Bill Feit this is for you! Uber beta test feature!!!!

2678 Views 34 Replies 13 Participants Last post by Bill Feit, Sep 19, 2015

CityGirl

Discussion Starter · Aug 6, 2015

OH BABY!!! I just got the email!!
Everybody make sure you are sitting down:

Hi CityGirl,

Thanks for volunteering to test a new feature in the Uber Partner app!　

Starting today, you'll have the option to try setting your own destination-a simple way to limit requests so you only get trips going your way. Instead of going offline when you're ready to end your day, now you can try entering an address so you can earn that last fare on a trip that's along a similar route toward home.　

Here's how it works:

1. Tap the clipboard icon in the top-right corner. You'll notice that this menu　now appears even when you're not on a trip.

2. Tap Set a destination and enter the address for where you're heading.

3. Start driving toward your destination - Uber will automatically start looking only for trips that match your route.

Keep in mind that you'll receive fewer requests once you've set a destination. That's because the app won't send you requests unless a trip will be along your route. If at any time you decide you want to go back to receiving all trip requests like normal, just tap the orange banner and use the "x" next to your destination to remove your destination.

That's it! We hope you get the chance to try it out over the next few days. We'll be in touch next week with a survey to learn about your experience and gather feedback so we can continue working to improve this feature. In the meantime, thanks again for giving it a try.

Happy driving,

The Uber Team

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Reactions: 5

1 - 20 of 35 Posts

Alexanditor

· #2 · Aug 6, 2015

I like this idea! What a waste of time, gas & energy when you drive someone to a destination far from your home and come home with the app. off-line. Hope it works!

Reactions: 4

Zane_SD

· #3 · Aug 6, 2015

Hopefully this will work out

I think its a good idea.

Reactions: 2

REagCB

· #4 · Aug 6, 2015

So jealous! I want to test this out!

Reactions: 1

chi1cabby

· #5 · Aug 6, 2015

REagCB

· #6 · Aug 6, 2015

Will you let us know if you get a ride from this feature? I know you live up north like me so I'm curious if it will work for us heading home. I also wonder if their destination has to be by ours or if on the way will be sent through as well. I'm ok with on the way. I just don't want to go the opposite direction.

Reactions: 1

Bill Feit

· #7 · Aug 7, 2015

Hey CityG this is good news (maybe) but as I mentioned earlier today I was really hoping it would work more like the radius feature I showed you. The radius feature allows you to know exactly where you might get a pickup/drop off. How do you know with only entering 1 address...Wish they would have shared more info..why do you have to start driving? how far off route will it allow you to go for a pickup/dropoff if any..what/who determines the route? Should I take the 5, what if I leave 5 and go over to El Camino real? Sure hope a better picture surfaces after you use it for a few days (and why a few days?) any idea how many beta testers?

Meanwhile, how are you going to determine your destination? Always use home? Encinitas is the hot spot for rideshare in North County...maybe enter an address there? Just use one as far North as you are willing to go?

Good luck and keep us posted.

Reactions: 1

Bill Feit

· #8 · Aug 7, 2015

chi1cabby said:
Bill Feit

Thanks for thinking of me Chi. Legal Airport pickup has helped my situation of driving home empty a bit (I am at about 50% helping right now and have had about 30 airport pickups) but I do find I am working longer hours waiting around for that Northbound fare. Today I took 2 non north before I got one going about 40% of way home..stayed there about an hour longer than I would have normally.

So, with what CityGirl shared do I have to start driving after I add my address or can I wait at the Airport FIFO for ride "along the route"?

Reactions: 2

berserk42

· #9 · Aug 7, 2015

Cool! Hope this works better than the stacked requests!

Reactions: 1

CityGirl

Discussion Starter · #10 · Aug 7, 2015

Very astute to point out it says "start driving". After it becomes operational ( it is not yet showing up for me), I plan to try lots of scenarios, not only going "home", but heading back to my base throughout the day, as well as trying to use it to get longer runs. So yes, to answer your question Bill Feit , I will definitely tell it Encinitas or Carlsbad when I'm downtown ...heck, even Escondido. Then I can change it to home after that. I will be sure to keep you all posted.

I shared this on the main forum under Stories/Super Secret Meeting and some others have commented about some pitfalls they perceive that I am not sure how to overcome. It will be interesting, but it is a step in the right direction, for sure.

