Why did you do XL?

NP here. I've only used Uber a few times. Yesterday morning ~ 6:45/7am we took an Uber XL to Dulles. My husband, new to uber, didn't realize the implications of a 1.9 surge and we paid nearly $130 to get from Logan circle to Dulles (a ~$70 cab). Painful lesson learned, but help me understand surge- why early Sat morning? I understand rush hours, etc...

Best AMA thread I've read. You are a great writer & seem like a decent and interesting guy. Thanks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have read this whole thread. Fascinating. Many thanks for answering all of the questions. Here is mine:

I get what you say about not making the driver wait because he/she is not getting paid for it. But, can I just text the driver from my house and tell him to "start the meter" even if I haven't left the house. I'm happy to pay for the wait if there is way to do this.

This one sort of got off-track so I'll answer it all here. Telling a driver to "start the meter" really doesn't help anything. If you take ten minutes, I've made $1.70. I could have cancelled at five minutes, made $4 instantly, and then be on my way to making more. I do this for the money, not because I want to be your personal chauffeur. Once a driver starts a ride, the option to cancel as a no-show is gone. Every driver has a few regrets of "starting the meter" only to really get screwed because of it, so we're all a little wary of doing it.

But why would you want to cancel when you have a rider who's about to get in your car?

Bottom line: Request the ride, see the estimated arrival time, and try your best to be timely. The estimated arrival time is pretty accurate and good drivers, myself included, can shave a couple of minutes off it. I get it from your end too, things come up and you're running behind. But in this transaction there is a human being on the other end who is literally hustling his/her ass off to reach you and then get you where you need to go.

But see, when you arrive early, I'm likely to not be ready because I'm using the estimated arrival time as the amount of time I have before I need to be outside. So although you're thinking you're doing me a favor by being early, I'm still thinking you'll be there in ten minutes instead of eight.

Do you look down on people who fritter away their paychecks and their livers ubering around town several nights a week? I've always been surprised at the number of folks in DC who are into the bar/hip restaurant scene well into mid-life.

Anonymous wrote:How far can you punt a football?

God, you are annoying! Get laid much?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am about to create a new thread...

"I know the DCUM uberX driver and I have had awesome sex with him several times - AMA"

Now OP...you tell us: Am I wrong?

* I am kidding about creating a new thread about you...

Spill the beans!

No way.

I was just teasing. I am not 100% sure if he is really the same person. (only 99% ) But if he is, believe me...he is even more engaging in person (and very handsome!). That is all. Sorry for going out of the topic's main discussion.

You're wrong, but I wish you weren't because you sound like a lot of fun

Does my way of doing things make you think I'm a good lay too?

Oh ! ok then. You just sound exactly like a special friend of mine. I might be missing way too much making out inside some Ford sedan and in some nice basement on the N 18th street in Arlington.

Take care Mister Driver.

Anonymous wrote:I think his true identity is Racer X from Speed Racer.

Thanks for the great Halloween costume idea! My friends would love it!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=N8-h7JMO8fw

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:...

...insurance...

...umbrella policy.

I know the deal...

NP here. I just looked up and uber does have a lower level of liability coverage that continues between rides while the app is on. The level increases when you do a pickup.

Correct. Everything is a lot more covered than people want to believe. Yet...gray area, risky, and not a lot of guidance. I'll still play the game and take my chances.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am about to create a new thread...

"I know the DCUM uberX driver and I have had awesome sex with him several times - AMA"

Now OP...you tell us: Am I wrong?

* I am kidding about creating a new thread about you...

Spill the beans!

No way.

I was just teasing. I am not 100% sure if he is really the same person. (only 99% ) But if he is, believe me...he is even more engaging in person (and very handsome!). That is all. Sorry for going out of the topic's main discussion.

You're wrong, but I wish you weren't because you sound like a lot of fun

Does my way of doing things make you think I'm a good lay too?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have read this whole thread. Fascinating. Many thanks for answering all of the questions. Here is mine:

I get what you say about not making the driver wait because he/she is not getting paid for it. But, can I just text the driver from my house and tell him to "start the meter" even if I haven't left the house. I'm happy to pay for the wait if there is way to do this.

NP here:
Is it really that hard to be on-time? I don't call my Uber until I'm dressed and ready to go. Sometimes that means I need to wait inside 5 to 10 min if it's a busy night. I'm usually monitoring the driver's progress like a hawk and I'm on the curb when he's within a block. Why is this so difficult for some of you? It's not rocket science.

Not rocket science at all. I just want to pay someone to wait five minutes rather than wait 10 minutes myself. When I am ready to go, I'm ready to go. I don't want to then have to wait on the curb. Especially because my littlest kid is probably standing on the porch having a melt down because I am going out for the evening.

I'm the original PP who asked the late question. Thanks to this poster for summing up my issues as well. I'm happy to pay the driver for his time. I'd just rather not wait to request until I'm totally ready because I usually need every spare second.

