[SamDSJ]

I hear everyone talking about "before the rate cuts." From what I hear people talk about I'm lead to believe you guys were rolling in 2 or 3 times the amount of money you make now.

What did it used to be like? What did you used to make? How much were original fares? I'm just curious.

 

[Geno71]

I guess people that started when Uber first launched were making much, much more, easily 2-3 times or even more. And Uber was taking a lower percentage too. But lower rates and higher fees are not the only reason why it used to be better, as time goes on, more and more people join the platform as drivers, making it harder to get rides, so more down time and less money. There are times in some markets where there are so many drivers out, that it can take an hour or more to get a ride request. I had days when I'd sit in a busy area for over an hour, give up and go home. Airport wait times are hours long. It all adds up. Overall, it's not so easy and profitable being an Uber driver, not saying that no one makes money, some most are killing it out there, but most work long hours for what appears to be under minimum wage.

I don't know for sure about original fares, but I remember even fairly short rides were costing me around $20 as a passenger, where now the same ones are around 7-8. And that was when Uber was taking less from drivers too.

 

[SamDSJ]

Dang. I was half kidding when I said 2-3 times. But your telling me it really was? Wow.

 

[Shangsta]

Fewer pax used Uber but there were fewer drivers which kept drivers busy.

This was a good arrangement but then Uber kept recruiting new drivers and to this day still does.

The problem then became too many drivers and not enough work to go around so they cut rates.

For Uber it's not about happy drivers or even being profitable they only care about marketshare.

When Uber started they wanted to be cheaper than the taxi, now they want to be cheaper than the city bus so they offer 3 dollar rides if you order pool.

 

[Jufkii]

I hear everyone talking about "before the rate cuts." From what I hear people talk about I'm lead to believe you guys were rolling in 2 or 3 times the amount of money you make now.

What did it used to be like? What did you used to make? How much were original fares? I'm just curious.

Originally started in the fall of 2015 at $1.35 base . $1.20 / mile. 18 cents / minute . 20 % commission.
Jan 2016 . New "Good news for drivers" rates.
.85 base. . 70 / mile. .11 / minute.
Fall of 2016 . Uber's "math" according to email . "40%" rate increase.
$1.00 Base. .85 / mile. .11 / minute still.
Still waiting for lower fares to mean more earnings for drivers. Not holding my breath .

 

[SEAL Team 5]

Originally started in the fall of 2015 at $1.35 base . $1.20 / mile. 18 cents / minute . 20 % commission.
Jan 2016 . New "Good news for drivers" rates.
.85 base. . 70 / mile. .11 / minute.
Fall of 2016 . Uber's "math" according to email . "40%" rate increase.
$1.00 Base. .85 / mile. .11 / minute still.
Still waiting for lower fares to mean more earnings for drivers. Not holding my breath .

For Phoenix it was;

Mar 2012 $5.00/mile Black car only
Jan 2014 $2.25/mile Uber X launched
June 2014 $1.35/mile
Jan 2015 $.90/mile

 

[CODenver26]

Not Uber, but Lyft driver here. I started to drive in 2014 and easily made $100 in less than 3 hours of work. Now it takes about 3 hours to even make $50, unless some event is going on with primetime. Too many drivers are out...

 

[Mars Troll Number 4]

Way more $20 payout trips
Way fewer <$5 payouts
Same number of total miles driven

I used to go as far as 15 minutes to get to a passenger, now i wouldn't recommend going 10

 

[BaitNSwitch]

Ohh man it was sweet. (Round 2013 - 2014)

How's $100 in 3 hours sound. A night of working 6-8 hours got you $200+. Not only on weekends, but any random night as well. You truly had (as the commercials say) "unlimited earning potential"

If you could work 60 hours a week, you bet your ass you'd clear atleast $1500 after gas and Uber/Lyft's cut.

 

[TheAntMiami]

I hear everyone talking about "before the rate cuts." From what I hear people talk about I'm lead to believe you guys were rolling in 2 or 3 times the amount of money you make now.

What did it used to be like? What did you used to make? How much were original fares? I'm just curious.

You think Uber/Lyft had it good, I drove taxi in Miami, from 2010 until 2014, I never made less than $250 cash, busy days, weeks, months were $500 daily after expenses, $3000 weeks, $10,000-$12,000 months. Heat went to the Finals, 95 million passengers flew into MIA, FLL opened international flights to Europe, economy was pumping, Brazil, Russia, Venezuela, Italia came with $9,000 cash each family member.
Easily $75,000-$110,000 annually and 90% of passengers gave tips, and CC processing was 3%!!!!!!

 

[CODenver26]

You think Uber/Lyft had it good, I drove taxi in Miami, from 2010 until 2014, I never made less than $250 cash, busy days, weeks, months were $500 daily after expenses, $3000 weeks, $10,000-$12,000 months. Heat went to the Finals, 95 million passengers flew into MIA, FLL opened international flights to Europe, economy was pumping, Brazil,
Russia, Venezuela, Italia came with $9,000 cash each family member.
Easily $75,000-$110,000 annually and 90% of passengers gave tips, and CC processing was 3%!!!!!!

Damn that's some good money!!

 

[TheAntMiami]

Damn that's some good money!!

Believe me , I had a blast. Everyday I wake up and puke. Not that I hate Uber, but I miss being able what I did for so long, so well, made great $$$$ and most important I was my own
boss....can't beat that!

 

[JPthedriver]

It wasn't phenominal! So great! You could do 5 or 6 local rides a night in my area and easily clear 100 bucks. Now it takes 20-30 rides. A ride from about where I live to the local bar scene was about 18 dollars. Now it's about $7.

 

[Chauffeur_James]

For Phoenix it was;

Mar 2012 $5.00/mile Black car only
Jan 2014 $2.25/mile Uber X launched
June 2014 $1.35/mile
Jan 2015 $.90/mile

Didn't they go below $.90 for a while and then brought it back up?

 

[UberMensch2015]

Rates were much higher (87 now in Htown, was 1.35). Rides were more plentiful because there were fewer drivers and the riders were nearly all 20 something well behaved college and post college aged kids. It was a service for early adopters who were respectful and friendly and "in on a secret." The drivers were better too, better cars, spoke English, smelled good, weren't surly, felt well paid, etc.

Now its a pit. Nothing but terrible pax intent on paying next to nothing, crappy cars, drivers who don't speak English, don't know the city and are surly and unpleasant. Uber wanted this, Uber got it. Its a trash service for trash people.

 

[SEAL Team 5]

Didn't they go below $.90 for a while and then brought it back up?

Yes, they played around with pennies. I think it might of went as low as $.75-$.80. It doesn't matter, anything below $2.00 before Uber's cut is just driving to buy a new car.

 

[Red Leader]

Hookers and blow everywhere.

 

[dirtylee]

This.

 

[Emp9]

i would gross a min of $230 on a sat night 4-5 hours. 230 was a bad sat. sometimes it was 300-400. now if a break $140 its good.

 

[Tenderloin]

It used to be like it never gonna be again. I dont see any point talking about it. Its same as " oh man bitcoin use to be 0.20c in 2009 and its 1020+$ now, oh man remember good ol times when i could simply became a billionare?"