My first Uber ride

"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
03/20/2016 at 21:20 • Filed to: Ubermania

So I finally downloaded the uber app and took my first ride to the airport. Instead of the crappy Prius cab I rode to my hotel, Jose Luis picked me up in his Corolla. In fact, he was waiting for me almost as soon as I pushed the button to call him.

I had pushed the “pool” button without knowing what it meant, and found out that we would be picking up Brianna on the way to the airport. Just a minor detour. We ended up collaborating to spot her since the location the app gave us was a block or so off. (Jose Luis: “okay, do you see the red jeep turning right?” Brianna on speaker: “I see him in the opposite lane just before the red bus”. Me: “I see the red bus in the right lane just past Figueroa”). We found her, and it turned out she was from the same meeting as I, and so we got to talk a bit about her poster on the ride.

Anyway, it was a relaxed trip, kinda fun, and less than half the cost of a cab. I’m an Uber convert. No more cabs for me if it’s an option.

DISCUSSION (25)

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Chariotoflove
03/20/2016 at 21:22

Please consider switching to Lyft, they are a lot less horrible to their drivers!

iSureWilll > Chariotoflove
03/20/2016 at 21:23

You and your driver picked up Brianna in your Chariotoflove? Nice!

Chariotoflove > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver
03/20/2016 at 21:25

Okay. I'll give it a look.

Sam > Chariotoflove
03/20/2016 at 21:25

See? Uber is 10x better than cabs. It seems a lot more like getting picked up by an acquaintance than a random stranger.

Chariotoflove > iSureWilll
03/20/2016 at 21:26

You make it sound so much more interesting. If I ever write my memoirs, I want you to ghost write for me!

Frenchlicker > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver
03/20/2016 at 21:26

Is the price similar? I shop at Walmart and own Apple products so the employee thing isn't exactly at the forefront of my mind.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Frenchlicker
03/20/2016 at 21:34

They screen their drivers a lot more, which is more important, to me at least. Pricing I’m not sure about, but I’m sure it’s similar.

ranwhenparked > Chariotoflove
03/20/2016 at 21:34

Yeah, love it. Use it all the time, since I live alone and sometimes need to shuttle back and forth when I take my cars into the shop. I usually get the same guy with a brand new Kia Cadenza.

E92M3 > Chariotoflove
03/20/2016 at 21:44

I’m a convert too after our local cab company stood me up, and almost made me miss a flight. I called 8 hrs in advance to schedule it. Not having to ride in a busted crown vic with 350k miles, getting a driver that speaks English, and it’s half the price? Can’t believe it took me so long.

Frenchlicker > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver
03/20/2016 at 21:55

What do they do screening wise that makes it better?

Chariotoflove > Sam
03/20/2016 at 22:14

The car is nicer because the driver is motivated to keep it that way, and dealing with payment is easier. Cabbies want cash and don’t like dealing with credit cards.

Chariotoflove > ranwhenparked
03/20/2016 at 22:15

Oooo, that’s a nice ride.

Chariotoflove > E92M3
03/20/2016 at 22:18

Yeah, cabbies are infamous for their questionable customer service, especially in some markets, and for their less than opulent accommodations. This was a market ripe for disruption.

iSureWilll > Chariotoflove
03/20/2016 at 22:24

You're too kind!

Chariotoflove > Frenchlicker
03/20/2016 at 22:26

I found this link that compares the two companies. Although it doesn’t go too deeply into the driver screening thing, it does mention it.

http://rideshareapps.com/uber-vs-lyft-c…

Chariotoflove > iSureWilll
03/20/2016 at 22:27

Wait to you see what I’m willing to pay before you say that. ;)

iSureWilll > Chariotoflove
03/20/2016 at 22:28

Very good point. I'll keep that in mind!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Chariotoflove
03/20/2016 at 22:35

I too had my first Uber ride(s) this weekend. The ride out was smooth, very friendly driver in a Civic Hybrid. But on the return trip I accidentally sent the 2nd driver, who had an Enclave, to a location five our six blocks from where we were. I ended up having to call her and explain the mistake, and the app billed me for the distance she drove between what I said was my pickup location and my actual location. Still, a good overall experience.

Chariotoflove > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
03/20/2016 at 22:41

It’s like American Pie , getting our Uber cherries popped in one weekend. Too bad neither of us got picked up by Stiffler’s mother.

That kinda sucks it charged you extra. We just played hunt and seek with our other passenger over the speaker phone. It made me glad I put my exact location in my contact text message to the driver and didn’t rely on the app’s location service. Cell tower triangulation can often be off by a block, even if you put in the right address.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Chariotoflove
03/20/2016 at 22:52

The reason mine was off was I accidentally tapped the wrong location on the map on my phone rather than using my location from the GPS.

E92M3 > Chariotoflove
03/20/2016 at 22:55

Seriously! Being able to push a button and have someone at your door in under 8 mins (90% of the time) beats any cab company.

Chariotoflove > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
03/20/2016 at 23:13

“Human error”: What happens when we lose faith in our computer overlords.

Chariotoflove > E92M3
03/20/2016 at 23:16

Amen, Brother!

DynamicWeight > Frenchlicker
03/21/2016 at 13:45

I signed up to drive for lyft. They had me meet one of their long time drivers. He looked over my car and we went for a short ride together. I also had to submit a picture of my insurance and he took a picture of my driver’s license.

Frenchlicker > DynamicWeight
03/21/2016 at 18:53

I would like an Uber driver to weigh in here. I'm wondering if there's is critiqued so badly because they are larger.