[Joseph_P_Brenner]

I don't know if this new behavior is global, so I'm posting this here in the San Diego subforum.

With the new driver app update (where it now automatically texts the rider that the driver has arrived at the pickup location), it doesn't seem to indicate before beginning a trip if the rider has provided a destination address. This causes a minor annoyance for the rider because now I'm left with two subpar choices:

(A) Ask the rider for the destination address. If the rider has already provided the destination address in the rider app, this annoys the rider (and rightfully so because this is redundant). I won't see the address until after I begin the trip.

(B) Begin the trip to see if the rider has already provided the destination address. If he has not, the rider has reason to rate me less than 5 stars because I have started charging him (by beginning the trip) before I know his trip destination.

How have you guys and gals been handling this customer service dilemma?

P.S. I've also emailed Uber Support for their solution to this dilemma.

 

[Wehrman79]

I don't know if this new behavior is global, so I'm posting this here in the San Diego subforum.

With the new driver app update (where it now automatically texts the rider that the driver has arrived at the pickup location), it doesn't seem to indicate before beginning a trip if the rider has provided a destination address. This causes a minor annoyance for the rider because now I'm left with two subpar choices:

(A) Ask the rider for the destination address. If the rider has already provided the destination address in the rider app, this annoys the rider (and rightfully so because this is redundant). I won't see the address until after I begin the trip.

(B) Begin the trip to see if the rider has already provided the destination address. If he has not, the rider has reason to rate me less than 5 stars because I have started charging him (by beginning the trip) before I know his trip destination.

How have you guys and gals been handling this customer service dilemma?

P.S. I've also emailed Uber Support for their solution to this dilemma.

This should not be a problem at all. When my pax get in my car I always just start the ride right away and if they did input the address just confirm that it's the correct address and click on the navigate button. With the latest update you can choose between Uber navigation, Waze, or Google which makes it even easier. I've never had anybody complain about starting the trip as soon as they get in the car. Also if you get to their pickup location and they make you wait for several minutes remember that you are not getting compensated for that wait time. So like I said this shouldn't be a problem at all. These pax need to learn that when they request an Uber they need to be outside and ready right away (not 5 minutes from the time they request).

 

[Joseph_P_Brenner]

Ultimately, there's no stopping irrational people from rating me less than 5 stars for irrational reasons, so I'd like to mitigate irrational reasons (that are within my control) for these riders to rate me less than 5 stars. Additionally, Uber said in my first weekly summary that the below was a commonly reported complaint in San Diego:

• Only press BEGIN TRIP after the rider is in the car and you enter the destination into your GPS (if you use it)

So what Uber desires above, combined with the latest driver app update, creates a customer service dilemma. In the first few days of 30+ trips, I was naturally a complete newbie, and had a week-end rating of 4.76. Adopting Uber's policy/recommendation (it's unclear what category the above bullet point falls under), along with other changes, my rating shot up to 4.96. Due to the myriad of changes I made, I cannot for certain narrow down the cause of my rating increase to my pressing of BEGIN TRIP after a destination has been entered in my GPS, but I think it's something to consider, especially given Uber's bullet point above.

 

[volksie]

Keep it simple, do the basics.

 

[Joseph_P_Brenner]

Keep it simple, do the basics, we're not career drivers, never do anything you don't want to do!
You pay Uber for the use their app until the courts say otherwise! Have some fun.

Whenever I get comments like this when I analyze things for improvement, it irks me. Why? Because these comments basically amount to saying, "Don't think too much!" But the only way to know how to improve something is to think, and improving things is fun for me. Also, what's simple or basic for one person may be overwhelming for another; thinking more deeply than others doesn't mean it's not helpful. And paying Uber to use their app is not the only contributing factor in success. I appreciate constructive feedback, positive or negative, but these types of comments are not constructive.

 

[volksie]

Constructive recommendation, my last!

 

[Joseph_P_Brenner]

What part was constructive? You didn't tell me anything new or insightful...except that you like to bring down others to your level of "thinking" because anything more is not "simple," "basic," or "fun."

If one wants to be excellent, not just average, then one needs go beyond the "simple" and "basic." Don't criticize others for wanting to be above average; I have no desire to learn how to be average!