This one sort of got off-track so I'll answer it all here. Telling a driver to "start the meter" really doesn't help anything. If you take ten minutes, I've made $1.70. I could have cancelled at five minutes, made $4 instantly, and then be on my way to making more. I do this for the money, not because I want to be your personal chauffeur. Once a driver starts a ride, the option to cancel as a no-show is gone. Every driver has a few regrets of "starting the meter" only to really get screwed because of it, so we're all a little wary of doing it.

Bottom line: Request the ride, see the estimated arrival time, and try your best to be timely. The estimated arrival time is pretty accurate and good drivers, myself included, can shave a couple of minutes off it. I get it from your end too, things come up and you're running behind. But in this transaction there is a human being on the other end who is literally hustling his/her ass off to reach you and then get you where you need to go.

Those who make every effort to meet me when I pull up, thank you. You're All-Star riders in my book.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's your zodiac sign?? Awesome AMA, btw!!

Virgo, of course! Does it fit me?

g

Yes, it does. Non judgmental, nice, good with money/numbers and frugal. Thank you for answering, this is the best AMA on dcum. Good luck buying your dream home!

I was in agreement about the non judgmental until he called all the moms in the ghetto baby mamas.

I didn't mean it in a negative way. It's just that "baby mama" paints a better mental picture of the situation than saying something generic like mother & child. This has been a truthful telling of real stuff that happens in DC, not some Wapo fluff piece.

Anonymous wrote:Last night ar Reagan there was a 4 minute Uber-X wait, but my driver texted me that he left his app on by mistake and wanted me to wait 15 minutes so he could go to the bathroom. Right...
Why would he even think of doing this?

He texted you that so he didn't lose his place in the DCA corral queue, but obviously that's not your problem. His number came up and he had to accept. He should've peed in a jug or a bush while he was waiting. None of this is rocket science and some drivers just happen to be idiots. This is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard of a driver doing, and I've seen some dumb stuff. I can't think of a bigger waste of someone's time. I'm sorry you had to suffer on that one. Be happy that you aren't as clueless as that guy.

Feel free to call shit like this out to uber support and try to get a free ride credit out of it.

Anonymous wrote:How many cars have you gone through over the past 3.5 years? What's the odometer on your current ride? How many more miles do you think you will go in this car? How do you know when it's time to buy a new car?

Also, what's your strategy for buying a new car? I assume you pay all cash and get something 5+ years old with low mileage.

I've been driving the same car since 2010, 145,000 miles on the odometer, and hoping for 155,000 more to get to a nice, round 300k...fingers crossed. It's time to buy a new car when the one I'm currently driving stops running. You would have zero clue my uberX ride has that many miles on it by looking at it and riding in it. Cars are built to be driven, and when they sit idle, they rust.

I buy new cars and then proceed to drive the hell out of them. I put 210,000 miles on my last one before repairs just weren't worth it anymore. In an ideal world, I'd tell you that I buy used cars that are four years old with less than 50,000 on them to get the best bang for my buck, but I just pull the trigger on a new one. I've bought three news cars in my lifetime. To justify the purchase, I know that I'm going to keep it for a long time, so might as well start fresh.

My car buying tip: Buy late in the model year, for example buy a 2016 model in July/August 2016. You'll save a ton off the sticker price.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have read this whole thread. Fascinating. Many thanks for answering all of the questions. Here is mine:

I get what you say about not making the driver wait because he/she is not getting paid for it. But, can I just text the driver from my house and tell him to "start the meter" even if I haven't left the house. I'm happy to pay for the wait if there is way to do this.

NP here:
Is it really that hard to be on-time? I don't call my Uber until I'm dressed and ready to go. Sometimes that means I need to wait inside 5 to 10 min if it's a busy night. I'm usually monitoring the driver's progress like a hawk and I'm on the curb when he's within a block. Why is this so difficult for some of you? It's not rocket science.

Not rocket science at all. I just want to pay someone to wait five minutes rather than wait 10 minutes myself. When I am ready to go, I'm ready to go. I don't want to then have to wait on the curb. Especially because my littlest kid is probably standing on the porch having a melt down because I am going out for the evening.

I'm the original PP who asked the late question. Thanks to this poster for summing up my issues as well. I'm happy to pay the driver for his time. I'd just rather not wait to request until I'm totally ready because I usually need every spare second.

Anonymous wrote:Going ton National airport tomorrow morning at 5:30 am from foggy bottom. Do you think I could get anUbber? Or would it take forever?

You're good, my friend. Drivers are ALWAYS out 24/7, even at 5am on a Sunday. There might be a wait of ten minutes at the most.

There's a pretty dedicated crew of weekend drivers who cover midnight until daylight on the weekend. DC parties hard thru Saturday night.