My experience as well.

Slightly off-topic, but right now Uber is offering double the credit for new referrals, so use my code and we both get $20 (instead of the usual $10) through January 20th. Code is: ft9db. Win-win for both of us. I really want to take advantage of these promos while Uber still runs them here, so use away, people!

And if you like me better, MY code is 9oz8v. Click here: https://www.uber.com/sign-up

Sorry, no1cub17, had to do it! :D

BTW, just found out another no-so-small downside for being a Uber driver: they charge you for the iPhone they make you carry.

I mentioned earlier that they issue drivers an iPhone 4 with their software on it. It's completely locked down in every other way; you can't even do an Internet search, call or text, etc.

It's actually a giant pain in the arse because it means you have to have two phones, as you still need to be able to call/text riders, have a GPS system, etc. And because both phones use GPS, you have to have them plugged in because the batteries drain pretty fast.

So, I get dinged $10 a week for a phone I don't want or need and they won't let you install their app on your phone.


Since I don't plan to drive much for them anyway, I may just return the phone which means I'm out for good.

That might explain part of why one of the uber cabbies we rode with in Chicago had two (or three) phones. He was using one for rides for sure and another running the software to tell him where the auto speeding ticket radar cameras were located. The cabbie we called up with Hailo said he also used uber but I don't know if he was running that on different phones or not.

BTW, just found out another no-so-small downside for being a Uber driver: they charge you for the iPhone they make you carry.

I mentioned earlier that they issue drivers an iPhone 4 with their software on it. It's completely locked down in every other way; you can't even do an Internet search, call or text, etc.

It's actually a giant pain in the arse because it means you have to have two phones, as you still need to be able to call/text riders, have a GPS system, etc. And because both phones use GPS, you have to have them plugged in because the batteries drain pretty fast.

So, I get dinged $10 a week for a phone I don't want or need and they won't let you install their app on your phone.


Since I don't plan to drive much for them anyway, I may just return the phone which means I'm out for good.

Wow that is weak sauce! $10 per week? Goodness. Do they tell you this up front? I guess that's their way of giving drivers incentive to drive as much as humanly possible, knowing you're on the hook for $40 every month.

It's really not a phone. I mean, it is a phone as hardware but they aren't using it that way. The same way that fleet companies have used mobile devices for tracking purposes. It's the data transfer, UI, and GPS they need and today, modern smartphones are oftentimes the best package for those.

The fact that other people use it as a phone is beside the point really.

I understand all of that but it's only an app that could be easily added to existing phones.

I could see them offering the phones for those that don't have the proper equipment but why make drivers pay -- a ridiculous fee, I might add -- when they don't need the hardware, only the software? And in the process, require you to carry two devices?

Lyft is merely an app a driver can load on any iPhone. If I continue to do this at all, I might switch over to them rather than pay $40 a month for something I will rarely use and is a pain in the butt to operate.

Sid, if you saw the Uber driver app you'd be surprised how remedial it is. It doesn't even provide driving directions to the rider or where the rider wants to go.

In fact, as you drive along, the screen doesn't even scroll as your blipping blue dot moves across the screen! You have to manually keep hitting the map to re-center it and then have to manually zoom in to see the exact location of the rider.

Why this couldn't be an app like the thousands that already exist is beyond me, especially because it's functionality is extremely rudimentary.


I'm sure they want to maintain strict control but Lyft does that by forced upgrades. I tried to log on yesterday and it wouldn't even let me do it until I downloaded the latest version.

Also, one last anecdote, remember that UberX isn't their core. Most drivers are professionals and carry dispatch hardware. They could have built an app just for UberX drivers but again, if they are focused on scalability and first-to-market concerns, I can see how that conversation ended up with them sticking with what they already have.

I'm a Black Car driver, which is the huge majority of their business, at least in LA and SF.

Right. Well then for $10 a week, you are getting off cheap for dispatch hardware. :)

The majority of Black Car drivers are like me: only drive occasionally, and the ability to go on- and off-line at will is a big part of their sales pitch to drivers and clearly key to their business model.

So, IMO the forced use and rental fee of their hardware often works against their bigger goals, mainly that they get the maximum of drivers and thus coverage and availability.


BTW, with Lyft you do have some flexibility as to when you drive, but they give priority to those that schedule in advance and they strongly prefer you plan out your hours.

Therefore, Uber offers ad-hoc drivers more flexibility, which is -- as I said -- one of their big selling points. But charging a required set fee seems to be contrary to their larger goals.

On another subject, when I received my first driver's scorecard yesterday I learned that of 20 fares only 13 rated me as a driver and 11 were perfect 5's.

