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

[Anonymous]

How do you talk to other Uber drivers? (You mentioned female drivers saying how male pax treat them..) is there a company driver chat room on the app or some such?

What's the single most memorable ride you've had?

[Anonymous]

How does my passenger rating affect me? Are you less likely to pick up a 4.2 rather than a 5? My coworkers and I have a theory that once a rider's rating gets higher OR he/she starts using Uber more, he/she gets better Uber rides -- i.e. better, non creepy drivers; better cars; drivers who know where they're going etc. Any truth to that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is awesome. And props to you and your hustle. A lot of folks around here have lots of education and zero hustle! I love uber and use it about three times a week. I do feel though that lately I get more and more drivers who really have no clue how to get around DC even with GPS.i can see how these guys might lose money if they spend half the day lost.
Capitolism at its finest! Keep busting your ass and good luck getting that house.

Thank you! I appreciate it! Driving uber does make me love capitalism, lol. It can be a grind sometimes, but nothing worth having is hardly ever easy. I truly believe hard work trumps talent every time. Please rate your bad drivers accordingly!

[Anonymous]

Do all Uber cars have to be black/white/gray? Or can they be other colors but I just haven't seen one? What are the rules on what kind of car you must have to drive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it wrong that I'm sad mine is 4.83? I feel like I'm at least a 4.95

I just checked mine and I'm only a 4.66?? And I am one of those professional women who takes it sober. Maybe I have made drivers wait one too many times.

[Anonymous]

Are you driving around uninsured? i.e. did you secure any special insurance to drive for Uber or are you just relying on your regular auto insurance policy -- which many of the major players like Geico say is no longer in effect if you drive for any ride share service.

[Anonymous]

Do drivers mind making multiple stops for different passengers in a non-pool ride? Eg. Friend and I get in uber and we live four blocks apart so driver drops her off first and the me.

Also have you ever considered uber black or XL? Can you make money doing that?

[Anonymous]

Do you listen to the radio when you're driving? Have any passengers asked you to change channels?

Do you let people smoke in your car?

How long have you been doing this, and how long do you think you'll keep it up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do drivers mind making multiple stops for different passengers in a non-pool ride? Eg. Friend and I get in uber and we live four blocks apart so driver drops her off first and the me.

Also have you ever considered uber black or XL? Can you make money doing that?

Not the OP, but from what my drivers told me, his car wouldn't qualify -- I heard that you need certain makes/models to be classified "Uber Black."

[Anonymous]

Are you going to start doing the UberEats?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just put my hand up and a taxi is there. I've never used Uber. Tell me why I should?

#1 The ride comes to you exactly where you want it. No more standing out in the heat, rain, or snow trying to hail a cab. Wait instead in your comfy office and you'll receive a notification when your driver pulls up.
#2 It's cheaper. UberX is half the price of a DC cab. UberX is equal to DC cab rates at a surge of 2.1x.
#3 Efficiency. The driver knows where he/she is going because you've input your destination and will use GPS to get there. No more giving turn-by-turn directions to your cabbie.
#4 Cashless and paperless. No more hearing "cash-only" or "credit card machine is broken" from cabbies.
#5 Safer. The ride is tracked from end-to-end and you can even a let family member or friend follow along your route. You are on your own with a cabbie.
#6 If you leave something in an uber, you'll likely get it back. Leave something in a taxi? Kiss it goodbye.
#7 No more "going the scenic route" in the cabbie's favor. If you don't think your uberX driver took a good route, complain to uber thru the app and you'll get a credit for the difference.
#8 Works in 400+ cities worldwide. Great if you're a business traveller or on vacation. Getting a rental car, flagging down a taxi, or even owning a car is becoming a thing of the past.

Lastly, great cabbies also drive uberX and some have even became full-time uberX drivers, which leaves the worst cabbies still driving taxis.

Uber is so wildly successful solely because people have finally had enough of bad behavior from taxicab drivers & their monopoly (Washington Flyer anyone??!?!??) over the past 30 years. Removing the anonymity between a driver and rider solves 99% of problems that could ever arise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Drivers DO NOT see your destination. If they did, there would be a lot more cancellations, because not every trip would be advantageous/profitable to the driver. If I'm out working, my mantra is always "I'm driving absolutely anywhere this person wants to go", but a lot of asshole drivers don't share this attitude. If a driver calls you before pick-up, he's likely fishing for your destination. Some drivers are big enough dicks that they'll cancel your ride when they see your destination upon starting the ride isn't to their benefit, when you're already in the car with them. Pitch a fit if this ever happens to you.

So when do they see your destination? Right after they accept (and are en route to pick up), or only after they pick up? I've had a driver request I cancel when he was on his way to me, but he didn't ask where I was going.

[Anonymous]

Why Uber is good around here vs a taxi -- no jurisdiction nonsense. If I'm in DC and want to take a taxi to Bethesda, the DC taxis often refuse it (and they are allowed to) since they can't pick up any fares once they are in MD. Most of my trips involve crossing a state/city/county border.

I spent $3k on Uber last year according to my credit card summary. 80% business use.

[Anonymous]

Where are the peak places to be during surge pricing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you had sexual relations with any of your passengers?

I have not, and not even a set of digits. I have zero game and wouldn't be comfortable with it anyways. Don't wanna mess up my gold mine. There's been a kiss or two on the cheek from drunk coeds, and a girl that wished she could bring me in, but figured her boyfriend wouldn't have been happy with it, lol.

Also, I'm around a 4 on a good day.

I don't condone sleeping with passengers but don't under rate yourself as a "4". You are a smart, interesting man who is engaging a number of women in this thread. In addition yo your goal of owning a home free and clear, I hope you will find a wife. You are a good guy and I think a woman would be lucky to have you!