 

[Fuzzyelvis]

I don't know if this new behavior is global, so I'm posting this here in the San Diego subforum.

With the new driver app update (where it now automatically texts the rider that the driver has arrived at the pickup location), it doesn't seem to indicate before beginning a trip if the rider has provided a destination address. This causes a minor annoyance for the rider because now I'm left with two subpar choices:

(A) Ask the rider for the destination address. If the rider has already provided the destination address in the rider app, this annoys the rider (and rightfully so because this is redundant). I won't see the address until after I begin the trip.

(B) Begin the trip to see if the rider has already provided the destination address. If he has not, the rider has reason to rate me less than 5 stars because I have started charging him (by beginning the trip) before I know his trip destination.

How have you guys and gals been handling this customer service dilemma?

P.S. I've also emailed Uber Support for their solution to this dilemma.

You will get nothing from uber. They don't want you to know where the trip is going so you can't cherrypick. They know we want the destination ahead if time and don't care.

If you want to know you have to call the pax and try to work it onto the conversation or ask when you arrive. If you don't want to go there you can cancel but if they complain uber will not be happy.

I don't start a trip until I know I want to transport them. Mostly that there are not 5 of them, no food or drinks or shitty attitude. If you cancel they can't rate. If you start the trip and decide you won't take them they will likely rate you a 1. I will ask as they are getting in the car where they are heading. If they say it's in the app I tell them I don't start the trip until they are ready to go and the app only tells me then.

If you call tell them the GPS has been inaccurate and you want to make sure their location is correct. Then you ask off handedly where they are heading. Many don't know you don't know. I tell them I like to know so I can have it in the GPS ahead of time and be ready to go as soon as I pick them up. I can still cancel.

If they act like dicks and won't tell you then cancel. The more dicks you cancel the better your rating.

FYI much of Uber's advice is nonsensical. You'll learn more here than you ever will from uber.

 

[frndthDuvel]

If one wants to be excellent, not just average, then one needs go beyond the "simple" and "basic." Don't criticize others for wanting to be above average; I have no desire to learn how to be average!

Is that why you value YELP so much? Like VOlksie said, you are over thinking this WAY too much. You will be better off preparing for your rating to go down than being "horrified" when it goes down. Do what you want, do what makes you feel comfortable. if you don't want to listen to others, don't. You don't have to. Shoot I imagine you might like ignore buttons as much as ratings systems.

Again, for your peace of mind, the sooner you can learn to live with the fact that there will be ******** who rate you down no matter what you do, the better off you will be. Of course you can still be like the rest of us, or many of us, an d still ***** about ratings. But don't think that examining it closely and writing UBER support with every question is going to help. How much do you talk with your PAX? Do you make it a point to always get in the last word and tell them that is not a very constructive if they answer in a way you do not want to hear?

 

[REagCB]

Please take this lovingly Joseph but I agree with the others. You're way overthinking this, my friend. I maintained a 5 for a solid couple of weeks when I first started and I did all of these things you're concerned are hurting you. Have fun with it is definitely the best advice. Be friendly and fun, drive safe and people aren't going to care about the other trivial things. If you're stressing they're going to sense it. Be confident. You got this!

 

[REagCB]

Oh and option B -all the way. After you have confirmed their name that is! The one stars I have received have been due to the passengers I did not transport due to canceling for some reason after starting the trip. So if you're concerned about your rating make sure you confirm you WANT to drive them before beginning the trip.

And before you ask, no, you can't tell what someone rated you so the above is just based on assumptions due to timing.

 

[Fuzzyelvis]

I don't know if this new behavior is global, so I'm posting this here in the San Diego subforum.

With the new driver app update (where it now automatically texts the rider that the driver has arrived at the pickup location), it doesn't seem to indicate before beginning a trip if the rider has provided a destination address. This causes a minor annoyance for the rider because now I'm left with two subpar choices:

(A) Ask the rider for the destination address. If the rider has already provided the destination address in the rider app, this annoys the rider (and rightfully so because this is redundant). I won't see the address until after I begin the trip.

(B) Begin the trip to see if the rider has already provided the destination address. If he has not, the rider has reason to rate me less than 5 stars because I have started charging him (by beginning the trip) before I know his trip destination.

