[Halfmybrain]

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 I wonder, did the driver's no-show fee get rescinded?

 

[LoveTheBlues]

I really don't understand drivers that would rather play BS "shuffle" games for $4 than actually drive.

 

[DylanSam]

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 I wonder, did the driver's no-show fee get rescinded?

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.

 

[Halfmybrain]

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.

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.

 

[DylanSam]

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.

Funny how that works. Just like some pax are better then others, some drivers are better as well. Some just don't care.

I think the texts help. I have a very simple text copied that I send upon arrival if I don't see the person immediately. Just open text and hit paste and it's done.

 

[Elmo Burrito]

Uber created this scenario. They choke off rides when a driver doesn't tryn accept every ride and keep their acceptance rate at 100%. They treat drivers like a pos and don't actively serenade veteran drivers so they can only retain 20%-30% (maybe) of drivers therefore, your chances of getting a good driver are maybe 2 in 10.
You got lucky on the 2nd try. What do you expect?

 

[HotUberMess]

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?

I bet he plays this game all day, collecting on half of all riders who don't know or bother to report.

 

[Halfmybrain]

I bet he plays this game all day, collecting on half of all riders who don't know or bother to report.

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!

 

[Guyinbp]

If I'm still the wrong location for a pickup I'll usually cancel if getting to the right spot is difficult. Never for a cancellation fee. But I dontdwantd, as people on here say, "priveledged" riders to get angry and give me a bad rating . They can get angry at Uber as they created this incentive system.

 

[Svoloch]

Easy $3.75 from mothership, snowflakes.

 

[ROUGUE X]

Foreigner

 

[quesie]

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?

No, you get a refund, but the driver keeps the no show fee.

 

[KD_LA]

Easy $3.75 from mothership, snowflakes.

The very flippant attitude that gives us a bad name, bad ratings, and no tips.

 

[LoveTheBlues]

I bet he plays this game all day, collecting on half of all riders who don't know or bother to report.

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.

 

[northsider87]

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.

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).

 

[LoveTheBlues]

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).

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.
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?

 

[northsider87]

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?

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

 

[LoveTheBlues]

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

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).

And I do believe Mom can eventually figure out a drivers game if they do it too much.

 

[Ad nauseam]

Mom can eventually figure out a drivers game

Yanno, present company excluded--

It's always these guys--who OP a thread--

I was deactivated! Whaaaa?? I did NOTHING wrong...…

She only allows "games" to serve herself in the FIRST place.
God, I'm sick and tired of guys thinking they are so damn smart

 

[Pusher]

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

They will still put you in one. Mom does what mom wants in most markets, times are a changing though and mom not happy.