[Reality Checker]

Dear Uber Management:

This is an open letter from a very unhappy driver, though I suspect that the content of this letter could have been written by the majority of drivers out there. So please listen as I am really trying to help your business as well as the drivers who have signed on with you.

The average wage of an Uber driver in Calgary (from an informal survey I took of about 30 drivers) is about $12/hr. When I was going through the sign-up process and I asked those at the Greenlight office how much Uber drivers typically make, I was told “Between $25 and $30 per hour”. Obviously, if potential drivers had been told the truth, many would not have bothered.

If $25-$30/hr is an average, then Uber should be prepared to offer a $25/hr guarantee. And I don’t mean just for special events, late night “surge areas” or other unusual situations, but all the time for each and every driver.

If the Calgary market is soft compared to other cities, and this is not a typical wage, then I would suggest you modify your extreme profits and kick back a higher percentage to the drivers in order to make it worth their while to drive for Uber.

I don’t see any advertisements encouraging people to download the Uber Rider App. More riders is not only good for the drivers, but obviously also good for Uber. Take a pry bar to your wallet and use some of your profits to build the market in Calgary, especially at the airport.

You have way too many drivers on the road compared to the number of people requesting rides. This misbalance will very soon come back to kick you in the butt. The disillusionment among drivers is very high. This dissatisfaction will no doubt be communicated to the passengers. When people who are considering driving for Uber find out what the reality is, they will not bother. Existing drivers will soon come to the realization that this was a bad idea and that there are certainly many other ways they could earn more money (even minimum wage is higher) without risking themselves and their vehicle on the roads every day.

If you don’t fix this, and I mean very soon, Uber will suffer the backlash of not taking care of those who are earning your profits.

 

[UberwithStuber]

Dear Reality Checker,
We don't care about you, your pay, your car, or your concerns. Shut up and make us some money.
Sincerley,
[email protected]

 

[AltaClip]

Uber doesn't care how a sample of say 20000 Calgary trips are distributed amongst drivers in a month.

100 drivers X 200 trips each (what I averaged many months ago)

Or 500 drivers X 40 trips each (closer to what I do now)

Uber model makes them the same either way but more drivers is better for uber in terms of coverage , turnover & service to its customers.

Complaining won't work in this economy . Vote with your app, cut back or turn it off. Revisit when surges become more common (if ever)

 

[AnotherUberVictim]

Dear Uber Management:

This is an open letter from a very unhappy driver, though I suspect that the content of this letter could have been written by the majority of drivers out there. So please listen as I am really trying to help your business as well as the drivers who have signed on with you.

The average wage of an Uber driver in Calgary (from an informal survey I took of about 30 drivers) is about $12/hr. When I was going through the sign-up process and I asked those at the Greenlight office how much Uber drivers typically make, I was told "Between $25 and $30 per hour". Obviously, if potential drivers had been told the truth, many would not have bothered.

If $25-$30/hr is an average, then Uber should be prepared to offer a $25/hr guarantee. And I don't mean just for special events, late night "surge areas" or other unusual situations, but all the time for each and every driver.

If the Calgary market is soft compared to other cities, and this is not a typical wage, then I would suggest you modify your extreme profits and kick back a higher percentage to the drivers in order to make it worth their while to drive for Uber.

I don't see any advertisements encouraging people to download the Uber Rider App. More riders is not only good for the drivers, but obviously also good for Uber. Take a pry bar to your wallet and use some of your profits to build the market in Calgary, especially at the airport.

You have way too many drivers on the road compared to the number of people requesting rides. This misbalance will very soon come back to kick you in the butt. The disillusionment among drivers is very high. This dissatisfaction will no doubt be communicated to the passengers. When people who are considering driving for Uber find out what the reality is, they will not bother. Existing drivers will soon come to the realization that this was a bad idea and that there are certainly many other ways they could earn more money (even minimum wage is higher) without risking themselves and their vehicle on the roads every day.

If you don't fix this, and I mean very soon, Uber will suffer the backlash of not taking care of those who are earning your profits.

Yes, how ironic that your nick contains the word "reality", when you seem to have little idea of the concept with regards to Uber.

If you had any idea, you would have realized before you signed up that Uber's business model doesn't limit the number of drivers it allows to sign up and drive at anytime. I like the responses you've been given so far, because they are so true.

