RIDEGURU
Mike Anderson (DrivingForDollars)
Ride Apprentice from Hollywood
I'm an actor that drives Uber and Lyft.
12 Rider DriverI'm not a real driver but I play one on TV...
Seriously, I'm an actor/writer and like many actors and writers I need a "survival" job. For better or worse, this is it.
Activity
Posts by DrivingForDollars
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Costs and Earnings: The Real World of Rideshare
I think this applies to all markets though certainly the actual numbers are going to vary based on region. In … -
Fixed Missing, but MPG is in the dumps!
Vehicle: 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid. 129,000 miles.I do all the maintenance on it. Use Mobil1. Replaced spark plugs at …
Two party only means that all parties must be INFORMED. So long as the camera is VISIBLE and there is at least one sign stating that recording is IN PROGRESS, then the requirement to INFORM is achieved. PERIOD. The Paxhole's sole option to opt-out is to get the F&(# out of my car.
As far as having a conversation regarding sensitive material: In the earshot of the driver, it DOES NOT MATTER if I am recording or NOT—that is a rank STUPID thing to do. I drive but I am also a "recovering journalist". Damn straight you talk about privileged things in my presence, if it leads to a great story, then thank you for the inside information for free and read about it in the Times next week LOL.
WTF are you even thinking here? I as a driver am NOT going to sign your NDA and you DO NOT have an "expectation of privacy" when ME the DRIVER is present. Are you daft?
Yes, I've seen some pretty bad rates for Lyft too, and the fact they cut the bonuses and PT here in LA is telling as well.
There's a pretty good chance that you have a low passenger rating, but your sister has a good rating. Sometimes I accidentally accept a low rated rider, and I will cancel on them when I realize my error.
The fact that Uber just cut our driver pay an effective 32%, and the fact that Uber continues to treat drivers like TOILET PAPER, simply means that Uber drivers are now constantly telling their customers to switch to Lyft, who they also drive for.
UBER brought this situation on themselves, running their business in an unsustainable way, and treating the people that provide rides with contempt and disrespect.
The most recent driver pay cuts have shoved even experienced drivers under minimum wage for most parts of the day. Anyone who had made a commitment to Uber/Lyft as an income means has been "essentially fired" and now looking for other work. Uber and Lyft will have their comeuppance and reckoning as California AB5 passes.
What the -- Expletive deleted --
So much for "Lyft treats drivers better" LOL.
My operating cost for my Camry Hybrid is 32 cents a mile. I would just lose money driving in Phoenix. Seriously WTF.
Obviously Lyft and Uber count on the failing US Education system to not teach math.
PRO TIP: When a passenger calls you to complains "where are you" they are going to give you 1 star. Drive past them to start the timer, then go to the end of the block and wit the 5 minutes and cancel on them. Or cancel right away. But whatever you do, do not take them. It will be a short worthless ride, you will get a 1 star rating, and it'll ruin your whole day.
Unconscionable
First off, what the driver did in the original story, ejecting a passenger on the freeway, is so completely illegal he should be in prison for manslaughter. No professional driver would ever do that.
Only Once
In 5000 rides I have ejected a passenger exactly once, it was daylight, and I pulled over to a safe curb and told him to get out.
Fortunately, on Uber the passenger rating system works well, and I don;t take people under 4.8, so I don't get the creeps very often. Unfortunately, the passenger rating system on LYFT is completely useless, and I get some real creeps. The one and only time I kicked someone out mid ride was a Lyft passhole.
There have been a few times I have refused to start a ride, and maybe only 3 times they had managed to get into my car and sit and start being stupid morons before I started the ride, and kicked them out before starting.
How to Get Kicked Out of My Car
Most of the time I just refuse to give the ride in the first place, for any of these following reasons:
An Easy Choice:
Almost always the moronic jerks are just doing a short 2 mile ride for which we will get no more than $2.62, and passengers like that have personal problems and take it out on drivers, giving bad ratings for no reason and stiffing the driver on the tip. ... If we cancel we get $3.75 on Uber and $5 on Lyft, and they are also then blocked from rating us.
Guess which option I pick?
