[Garbage Plate]

I have not liked the two hour long rides I took from Rochester to Buffalo. When I got the pings I was excited, thinking to myself, "sweet!, I'm going to make a nice little payday from this ride". Got paid about $50 each time but then had to dead head back to Rochester, driving over 120 miles total. After thinking about it I would have been better off declining the ride and staying in Rochester. Fewer dead miles. I rejected the last couple offers. What do you guys think?

 

[Merc7186]

In over 1400+ rides....got one. (And it was 22 minutes long)

No Opinion.

 

[emdeplam]

Can't make money if you don't hit 'accept'

 

[Blatherskite]

Can't support your dentist if you don't take those cleats to the teeth.

 

[PowerDriver_BUF]

I have not liked the two hour long rides I took from Rochester to Buffalo. When I got the pings I was excited, thinking to myself, "sweet!, I'm going to make a nice little payday from this ride". Got paid about $50 each time but then had to dead head back to Rochester, driving over 120 miles total. After thinking about it I would have been better off declining the ride and staying in Rochester. Fewer dead miles. I rejected the last couple offers. What do you guys think?

I thought I remember you saying that you request $20 up front for return gas. Uber and Lyft should do something to compensate for these types of trips.

 

[golfinganddriving]

I've had 2 of these - both were down along the I-90 Lake Erie shoreline. Both were nice days and I didn't mind the return drive. Even got a couple short rides on the way back using destination filter. Both rides tipped me - one was $30 and one was $20 tip. But of course I took a chance so you never know. I feel kind of funny asking them for the cash upfront.
I know someone who got a NYC ride. They made around $300 plus $30 tip. But put 800 miles on the car. If it was me I would have spent a nice night in the city and spent my earnings.

 

[Garbage Plate]

I thought I remember you saying that you request $20 up front for return gas. Uber and Lyft should do something to compensate for these types of trips.

The one time I was asked by a rider to drive him to Buffalo I did request $20 cash. He declined. I'm going to ask for $30 next time.

 

[DelaJoe]

It all depends on the mileage rate. If the rate is under a $1/mile it is really not worthwhile. If you do the ride you almost need some kind of upfront cash/tip. The deadhead back will eat up any profit. I got to make at least 30/hour round trip (after gas and tolls) to take a long one.

 

[ROCuberguy585]

Done a few of these. First one was to Kueka College before they had the long trip notification, completely blindsided when I picked her up. Figured she'd tip something knowing I had to drive back, nope! Wouldn't have done it if it happened today. Only made $37 before expenses.

2nd one I picked up at RIT and did have the notification. She's non-verbal deaf but has a friend there to see her off. He tells me "Buffalo Airport, she'll give you $20 when you get there" Ok! I can do that! Great ride, got to listen to my music as loud as I wanted, got to stop and visit my mom before heading back, got to accept then cancel a ride from my alma mater (Clarence High School). I also grossed just under $75 after tip. Great trip. Would do it again. If I wasn't offered the cash I would ask for $30 but I would take the $20.

My last one I was out in Farmington at the racetrack/casino completing a dropoff when I got a stacked long trip request. It was down in Canandaigua by the lake so it was a long pickup too. Typically don't do those but I figured I was a 20 min drive from any ping at that point and if it wasn't one I'd take I'd still get the increased cancellation fee. Also one other factor I was counting on: it takes just over 45 mins to get from Canandaigua to the Rochester airport which indeed was the trip. Didn't need anything extra cause that was the direction I wanted to go anyways and got a nice $10 anyways. I'd say it's all situational.

 

[Old BUF Guy]

I took a fare from Buffalo to Cleveland, OH. Got $180.00, but $0.00 for the return. Never again. I won't accept ANY fare request that is more than about 8 minutes away. And if I get someone who wants me to take them on a long distance away, where I would have to deadhead back, I will only do it for a cash tip in advance. And the tip would have to be at least $1 / mile for 1/2 of the return run. So, for a ride to Cleveland, which is 180 mile one way, give me at least $90 tip upfront, - or get someone else to do it.

 

[ROCuberguy585]

If I drive from Rochester to Buffalo I can still pick up new trips when I drop off, so while I'll still be deheading the majority of it I can make some money. Cleveland you won't be able to pick anyone up until you cross the state line. Also a 6-8 round trip I'm missing aleast one meal. I'd say at least $100 to cover lost time and a meal. I'd perhaps let them haggle me down to $90 but wouldn't do it for less.

 

[Fed truck]

If I drive from Rochester to Buffalo I can still pick up new trips when I drop off, so while I'll still be deheading the majority of it I can make some money. Cleveland you won't be able to pick anyone up until you cross the state line. Also a 6-8 round trip I'm missing aleast one meal. I'd say at least $100 to cover lost time and a meal. I'd perhaps let them haggle me down to $90 but wouldn't do it for less.

Lyft lets you pick up out of state I was in Cleveland and wanted to see if the apps would work, uber was a no but lyft let me go online and get a ping obviously I didn't take it.

 

[DelaJoe]

I took a fare from Buffalo to Cleveland, OH. Got $180.00, but $0.00 for the return. Never again. I won't accept ANY fare request that is more than about 8 minutes away. And if I get someone who wants me to take them on a long distance away, where I would have to deadhead back, I will only do it for a cash tip in advance. And the tip would have to be at least $1 / mile for 1/2 of the return run. So, for a ride to Cleveland, which is 180 mile one way, give me at least $90 tip upfront, - or get someone else to do it.

