I am a DC uberX driver since 2013 and have SEEN IT ALL...so please, AMA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell us about the hookers.

Working girls try to be coy, but we both know what's up. Some are pleasantly nice, a lot are foreign (Russian/Eastern European), and some are straight up crack-hos. A few are super smart...they make their John pay for the ride. Occasionally, one will ask me if I'll wait and keep the meter running while they go "in & out", and if it's not busy at the moment (or on a surge) I'll oblige. Average wait time is right at 30 mins, if you're wondering. Usually the drop-off is at a really fancy hotel downtown or in Tysons.

Standard dress for a lady of the night on her way to a client? Black high heels, black pantyhose, and a trenchcoat...no clue if there's anything on underneath or not.

Even the hookers are boring in DC!

[Anonymous]

OP, you are obviously smart and capable, and you write well. Can you give a hint as to your background / day job? What have you done with all the money you've earned?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have used Uber many times to take women I meet on Tinder dates back to my place. I'm usually anticipating an awkward ride and it is almost always a fun conversation that lightens the mood. Good thing I've never had a non-talkative drive like you.

I talk, but only if the passenger leads the conversation. If a rider is silent and has their face buried in their phone, I'll be quiet and we can both ride in peace.

Since you mentioned Tinder, Sunday night is definitely booty call night. Lots of rides on Sunday between 9pm to 3am are obviously a booty call that is about to begin or has just ended.

[Anonymous]

When dropping off a female, will you wait until you see her get inside her apartment building door? I notice some drivers do and some don't.

[Anonymous]

Have you had sexual relations with any of your passengers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you are obviously smart and capable, and you write well. Can you give a hint as to your background / day job? What have you done with all the money you've earned?

Think along the lines of insurance/actuary for a day job, but not exactly. As far as background, I'm college-educated, a native Virginian and lots of you transplants would consider me a "townie".

I live off what I make driving uber. I try to live cheap and can easily pay all my monthly bills including rent with around $1,600/month. I have not spent a paycheck earned at the day job for years now. I fully invest my day job paycheck + any extra from uber into a taxable account at Vanguard (mostly index funds like VTSAX). I also am able to invest about 15% of my net profit on uber into an SEP-IRA, which is tax deferred.

In regards to all this, I'm likely a rarity. My goal is to own a home free and clear in DC/Arlington with in the next decade or so...I know it's going to take a mountain of cash to do it. I'm know that I'm not the smartest, but I will out-hustle anyone...period.

[Anonymous]

What's the longest ride you've taken a fare on?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When dropping off a female, will you wait until you see her get inside her apartment building door? I notice some drivers do and some don't.

I do, and doubly so at night. I wait until she is thru the door and it is closed behind her, then pedal back to metal. But I was raised right and doing that was instinctive for me.

This is one thing that should definitely be in the "uber training", but sadly there hardly is any. It's a lot of "figure it out on your own", especially for new drivers nowadays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you are obviously smart and capable, and you write well. Can you give a hint as to your background / day job? What have you done with all the money you've earned?

Think along the lines of insurance/actuary for a day job, but not exactly. As far as background, I'm college-educated, a native Virginian and lots of you transplants would consider me a "townie".

I live off what I make driving uber. I try to live cheap and can easily pay all my monthly bills including rent with around $1,600/month. I have not spent a paycheck earned at the day job for years now. I fully invest my day job paycheck + any extra from uber into a taxable account at Vanguard (mostly index funds like VTSAX). I also am able to invest about 15% of my net profit on uber into an SEP-IRA, which is tax deferred.

In regards to all this, I'm likely a rarity. My goal is to own a home free and clear in DC/Arlington with in the next decade or so...I know it's going to take a mountain of cash to do it. I'm know that I'm not the smartest, but I will out-hustle anyone...period.

I admire your willingness to hustle. Have you heard the saying "Work smart, not just hard"? Is there a way you can work smarter rather than harder?

[Anonymous]

Any neighborhoods you won't drive to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the longest ride you've taken a fare on?

Philly, Hershey, Baltimore lots of times, Rehobeth, that casino across the state line in Newark (Delaware Park?), Harpers Ferry, Harrisonburg (JMU), Tidewater/Hampton Roads VA. 150-ish miles for the longest trip. Usually all of these instances were either emergency "HAVE TO BE THERE RIGHT NOW" situations or times when a ~$250-ish uber was way cheaper than flying or a train.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any neighborhoods you won't drive to?

No, I will pick-up and drop-off anywhere, anytime. I have no problem working Southeast, and I specifically will go there sometimes because lots of drivers (and cabbies) refuse to. Everyone's money is green to me. Also, Southeast's "rough" rep is a little overblown...why people act like it's Mogadishu EOTR, I will never know. PGC is great to work too because every ride out is long-ish.

[Anonymous]

Are you relieved when someone like me...middle aged woman who doesn't drink...gets in so you don't have to wory about driving someone drunk?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you are obviously smart and capable, and you write well. Can you give a hint as to your background / day job? What have you done with all the money you've earned?

Think along the lines of insurance/actuary for a day job, but not exactly. As far as background, I'm college-educated, a native Virginian and lots of you transplants would consider me a "townie".

I live off what I make driving uber. I try to live cheap and can easily pay all my monthly bills including rent with around $1,600/month. I have not spent a paycheck earned at the day job for years now. I fully invest my day job paycheck + any extra from uber into a taxable account at Vanguard (mostly index funds like VTSAX). I also am able to invest about 15% of my net profit on uber into an SEP-IRA, which is tax deferred.

In regards to all this, I'm likely a rarity. My goal is to own a home free and clear in DC/Arlington with in the next decade or so...I know it's going to take a mountain of cash to do it. I'm know that I'm not the smartest, but I will out-hustle anyone...period.

I admire your willingness to hustle. Have you heard the saying "Work smart, not just hard"? Is there a way you can work smarter rather than harder?

I scored 890 on the SAT and barely graduated high school. Getting thru college (along with finding one that'd have me) was a struggle, but I made it. I grossed $120k last year and spent a little under $20k for the whole year. I enjoy my life, I enjoy working hard and there is an end goal to all this. I think I'm doing alright, plus as a bonus, I'm DC's greatest tour guide for friends and family.

And I do "work smarter, not harder" every day on uberX...it's a true challenge to be profitable doing it. A majority of drivers make less then minimum wage when accounting for expenses and taxes. I crush it every week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you relieved when someone like me...middle aged woman who doesn't drink...gets in so you don't have to wory about driving someone drunk?

Love it, middle-aged ladies in business/work attire are by far the best riders...5-stars automatically.

The only two things a rider needs to do to be a 5-star rider? Don't make the driver wait for you, don't be a jerk...that's it.