Now that Uber & Lyft destroyed taxis, they’re coming for their profits, and lowering their service…

[Dave Hess]

I was in a Uber and the driver had advertisements for private tours of Miami for $100.

Seems like a good side gig besides driving for Uber.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

The different ride share apps is an interesting idea, but the apps, and the driver commissions need to be competed too from the app owners, I’d think. And then it’s a pain to track and choose on which one. There is only but so large a body of drivers.

I think I heard that Uber and Lyft merged. If that the case, they created effectively a monopoly. Lyft seems to have better prices but you do wait longer to get them.

NYC taxis were a monopoly because of the fixed number ofel medallions the city issued to address congestion.

 

[Jdeere562]

We have a total of one Uber driver, that lives in my town of 5000 people. Other than her, they would have to come here from
a different area. I have her phone number stored and just call her direct. Cut Uber out of the equation that way.

She will drive to the city, pick up my friend and drop her off at my house. 22 miles each way = 44 miles total for the round
trip. Charges me $30. Of course it's another $30 to get her back home after a day of fun.

Almost seems too cheap, and I tip her well. She is the only Uber that I have hired, so I have no comparison. We have even went
far enough to make an offer to dine with us, but she has refused that. Hope she stays in business.

 

[GON]

Hope she stays in business.

That is a significant concern, how can one make a living as a Uber driver in a rural area. I speculate it may be tough making a living as a Uber driver in a urban area. At some point, the vehicle wears out, yet Uber revenue likely doesn't pay enough for annual replacement of a vehicle.

Tough gig. Uber might be fun for a retired guy, but to make a regular living, seems like the math isn't there to drive a Uber.

I do like what @Dave Hess posted, a Uber driver using the opportunity to market the paying passenger other services.

 

[SC Maintenance]

That is a significant concern, how can one make a living as a Uber driver in a rural area. I speculate it may be tough making a living as a Uber driver in a urban area. At some point, the vehicle wears out, yet Uber revenue likely doesn't pay enough for annual replacement of a vehicle.

Tough gig. Uber might be fun for a retired guy, but to make a regular living, seems like the math isn't there to drive a Uber.

I do like what @Dave Hess posted, a Uber driver using the opportunity to market the paying passenger other services.

I think @Sienna dude is a full time Uber driver. Maybe he can comment?

I would think most do it as a part time gig, for income supplement or to help pay for the car they already own. If not I assume there doing it in the city all day where they can get constant business.

I used to take Uber when I flew. Until one time I got a ride home from a lady in a new minivan. She was unhappy she had to go out of town - I live 18 miles from the airport - in the wrong direction for her - she wanted to go back to the city. I asked if they couldn't see where the end point was to be before accepting the ride, because you have to put it in. She said she could not see it?

I tipped her pretty well even though she was grumpy. She gave me a 3 / 5 stars - the only non 5 star rating I ever got, so I know it was her because next trip I was no longer 5*. Apparently having high rating is a benefit in order to get more people wanting to give you a ride. This has soured me on Uber. I drive to the airport and park now, and I take a cab instead if I can find one, which you usually can't.

 

[Jdeere562]

Tough gig. Uber might be fun for a retired guy, but to make a regular living, seems like the math isn't there to drive a Uber.

My thoughts exactly. My friend spends more time with the driver than myself. So the women talk on the trips.
Said she either rents or leases the car, I forget.

So, less my generous tips: She pretty much kills an hour for $30 or .68 cents per mile. Does not add up to me.

It's the only Uber that I have ever used, so no comparison. Don't have the Uber app on my phone either to check
costs. I just gleaned her phone# off Facebook, when a local asked about Uber and she responded. We have used her numerous
times with no problems. Nice enough lady and only lives about 10 blocks from my house. Hope she stays in business. My friend
thinks she just does it for fun money. Not my type of fun with minimal returns.

 

[GON]

I think @Sienna dude is a full time Uber driver. Maybe he can comment?

I would think most do it as a part time gig, for income supplement or to help pay for the car they already own. If not I assume there doing it in the city all day where they can get constant business.

I used to take Uber when I flew. Until one time I got a ride home from a lady in a new minivan. She was unhappy she had to go out of town - I live 18 miles from the airport - in the wrong direction for her - she wanted to go back to the city. I asked if they couldn't see where the end point was to be before accepting the ride, because you have to put it in. She said she could not see it?

I tipped her pretty well even though she was grumpy. She gave me a 3 / 5 stars - the only non 5 star rating I ever got, so I know it was her because next trip I was no longer 5*. Apparently having high rating is a benefit in order to get more people wanting to give you a ride. This has soured me on Uber. I drive to the airport and park now, and I take a cab instead if I can find one, which you usually can't.

It was reported to me our town has three Uber drivers. That is three drivers with a 90 mile radius, next group of Uber drivers is 90 miles away (El Paso). The local Uber drivers are at home, and if a drive request pops up, appears the local Uber driver decides if they want to get in their vehicle and transport the passenger. We waited over a hour for a Uber driver in our smaller market for a Uber. Decided we can't ever count on Uber. Drivers likely don't make much, so the Uber drivers have little incentive to accept passengers in our smaller market.

 

[GON]

My thoughts exactly. My friend spends more time with the driver than myself. So the women talk on the trips.
Said she either rents or leases the car, I forget.

So, less my generous tips: She pretty much kills an hour for $30 or .68 cents per mile. Does not add up to me.