But my overall rating was only 4.62 and using algebra (much more practical than I would have ever thought back in high school!) I know that the two other riders only gave me a total of 5 points between them. I will also never know who or why.

I suspect at least part of the lower rating was due to "surge" pricing, which I explained to all riders, especially the part of how I had no control.

At any rate, I'd sure like to know at least who downgraded me and why, even though my rating is still plenty high and likely will only go up over time.

I've probably ridden at least a dozen times now and so far I've never given less than a five. It's interesting because usually when I evaluate (employees, for instance), I'm typically loathe to give perfect scores, because my position is that there is ALWAYS room for improvement.

I think with Über I have been generous in part because of the value, but also because of the newness of the service and the drivers. Like Sid mentioned, I ALWAYS talk Über with the drivers, and most that I have had have been brand new to the service (I mean, beyond the fact that the service is a recent addition, many of mine started more recently than the introduction date). I also find that some of mine are still learning about driving in downtown during peak traffic times. Since I'm a longtime downtown resident/worker/consumer, I generally give advice for bypassing traffic backups, back ways to venues, etc. along the way. If they didn't listen I would probably rate lower, but universally they have, and have always been appreciative.

Since you can't tip, I've taken to telling my drivers on the way out the door that I'm going to rate them five star when that is my intention (every time so far), and several have said "I've already done the same for you..." which makes me hopeful that my own (passenger) rating is high, which may have something to do with the positive uptick in service turnaround. While that probably has to do more with additional drivers in the ecosystem, response times for me have dropped precipitously of late.

I will say that the five star rating system makes it harder for me to give less than perfect. If it were ten star, I probably would have given a fair share of nines; especially to the guy whose car smelled like farts.

I sometimes want to tell riders, that smell is not ME... It was from the last riders!

I've started to carry Febreeze now. :)

Thought I would put my two cents in as someone who personally knows the owners of a taxi company in OK.

The reason the OK taxi companies are fighting Uber is because of Oklahoma laws. Basically taxi drivers in OK need to have taxi displayed on the vehicles as well as rates and special tags. The taxi company that I know also has insurance for people if involved in a wreck that includes the driver and passenger(s). If anything is wrong with the car and it doesn't meet the OK taxi laws standard they get fined.

Uber gets around this by listing themselves as a technology company. I have no gripes with Uber. It's a cool idea and the app is neat. I have used it in California myself.

Now the OK taxi companies want either the laws to change so they don't have to display rates and be subject to the somewhat strict OK taxi laws or for the law to be enforced on Uber.

I think the laws could do with a bit of change but we will see where this goes.

Has anyone ordered an Uber ride via text?

I see its an option that is buried on the bottom of their website where you can text your address to a number to order a ride. One thing I find a little odd is that you can't download their app/platform on a laptop/desktop .

It seems like they should allow a way to just order a ride if you are on a desktop, but I'm not seeing how to do that other than via text message. Maybe there's something I'm missing here...

I noticed that yesterday when I updated my phone ios and downloaded the app. (Glad the ios upgrade didn't break my iphone 4. I've been holding out both upgrading the ios and my device.)

I was also a bit surprised to see where cars were when I checked them in the daytime, a couple around I-44 and the turnpike north, a couple about the same distance south. One about I-40 and Midwest Blvd. None downtown or west.

There was a cluster downtown at one point over the weekend in the evening when I checked. Now they seem to be scattered up and down north to south again and one in Midwest City.

I haven't seen one westerly yet. 20-30 minute pick up time for me when I've looked.

I knew they only show up if available. I kind of wondered if those locations are where those drivers live and where they park in an off peak time. Also wonder about the economics of driving to my hood for a pick up from either north or south, which of course depends on where I might be headed. I wouldn't call one for a short hop. Might for the airport or some special event 7 -15 miles away.

The ones most likely to pick me up were farther from the center of town than I am, they just weren't on my side of town.

I also wonder if and when cabs will use Uber in OKC.

I knew they only show up if available. I kind of wondered if those locations are where those drivers live and where they park in an off peak time. Also wonder about the economics of driving to my hood for a pick up from either north or south, which of course depends on where I might be headed. I wouldn't call one for a short hop. Might for the airport or some special event 7 -15 miles away.

The ones most likely to pick me up were farther from the center of town than I am, they just weren't on my side of town.

Just so you know, Uber really wants a driver to go off-line unless they are immediately ready to respond to a rider request. You have 15 seconds to respond, otherwise you get dinged in your driver rating.

So, I doubt very seriously someone is sitting at home or near home while on-line. The whole point of being on-line is being close to riders. And if you aren't the closest driver, you don't get any requests.

