My reply in above article to someone who thinks Uber is up front with leading vehicles . . .
Uber states in ads in my area "earn $35/hr." People are encouraged to lease by Uber reps who convince the potential leasee that he will be able to make the payments and more.
Houston Uber pays Xdrivers $1.10/mile. Compare that to a local cab that charges $4.75 for the first mile and $2.20 per mile for the second mile and beyond. The same cab company pays 40¢/ minute a as opposed to Uber's payment to Xdrivers of 15¢/minute.
$.40 compared to Uber X of $.15/minute?
I could be wrong about this and I am too lazy to check my hunch, but I don't know of any taxi companies who charge both time and distance concurrently. It doesn't work that way in PA anyway. I am aware that with Uber, the two are charged concurrently. Maybe Houston/Texas taxis are different in that regard. All I know is my meter only switches to time when the car comes to a halt or maybe below something like 10 mph..... not sure, the idea is to keep the car moving.
Also, concerning the $4.75 for the first mile. It might be more accurate to say the the taxi company may divides a mile in say 1/7 or 1/6th increments. Say it it is by 1/7. The first 1/7th of a mile is the flag drop of say $2.40 and the rest, well the math isn't working out too nice, but the increments would be $.31 or .32 cents..... you get the gist. Unlike Uber, taxis rates are fixed to a posted schedule.
Uber's hourly rate promises are examples of complete fraud and deception. I often notice Uber drivers suggesting a sustainable rates would be set such that an Uber ride would cost right about 2/3 of a taxi ride. I'm not sure how that figure is achieved. Any taxi is driven almost 24/7 under ideal circumstances. Multiple drivers drive the car, in an ideal world, the car is only off the road to be worked on. The car is often bought used, many tai companies employ mechanics. When the car is done being used as a taxi, it is only fit for the crusher.
If you are an Uber driver, your math is different. You are likely to be driving a pretty fine car. The typical Uber driver wants to keep it pristine, it is even expected of you. You need to either do repairs yourself or pay someone else, that takes time. At some point, maintenance gets more expensive, before that happens, you should have long been thinking about how you will replace the current car and setting money aside.
Given the scale of operation, Uber is best kept casual, plus the high expectations, I can't see how one rate schedule could really meet everyone's needs (within X alone). If a driver is looking to drive long term, I couldn't imagine rates any less than a taxi's as being workable. I wouldn't even begin to guess, but hell, whatever the rate is, it's already 20-25% diminished by the time a driver gets paid.
Much needs sorting out.
