Uber Drivers Forum banner

Warning to XL drivers about oversized cargo items when accepting X ping

8.1K views 10 replies 8 participants last post by  showtimez  
#1 ·
I learned it the hard way yesterday, just so you didn't have to learn it yourself.

Situation: I (X, XL, SELECT) receive UberX ping at Yorkdale mall.

Arrive to see two pax with an oversized box with something.

At that moment it was clear that there is hardly a way this item would fit an UberX vehicle, even a full size sedan. I'm thinking - ok, I'll take it and adjust to XL after the fact. I'm informing the customer that for his information, this would not fit, but since I provide XL services, having a bigger vehicle, I will still accept it.

I pull down the third and second row seats to fit the item and leave seats for two pax at the same time.



The ride was ok (10 minutes, 5 kms), the guy kept telling me how awesome Uber is and how he cannot wait for the fares to go down (cause, you know, Uber driver, they decreased rates in New York). Well, I had an answer for him right away - when I told him that the rates in New York are currently twice of what we have in Toronto, he suddenly lost interest in this topic.

Anyway, I drop them off, help them get the thing out of my trunk and put it on a trolley. Of course, as you may have guessed, no tip whatsoever (despite they live in upscale newly built condo, but whatever, cheapskate).

I submit a request to adjust the fare through the app and here's the canned response I got:

Sorry to hear about the hassle of transporting all the extra items on this trip. I understand how this could be frustrating. Riders are allowed to bring items along at no additional charge if the items fit into your car. While we don't have a limit to the luggage or items riders bring along like we do with the number of passengers, we do ask riders to ask permission before transporting extremely large items. We know you work hard to maintain the quality of your car.

If you aren't comfortable taking particular items or if you don't think the items will fit into your car, some of the things I recommend doing are politely asking the riders to cancel and request the appropriately sized vehicle, or offering to make two trips, making it clear you'll keep the trip going the whole time.
So, don't try to be nice. Be realistic.

Hope this helps.
 
#3 ·
You are then better off telling your pax that the box won't fit in a UberX Vehicle and they requested an UberX trip and that you will be happy to still take them, but they will need to cancel the trip (you collect $5) and request an XL in which you will accept....OR they can try to get another X vehicle to pick them up.

djino
 
#4 ·
I learned it the hard way yesterday, just so you didn't have to learn it yourself.

Situation: I (X, XL, SELECT) receive UberX ping at Yorkdale mall.

Arrive to see two pax with an oversized box with something.

At that moment it was clear that there is hardly a way this item would fit an UberX vehicle, even a full size sedan. I'm thinking - ok, I'll take it and adjust to XL after the fact. I'm informing the customer that for his information, this would not fit, but since I provide XL services, having a bigger vehicle, I will still accept it.

I pull down the third and second row seats to fit the item and leave seats for two pax at the same time.

View attachment 26417 View attachment 26418 View attachment 26419 View attachment 26420

The ride was ok (10 minutes, 5 kms), the guy kept telling me how awesome Uber is and how he cannot wait for the fares to go down (cause, you know, Uber driver, they decreased rates in New York). Well, I had an answer for him right away - when I told him that the rates in New York are currently twice of what we have in Toronto, he suddenly lost interest in this topic.

Anyway, I drop them off, help them get the thing out of my trunk and put it on a trolley. Of course, as you may have guessed, no tip whatsoever (despite they live in upscale newly built condo, but whatever, cheapskate).

I submit a request to adjust the fare through the app and here's the canned response I got:

So, don't try to be nice. Be realistic.

Hope this helps.
It would have cost upwards of $50 to have a store deliver these items. That's the thanks you get. They have it all figured out.
As the saying goes, "no good deed goes unpunished".
 
#5 ·
I don't get it. Uber refused to give you the XL rate??? So literally, like already mentioned abovr, we should say no, collect $5 and then wait for the XL and 1 star review to follow? I can live with that. I really don't get Uber. It seems like it could be so easy for them to make life better/easier for drivers which in turn WOULD make them more profitable...brutal.
 
#8 ·
I don't get it. Uber refused to give you the XL rate??? So literally, like already mentioned abovr, we should say no, collect $5 and then wait for the XL and 1 star review to follow?
Yes.

I really don't get Uber.
Me neither. Mostly, they are really helpful in adjusting, etc. I don't really get why they decided to ditch me this time.
 
#6 ·
Here's what I do ... if the item is not luggage and either requires 2 people to lift it or if it requires me to put down more than the 3rd row of seats, I give the pax 2 options (1) they can call a real truck, because I'm not about to add extra wear & tear to my new XL for $2/mi ... or (2) they can cancel and order me as Lux $3.75/mi and I'll accept a bit of extra wear & tear. *done that for 2 trips so far, 1 person who bought a new 60" OLED TV on black friday (figured he could afford the extra $ since he saved a bundle on the tv); and 1 person who was moving a big empty fish tank.

I gave that option to one other person, but he just *****ed at me ... so he might be still standing in front of his ex-wife's house with glass table top.

But no matter how much someone offers to pay me, I am not taking anything dirt, greasy or heavier than the weight limitations in the owner's manual. And if anyone says before the trip that they'll give me a $20 or $50 after I move the item ... I whip out the square and settle that part of the transaction before we start the trip ... been stiffed by two people too many to fall for that again.
 
  • Like
Reactions: biozon and djino
#9 ·
To be fair, not all pax are cheapskates like the ones I described.

About a month ago I actually got an XL ping to a plaza in Mississauga. Arrived to see a big wrapped painting outside of one of the shops. To tell you the truth, it was so big I wasn't sure we could fit it. But we did (what an amazing vehicle I have). One pax went with me, another drove their car home.

That is fair - XL ride for an oversized item.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gill002