Passengers from hell? Complaints or suggestions for Uber and Lyft? Glaring problem with the industry? Do you have stories of your horrible experiences with rideshare services? Leave your comments here and share your stories.
Uber, Lyft rider. but I take Bridj to work!
Many are starting to claim that Uber is charging different prices for different people. People being charged completely different prices for the same exact ride and at virtually same time. Are we all being duped? How does Uber discriminate?
Here's an example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMm4ehc7oCw
UberPool is guaranteed pricing, so the user on the left indeed is looking to pay more than her friend.
The most likely scenario is due to the nature of UberPool's pricing. In this video, two people are requesting similar routes sequentially. This naturally raises the demand for that route. This can impact the pricing/estimates.
While UberPool's fare is based on duration and distance, the price will be adjusted by demand, i.e. instances of picking up other people. In similar words, you are essentially given a discount for sharing a ride. Perhaps the user on the right is given more discount due to the more likely possibility of incurring delays due to picking up other users.
Another possibility (albeit less likely) is that the two phones resolved two different routes, potentially due to the ever changing traffic factor and slightly different GPS locations picked up by each phone. Yes, the two phones are right next to each other, but devices' GPS can pick up slightly different locations. This can make a big difference, say, one user's pick up location being on the other side of the road and it ends up requiring a U-turn.
RIDEGURU
Comments
This is a different topic
So, I go to Walmart from home. After I am finished with Walmart, I go home. It is the same distance to and from Walmart and the same route. Why does Uber charge more for the ride home (sometimes twice the amount of the original ride)? It is not my fault if driver 2 has to drive out of his way to reach me. I should be charged the same amount.
That started to happen with me recently. I take uber to a shopping area (Framingham MA) for like 14 and on the way back, it's like 20 bucks now.
I don't think it's the extra distance for drivers to pick me up. I suspected it and asked my driver but he told me he didn't get any extra. He thought it is most likely the surge because Framingham is a city and can get busy depending on where I am.
So here's the thing. Now they call it "upfront pricing" not "surge" anymore. It's Uber's new way of quoting you whatever they want....whatever you are willing to pay. So apparently, they know I have to get home (and many people take it from that shopping area), so they can charge way higher. It's pretty crappy in my opinion. So, now I do the weird thing where I take Uber into town and then Tommy's Taxi to get home.
Yep. Upfront pricing. It's a way for them to charge anything they want to with no justification or even explanation, e.g. surge.
Now they have a monopoly on the market, they are going to be more bold on jacking up the prices. Didn't we all suspect this a while back? They came in with super low prices, and now it's time to raise the rates...and they will do it in the most inconspicous way possible.
See, to an untrained eye, "upfront pricing" means nothing. No where on the app it says that you are getting an "upfront pricing" and it certainly does NOT compare upfront pricing to a "regular pricing." Hence, it's all just whatever you are willing to pay.
Some people ask whether it's illegal to change up the pricing and consistenyl deviate from the posted rates. Well? It is legal because they are quoting you the price in advance. Yep, that is a "quote".
When I first saw this, there was a span of where I used my iPhone and iPad to get ratese, but they were always exactly the same so I stopped caring very quickly.
It's true and my sister and I ordered a car from the same exact spot to the same exact address and mine was double- I live in NYC and she lives in SF and we were both in SF at the time it occurred - not right and I am reporting it to bbb!
I wonder if the fact that you two were from different cities have anything to do with it. Probably not.
This is slightly unrelated but, recently, I have been seeing much higher rates for the same legs that I used to take. I really think it's because of the upfront pricing. I think they are making up fares now instead of basing it on distance and duration. Something smells fishy to me!
Ya, same here! They claim their prices are lower but I remember getting into the city from my house for right around $20 and now it is always approaching $30...
I have also heard the theory before that they exploit frequent riders, knowing they need the rides.
The first request must have triggered the surge pricing for the second request (albeit a split second later). You doubled the demand while the supply diminihed by one car, right?
It has nothing to do with GPS & surge pricing. Uber is plain and simple exploiting its frequent riders. I noticed this for the first time when the fare for a ride from the airport to the same location for me was double of what was displayed for my friend. I tried to test this out and made 3 of my friends at office put in the same pickup and drop off location. Middle of the afternoon, no surge pricing. Sure enough everyone got the exact same fare except for me. Mine was 30% higher. If this isn't proof, I don't know what is!!
That is messed up and wrong for them to do their repeat customers that way. I am having the same thing happen to me with Lyft.
Also, I noticed that right before I request a ride with Lyft after I have typed in my pickup and destination address if I do not request the ride for a few minutes the fare price changes and is initially very high (expensive) but the longer I wait the lower it will get but eventually it starts going back up again, so I'm glad I did not request the ride at the first fare price because I would have paid triple price. What a GOUGE!
My guess? Maybe the first request (albeit it being only a few seconds ahead) triggered the surge pricing.
Is this anything to do with the upfront pricing? How Uber charges whatever they think they can charge? Maybe it's a surge based on demand. Maybe Uber knows you are wealthier than your friend so they decided to charge you more.
I am serious. This is a thing everyone is talking about. Uber charges whatever people are willing to pay.
I have actually experienced something similar to this! One time I was ordering an Uber and standing right next to my friend who was also ordering an Uber and my app was showing a surge and hers was not! Needless to say I switched over to the Lyft app for this ride.
This is happening in Macon Georgia's well. Now with Lyft is doing this as well. My son takes Uber or Lyft and this is happening all the time. The distance is the same, same times a day, just different prices. What a rip off! I think I'm going to start using a cab company.
Did you see this?
The more you use Uber, the more expensive it gets
I just had the craziest experience. I’m in DC ordering a ride for my son in Knoxville - fare is $174 - which is no way. I entered the info again making sure it’s correct - it’s now $192!! I ended up giving my son my credit card info (wanted to avoid that) and he was able to order the uber for $16. What’s going on???
Wow. 10x your son's is just too much. Perhaps Uber's algorithm broke and it took it to the extreme. We all know now that they fluctuate the fare to reflect "whatever you are willing to pay."
I am curious. Do you often use Uber for business trips? Have you accepted some unusually expensive rides recently? Maybe Uber was challenging you to see how much you are willing to pay.
I do seriously wonder if Uber profiles depending on your past history. Is that really legal?
Gasp! The same thing happened to me once too, when I was on a business trip at Gaylord Hotel in DC. My colleague and I both had the Uber app, and his showed like $15, and mine showed $88. i thought it was a total fluke, perhaps a bug. So I just had him call one.
I'd love to provide more details to see what factors are involved but honestly, I am not sure how he and I were so different. I am from Boston and he's fro Philly. We were in DC together. We both take Uber for work in downtowns and have similar riding habits.
thanks for this response. I heard some uproar about it before but I knew there had to be an explanation. I mean, come on.