Well going 360 miles is probably about 7 hours. So lets assume about $40 in gas. 180-40 = 140 / 7 hours = $20/hour ... Honestly $20 hour is above average pay for an Uber Driver. Depending on your region..you might be able to set your DF to Buffalo and get some trips going back home.

If the customer tips you then that is even more profit.

Unless I have something else going on...I NEVER turn down a 45+ min trip...That is big time profit for the day.

 

[Old BUF Guy]

Well going 360 miles is probably about 7 hours. So lets assume about $40 in gas. 180-40 = 140 / 7 hours = $20/hour ... Honestly $20 hour is above average pay for an Uber Driver. Depending on your region..you might be able to set your DF to Buffalo and get some trips going back home.

If the customer tips you then that is even more profit.

Unless I have something else going on...I NEVER turn down a 45+ min trip...That is big time profit for the day.

360 miles x IRS mileage deduction of, say, 55 cents / mile = $198 deduction. More than the $180 earned! and $40 for gas does not take into account vehicle wear and tear.

You're welcome to any and all of those long fares you want to take. I'll definitely pass on them unless they want to tip me in cash beforehand as I noted in my original post.

 

[DelaJoe]

360 miles x IRS mileage deduction of, say, 55 cents / mile = $198 deduction. More than the $180 earned! and $40 for gas does not take into account vehicle wear and tear.

You're welcome to any and all of those long fares you want to take. I'll definitely pass on them unless they want to tip me in cash beforehand as I noted in my original post.

Tax free money...that is why we all drive for Uber. You earn $140 and pay zero taxes. Wear and Tear...blah blah blah...I am so tired of Uber drivers complaining about the cost of vehicle maintenance. Sure you need to get tires, brakes and oil changes more frequently but you already spend money on all of that before Uber existed. The IRS gives you a pass on taxes so the money you would have paid on taxes pays for your wear and tear.

So if you thinking taking long trips is not worth it...they why in the world would you do short ones? Why because of the dead head miles? Is that your gripe? You are doing highway miles which means they are clicking off at more than a mile a minute. You aren't going to earn that kind of money in the city with lights and turns and stop signs and traffic. The best trips are the ones that take you on the highway for long distances.

 

[Garbage Plate]

Tax free money...that is why we all drive for Uber. You earn $140 and pay zero taxes. Wear and Tear...blah blah blah...I am so tired of Uber drivers complaining about the cost of vehicle maintenance. Sure you need to get tires, brakes and oil changes more frequently but you already spend money on all of that before Uber existed. The IRS gives you a pass on taxes so the money you would have paid on taxes pays for your wear and tear.

So if you thinking taking long trips is not worth it...they why in the world would you do short ones? Why because of the dead head miles? Is that your gripe? You are doing highway miles which means they are clicking off at more than a mile a minute. You aren't going to earn that kind of money in the city with lights and turns and stop signs and traffic. The best trips are the ones that take you on the highway for long distances.

For me the best rides are the ones that take you from one side of the city across downtown to the other side of the city, leaving you with little to no dead miles. Got one the other day. Dropped off a rider close to the lake by Seabreeze. Got a stacked ping 6 minutes away. Pick the guy up he's going 25 minutes to southern Henrietta. Dropped him off and was right back to work with no dead miles or time. Those rides are awesome.

 

[Garbage Plate]

Accepted a Lyft ping from Jeremy last night about 7. He immediately calls me and tells me he's going to Ohio, 246 miles. Asks me if I'm willing to do it. Told him I don't want to sound like a jerk but would need to be paid cash for dead miles on way back. He questioned if I was allowed to do that and said he could report me to Lyft. I said we were allowed to charge for dead miles, thought about it and told him I would need $100 cash upfront. He declined and I cancelled the ride. This morning I figure I would have received about $208 for that ride. Made slightly less, $198 including tips in 9 hours staying local, but drove far fewer miles so I think I made the right decision.

 

[SpongemanGreg]

Longest trip ever and yes.

 

[IERide]

I'm in a different market, but the struggle is the same..
I get several 45+ and 60+ request per week and I always accept them. Even if i have to deadmile back, it's still profitable but I always try to "Destination Filter" myself back home. Usually I will only get 1/4 to 1/2 of the way back using the DF, but even that makes it very profitable. Only a few times was I able to "ride the unicorn" all the way back home..

 

[ROCuberguy585]

Accepted a Lyft ping from Jeremy last night about 7. He immediately calls me and tells me he's going to Ohio, 246 miles. Asks me if I'm willing to do it. Told him I don't want to sound like a jerk but would need to be paid cash for dead miles on way back. He questioned if I was allowed to do that and said he could report me to Lyft. I said we were allowed to charge for dead miles, thought about it and told him I would need $100 cash upfront. He declined and I cancelled the ride. This morning I figure I would have received about $208 for that ride. Made slightly less, $198 including tips in 9 hours staying local, but drove far fewer miles so I think I made the right decision.

This is exactly it. You can typically make about the same staying put if it's even remotely busy. If it's a long trip that doesn't leave me stranded without a lot of dead miles (like my Canandaigua-airport run) then that's fine. If it does I need to be compensated for the rides I'm missing while I'm driving back to my city through no man's land. I honestly wish I could negotiate money for non long trips that leave me out in the boonies. I've been out to Brockport, Geneseo, Farmington, Canandaigua and most recently Newark (after the prior trip landed me in Macedon) on trips without the long trip warning and had to drive all dead miles back. They have all put me about 25-30 minutes from my next ride on average. Too me that's pretty frustrating too.