I really don't understand drivers that would rather play BS "shuffle" games for $4 than actually drive.
I wish more riders were like you and sent texts about specific location. Makes our job easier. I always make sure to thank them and tell them how much that helps. Even if easy pick up location, never hurts.I hailed an Uber X Monday morning. Thinking as a driver, I found an empty/legal pullover spot at a Franklin St address, just north of Washington St.
Text from Me: I'm on Franklin by the series of purple awnings (for Cosi Restaurant)
[pauses in between texts]
White RAV 4 Driver: I have arrived
Me: I don't see you.
RAV 4: I'm by the CVS. (a block east of my pickup point)
Me: I ordered Uber X and I'm right at the address I gave.
. . .
RAV 4: I'm on Randolph
In my head: Randolph? What is this, Uber Pool Express?
Time was short so I started walking north. The driver canceled and uber notified me that I'd be charged.
I walked another block and found another easy pickup point and ordered again. I looked up and the Red Camry driver had pulled over in front of me! I checked the plate, ID'd myself, got in. He was a Diamond level driver who got me to my location EARLY. I tipped 5 and rated him 5 while en route.
I disputed the cancelation fee. It was unnecessary to make my case. I was INSTANTLY refunded, no questions asked. I wonder, did the driver's no-show fee get rescinded?
It's GREATLY helpful and if anyone ought to text ahead with at least "I'm wearing a black & gold knit hat" or something it's someone in a crowd by a bar or whatever.I wish more riders were like you and sent texts about specific location. Makes our job easier. I always make sure to thank them and tell them how much that helps. Even if easy pick up location, never hurts.
Funny how that works. Just like some pax are better then others, some drivers are better as well. Some just don't care.It's GREATLY helpful and if anyone ought to text ahead with at least "I'm wearing a black & gold knit hat" or something it's someone in a crowd by a bar or whatever.
I may have insight into this. The rider app's text feature is HORRIBLE. The field to type in kept disappearing so I didn't know if my words were being recorded. Uber had indicated that my (2nd try) driver was many minutes out. While I tried to text "I'm on Franklin, by the huge silver pillar of the CNA building" he arrived lol.
I bet he plays this game all day, collecting on half of all riders who don't know or bother to report.I hailed an Uber X Monday morning. Thinking as a driver, I found an empty/legal pullover spot at a Franklin St address, just north of Washington St.
Text from Me: I'm on Franklin by the series of purple awnings (for Cosi Restaurant)
[pauses in between texts]
White RAV 4 Driver: I have arrived
Me: I don't see you.
RAV 4: I'm by the CVS. (a block east of my pickup point)
Me: I ordered Uber X and I'm right at the address I gave.
. . .
RAV 4: I'm on Randolph
In my head: Randolph? What is this, Uber Pool Express?
Time was short so I started walking north. The driver canceled and uber notified me that I'd be charged.
I walked another block and found another easy pickup point and ordered again. I looked up and the Red Camry driver had pulled over in front of me! I checked the plate, ID'd myself, got in. He was a Diamond level driver who got me to my location EARLY. I tipped 5 and rated him 5 while en route.
I disputed the cancelation fee. It was unnecessary to make my case. I was INSTANTLY refunded, no questions asked. I wonder, did the driver's no-show fee get rescinded?
Could be. Point of order: The name was foreign to me. I don't know if it was a he or a she. If I could retrieve it somehow I'd be more than happy to post it!I bet he plays this game all day, collecting on half of all riders who don't know or bother to report.
No, you get a refund, but the driver keeps the no show fee.I hailed an Uber X Monday morning. Thinking as a driver, I found an empty/legal pullover spot at a Franklin St address, just north of Washington St.
Text from Me: I'm on Franklin by the series of purple awnings (for Cosi Restaurant)
[pauses in between texts]
White RAV 4 Driver: I have arrived
Me: I don't see you.
RAV 4: I'm by the CVS. (a block east of my pickup point)
Me: I ordered Uber X and I'm right at the address I gave.
. . .
RAV 4: I'm on Randolph
In my head: Randolph? What is this, Uber Pool Express?
Time was short so I started walking north. The driver canceled and uber notified me that I'd be charged.
I walked another block and found another easy pickup point and ordered again. I looked up and the Red Camry driver had pulled over in front of me! I checked the plate, ID'd myself, got in. He was a Diamond level driver who got me to my location EARLY. I tipped 5 and rated him 5 while en route.
