I work in cyber security and it is accurate to say Uber can disseminate your battery percentage and use it in their algorithm. However, keep in mind it can do that because after you installed it and before it could activate you agreed to allow it access to this information. If people would be more aware as consumers the vast amount of data they willingly hand over to app based companies, perhaps we could create more stringent government consumer protection guidelines and stop this nonsense. But people blindly hand it over, and those in government side with the corporations because they pay for their never ending political campaigns due to the Supreme Court deciding that money equals free speech, and companies are in fact people just like you and I, entitled to use their "free speech" to bend the laws to their liking. No other country on Earth allows anything this foolish to be enshrined into law, but then it wouldn't be America without some good old fashioned legally systemic corruption :))
I have a 4.5 Uber passenger rating. In fact it went from a 4.7 to a 4.5 in eight rides and I have absolutely no idea why. I have taken a total of 16 rides altogether, all either to or from a major international airport, mostly NYC and Toronto. I found it odd at first but I've never had a driver offer to help with luggage, after confirming we're correctly matched through the passenger window, without fail they have all remotely popped the trunk and stayed sitting in the driver's seat ignoring me. The first time it was jarring, but now that I know none of them will ever offer I'm used to it, I'm not frail, but it's still completely different from pre-uber days when taxi drivers were eager to help knowing it could mean a good tip. And to be honest, greeted with such ambivalence I am inclined not to tip, but I always do, on the app, either 15 or 20%.. I don't carry cash so it's always on the app. I also always leave 5 stars, except one extremely bad driver who shouted into a phone for the entire 30 minute trip and drove like a maniac, but even then I didn't leave a bad rating, rather no rating at all.
So that leads me to my behavior. I'm the type of person who is always punctual and organized, there have been no issues with drivers having difficulty finding me, and I'm quick to load my luggage and get in the back seat with care not to slam or scuff. I always wear a mask, greet the driver with a thank you, some small talk if they want. If I'm tired from a long trip and don't want to talk I tell them they're welcome to put on a radio station of their choice. I've never asked for climate control, or opened the window at highway speed, I'm usually dressed business casual and don't smell (no cologne, not a smoker or drinker), I can't remember ever speaking on the phone during a trip. I used to say I will tip them on the app as I got out of the car (and always did) but I've read I should never say that for some reason, so I stopped. I do often tell them I plan to give five stars, and thank them for the ride, and again I don't slam the door because I hate when people do that in my car. I ride on my company's Uber account but I don't think the driver can see that or that it would make any difference. I live in a busy part of Brooklyn where the driver can always pick up another fare instantaneously. I do not eat or drink in the car, if anything I am usually quiet underway because I'm tired and I sometimes rest my eyes or just look out the window. If the driver wants to talk I always oblige, and I have listened to some crazy conspiracy theories while just nodding my head, occasionally there is a wonderful, thoughtful chat we both seem to enjoy, but never an argument..
So I am mystified why I have such a low rating. Is it because they're all airport trips? Do the drivers perceive me poorly because I'm white and they are Indian/Bangladeshi/Pakistani - I wouldn't think so? A couple days ago I took a $129 surge ride home from Newark airport, tipped 15%, my rating is still 4.5. Am I supposed to start preparing dinner for these guys and reading a bedtime story or what? I've only one time sensed the driver was upset (the shouting guy who I didn't rate) otherwise every driver seemed cordial and content, and yet they are giving me poor ratings, for what I really can't imagine. Can anyone enlighten me please?
The sad thing is now that I'm aware of my plummeting rating I really don't want to give 5 stars or tip anymore, but I do because everybody has to eat. In my opinion this Uber rating system is just bad business, it has no real criteria, can be purely based on looks or race or perceived entitlement and has caused me to no longer enjoy riding. I should probably just stop looking at it, but it irks me that drivers are passing up my fare for no good reason, and those who do pick me up have a bad impression of me before I even get in. I've asked my company if they'll open a Lyft account but they are sticking to only Uber.