If you want to be in the Beta group next time, get yourself into the top 1%

Reactions: 1

CityGirl

Discussion Starter · #11 · Aug 7, 2015

berserk42 said:
Cool! Hope this works better than the stacked requests!

Which have all but vanished...anybody get one yet? Latest app update seems like some work was done in preparation for that eventuality.

Horsebm

· #12 · Aug 7, 2015

I received the same e-mail this morning. It said this feature would be available today. I did not see the feature in my drivers app. I'm looking forward to using it.

REagCB

· #13 · Aug 7, 2015

Are you really in the top 1%??

Horsebm

· #14 · Aug 7, 2015

I don't believe it's the top 1% I understood it to be the top 5% in San Diego

Bill Feit

· #15 · Aug 7, 2015

How is "TOP" measured? Top revenue? Top hours on line? Top net/hour? Top trips per day? Top rating? Can't be all of the above can it?

Reactions: 1

observer

· #16 · Aug 7, 2015

I wonder if this is partly, Uber loosening up the control strings in preparation for the soon to be jury trial.

Bill Feit

· #17 · Aug 7, 2015

The below are copied from the Rideshare Guy blog...wanted to post link but was told it expired and we have to join to read it so here it is: I assume Observer you are referring to law suits on Employee vs Independent contractor: If you are subscribing to the blog I suggest you do if you want latest rideshare news.

First.....
If you're wondering about what's going on with the court case in San Francisco (Uber - employee vs IC), we'll be doing a full analysis of the hearing and what its potential impact for drivers could be next week. Yesterday's hearing was to determine if the three drivers bringing the suit against Uber could be turned into a class action that would represent all drivers. The judge didn't give a final ruling but there were lots of interesting points that came out which we will touch on. So stay tuned!

Second:
Instacart workers in San Francisco claim they're being "screwed" by new employee policy
Sum and Substance: Last month, the federal Department of Labor issued a "policy guidance document" addressing the misclassification of employees as contract workers. The memo suggests that federal agencies might begin taking a more active interest in the cadres of independent contractors currently toiling on behalf of the sharing economy.

At the same time, a number of lawsuits have been lodged across the country contending that these contractors are actually misclassified employees. Last week, I reported that Instacart had informed in-store shoppers in San Francisco of the impending status change, giving them only 48 to decide whether to reapply for their jobs.

As part-time employees, the shoppers will be held to a 29-hours-per-week maximum; they will receive a flat wage and no longer be eligible for commissions and tips. Nor will they accrue the paid time off, health-care benefits or advanced scheduling guarantees that help make employment an attractive alternative to contracting. … The primary gripes were that they're taking a substantial pay-cut, facing a significant decrease in hours, and that the change happened so suddenly and without their input.

My Take: It's a fairly safe bet that Uber and Lyft have a Plan B in the works if courts ruling against them in the pending cases over employee / independent contractor status. This may be a preview of their Plan B. One thing is for sure - TNCs hold all the cards in any decision as to what the terms of employee agreement will look like. So a win for the drivers in the courts may not translate into a win for the drivers in their pocketbooks.

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Reactions: 1

observer

· #18 · Aug 7, 2015

Bill Feit said:
The below are copied from the Rideshare Guy blog...wanted to post link but was told it expired and we have to join to read it so here it is: I assume Observer you are referring to law suits on Employee vs Independent contractor: If you are subscribing to the blog I suggest you do if you want latest rideshare news.

First.....
If you're wondering about what's going on with the court case in San Francisco (Uber - employee vs IC), we'll be doing a full analysis of the hearing and what its potential impact for drivers could be next week. Yesterday's hearing was to determine if the three drivers bringing the suit against Uber could be turned into a class action that would represent all drivers. The judge didn't give a final ruling but there were lots of interesting points that came out which we will touch on. So stay tuned!

Second:
Instacart workers in San Francisco claim they're being "screwed" by new employee policy
Sum and Substance: Last month, the federal Department of Labor issued a "policy guidance document" addressing the misclassification of employees as contract workers. The memo suggests that federal agencies might begin taking a more active interest in the cadres of independent contractors currently toiling on behalf of the sharing economy.

At the same time, a number of lawsuits have been lodged across the country contending that these contractors are actually misclassified employees. Last week, I reported that Instacart had informed in-store shoppers in San Francisco of the impending status change, giving them only 48 to decide whether to reapply for their jobs.

