62 ·
Edantes said:
May 17 was my one month mark. I could not drive for a week due to my father being in the hospital. Otherwise I drove almost every single day. My question for all of you that dog on Uber. Why do you drive for them when you dislike it so much? If it doesn't work for you, move on. Quit. You all must be doing something wrong. What is your average net per fare? Average distance? Etc? Do you all calculate these? How often do you get cash tips? I average 1 tip per night for a total of $4.
For the person saying wait until I have to drive from SE to Dulles. Been there many times. Had a surge on a few of them and pulled in over $70 each trip. Toward the end of one night I even got a ride to Fredericksburg, VA from NW DC. Which was perfect for me as I live in VA. If I get sent out of the area (DC/Arlington) I don't fight my way back to the city to drive there. I drive in that area and most of the time I get rides back to the city. I try to drive at least 6 hours a day. I start my regular job at 10am in DC, so I leave my house around 430am an head into the city to drive before my regular job, then drive after work as well.
And yes, I know about more expenses outside of gas. Depreciation, cost of the items I offer to riders, etc. This is not my first business. The potential for making money can be incredible. So instead of sitting on your ass and complaining in this forum - get out there and make money. Or better yet - please stay here and I'll make the money.
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I wasn't aware rose-colored glasses were still in style.
 
#63 ·
Edantes said:
Today was my first day driving. I worked about 5 hours and pulled in just under $27.50 an hour. Honestly this is the easiest job I have ever had. I plan on driving 2-3 days a week and put in 15-20 hours. I figure I can pull in over $2000 a month. I wish that I would have started months ago.
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Your optimism is certainly refreshing. But your failure to adequately and properly calculate your true costs sounds like a broken record. My two pieces of advice today would be.
  1. Never lose your optimism
  2. Take a cost accounting course
 
#64 ·
Desert Driver said:
Your optimism is certainly refreshing. But your failure to adequately and properly calculate your true costs sounds like a broken record. My two pieces of advice today would be.
  1. Never lose your optimism
  2. Take a cost accounting course
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I agree with #1.

But unless #2 is specifically about livery costs, there are some traps. The biggest, ignoring the USDOT, AAA, IRS, or others actual data for the true cost of operating an automobile. It amazes me how so many part-time Uber geniuses and have outsmarted them all.
 
#65 ·
J. D. said:
I agree with #1.

But unless #2 is specifically about livery costs, there are some traps. The biggest, ignoring the USDOT, AAA, IRS, or others actual data for the true cost of operating an automobile. It amazes me how so many part-time Uber geniuses and have outsmarted them all.
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I was amazed when I first got on this forum at how few people understand the true and actual costs of operating an automobile. I sometimes think I should offer a four-hour online course so Uber drivers can truly comprehend how little profit they're earning when all they're doing is prematurely collecting any equity their cars may hold. But, you can lead a horse to water...
 
#66 ·
Desert Driver said:
I was amazed when I first got on this forum at how few people understand the true and actual costs of operating an automobile. I sometimes think I should offer a four-hour online course so Uber drivers can truly comprehend how little profit they're earning when all they're doing is prematurely collecting any equity their cars may hold. But, you can lead a horse to water...
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Exactly. But Uber perpetuates the problem by telling them they're earning $25/hour. How absurd! You bet your hiney Uber knows that most part-timers have no business or livery training and they are exploiting that to their $billion pocket books. It is sad that the drivers just can't see how they're being exploited.

I have been doing active research. I have yet to find one single driver who is still actively driving, who even comes close to calculating their true costs. But I blame Uber for preying upon the uniformed, weak-minded, uneducated, and unsuspecting. Oooooo, Uber is so slimy!
 
#67 ·
J. D. said:
Exactly. But Uber perpetuates the problem by telling them they're earning $25/hour. How absurd! You bet your hiney Uber knows that most part-timers have no business or livery training and they are exploiting that to their $billion pocket books. It is sad that the drivers just can't see how they're being exploited.

I have been doing active research. I have yet to find one single driver who is still actively driving, who even comes close to calculating their true costs. But I blame Uber for preying upon the uniformed, weak-minded, uneducated, and unsuspecting. Oooooo, Uber is so slimy!
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Succinctly and beautifully stated. No rational, informed person will argue against your comment.
 
