[Mind Stalker]

I just signed up for this forum this evening. Got the go ahead for UBER two days ago. I have driven a cab before, but the whole Uber concept is so much better. The idea of being your own boss, being able to name your hours, and the whole idea of the APP putting driver and passenger together is brilliant.

And there is a need for it. When I drove a taxi, it was rare then you went into neighborhoods. You hung out on the strip or you hung out at the airport because that was where the business was. From time to time you would get a neighborhood call. Someone needed a ride home from Vons with their groceries. But it was a major ordeal to get off the strip, fight traffic, drive to a neighborhood for a fare. Usually the rider would be upset because it took you so long. The app is great because it operates with the convenience of both the passenger and the driver in mind. The driver that is closest, is matched with the passenger that needs the service. Technology is amazing. I don't know if it's smarter to drive for UBER or buy stock in UBER. Or are they even a publicly traded company? One thing I know for sure, the cab companies are not happy about ride sharing companies. They have had a monopoly on this town for a long long time.

But what I am most impressed with, while looking around at the different threads here on this forum is what a great bunch of folks you have here.

Without exception it looks like everyone is here to ask questions if they need to and help one another with answers. I've seen drivers giving heads up regarding the McCarran issue, although I received a text from UBER 3 days ago regarding that issue. But helping someone else avoid a ticket by giving them a heads up is HUGE. And I am sure it is much appreciated by folks who didn't know there was an issue.

It's nice to such a great group of people willing to help one another.

Wish you all much success stay safe out there and be careful.

Doc

 

[Vegasdude]

Everyone is very helpful... But there are a few trolls and uber haters here as well. Good luck out there

 

[TwoFiddyMile]

I just signed up for this forum this evening. Got the go ahead for UBER two days ago. I have driven a cab before, but the whole Uber concept is so much better. The idea of being your own boss, being able to name your hours, and the whole idea of the APP putting driver and passenger together is brilliant.

And there is a need for it. When I drove a taxi, it was rare then you went into neighborhoods. You hung out on the strip or you hung out at the airport because that was where the business was. From time to time you would get a neighborhood call. Someone needed a ride home from Vons with their groceries. But it was a major ordeal to get off the strip, fight traffic, drive to a neighborhood for a fare. Usually the rider would be upset because it took you so long. The app is great because it operates with the convenience of both the passenger and the driver in mind. The driver that is closest, is matched with the passenger that needs the service. Technology is amazing. I don't know if it's smarter to drive for UBER or buy stock in UBER. Or are they even a publicly traded company? One thing I know for sure, the cab companies are not happy about ride sharing companies. They have had a monopoly on this town for a long long time.

But what I am most impressed with, while looking around at the different threads here on this forum is what a great bunch of folks you have here.

Without exception it looks like everyone is here to ask questions if they need to and help one another with answers. I've seen drivers giving heads up regarding the McCarran issue, although I received a text from UBER 3 days ago regarding that issue. But helping someone else avoid a ticket by giving them a heads up is HUGE. And I am sure it is much appreciated by folks who didn't know there was an issue.

It's nice to such a great group of people willing to help one another.

Wish you all much success stay safe out there and be careful.

Doc

Uber is an electronically dispatched *********.
I bet 3 months in, you realize this.
STILL going to be hard to get off the strip, STILL going to focus on touristy spots to get pings.
People puke in your cab, people puke in your Uber.
I own my cab, you own your car.
Only difference is, if I get in a wreck, I'm 100% certain my policy covers everything and everyone involved in a wreck with a vehicle engaged in commerce.
If you tell your insurance agent you Uber, you risk getting cancelled.

Uber on.

 

[Mind Stalker]

In Las Vegas there is no such thing as an independently owned cab. When you start working for a company you are of course at the bottom of the ladder, so you get whatever beat up piece of garbage they can manage to get running that day. Hard to make tips, when the cab you have been assigned is just plain nasty. Undoubtedly there are bugs to be worked out, and the insurance issue is one of them. However, some insurance company will view this as a new market with the potential for money to be made, and that too will be handled in due course.

You are right, that in order to get substantial steady fares you want you are going to have to be around the hot spots. But it depends upon what you are looking for in a job. If you are trying to make a living doing this, then your approach is going to be fairly aggressive. If you are semi-retired like I am and just looking to get out of the house a few days a week, and make a little extra money, then hanging around the local's casinos in the outlying neighborhoods will work fine for me.

Doc

 

[Vegasdude]

Uber is an electronically dispatched *********.
I bet 3 months in, you realize this.
STILL going to be hard to get off the strip, STILL going to focus on touristy spots to get pings.
People puke in your cab, people puke in your Uber.
I own my cab, you own your car.
Only difference is, if I get in a wreck, I'm 100% certain my policy covers everything and everyone involved in a wreck with a vehicle engaged in commerce.
If you tell your insurance agent you Uber, you risk getting cancelled.

Uber on.

And speaking of the trolls...lol...and not even from Vegas....go back to the woods.