You mentioned the response time before. That wouldn't be a problem from the living room if the phone is in their pocket or in reach to respond in that time frame and they are ready to drop everything and walk out the door.

I noticed the other day the two cars north and south didn't move for a fair amount of time. I checked in on the traffic off and on tonight and there were a number coming on screen and going off earlier in the evening, with several moving on streets, which of course slowed down later in the evening. There were also several like this screen shot, where the car is or was at the same location for a significant period of time and when zoomed in, map to a house in a residential neighborhood. This one hasn't left the area for the 45 minutes I've checked in on it off and on. The car icon has moved around the house but never gotten close to the street so either they are walking around, there's some mapping error or both. Likely a little of both. I do not think the phone is actually located in a car on the street or even in the driveway. (It just went off as I was proofing this. Maybe they went to bed like I'm about to do.)

I zoomed in on my own location and see the same effect as I move around the house. The mapping is not far off. So I have to think at times, people turn on their phone at home and wait for a fare or return home and wait for a fare from the living room. Could be first time of the day. Could be they don't get enough fares to park on a corner somewhere and/or they haven't figured out where to do that yet. Maybe the level of interest for some isn't high enough to work it that hard and they would rather kill time between fares doing laundry. It doesn't matter. Just an observation and possible indicator of how drivers may be using the system.

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Pete, although I can still get UBER by going into my browser, is there any plans for a blackberry app?

Pete, although I can still get UBER by going into my browser, is there any plans for a blackberry app?

I know it's available for BB 7:

Uber Blog | Uber is now available for BlackBerry 7! (http://blog.uber.com/blackberry)

Dang I have BB 10. But it does give me hope. THanks

People still use Blackberries?

^

I do for work.

Aside from the $10/week equipment rental, are there any other costs associated with signing up to be an UberX driver? My Fiat500L can seat 4 more people besides me, gets 30 mpg in town, and I live very close to a major North Florida shopping district and the University of North Florida so I really could wait for a fare from my living room (although I don't mind sitting in a parking lot either as I have Netflix and DirectTV on my phone plus some French to learn).

Also, I assume this is taxable income. Does UBER send any kind of tax documents or is it up to me to report the earnings and pay the taxes? I assume I can also write off the gas or mileage as a tax deduction and also deduct the $10/week rental fee.

You have to fill out a W-9 but they don't withhold taxes. You have to report on your taxes.

As for the $10/week, since I last posted on this subject I received an email from Uber suspending my driver's account because they had misclassified me as a Black Car, rather than UberX. They said to be a Black Car driver you have to have a commercial license and commercial insurance.

I merely signed up to be a driver and they screwed up -- I never asked to be a Black Car, they just put me in that category by mistake.

So now, I don't know if I still get charged $10/week or if that was just for Black Cars. Also, as far as I can tell, they only charge the $10 if you actually have fares in weekly reporting period.


In another email, they notified all UberX drivers that you can no longer pick up passengers at LAX, as they have been cracking down, issuing citations, etc. I think Black Cars can still make pickups, however.

Thanks Pete. I guess you can still drop people off at the airport.

After reading this thread and checking out the website I think I am going to give it a try. I have nothing to lose and if I make a few hundred bucks in my free time I can get the home theater system I have been wanting.

Of course, this is all pending approval from the little lady, but after 21 years of marriage what doesn't require her approval. :)

Kerry, let us know how it goes.

I've found that other than NY Eve, there a lot of drivers and not enough riders to make it worth my while. But of course I'm in a market that is pretty mature by Uber standards.

Kerry, let us know how it goes.

I've found that other than NY Eve, there a lot of drivers and not enough riders to make it worth my while. But of course I'm in a market that is pretty mature by Uber standards.

I'll definitely post my experience.

I just signed up and activated my account and am waiting to be contacted by the local rep to get my dispatch hardware. According to the web site there is no set weekly fee for using the iPhone. It just says there is a small fee per ride. I'll have to find out what 'small' means. The only other item so far is that my car is not on the drop down options to register it. At first I thought this might be because it is so new to the market but the list was missing lots of other models as well. Setting up direct deposit and the W-9 was straight forward. The only item I need to find out about is what is the exit process. If I decide to stop do I just turn the device back into them and close my account.

I am hoping my location next to a 15,000 student university and a major shopping area will work in my favor and I only plan to do it as my schedule allows me.

Well, my Uber career didn't last long. I got an email today that said they were only rolling out the BlackCar service here in Jax which requires me to own a large black car and be a licensed chauffer, so that counts me out. Oh well, at least I got 1 cent from the test direct deposit.

