[The Gift of Fish]

I pick up Pax from outer affluent suburbs and hear they talk about how "they did two trips and it was fun" or "sometimes I have nothing to do so this is fun to make a few dollars"

As Jim Morrison once said, "people are strange". There are all kinds of weird hobbies. For example some people think it's a great hobby to put pins through butterflies, put them in glass cases and then look at them. Pretty damn weird if you ask me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ But each to his own.

 

[UbingInLA]

LVCharles I'm glad Uber/Lyft is helping you stay on your feet. These companies are good safety nets, and that's how I've used them myself - but they really should be more than that.

I'm several years, and several pay cuts into this - and it's been disheartening to go through four large pay cuts, while watching Uber & Lyft pad their profits with as many "service fee" increases. The last Driver pay cut/Uber bonus was given a harmless name "Upfront Pricing."

There's no job safety, or opportunities to increase your income with experience. There's zero financial incentive (aside from staying on the platform) to maintaining a high rating, etc.

I'm very part time now, but it's there if I'm in a bind. Best wishes and stay safe!

 

[The Gift of Fish]

LVCharlesThese companies are great safety nets, and that's how I've used them myself. They should be much more than that.

Why, though? They are (supposedly) for-profit companies, whose goals are to book as much revenue as they can (fares) while at the same time cutting back their operating expenses (including us) to the bone. They're not operating workers' cooperatives. Many of us may wish they were, but they aren't. We're not a part of Uber or Lyft, never have been and never will be. Some drivers may have believed the spiel from these companies about drivers being "partners" or being part of some kind of "community" with them, but that's simply propaganda with no basis in fact.

I'm several years, and several pay cuts into this - it's been disheartening for me to go through four large pay cuts, while watching Uber & Lyft pad their profits with as many "service fee" increases. The last pay cut/Uber bonus was given a harmless name "Upfront Pricing" but it's just criminal.

They're simply probing how much they can charge for their services and how little they can pay their contracted labor. The answers are a lot and very little, respectively.

There's no job safety

Correct; this is not a job.

 

[Nats121]

I've had a few pax lately talk about how they would like to try driving for U/L.

First words out of my mouth lately have been, 'please, whatever you decide, do not consider doing this as a full-time job. I do this to supplement my husband's full time job.' I then explain why I cannot have a good part-time job and how U/L work well in my situation.

The looks on their faces are priceless when I tell them how much/little we get paid per mile/minute.

You're parroting Uber's "side hustle" propaganda campaign.

I've seen at least one Uber exec say in an interview that rideshare is not meant to be a full time job. That goes along perfectly with Uber's side hustle ads.

Uber of course, has done a complete 180 on this. Previously, Uber did everything to encourage full time driving.

Uber knows part timers won't protest, sue, or demand govt action.

Did it every occur to you if Uber's pushing something, in this case part time driving, it means it's good for Uber and bad for the drivers?

So it seems to me every time drivers on this website try to steer people away from driving full time, they're playing into Uber's hands.

I think at least some of these part timers that do this think getting rid of full timers will result in higher pay for the part timers.

Are they correct? It seems to make sense that it would, but Uber disagrees. That should make you think twice.

This is recurring in my car every other day. I pick up Pax from outer affluent suburbs and hear they talk about how "they did two trips and it was fun" or "sometimes I have nothing to do so this is fun to make a few dollars"

Part time, hobby drivers are the virus that drag down rates and keep surge down. Rookies who have time to waste and pick up every single pool. Don't get me wrong I stand by the part timers who actually need the money. Those who have no choice but to work Uber because any other job would not work with their full time job schedule. Anyone working this for fun, can suck it.

Earlier today this guy in a brand new grey $80k+ Audi A8L pulled next to me. Maybe I'm assuming but he had people in the rear seats and GPS in the front so I figure it was a ride share vehicle. The reason I'm assuming it's because I saw Teslas and BMW 7-Series with Uber stickers before that were not "livery" vehicles.

So the reason I hate and despise these people is that they're taking the business away from drivers who work full time. If you're driving a $80k car, how is $50 on Friday night going to help you? You can bash me all you want for posting this but this is common sense. Get a hobby, go have a drink, be with your family..