As part-time employees, the shoppers will be held to a 29-hours-per-week maximum; they will receive a flat wage and no longer be eligible for commissions and tips. Nor will they accrue the paid time off, health-care benefits or advanced scheduling guarantees that help make employment an attractive alternative to contracting. … The primary gripes were that they're taking a substantial pay-cut, facing a significant decrease in hours, and that the change happened so suddenly and without their input.

My Take: It's a fairly safe bet that Uber and Lyft have a Plan B in the works if courts ruling against them in the pending cases over employee / independent contractor status. This may be a preview of their Plan B. One thing is for sure - TNCs hold all the cards in any decision as to what the terms of employee agreement will look like. So a win for the drivers in the courts may not translate into a win for the drivers in their pocketbooks.

Thanks, I will sign up.

Drivers working more than 29 hours are not part time. So there should be no "significant decrease in hours".

As employees, drivers will have to be paid " app on to app off". It wil be up to Uber to keep drivers busy. They will have to be paid wether driving a passenger or waiting for a ping. Right now, wait time and time spent driving to pax is unpaid.

But, I don't think Uber will hire drivers as employees.

Anyone here that does Instacart that can let us know how they operated before and after employee/IC change??

observer

· #19 · Aug 7, 2015

Bill Feit said:
The below are copied from the Rideshare Guy blog...wanted to post link but was told it expired and we have to join to read it so here it is: I assume Observer you are referring to law suits on Employee vs Independent contractor: If you are subscribing to the blog I suggest you do if you want latest rideshare news.

First.....
If you're wondering about what's going on with the court case in San Francisco (Uber - employee vs IC), we'll be doing a full analysis of the hearing and what its potential impact for drivers could be next week. Yesterday's hearing was to determine if the three drivers bringing the suit against Uber could be turned into a class action that would represent all drivers. The judge didn't give a final ruling but there were lots of interesting points that came out which we will touch on. So stay tuned!

Second:
Instacart workers in San Francisco claim they're being "screwed" by new employee policy
Sum and Substance: Last month, the federal Department of Labor issued a "policy guidance document" addressing the misclassification of employees as contract workers. The memo suggests that federal agencies might begin taking a more active interest in the cadres of independent contractors currently toiling on behalf of the sharing economy.

At the same time, a number of lawsuits have been lodged across the country contending that these contractors are actually misclassified employees. Last week, I reported that Instacart had informed in-store shoppers in San Francisco of the impending status change, giving them only 48 to decide whether to reapply for their jobs.

As part-time employees, the shoppers will be held to a 29-hours-per-week maximum; they will receive a flat wage and no longer be eligible for commissions and tips. Nor will they accrue the paid time off, health-care benefits or advanced scheduling guarantees that help make employment an attractive alternative to contracting. … The primary gripes were that they're taking a substantial pay-cut, facing a significant decrease in hours, and that the change happened so suddenly and without their input.

My Take: It's a fairly safe bet that Uber and Lyft have a Plan B in the works if courts ruling against them in the pending cases over employee / independent contractor status. This may be a preview of their Plan B. One thing is for sure - TNCs hold all the cards in any decision as to what the terms of employee agreement will look like. So a win for the drivers in the courts may not translate into a win for the drivers in their pocketbooks.

"they won't accrue the paid time off, health care benefits, or advanced scheduling guarantees"

What paid time off or health care benefits do they recieve as an independent contractor?

Advanced scheduling guarantees are not enough to offset the other benefits of being an employee.

Such as,

Guaranteed minimum wage for all time spent "on app" wether driver has a pax or not.

Unemployment benefits.

Social Security benefits.

Disabity benefits.

Workmens Compensation.

Vehicle expense reimbursements.

Three paid sick days (in CA).

All these benefits are irregardless of driver being part time or full time.

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Bill Feit

· #20 · Aug 8, 2015

Come on people, The posting was not intended to tell you what is going to happen...it is only saying the TNC has the power and whatever they do we, as drivers, are not going to win. Make a few changes to the app...like driver setting destination, pickup radius, and ability of pax to tip and I am very happy being an independent...and I feel I will be more of one as I will control more. Add ability for me to adjust my prices and I am even more happy, especially minimum fare.

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