#69 · (Edited)
Problem #2. Confusing cash flow with profit.

Uber's cash flow for a driver can be pretty darn good at times.

But profit rarely equates to at least minimum wage, Most drivers have no clue that they're working the equilivant of $2/hour.

If a driver's immediate need is for cash flow, Uber can be a good source for a short time (few weeks). As long as they are informed enough to know that long term (even part-time), they are going to lose.
 
#70 · (Edited)
J. D. said:
Problem #2. Confusing cash flow with profit.

Uber's cash flow for a driver can be pretty darn good at times.

But profit rarely equates to at least minimum wage, Most drivers have no clue that they're working the equilivant of $2/hour.

If a driver's immediate need is for cash flow, Uber can be a good source for a short time (few weeks). As long as they are informed enough to know that long term (even part-time), they are going to lose.
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Excellent point, again. If a person needs quick cash (e.g., Xmas holiday shopping) then driving for U/L is a better idea than a payday loan. But the problem (and you know this well, J. D.) is that ACTUAL hourly wage doesn't come close to what Uber claims you'll make. Sure, a driver can cash flow $25 per hour. But the profit per hour is typically $8 to $10. On a really good weekend with plenty of surging and lots of trips, I have maxed out at $14.50 per hour in profit. But my cash flow per hour was 2.5 times my profit per hour. But I was never naive or foolish enough to believe for a second that I was earning $35 in profit. And no matter how many times we scream this from the rooftops, uninformed newbs with rose-colored glasses and sorely lacking math skills will believe they're earning more than $25 per hour in profit. NEWS FLASH: No Uber driver anywhere ever earned $25 per hour in profit.
 
#71 ·
Desert Driver said:
On a really good weekend with plenty of surging and lots of trips, I have maxed out at $14.50 per hour in profit.
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Wow! Even that's about 10x better than the average driver. The last weekend I worked, my profit calculated out to LESS than $1.95/hour. Almost no surges. I say less than because there are still outstanding costs not in that number. I suspect, when I add in all costs, there will be zero profit.

But hey, I cash flowed $14/hour!
 
#72 ·
I have worked in sales and have gone through a lot of sales training. Every single sales trainer that I dealt with all said the same common thing that 1 of them called the coffee club. They all said to avoid the coffee club. The coffee club are the people that stand around and do nothing but ***** and whine about why they aren't making money, about why its the company's fault, its this and that and how they just get screwed. When you become a member of the coffee club, its time to move on....
 
#73 ·
zombieguy said:
I have worked in sales and have gone through a lot of sales training. Every single sales trainer that I dealt with all said the same common thing that 1 of them called the coffee club. They all said to avoid the coffee club. The coffee club are the people that stand around and do nothing but ***** and whine about why they aren't making money, about why its the company's fault, its this and that and how they just get screwed. When you become a member of the coffee club, its time to move on....
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Welcome to the coffee club zombieguy!
 
#74 ·
Huberis said:
Before you dismiss every person who issues a wake up call as unhappy and cynical, bare in mind, many people came into Uber with the idea that it was something they would be able to do full time in order to make a good living from it. You also have people on here who already have made a living driving livery full time. I personally fall into that category.

Speaking for myself, the fear or anger is not so much an us against them kind of relationship that Travis K would like us all to believe. For myself it is the fear that this kind of work is only going to be viable as a very casual, part time work. Uber Metrics as far as I can tell would like to reduce the workforce to a condition where drivers are only as viable as long as their current schnazzy car is new. They will be disposable.

It is a bummer in a way that newbies get hit in the face with a truck load of energy when they post excitedly about their first weekend of driving. I think the fear is that the format favors amateurism, where being a pro simply means you do it to make your living. Uber's model favors amateurs and hobbyist, because they are far more likely to accept status quo and Travis bucks against change or anything that goes against his grain.

There is a hell of a good chance a typical Uber driver isn't going to last much more than six months. In that time, they bet against disclosure with their personal insurance carrier and they ignore the wear and tear to their car. The work turns out not to pay so good, it's so long Uber!