Instead of drivers going at each other's throats, they should stick together and demand respect from these rideshare companies.

I think some of your comments are extreme, such as the word "virus", but I do agree that drivers who don't take their earnings seriously are helping to keep driver pay rates low.

Uber's ideal driver is a competent part timer who won't make demands for better pay.

Few part timers will protest if they're dissatisfied with getting screwed, they simply quit, and that's fine with Uber.

Full timers are the ones who give Uber headaches with their lawsuits and and protests.

 

[KellyC]

This is recurring in my car every other day. I pick up Pax from outer affluent suburbs and hear they talk about how "they did two trips and it was fun" or "sometimes I have nothing to do so this is fun to make a few dollars"

Part time, hobby drivers are the virus that drag down rates and keep surge down. Rookies who have time to waste and pick up every single pool. Don't get me wrong I stand by the part timers who actually need the money. Those who have no choice but to work Uber because any other job would not work with their full time job schedule. Anyone working this for fun, can suck it.

Earlier today this guy in a brand new grey $80k+ Audi A8L pulled next to me. Maybe I'm assuming but he had people in the rear seats and GPS in the front so I figure it was a ride share vehicle. The reason I'm assuming it's because I saw Teslas and BMW 7-Series with Uber stickers before that were not "livery" vehicles.

So the reason I hate and despise these people is that they're taking the business away from drivers who work full time. If you're driving a $80k car, how is $50 on Friday night going to help you? You can bash me all you want for posting this but this is common sense. Get a hobby, go have a drink, be with your family..

Preach!! I agree 100%.

Last week I had a pax who said he was CEO of a credit union & was in town checking on his beach house. Said he was thinking about doing Uber "for fun" when he retires.

Had another guy who bragged that he was already retired on a $6k a month PENSION from his LE job up north. He said he was going to move down here & start Ubering for "something to do." I actually said, "Please don't do that."

I hope all their vehicles get barfed in (like mine did tonight)

 

[Uberfunitis]

Preach!! I agree 100%.

Last week I had a pax who said he was CEO of a credit union & was in town checking on his beach house. Said he was thinking about doing Uber "for fun" when he retires.

Had another guy who bragged that he was already retired on a $6k a month PENSION from his LE job up north. He said he was going to move down here & start Ubering for "something to do." I actually said, "Please don't do that."

I hope all their vehicles get barfed in (like mine did tonight)

doing ride share is a much better retirement job than being a door greeter at walmart somewhere or something along those lines.

 

[Rakos]

doing ride share is a much better retirement job than being a door greeter at walmart somewhere or something along those lines.

the idea is stay busy...

this keeps the old noggin...

making new connections...

or you could veg in a nursing home...

and hope they know...

where the A/C switch is... I'm getting HOT..

and pray if something happens to you...

that they will even bother...

to wheel you across the street...

to the neighborhood hospital...

sorry...I digress....8>O

Rakos

 

[UberCheese]

I think Uber Neighbor is a new product line. you're going to the store and a neighbor agrees to pay three dollars to you and ten to Uber

This is recurring in my car every other day. I pick up Pax from outer affluent suburbs and hear they talk about how "they did two trips and it was fun" or "sometimes I have nothing to do so this is fun to make a few dollars"

Part time, hobby drivers are the virus that drag down rates and keep surge down. Rookies who have time to waste and pick up every single pool. Don't get me wrong I stand by the part timers who actually need the money. Those who have no choice but to work Uber because any other job would not work with their full time job schedule. Anyone working this for fun, can suck it.

Earlier today this guy in a brand new grey $80k+ Audi A8L pulled next to me. Maybe I'm assuming but he had people in the rear seats and GPS in the front so I figure it was a ride share vehicle. The reason I'm assuming it's because I saw Teslas and BMW 7-Series with Uber stickers before that were not "livery" vehicles.

So the reason I hate and despise these people is that they're taking the business away from drivers who work full time. If you're driving a $80k car, how is $50 on Friday night going to help you? You can bash me all you want for posting this but this is common sense. Get a hobby, go have a drink, be with your family..