It's the only Uber that I have ever used, so no comparison. Don't have the Uber app on my phone either to check
costs. I just gleaned her phone# off Facebook, when a local asked about Uber and she responded. We have used her numerous
times with no problems. Nice enough lady and only lives about 10 blocks from my house. Hope she stays in business. My friend
thinks she just does it for fun money. Not my type of fun with minimal returns.

Spueculation- some Uber drivers don't factor in vehicle depreciation/ wear and tear. They make some "fun money", but the cost per mile doesn't fully pay for the wear/tear on a vehicle. When the vehicle breaks, the driver ends up holding the bag, and not Uber. Uber's answer to this cycle might be to just sign up a new Uber driver.

Yes, some people have cracked the Uber code to make steady income. It would not be suprising very few Uber drivers crack the code, most Uber drivers (specualtion) likely operate at a loss, but don't know they are operating as a loss as they are not accounting for vehicle depreciation from Uber usage.

 

[Jdeere562]

Spueculation- some Uber drivers don't factor in vehicle depreciation/ wear and tear. They make some "fun money", but the cost per mile doesn't fully pay for the wear/tear on a vehicle. When the vehicle breaks, the driver ends up holding the bag, and not Uber. Uber's answer to this cycle might be to just sign up a new Uber driver.

Yes, some people have cracked the Uber code to make steady income. It would not be suprising very few Uber drivers crack the code, most Uber drivers (specualtion) likely operate at a loss, but don't know they are operating as a loss as they are not accounting for vehicle depreciation from Uber usage.

I have no idea. Maybe that's part of why she rents or leases the car. But I can't imagine that would be cheap either.
She does say most of her business is in Council Bluffs and Omaha. But she lives in Glenwood.

Her problem I guess. (until I want to use her services)

 

[Sienna dude]

I think @Sienna dude is a full time Uber driver. Maybe he can comment?

I would think most do it as a part time gig, for income supplement or to help pay for the car they already own. If not I assume there doing it in the city all day where they can get constant business.

I used to take Uber when I flew. Until one time I got a ride home from a lady in a new minivan. She was unhappy she had to go out of town - I live 18 miles from the airport - in the wrong direction for her - she wanted to go back to the city. I asked if they couldn't see where the end point was to be before accepting the ride, because you have to put it in. She said she could not see it?

I tipped her pretty well even though she was grumpy. She gave me a 3 / 5 stars - the only non 5 star rating I ever got, so I know it was her because next trip I was no longer 5*. Apparently having high rating is a benefit in order to get more people wanting to give you a ride. This has soured me on Uber. I drive to the airport and park now, and I take a cab instead if I can find one, which you usually can't.

I average $2 in my bank account per mile on the odometer. And 54 cents per mile is tax write off set by the IRS. And I don't have to tell you that maintenance of the Toyota Sienna is way less than 54 cents per mile. I'm a little short of 200,000 miles and I'm still on my original brakes. There is no alternator in this thing, no timing chain, no diff fluid. Only things I have done are oil, filters, engine and inverter coolant, tranny fluid and spark plugs. I do all kinds of driving gigs not just Uber. I also do delivery of food, packages, grocery, auto oarts. The ads that I run in the back of my car alone pay me $100 a month, $1,200 a year. You can make money if you put the time and effort. And you need a solid car that runs and runs and runs.

 

[Sienna dude]

Here is a little math. Driving a Toyota till 400,000 miles will get you $216,000 from the IRS. Would you still be worried about depreciation? Lets say $100,000 of that is gas and oil changes. You are still left with $116,000. That's why I always take the $0.54 deal from the IRS, not the second option of listing my expenses. Because my expenses will always be less than $0.54/mile unless I operate a Cadillac or Mercedez or something

 

[Sienna dude]

My most ridiculous expense so far on this van has been 6 quarts of hpl Premium Plus 0w16 lol

 

[Sienna dude]

My office

 

[TomYoung]

I will just ask the question. If you are not paying and they(company) reimburse why worry about it.

My company did complain so I had them arrange rides for me. That lasted a while then back to your situation they gladly approve.

Every person out there who travels for business has a responsibility to their employer to use some discretion in managing their expenses. There is usually an agreed policy, there is the general good principle of thrift, and a deontological duty. You get this, right?

 

[Sienna dude]

This is a driving gig that I don't want to disclose here. It's not my main thing, my main thing is driving for Uber and Lyft. That much money is coming to my account and it's not even my main thing. $100 average a day.
So when you decide that you want to drive your car for a living, then you find ways.

 

[Sienna dude]

I've decided that once I hit the 300K mark, I will drive to Illinois to get my van inspected by the Car Care Nut. I have some family around there so it will be a little vacation as well

 

[Sienna dude]

Depreciation lol.

 

[Sienna dude]

I am not one of those Uber/Lyft drivers that constantly whine. I keep my car clean, provide good service and drive safely. And tips come. I have very hard feelings for these companies as well. But if I keep thinking about it I will hurt myself and nobody else. My next job will probably some hot shot driving.

 

[SC Maintenance]

NYC taxis were a monopoly because of the fixed number ofel medallions the city issued to address congestion.

The medallions were a complete scam, a way to generate revenue for the city off the back of working taxi drivers. At one point Medallions hit almost a million dollars. Can you imagine - paying $1M for the privilege to start a taxi business?

 

[zzyzzx]

Spueculation- some Uber drivers don't factor in vehicle depreciation/ wear and tear. They make some "fun money", but the cost per mile doesn't fully pay for the wear/tear on a vehicle. When the vehicle breaks, the driver ends up holding the bag, and not Uber. Uber's answer to this cycle might be to just sign up a new Uber driver.

Is there really any doubt in your mind that this is Uber's business model?