New OKC rules coming for Uber ride-for-hire service? | News OK (http://newsok.com/new-okc-rules-coming-for-uber-ride-for-hire-service/article/3928390)

Why would they even think they could use the taxi stand? If you aren't a taxi you can't park in their spot.

I'm sure it was one guy one time.

Just like these issues:

Traffic and Transportation commissioners agreed with Andrews, voicing their own frustration with the city staff declining to enforce current vehicle-for-hire ordinances against Uber drivers.

They noted that the city's monthslong suspension of enforcement coincides with controversies nationwide that include claims of price gouging by Uber, a driver accused of hitting a family on a San Francisco crosswalk, killing a 6-year-old girl, and reports of drivers suing Uber over disputed fares.

How often do taxi drivers hit people and break laws? Most of them are horrific drivers. Imagine if you compiled one month of instances for all taxi drivers nationwide!

I'd feel much more safe with Uber than any taxi.

“Was he written a ticket?” Andrews asked. “No, he was not. He was asked to leave, but not ticketed. I don't understand why the city says everybody else has to abide by these ordinances, but these people from San Francisco, Germany and the Netherlands come in and they don't have to follow the law.”

-----
Huh? There must be more to this story...?

Anyway, the other day the Uber driver said there are 60 drivers in OKC now, and he sort of mentioned it may be too many...not enough demand or something ...

As someone who works in the insurance business, check with your agent about being an uber driver. Might need to adjust your policy or get a new one. I know for a fact my company would deny any claim if the insured wrecked while in service.

As someone who works in the insurance business, check with your agent about being an uber driver. Might need to adjust your policy or get a new one. I know for a fact my company would deny any claim if the insured wrecked while in service.
How would your company know.

Also, Uber carries insurance for drivers as well.

As someone who works in the insurance business, check with your agent about being an uber driver. Might need to adjust your policy or get a new one. I know for a fact my company would deny any claim if the insured wrecked while in service.

Would your company deny both liability and collision claims or just the liability? (I don't know why you might take part of the risk under a personal use policy.) That comes from wondering if Uber's drop down insurance will cover the driver for collision along with the liability when it's the driver's fault and the driver's personal insurance denies it all or if Uber will just pay the liability claims and let the driver tough it out on his own loss.

“Was he written a ticket?” Andrews asked. “No, he was not. He was asked to leave, but not ticketed. I don't understand why the city says everybody else has to abide by these ordinances, but these people from San Francisco, Germany and the Netherlands come in and they don't have to follow the law.”

-----
Huh? There must be more to this story...?

Anyway, the other day the Uber driver said there are 60 drivers in OKC now, and he sort of mentioned it may be too many...not enough demand or something ...

The company started in San Fran, is incorporated in the Netherlands and I think is headquartered in Germany. The guy who parked in the taxi space was an Oklahoman.

How would your company know.

They look at the car and see the GPS on the dash. Police report get statements from anyone involved in the wreck. Ask the passengers why they were in the car with the insured. It would be very easy to determine.

Would your company deny both liability and collision claims or just the liability? (I don't know why you might take part of the risk under a personal use policy.) That comes from wondering if Uber's drop down insurance will cover the driver for collision along with the liability when it's the driver's fault and the driver's personal insurance denies it all or if Uber will just pay the liability claims and let the driver tough it out on his own loss.

From my understand what our company said is that if the insured is at fault and in service with uber, ALL claims will be denied. The insured is using the vehicle improperly for the given policy.

The insurance company looks at them as taxi drivers who are in the highest risk category and very few companies will even write.

Very similar to this. Drivers for Uber, Lyft stuck in insurance limbo - SFGate (http://m.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Drivers-for-Uber-Lyft-stuck-in-insurance-limbo-5183379.php)

I wonder if a driver's regular medical insurance would or could take the same approach to a driver's injuries (or even a passenger's) if it's the drivers fault, their auto carrier denied the claim, Uber denied to pay or limits were exceeded?

Sorry if this has been discussed but apparently surge pricing has hit OKC. Anyone experienced this? I still use Uber relatively infrequently, but that is interesting for sure. Also, would love for UberBlack to come to OKC.

Sorry if this has been discussed but apparently surge pricing has hit OKC. Anyone experienced this? I still use Uber relatively infrequently, but that is interesting for sure. Also, would love for UberBlack to come to OKC.

I thought surge pricing is what goes in to effect when demand gets too high? So are you saying demand is high at this very moment? Or are you saying they have raised their normal rates? They're different if I understand it correctly.