 

[Mars Troll Number 4]

doing ride share is a much better retirement job than being a door greeter at walmart somewhere or something along those lines.

A. Not in Orlando, after expenses a min wage Walmart employee will make more per hour.

 

[Uberfunitis]

A. Not in Orlando, after expenses a min wage Walmart employee will make more per hour.

I was not referring to pay in any way. I think it is better mentally, it is not all too taxing but enough to keep you thinking and interacting with people in a more meaningful way than just hi, hi, hi at the door.

Retired people should have their finances sorted for the most part and money should not be their biggest motivator in life... if it is than they are not really retired, they are just an old person working to make ends meet.

 

[ABC123DEF]

Preach!! I agree 100%.

Last week I had a pax who said he was CEO of a credit union & was in town checking on his beach house. Said he was thinking about doing Uber "for fun" when he retires.

Had another guy who bragged that he was already retired on a $6k a month PENSION from his LE job up north. He said he was going to move down here & start Ubering for "something to do." I actually said, "Please don't do that."

I hope all their vehicles get barfed in (like mine did tonight)

Community service is something to do. Joining a civic organization is something to do. Doing home improvement projects is something to do. There's a lot of something-to-do's out there. Ugh.

 

[Uberfunitis]

Community service is something to do. Joining a civic organization is something to do. Doing home improvement projects is something to do. There's a lot of something-to-do's out there. Ugh.

Who is to say that they are not also doing those other things as well?

 

[ABC123DEF]

Who is to say that they are not also doing those other things as well?

Uh...more power to them if they are?

 

[Buddywannarideagain]

This is recurring in my car every other day. I pick up Pax from outer affluent suburbs and hear they talk about how "they did two trips and it was fun" or "sometimes I have nothing to do so this is fun to make a few dollars"

Part time, hobby drivers are the virus that drag down rates and keep surge down. Rookies who have time to waste and pick up every single pool. Don't get me wrong I stand by the part timers who actually need the money. Those who have no choice but to work Uber because any other job would not work with their full time job schedule. Anyone working this for fun, can suck it.

Earlier today this guy in a brand new grey $80k+ Audi A8L pulled next to me. Maybe I'm assuming but he had people in the rear seats and GPS in the front so I figure it was a ride share vehicle. The reason I'm assuming it's because I saw Teslas and BMW 7-Series with Uber stickers before that were not "livery" vehicles.

So the reason I hate and despise these people is that they're taking the business away from drivers who work full time. If you're driving a $80k car, how is $50 on Friday night going to help you? You can bash me all you want for posting this but this is common sense. Get a hobby, go have a drink, be with your family..

One can't do rideshare full-time. One, that's over-sharing. Two, there's no benefits like vacation and health care, three - it's waaaay underpaid

 

[goneubering]

One can't do rideshare full-time. One, that's over-sharing. Two, there's no benefits like vacation and health care, three - it's waaaay underpaid

You don't seem to be paying attention.

 

[keb]

A. Not in Orlando, after expenses a min wage Walmart employee will make more per hour.

So true. The low rates are mind boggling.

 

[Nats121]

So true. The low rates are mind boggling.

The rates the drivers get are low. The sky high booking fees and upfront pricing have raised fares for riders, and Uber and Lyft keep all of the increase.

 

[TNCMinWage]

I suppose I shouldn't tell you about my BMW 3 Series that I've done probably more than 500 trips in (out of 1300+ since February), and my 4.9+ rating. I've even had a few days where I've operated at a slight loss, just to keep my ratings up or move money into a separate bank account.

If you really want to get mad, read my thread "I'm Sick of Disgruntled Full Timers!".

Free market's a *****, ain't it?

Wasn't that the post where you were bragging about how great you are?

 

[goneubering]

Wasn't that the post where you were bragging about how great you are?

We're ALL great!!!! Badges for you and you and you and even me.

 

[MadTownUberD]

Wasn't that the post where you were bragging about how great you are?

Hey! You get a gold star for the day. I do tend to have an arrogant streak sometimes.