How have you guys and gals been handling this customer service dilemma?

P.S. I've also emailed Uber Support for their solution to this dilemma.

Just one more point: if the rider is in your car taking your time you have every right to start the trip and hence charge him. Since the app is set up so that you don't know the destination without starting the trip if they don't like it they can email uber and tell them to change it.

The ONLY reason to not start the trip is to make sure you want to transport them and not get a bad rating because you start the trip and then can't cancel.

Worry about not getting in an accident or people puking in your car. Unless your rating is below 4.7 or so it doesn't matter.

 

[Joseph_P_Brenner]

Is that why you value YELP so much? Like VOlksie said, you are over thinking this WAY too much. You will be better off preparing for your rating to go down than being "horrified" when it goes down. Do what you want, do what makes you feel comfortable. if you don't want to listen to others, don't. You don't have to. Shoot I imagine you might like ignore buttons as much as ratings systems.

Again, for your peace of mind, the sooner you can learn to live with the fact that there will be ******** who rate you down no matter what you do, the better off you will be. Of course you can still be like the rest of us, or many of us, an d still ***** about ratings. But don't think that examining it closely and writing UBER support with every question is going to help. How much do you talk with your PAX? Do you make it a point to always get in the last word and tell them that is not a very constructive if they answer in a way you do not want to hear?

Wow, what a presumptuous slippery slope of a comment!

Yelp IS helpful. It's data that reflects the statistical view of a certain group of people.

The only times thinking can be "too much" are those where thinking is detrimental. Trying to improve one's skills always require thinking. The more correct thinking, the better.

I never said I'm trying to 100% control my ratings. I'm only interested in controlling what I can. And that requires thinking.

I talk with my PAX most of the time, and it's one of my strongest suits. What makes you think I want to get the last word in? Straw man? I talk to PAX because I want to understand them. They can be wrong, but my goal isn't to correct them but rather to just understand. On these boards, my goal is to discover what's more productive. If someone says something that is false, I will disagree/correct them if it's personally relevant. You're not making this distinction, hence your criticism on the basis of this conflation.

I know where this conversation is already headed. It's common for people to get riled up when others think more deeply than they do. These riled up people think for some reason (i.e. based on incorrect premises) that thinking deeply is offensive, hence some of the comments above. In every job I've had, I've always risen to the top (with my last one being a business analyst for the nation's largest independent broker/dealer, with a 50% salary increase to keep me from leaving), but it's always met with the same folks who think I'm "overthinking." Analytical thinking tends to be divisive and it's easy to tell which group who falls under; that's helpful since I know who to ignore and who to pay attention to! Readers, remember: There are more idiots driving for Uber than non-idiots! Read with a large grain of salt!

Contrary to popular belief, thinking is good. It's what allows us to discover the causes and effects between things. To improve something, one's skills included, one needs to know the causes and effects of the object of improvement. Critics are afraid of thinking because it requires effort and/or it exposes errors in their own thinking; it's an unhealthy psychological coping mechanism that favors immediate gratification (guaranteed pleasure) over long-range thinking (delaying pleasure or enduring pain for greater net pleasure in the future).

 

[CityGirl]

I agree with REagCB . Joseph_P_Brenner , don't stress over ratings, dude. Just chill. It will all work out. You're a nice guy, who is trying hard, they will rate you well, and if they don't it says more about them than about you. Find your zen and ignore negative comments. You will make yourself sick for no reason.

 

[RockinEZ]

This should not be a problem at all. When my pax get in my car I always just start the ride right away and if they did input the address just confirm that it's the correct address and click on the navigate button. With the latest update you can choose between Uber navigation, Waze, or Google which makes it even easier. I've never had anybody complain about starting the trip as soon as they get in the car. Also if you get to their pickup location and they make you wait for several minutes remember that you are not getting compensated for that wait time. So like I said this shouldn't be a problem at all. These pax need to learn that when they request an Uber they need to be outside and ready right away (not 5 minutes from the time they request).

If it is broke, it is broke. The latest update also keeps me from starting a trip. I have to shut down the app and restart it before the start trip slider will turn green and actually work.