I disputed the cancelation fee. It was unnecessary to make my case. I was INSTANTLY refunded, no questions asked. I wonder, did the driver's no-show fee get rescinded?
The very flippant attitude that gives us a bad name, bad ratings, and no tips.Easy $3.75 from mothership, snowflakes.
Indeed, I have seen posts boasting of this strategy (I use the term loosely). Spending 10-15 minutes getting to a pax, hiding, cancelling after wait period and collecting $3.75 - $4 (which will be pulled 1/2 the time). Seems like a solid plan to make $8 / hr until deactivated. I think I will go for getting paid to be an Uber driver.I bet he plays this game all day, collecting on half of all riders who don't know or bother to report.
Idk how it is in the burbs, but if you're driving 15 or even 10 minutes to get to a passenger, it's not freakin worth it, man! You're taking the risk of the ride being shorter than the time/distance it took you to get there. Even if the ride is the same time/distance as it took you to get to the rider, you're doing the ride for half off. Yes, sometimes, there's a pickup premium... but what if you're on your way and the rider cancels?Indeed, I have seen posts boasting of this strategy (I use the term loosely). Spending 10-15 minutes getting to a pax, hiding, cancelling after wait period and collecting $3.75 - $4 (which will be pulled 1/2 the time). Seems like a solid plan to make $8 / hr until deactivated. I think I will go for getting paid to be an Uber driver.
The 10-15 was an estimate of total time invested. I cancel rides (with cause) and the cancel fee helps to defer the cost but not as a plan. So I guess I can't really speak from direct experience since I never tried the Shirlington Shuffle as an income plan (and won't be anytime soon ). But realisticly, I dont see how you can expect to pack more than 4 in an hour since you still have to wait for your next ping.Idk how it is in the burbs, but if you're driving 15 or even 10 minutes to get to a passenger, it's not freakin worth it, man! You're taking the risk of the ride being shorter than the time/distance it took you to get there. Even if the ride is the same time/distance as it took you to get to the rider, you're doing the ride for half off. Yes, sometimes, there's a pickup premium... but what if you're on your way and the rider cancels?
Usually, you get to rider in 5 mins or less... wait 5 mins, cancel, and collect your $4. For 10 mins total, you just made $4 and you didn't have to give the ride (no miles driven for the ride that didn't take place). $4 for 10 mins is not a horrible rate. 60 mins in an hour... $4 x 6 = $24. You do 6 of them in a day, that's an extra airport ride on an X rate you didn't spend (comparable) gas on.
It shouldn't be a strategy... but it's not such a bad thing to get a cancelled ride (if you didn't have to drive far or for a while to get to the pickup point).
Yeah I didn't mean 4 of them in an hour. Just the rate of pay in the time invested isn't bad.The 10-15 was an estimate of total time invested. I cancel rides (with cause) and the cancel fee helps to defer the cost but not as plan. So I guess I can't really speak from direct experience since I never tried the Shirlington Shuffle as an income plan (and won't be anytime soon ) but realisticly, I dont see how you can expect to pack more than 4 in an hour since you still have to wait for your next ping.
Then most pax will complain if you hide so I expect some of those will get pulled. And if you do it a lot, Mom will eventually send you to time out. No?
We agree then. The shuffle strategy however seems to be to attempt to hide from pax as was done in OP's case and play the game to collect cancel fees. I think it is usually more profitable to actually take the pax where they want to go (admittedly not always).Yeah I didn't mean 4 of them in an hour. Just the rate of pay in the time invested isn't bad.
I don't advocate hiding when arriving. I advocate to being at the pickup point and having rider come to you. Or even at a safe point (if rider's requested pickup point is not safe or allowed).
How would mom put us on timeout for doing our job? We show up at location requested. Rider doesn't show up on time. We get cancellation fee. No wrong in that.
Side question.... What if you pull over and turn your headlights off? Saying your intentions are to save bulb life? Hahaha
Yanno, present company excluded--Mom can eventually figure out a drivers game
They will still put you in one. Mom does what mom wants in most markets, times are a changing though and mom not happy.Yeah I didn't mean 4 of them in an hour. Just the rate of pay in the time invested isn't bad.
I don't advocate hiding when arriving. I advocate to being at the pickup point and having rider come to you. Or even at a safe point (if rider's requested pickup point is not safe or allowed).
How would mom put us on timeout for doing our job? We show up at location requested. Rider doesn't show up on time. We get cancellation fee. No wrong in that.
Side question.... What if you pull over and turn your headlights off? Saying your intentions are to save bulb life? Hahaha