I'll take the cancel fee for $200 Alex and answer "what does a driver do with jerks", and I'll send a note to support to block them from my account (and after a few of these ntoes from drivers, those passengers lose their account access and are bared from taking any rides).
You Are Not Entitled to a Ride
No one is entitled to get a ride. Using rideshare is a privilege, not a right. If you treat your driver poorly, you deserve to be dropped off at the nearest safe location.
I said as much, but I generally suggest against passengers making such a ridiculous request. Low ratings can cause a driver to get fired, so it's common to cancel on a passenger that is being "problematic" as problematic passengers give low ratings.
I brought my acceptance up just to see if any of this was useful, and...
NOPE.
The ONE AND ONLY thing I found useful was the "ride duration" feature. But while this made it easy to shut out the stupid 2 minute rides that are 10 minutes away, if you actually use the feature to keep away from rides that cost you money out of pocket, then of course, your acceptance goes down and you loose it. LOLOL. So it too is worthless.
In short, I am going back to "surge only" and taking only rides that make sense for my bottom line. Thanks to a very helpful chat I had with @UberSerge I saw the error of my ways. LOL
"Uber Pro" is a worthless carrot dangled before donkeys to get them to dance.
You said:
And that, by definition, makes it a one party state.
When I have a passenger like that I end the ride — if it is close enough (less than a block or two) it becomes a cancel instead and they cannot rate the ride.
In "two party" states, then all that are parties to the conversation "must consent", but "consent" is not the same as "agree". Consent to be recorded includes "implied consent" such as continuing to talk even though you know you are being recorded, or talking in a public place where the is no "expectation of privacy".
If you ask me to turn it off I will tell you I can't due to insurance reasons, and if would you prefer another driver I am happy to cancel the ride. No one has ever asked in 5000 rides.
No, you do not have that right. Your sole right is to cancel the ride (and pay the cancel fee), by which I mean, sure you can ask,but I do not have to turn it off. And in 5000 rides no one has ever asked.
Also, you don't have that right when you call customer service either (though state laws vary, I am citing California law) — they "announce" that the call may be monitored, and then they record you. You don't get an opt-out other than to hang up.
I have the cameras in my car for INSURANCE purposes, to record any accidents. I am not going to turn them off for anyone.
Similarly, you cannot walk into McDonald's and say "I wanna BigMac, but I want you to turn off your security cameras first."
Do you appreciate how ridiculous that sounds?
WHY I RECORD:
My first camera was a $36 cheepie from amazon, and a WEEK after I installed it, a jerk hit me, and tried to claim it was my fault. LOL. I had the camera, and gave the footage to my insurance company. I won and saved OVER $3000 as I got my full deductible back and my rates did NOT go up at all.
Best $36 I ever spent... er... well, best return on $36 at least, LOL...
I added another better camera after than, so front and back are covered.
LAW:
In many states (single party consent) the driver does not need your permission AT ALL.
In "two party" states, then all that are parties to the conversation "must consent", but "consent" is not the same as "agree". Consent to be recorded includes "implied consent" such as continuing to talk even though you know you are being recorded, or talking in a public place where the is no "expectation of privacy".
How This Will Work Out For You
If you tell me that you want the cameras turned off, I tell you "we can end the ride". Keep in mind that you are not entitled to a ride with me, and I can cancel the ride for nearly any reason (there are certain Federal reasons I can't, but they are few).
So fine, get out and wait for the next driver, and don't worry I will have your account blocked so you'll never see me again, thanks.
The Upshot
WHAT YOU ARE DOING is making an unreasonable and entitled demand that puts the driver (ME) directly at risk, and I will not allow you to do that. I am at risk driving without cameras if an accident occurs, or if a passenger does something illegal. I don't know you. You were not required to get a background check before becoming my passenger. I don't even have any way to ID you other than the name you give me.
Who's at more risk here?
Thank you for understanding.
Yes, welcome to the long-running scam known as "Uber."
But you mention you are getting a deep discount — there is probably a "special" policy associated with that discount, and that probably overrides the standard policy.
But you are aying it's only 50 cents??
DO YOU MAKE THE DRIVER WAIT?? If the driver gets there and you are not in the car and the ride started within two minutes, you will be charged extra for wait time.