RIDEGURU
I work in cyber security and it is accurate to say Uber can disseminate your battery percentage and use it in their algorithm. However, keep in mind it can do that because after you installed it and before it could activate you agreed to allow it access to this information. If people would be more aware as consumers the vast amount of data they willingly hand over to app based companies, perhaps we could create more stringent government consumer protection guidelines and stop this nonsense. But people blindly hand it over, and those in government side with the corporations because they pay for their never ending political campaigns due to the Supreme Court deciding that money equals free speech, and companies are in fact people just like you and I, entitled to use their "free speech" to bend the laws to their liking. No other country on Earth allows anything this foolish to be enshrined into law, but then it wouldn't be America without some good old fashioned legally systemic corruption :))
I have a 4.5 Uber passenger rating. In fact it went from a 4.7 to a 4.5 in eight rides and I have absolutely no idea why. I have taken a total of 16 rides altogether, all either to or from a major international airport, mostly NYC and Toronto. I found it odd at first but I've never had a driver offer to help with luggage, after confirming we're correctly matched through the passenger window, without fail they have all remotely popped the trunk and stayed sitting in the driver's seat ignoring me. The first time it was jarring, but now that I know none of them will ever offer I'm used to it, I'm not frail, but it's still completely different from pre-uber days when taxi drivers were eager to help knowing it could mean a good tip. And to be honest, greeted with such ambivalence I am inclined not to tip, but I always do, on the app, either 15 or 20%.. I don't carry cash so it's always on the app. I also always leave 5 stars, except one extremely bad driver who shouted into a phone for the entire 30 minute trip and drove like a maniac, but even then I didn't leave a bad rating, rather no rating at all.
So that leads me to my behavior. I'm the type of person who is always punctual and organized, there have been no issues with drivers having difficulty finding me, and I'm quick to load my luggage and get in the back seat with care not to slam or scuff. I always wear a mask, greet the driver with a thank you, some small talk if they want. If I'm tired from a long trip and don't want to talk I tell them they're welcome to put on a radio station of their choice. I've never asked for climate control, or opened the window at highway speed, I'm usually dressed business casual and don't smell (no cologne, not a smoker or drinker), I can't remember ever speaking on the phone during a trip. I used to say I will tip them on the app as I got out of the car (and always did) but I've read I should never say that for some reason, so I stopped. I do often tell them I plan to give five stars, and thank them for the ride, and again I don't slam the door because I hate when people do that in my car. I ride on my company's Uber account but I don't think the driver can see that or that it would make any difference. I live in a busy part of Brooklyn where the driver can always pick up another fare instantaneously. I do not eat or drink in the car, if anything I am usually quiet underway because I'm tired and I sometimes rest my eyes or just look out the window. If the driver wants to talk I always oblige, and I have listened to some crazy conspiracy theories while just nodding my head, occasionally there is a wonderful, thoughtful chat we both seem to enjoy, but never an argument..
So I am mystified why I have such a low rating. Is it because they're all airport trips? Do the drivers perceive me poorly because I'm white and they are Indian/Bangladeshi/Pakistani - I wouldn't think so? A couple days ago I took a $129 surge ride home from Newark airport, tipped 15%, my rating is still 4.5. Am I supposed to start preparing dinner for these guys and reading a bedtime story or what? I've only one time sensed the driver was upset (the shouting guy who I didn't rate) otherwise every driver seemed cordial and content, and yet they are giving me poor ratings, for what I really can't imagine. Can anyone enlighten me please?
The sad thing is now that I'm aware of my plummeting rating I really don't want to give 5 stars or tip anymore, but I do because everybody has to eat. In my opinion this Uber rating system is just bad business, it has no real criteria, can be purely based on looks or race or perceived entitlement and has caused me to no longer enjoy riding. I should probably just stop looking at it, but it irks me that drivers are passing up my fare for no good reason, and those who do pick me up have a bad impression of me before I even get in. I've asked my company if they'll open a Lyft account but they are sticking to only Uber.