I believe Travis would rather keep replacing drivers constantly rather than really concern himself with their well being. For those reasons, I'll hazard a guess that over enthusiastic newby posts touch a particular nerve. There is no provision for elbow room on the streets.
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Well said!!!
 
#75 ·
I understand cash flow vs profit.

I enjoy the freedom of working when I want around my already busy schedule and it supplements my income.

I drive in the Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale area and here are my secrets (lol).

I only drive Friday, Sat nights or when I think it will be busy (graduation at ASU, Big games or concerts etc etc)

I only take UberXL AND lyft Plus trips.

I don't serve water, gum, cookies or anything else.

I have a cooler of drinks for myself and when passengers have asked me for a bottle I say that's my personal stash I bought before I started driving today, but I can stop at the QT or Circle K for you to buy some for yourself if you like (99% decline).

I arrive fast, I take the GPS route to the location and make small talk when they speak first.

I keep my paid off 2005 Honda Pilot clean and smelling good. (yes I know its going to be deactivated in 2016) :)

I keep track of miles in a spreadsheet starting millage vs ending mileage and actual miles driven.

I make good money ($17 - $18 hr profit most weekends), so I am under no illusion that it's easy money, nor that I will get rich.

I have a 4.83 rating and 500 trips under my belt

If you think you can work 9-5 m-f and make enough to live you are kidding yourself.

All in all if you approach it correctly driving for lyft and uber is a good way to make some cash. Just don't go into debt (cas cards, Credit cards fgor tires etc etc) and make sure to put away 25% of everything you make for expenses (tires, oil changes, and taxes.) I just started depositing Lyft payments to a separate account I don't touch unless needed for above.
 
#76 ·
VIncent said:
I drive in the Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale area and here are my secrets (lol).

put away 25% of everything you make for expenses (tires, oil changes, and taxes.) I just started depositing Lyft payments to a separate account I don't touch unless needed for above.
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Vincent,

This looks like VERY good advice. Newbies, take notice.

This obviosly isn't your first day. I enjoyed the work but sadly, no Lyft in my town and almost no XL requests. If I didn't take X, (and I thought seriously about it) I'd been sitting a lot. Surges only happened during bar closing time. Mostly college students and minimum fares. Yelch! To make it work, I'd have to move.
 
#77 ·
Mark in SD said:
Uber got right back to me via email:

Hi Mark,

Thanks very much for providing this information, I am very sorry to hear about this incident. We appreciate you remaining professional throughout this ordeal. I have noted this information on the trip log and also passed this along to my manager so they can record the incident on the rider's profile and take appropriate action.

Unfortunately, there are riders that are disrespectful for no reason and at no fault of the driver. We understand these situations happen and take that into account when evaluating 5 star ratings. Thanks again for providing this information.

Please feel free to reply with any other questions or concerns!

Best,

xxxxx (name deleted)
Uber Support
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Same canned response I've received. Goddamn, I wish we had this shit when I worked customer service. I actually had to be a human being, not a robot.
 
#78 ·
Edantes said:
May 17 was my one month mark. I could not drive for a week due to my father being in the hospital. Otherwise I drove almost every single day. My question for all of you that dog on Uber. Why do you drive for them when you dislike it so much? If it doesn't work for you, move on. Quit. You all must be doing something wrong. What is your average net per fare? Average distance? Etc? Do you all calculate these? How often do you get cash tips? I average 1 tip per night for a total of $4.
For the person saying wait until I have to drive from SE to Dulles. Been there many times. Had a surge on a few of them and pulled in over $70 each trip. Toward the end of one night I even got a ride to Fredericksburg, VA from NW DC. Which was perfect for me as I live in VA. If I get sent out of the area (DC/Arlington) I don't fight my way back to the city to drive there. I drive in that area and most of the time I get rides back to the city. I try to drive at least 6 hours a day. I start my regular job at 10am in DC, so I leave my house around 430am an head into the city to drive before my regular job, then drive after work as well.
And yes, I know about more expenses outside of gas. Depreciation, cost of the items I offer to riders, etc. This is not my first business. The potential for making money can be incredible. So instead of sitting on your ass and complaining in this forum - get out there and make money. Or better yet - please stay here and I'll make the money.
Click to expand...
You haven't said anything about your mileage.
 
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