 

[CatchyMusicLover]

It's easy to get off the strip, just drive away from it.
The strip existing is fantastic though -- I've gotten two fares from Summerlin all the way to the strip. Almost $35 for about 18 miles, almost all on the freeway. Not shabby at all.
And yesterday's surging was insane, I made over $200 total (including one of those Summerlin fares, which was non-surge) in about 70 miles driven total. First three days I was averaging a bit over a dollar a mile, and maybe around $20 an hour (including time and distance it takes to get home)

 

[TwoFiddyMile]

And speaking of the trolls...lol...and not even from Vegas....go back to the woods.

New member said WHAT?
Right, cause he's a NEW MEMBER.
Read my profile genius.
And not for nothing, I'm 87.5 on the Bison list. (What's the bison list? Oh I have no clue I'm New Member).

 

[tomabq]

It's easy to get off the strip, just drive away from it.
The strip existing is fantastic though -- I've gotten two fares from Summerlin all the way to the strip. Almost $35 for about 18 miles, almost all on the freeway. Not shabby at all.
And yesterday's surging was insane, I made over $200 total (including one of those Summerlin fares, which was non-surge) in about 70 miles driven total. First three days I was averaging a bit over a dollar a mile, and maybe around $20 an hour (including time and distance it takes to get home)

Interesting, how many hours did you drive for the 200?

 

[CatchyMusicLover]

I think I went from about 3:45PM to 9:30PM.

 

[GrandpaD]

Almost every day I say to myself "let's not do the Strip" (I day drive, no nights/drunks for me, thank you). And almost every day the first or 2nd ping I get a long fare (not complaining about the $) that takes me there. I'm not going to dead mile it back, so I stay.

Today, 1st ping was a pickup just off W. Craig near 215 to Downtown. $40. I almost immediately get a ping (on Lyft...2 in a row...shocking) to go from the Strat to Encore. So I'm "stuck" on the Strip. I got lucky and caught 2 afternoon surge rides (one was $36 Circus Circus to NYNY...ridiculous). I'm going to try to avoid it Sunday as I'm not in the mood to decline airport rides for all the people flying out.

 

[CatchyMusicLover]

It's really inevitable that you will get the strip every single day in this job. It's the nature of the best in Las Vegas.

As for the airport issue, I hope enough people are rejecting them and then the PAXes are complaining to Uber so that they will start at least locking the airport out of the 'destnation'. Had a jerk today who put in the Mirage but called and was at the Venetian...get there and of course wanted to go to the airport. He almost didn't believe me when I said I wasn't allowed -- he even called me after I drove away (I rejected the call).
Hopefully I'll get the $5 from that for the time waste...

 

[GrandpaD]

I've done maybe 5 airport runs. If it's a single pax (no families, lots of luggage), I'll tell them about the potential ticket, I'll be happy to take down the trade dress, they ride in the front seat and "are an old friend in town for a visit" if a cop asks. Only for Uber, since they've paid a ticket for an LV driver.

I may refrain, though, as not one tipped...so probably not worth it. And I would have F-Off to your jerk, too.

 

[Uber-Doober]

Almost every day I say to myself "let's not do the Strip" (I day drive, no nights/drunks for me, thank you). And almost every day the first or 2nd ping I get a long fare (not complaining about the $) that takes me there. I'm not going to dead mile it back, so I stay.

Today, 1st ping was a pickup just off W. Craig near 215 to Downtown. $40. I almost immediately get a ping (on Lyft...2 in a row...shocking) to go from the Strat to Encore. So I'm "stuck" on the Strip. I got lucky and caught 2 afternoon surge rides (one was $36 Circus Circus to NYNY...ridiculous). I'm going to try to avoid it Sunday as I'm not in the mood to decline airport rides for all the people flying out.

^^^
Stuck on the strip from Stratosphere to Encore?
What!!!
Just go to St. Louis (not even a block from Stratosphere) to Paradise and take it all the way up to DI and make a right and you're there in like two long blocks.
Or better yet because it's actually easier, just go east on Sahara to Paradise and take it to DI.

 

[GrandpaD]

Lol....I didn't mean literally...I meant "the Strip area". Yeah, that was how I took them. I'm familiar (and getting even more) about the side/parallel roads. I worked down there for 8 years. But, "short distance+heavy traffic" is occasionally beneficial during surge. "Short hauling"...lol

 

[CatchyMusicLover]

Well I actually have to take real family there next week, it'll be interesting to see if something happens (no dress, but TNC sticker is permanent of course)

 

[Uber-Doober]

Lol....I didn't mean literally...I meant "the Strip area". Yeah, that was how I took them. I'm familiar (and getting even more) about the side/parallel roads. I worked down there for 8 years. But, "short distance+heavy traffic" is occasionally beneficial during surge. "Short hauling"...lol

^^^
Yup, we're a rare bunch indeed.
My name is Joe Bananas... I just came down with the bunch.

 

[GrandpaD]

^^^
Yup, we're a rare bunch indeed.
My name is Joe Bananas... I just came down with the bunch.

An a-pealing reply. Glad you were able to slip it in without a bruise.

 

[Uber-Doober]

An a-pealing reply. Glad you were able to slip it in without a bruise.

^^^
Oh, gawd.... a triple.