I wouldn't drive one but ~20 bucks an hour is a decent wage for people who otherwise would be making minimum.
And I am sure there is no chance that Taxi drivers aren't making false reports on yelp. Yep, no chance whatsoever.
-KeithP
In an article in the Philadelphia City Paper, she explains that on her first trip as a driver, the money looked good:
As I let him off at 30th Street Station, he waves goodbye and thanks me, and says he's rating me five stars. The fare pops up on my phone: $10.85. The price of almost two beers for 15 minutes of driving! And if my neighbor had taken a cab, with tip, it would have been an even $20.
But in the long run, Guendelsberger found that the numbers didn't add up. One reason was Uber's massive fare cut, which took place just before she started driving. And since UberX drivers aren't licensed with the company and use their own cars, expenses such as insurance and gas add up, while the car's value depreciates.
Over the course of 100 rides, her hourly rate averaged out to $17. But after subtracting the 28% cut that Uber takes and 19% for car-related expenses, her actual pay ended up being $9.34 an hour.
She writes:
Driving for UberX isn't the worst-paying job I've ever had. I made less scooping ice cream as a 15-year-old, if you don't adjust for inflation. If I worked 10 hours a day, six days a week with one week off, I'd net almost $30,000 a year before taxes.
Anecdotal evidence tells me that the actions in those reviews are not unheard of.
Also:
Philly journalist goes undercover: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/philadelphia-journalist-went-undercover-uber-183523711.html
I'll spoil it for you:
If it isn't worth it then don't do it. If enough people don't do it then Uber will be forced to raise prices/pay more.
Taxi driving is already a low-paying job. The only ways to 'save' are by ignoring proper insurance and vehicle maintenance (not practical beyond the 'wild-west' phase), and further cutting driver pay.
Didn't seem that bad when i gave my cab driver $95 for a 45 minute 40 mile drive.
Didn't seem that bad when i gave my cab driver $95 for a 45 minute 40 mile drive.
And I am sure there is no chance that Taxi drivers aren't making false reports on yelp. Yep, no chance whatsoever.
-KeithP
I'm also chuckling because you literally believe that cab drivers are overpaid, but are 'sitting out' because uber isn't paying enough. Pick one!
The policy went into effect today and comes from the Uber corporate offices in San Francisco, and it says that “all existing UberBLACK and UberSUV vehicles will receive all eligible trip requests,” including those from UberX. The company told drivers “this is a huge win for you because you’re enabled to reach your utmost earnings potential by spending less time waiting for requests, and more time on the road. More time on the road means higher earnings.”
Uber Dallas drivers have been told that refusing to pick up less-expensive fares will likely result in their being deactivated. “Are we partners, or are we employees?” asked one protester outside the West End offices.
wow, Dallas protests actually got some traction. Here's the policy they're protesting, which makes sense to me - you can't expect a livery level ride for $1/mile.
More time on the road means higher earnings.”
[Update 9-25-2014 – Pricing has been released on the Lyft Cities Website, summarized in my post: Lyft Fare Cuts – Detailed Analysis]
Here is what I have seen so far:
Los Angeles – 10%
Seattle – 10%
New Jersey – 30%! (YIKES!)
Providence – 35%! (Thanks Shanna!)
For Providence drivers, you may consider doing longer shifts up in Boston. No Price cuts there and I often see PTT Friday Nights and Saturday.
Tampa – 20%
Dallas – 10%
Boston – None
Phoenix – None
Fellow Uber driver here.
As an UberX driver, their situation is somewhat sympathetic but at the same time I'm very libertarian over the whole thing. Uber is probably trying to adapt to supply and demand changes (like with the price drops) and in the end I say that if driving for Uber isn't profitable enough for you anymore, maybe you need to get a different job. I will admit, when I was driving the DFW area and the price dropped from 1.00 to 85 cents per mile, I was pissed because of the dent it put in what I was making. I just wish I had been Ubering when I still had a full time job. I could've been easily been raking in an extra $1000 a month on top of my regular job.
Luckily and thankfully, I live with my fiancee and she makes enough money for both of us. I'm a student and I do want to contribute to the "family money pot" and Uber gives me alot of flexibility and potential to do that. Being able to sit at home with the partner App on waiting for ride requests is pretty convenient when I can be doing household chores, schoolwork or even playing games. I also knowingly give up alot of money by not working Sundays since it gives me and the future Mrs a chance to have a full day together. I also don't work past midnight since I don't want to deal with the real drunks. I'm probably making well under half the money I could realistically make where I am because I don't work Sundays and the late night hours. Weekdays here are pretty dry, though sometimes I can catch a couple fares in the evenings.
At .85 a mile, uber takes at least 20%, leaving you with .68 cents a mile. FICA for an individual is 15.3%. I'm not sure how this mathematically works for you w/o surge pricing? ESPECIALLY with the ridiculous $1 minimum.
I'm totally serious, have you compiled a spreadsheet of costs vs expenses to even see if you're in the black?
At .85 a mile, uber takes at least 20%, leaving you with .68 cents a mile. FICA for an individual is 15.3%. I'm not sure how this mathematically works for you w/o surge pricing? ESPECIALLY with the ridiculous $1 minimum.
I'm totally serious, have you compiled a spreadsheet of costs vs expenses to even see if you're in the black?
Silicon valley figuring out how to turn a job that would feed a family into another super low wage job.
Yes. I keep track of miles driven, MPG, my earnings + tips. Basically I have a very high mileage car with a built-in digital MPG tracker and drive with careful attention to my acceleration. Drafting behind semis when no one is in the car helps as well :awe:
Texas gas prices put me under 10¢ per mile to drive, so I use that as my metric for calculating my gas cost with my trip-odometer reading.
I always wondered isn't it dangerous for Uber and Lyft drivers to be looking at their phones to see where to go ?
Recently was in Memphis, TN and had a lady Uber driver who was holding her phone the whole time to see where to go.