Here's the exclusions on a Farmers Insurance policy. Long story short they've put an exclusion on every section of the policy. If your Uber driver has Farmers and hurts you, don't expect a penny from Farmers. Suing Farmers won't work either. I would almost guarantee every single insurance company has the same exclusions.

66296630663166326633

I'd like to read a copy of Uber's policy.

I doubt there is a policy rated as personal use and driving to/from work,under X miles per annum that would cover operating one's vehicle as a vehicle for hire.
Many, if not all,would likewise exclude junior driving mom's car on paid shifts to deliver pizza's on a regular basis.

The way one addresses this is to buy a different policy, at a different rate, that is designed to cover the type of use one contemplates as a regular, repetitive use of their vehicle.

66346634
I'd like to read a copy of Uber's policy.

or this...

https://www.uber.com/legal

But I want to read the million dollar policy Uber claims to have that supersedes and negates all that.

Oklahoma Senate committee passes 'Uber bill' | News OK (http://newsok.com/oklahoma-senate-committee-passes-uber-bill/article/3933472)

A state senate committee has passed a bill seeking to place regulatory responsibility for Uber under the Corporation Commission. Uber is pleased ("With Oklahomans clamoring for more options in more cities, we're so pleased to see that the Oklahoma state Senate is as excited about the future of ride-sharing in Oklahoma as we are.") but the owner of VIP Limousines, well, not so much ("The whole thing is insane."). The Corporation Commission didn't know anything about it.

Your thoughts?

Oklahoma City appears close to regulating ride-sharing services | News OK (http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-appears-close-to-regulating-ride-sharing-services/article/3940991)


Oklahoma City appears poised to regulate UberX, the trendy app-based service that portrays itself as an online “ride-sharing” matchmaker.
Proposed amendments to the city’s taxi regulations would create a new classification, “Transportation Network Vehicle,” for app-based cabs.

The proposals were prepared by city staff and circulated to city council members in the past few weeks.

They would require licenses, permits and inspections, and decals identifying cars as being part of the Uber service network.

Proof of commercial automobile liability insurance would have to be provided to the city.

No surprise.

No surprise.

Nope, nor does it seem unreasonable, at least not to me.

Nope, nor does it seem unreasonable, at least not to me.

Not in the least.

Uber does not require UberX drivers to carry commercial insurance (they do for Black Car drivers) so this is quite different than what is done in other markets. They also don't mandate licenses, permits, inspections or decals.

Not saying it's good or bad, just considerably more regulation than Uber has faced elsewhere and effectively these regulations will severely limit the Uber services in OKC versus other cities.

Uber does not require UberX drivers to carry commercial insurance (they do for Black Car drivers) so this is quite different than what is done in other markets. They also don't mandate licenses, permits, inspections or decals.

Not saying it's good or bad, just considerably more regulation than Uber has faced elsewhere and effectively these regulations will severely limit the Uber services in OKC versus other cities.

Not necessarily. If they carry the policy on the UberX drivers like they say they do, then they provide that to the city. The other stuff can be done through the same process as getting qualified. It is more but is still manageable.

More Uber commentar. This time mostly from OKCPD Bill Citty. Last paragraph he is quoted saying:

“There’s not always a choice with public safety. A huge part of city government is public safety, and sometimes that means protecting people from things they might not even be aware they need protection from,” he said. “And if the model a business is using isn’t competitive enough within those constraints, then maybe they need to change their model.”

He can try to force a business to change its model but it will ultimately be the market that decides that. Just like the old mp3 debate. They were going to get downloaded regardless, you could either complain and do nothing or you find a way to service the market, which Apple did a good job of. Same thing with Uber. It is clearly becoming the popular choice for getting around in many cities. Municipalities and the established taxi businesses can try to stop it but the market for Uber wont be going away.

Police chief fights move to let OCC regulate Uber | The Journal Record (http://journalrecord.com/2014/03/11/police-chief-fights-move-to-let-corporation-commission-regulate-uber-capitol/)

Forgot to mention we used UberX a few weeks back during the last winter storm and surge pricing was X 2.5 around 11:00pm as everyone realized the roads were ice rinks and tried to get home.

Our driver showed up and advertised 4 seats, and when we got in - the driver had his wife in the front seat as his "navigator". So we had to cram 4 people into the back 3 seats. Then he proceeded to ask us for direction to I-44 and averaged 22mph due to conditions (which was fine, they were indeed bad).

We were hit with a $80 something bill. Since the circumstances were extreme, I understand why the surge pricing (supply and demand), but next time there is surge price in effect, I will probably try to find other means to get home.


That was my first time experiencing surge pricing.

I don't remember but to they send out warning of surge prices so you don't get blindsided?