Bottom line is that Uber is deregulation of the ride-for-hire industry. Plain and simple. Notice I didn't say ride-sharing which is a new term invented by Uber to skirt existing livery laws in any jurisdiction they show up in. Previously, before the politicians pandered to the people whining that they wanted Uber in their part of the world, there was only taxis, which in most jurisdictions are regulated. The regulations are in place to protect drivers as well as consumers. Some examples of regulations taxi companies must adhere to:
- meters which are calibrated and locked to prevent tampering to protect customers from being ripped off
- barriers to protect drivers
- toplights and decals
- emergency switches to notify dispatch of imminent danger like being robbed
- emergency flashers to notify the public of a problem like being robbed
- commercial insurance to protect passengers in the event of an accident
Most jurisdictions maintain a certain ratio of the number of licenses in relation to the population. This ensures those who operate in a jurisdiction a reasonable chance of earning enough to maintain their vehicles and carry proper insurance, and that customers have a reasonable chance of getting a ride when they need one.
Uber doesn't want any regulations because that might make it too costly for us "partners" pffft, to use our own "capital" to make this silicon valley corporation and it's many venture capitalist investors money. That is of course the bottom line..., money. This isn't Travis Kalanicks first business venture. Research "Scour" and you will discover how he has no qualms with exploiting others for his own benefit.
Uber has already been successfully sued in the USA for misrepresenting what we make. Uber has no moral ground upon which to stand. This SHOULD be completely obvious to you by now. Like the other members have stated in reply to your post, Uber couldn't care less what each driver makes. Welcome to the race to the bottom.

 

[trickynikki]

Yes, how ironic that your nick contains the word "reality", when you seem to have little idea of the concept with regards to Uber.

If you had any idea, you would have realized before you signed up that Uber's business model doesn't limit the number of drivers it allows to sign up and drive at anytime. I like the responses you've been given so far, because they are so true.

Bottom line is that Uber is deregulation of the ride-for-hire industry. Plain and simple. Notice I didn't say ride-sharing which is a new term invented by Uber to skirt existing livery laws in any jurisdiction they show up in. Previously, before the politicians pandered to the people whining that they wanted Uber in their part of the world, there was only taxis, which in most jurisdictions are regulated. The regulations are in place to protect drivers as well as consumers. Some examples of regulations taxi companies must adhere to:
- meters which are calibrated and locked to prevent tampering to protect customers from being ripped off
- barriers to protect drivers
- toplights and decals
- emergency switches to notify dispatch of imminent danger like being robbed
- emergency flashers to notify the public of a problem like being robbed
- commercial insurance to protect passengers in the event of an accident
Most jurisdictions maintain a certain ratio of the number of licenses in relation to the population. This ensures those who operate in a jurisdiction a reasonable chance of earning enough to maintain their vehicles and carry proper insurance, and that customers have a reasonable chance of getting a ride when they need one.
Uber doesn't want any regulations because that might make it too costly for us "partners" pffft, to use our own "capital" to make this silicon valley corporation and it's many venture capitalist investors money. That is of course the bottom line..., money. This isn't Travis Kalanicks first business venture. Research "Scour" and you will discover how he has no qualms with exploiting others for his own benefit.
Uber has already been successfully sued in the USA for misrepresenting what we make. Uber has no moral ground upon which to stand. This SHOULD be completely obvious to you by now. Like the other members have stated in reply to your post, Uber couldn't care less what each driver makes. Welcome to the race to the bottom.

This and the other posts sure mark Uber for what they are. Ramit Khar, manager for Uber in Alberta said that drivers for Uber don't need a class 4 because you don't need one for car pooling. You see, Uber says that it is a ride sharing company, and then says it is only car pooling, and on all fronts he is wrong. Then Uber says it is a tech provider. Uber is all about breaking the laws and regulations. The company will lie to you. They told drivers they were insured when they weren't. They tell you how much money you will make. They will give you a guarantee but will take it back from you another time when you make more than your guarantee.
2 years ago, Uber drivers were in love with Uber. Just listen to them nkw

 

[Reality Checker]

These are all great replies! BTW... "Reality Checker" isn't about me giving anyone a reality check, it's about me checking on the reality of the situation. All of your answers are doing that. Perhaps the situation should have been obvious to me from the beginning, but obviously I am not alone in this regard. The interesting thing is that this thread started out as an open letter to Uber management, but so far, there has been no reply from them. I guess, when another new driver (or one thinking of being one) inquires along these lines, you can always just refer them to this thread, unless Uber decides to delete it.

 

[Aja]

Uber is just starting in Calgary and it is already oversaturated lol I am still doing the same money as a taxi driver, you can keep the stars and I will pocket the tips.

By the way it is funny to see newbies having no clue about the taxi business (yes, you are cabbies too).