[glados]

Uber is trialing out UberCOMMUTE in China, a new product where drivers can share the cost of longer trips. Drivers can set the destination of where they're going, and they'll be matched with similar requests. It's like UberPOOL but for drivers.

http://newsroom.uber.com/2015/09/ubercommute/

 

[KeJorn]

They are trialing it in China first?

We've been asking for this for some time...
Oh yeah.. China's a new and bigger market... They have to at least APPEAR to care about the drivers to get enough to onboard there early on...

 

[Fuzzyelvis]

Uber is trialing out UberCOMMUTE in China, a new product where drivers can share the cost of longer trips. Drivers can set the destination of where they're going, and they'll be matched with similar requests. It's like UberPOOL but for drivers.

http://newsroom.uber.com/2015/09/ubercommute/

Oh so like RIDESHARE?

 

[KeJorn]

Oh so like RIDESHARE?

He/She is talking about the feature where you save on dead miles by stating which direction you are headed so that requests only come from that way...

My understanding is that the ONLY way it is like UberPool is that it uses the same "software engine / functions" used by UberPool to match you up with riders along the path of where you tell it you want to head. However, in this case you aren't pooling multiple riders like UberPool, or perhaps at least you do not have to carry more than one request. After dropping off a pax, you state which direction you are headed and it will help to identify pax along that route.. At least that is how I understand the feature. just funny they start it in China first, yet we have been asking for that feature for years now.

While UberPool itself is crap for drivers... I can see this being useful to help reduce dead miles, though they may still have a discounted rate lower than standard UberX fares... but if it's a matter of driving dead miles or getting paid something along the way, I'll take the latter. Just not all night long. Only in those cases I am heading a certain direction (like heading home at the end of a shift).

 

[chi1cabby]

Not content with citing Uber PR crap in his posts, glados has now taken to starting threads on Uber's PR Crap!

Uber is trialing out UberCOMMUTE in China, a new product where drivers can share the cost of longer trips. Drivers can set the destination of where they're going, and they'll be matched with similar requests.
http://newsroom.uber.com/2015/09/ubercommute/

Why did Uber even start UberCOMMUTE? Uber already offered carpooling/ride-sharing service People's Uber in China. Was it because Uber was losing $3 in Driver Subsidies for every $1 in bookings? And why specifically in Chengdu? Was it because Uber's Chengdu office was raided by authorities?

UberCOMMUTE is an act of desperation by Uber in saving UberCHINA. Didi-Kuaidi, by far the biggest player in China, with over 75% market share, already has true carpooling service Shun Feng Che.

It's like UberPOOL but for drivers

IS UberCOMMUTE Really like UberPool? You mean that UberCOMMUTE won't be ripping off Drivers, like it does with matched UberPool rides, by basing payouts to Drivers on amounts smaller than what the Riders were charged?

Everyone can see how Uber's ripping off Drivers in matched UberPool rides by reading these 2 posts by arto71:

1. PoolShit Is Getting Out of Control
2. PoolShit Is Getting Out of Control

 

[Chicago-uber]

Just the thought of uber commute / uber pool makes me sick to my stomach... Imagine 4 different people in a tiny Prius. Mach paying less than a bus fare..

 

[TimFromMA]

Before I ever tried being a driver, this is what I thought Uber was. I thought I could find people going my same general direction to help defray some of my commuting costs. I wasn't trying to make money, I was just trying to reduce the cost of my daily commute. I just might give this a try if it ever finds it's way here.

 

[KeJorn]

Just the thought of uber commute / uber pool makes me sick to my stomach... Imagine 4 different people in a tiny Prius. Mach paying less than a bus fare..

No doubt, UberPool sucks for drivers from what I hear. I have zero desire to try UberPool.

However, I do not think that is exactly what is being discussed here. You could use it only when you commute to another location (say to Uptown Dallas) where you intend to drive normal UberX fares... then again at the end of your shift to head home... and thus reduce dead miles. I can see it helping to reduce dead miles back to the airport after dropping a pax off 30 minutes away... if I can get paid heading back, that is by far better than no pay (dead miles)... even at reduced rates.

 

[Chicago-uber]

No doubt, UberPool sucks for drivers from what I hear. I have zero desire to try UberPool.

However, I do not think that is exactly what is being discussed here. You could use it only when you commute to another location (say to Uptown Dallas) where you intend to drive normal UberX fares... then again at the end of your shift to head home... and thus reduce dead miles. I can see it helping to reduce dead miles back to the airport after dropping a pax off 30 minutes away... if I can get paid heading back, that is by far better than no pay (dead miles)... even at reduced rates.

Sorry. Haven't had my coffee yet. I thought it was similar to uber pool.

If uber commute will be executed properly it would be a game changer. Sometimes I have appointments downtown (30 miles away) it would be nice to give someone a ride and pay for my gas, time and parking fees and possibly a lunch..lol

 

[chi1cabby]

KeJorn Chicago-uber you guys are thinking of Destinations Filter feature. It was rolled out in early August for beta testing in San Diego. The feature has been yanked.

Bill Feit this is for you! Uber beta test feature!!!!

 

[KeJorn]

KeJorn Chicago-uber you guys are thinking of Destinations Filter feature. It was rolled out in early August for beta testing in San Diego. The feature has been yanked.

Bill Feit this is for you! Uber beta test feature!!!!

UberCommute sounds like the same thing chi1cabby. However since your link doesn't have images.. we cannot compare screen shots... but sounds the same as what this shows on these images.
Perhaps they changed the name for China... Wouldn't be the first time.

Perhaps it is a modified functionality of "Destination filter", now incorporating the UberPool concepts... but STILL allowing drivers to save money (dead miles)... just not with standard fares, but UberPool fares.. which sucks I agree... but sounds like that is the difference here. It is still better than zero. And you only use it when you choose to.

Granted, how funny they yank it from US markets... add pool functionality... then rebrand it and offer it in China.. with no timeline when it MAY come back to other markets, such as the states.

"Chengdu, China - our number one city in the world"

 

[chi1cabby]

UberCOMMUTE only pays small commute related expense. It is not supposed to be a profit making service. But so was People's Uber service in China, but Uber was compensating Drivers in subsidies.

 

[KeJorn]

UberCOMMUTE only pays small commute related expense. It is not supposed to be a profit making service. But so was People's Uber service in China, but Uber was compensating Drivers in subsidies.

I doubt few would refer to UberPool fares as 'profit making' anyways... so do they have price comparisons to give an idea of what the benefit is to the driver?
Something is still better than nothing... but may not even pay for Chicago-uber 's coffee...

 

[arto71]

Its up and running in LA , yes uber commute is
Already here in LA( unofficially) chi1cabby .
I, personally have not completed a trip yet ,,but
two close friends did. When a rider and/ or driver enters "1 rider" you can be matched with five riders on one single trip and have a three
matched riders in your car.
Don't quite me on this, but we calculated that uber takes approximately 55% commission on this