Tag: cancellation fees

UBER COMFORT; TO CANCEL OR NOT TO CANCEL || IS IT WORTH THE WAIT?

Great morning my fellow giggers, freelancers, and rideshare baggers and baguettes; I hope and pray you are being strategic and profitable out here in these streets. Below is a link to my YouTube vlog on the latest and maybe not so greatest rollout by Uber on their new feature Uber Comfort in regards to the infamous change to cancellations. A lot of drivers are up in arms about the matter yet I have not seen one person post an actual issue to the wait time and cancellation fee.

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So on July 12th, 2019 Uber Comfort officially rolled out of BETA mode and was full throttle. We got to see it in it’s full glory and I must say thus far it’s not that big of a deal… yet! I have been part of the beta testing for 2 1/2 months and was actually liking the Uber Comfort option as a driver. I noticed a number of things and came to some conclusions, but I will save that for a later write-up. Today I want to focus on my very first Uber Comfort cancellation with the newly implemented changes.

Now, a lot of drivers loathed the fact of the extended wait time and “preference mode” these are two hot topics that got drivers pissed beyond measure, but before I could come to any conclusions I felt the need of first experiencing it in its full glory. Below you will see a series of screenshots of the process of the cancellation and what I suggest you do if you find yourself in this situation.

I got the request which was maybe a mile away from Meghan, I quickly arrived and submitted a text as I always do advising I have arrived. The problem is Meghan had input the wrong pickup location. I asked her to update the address and I could come to her. She hung up on me and clearly had an attitude. I sat and waited, I was not going to take the hit and cancel on my end, she would have to do that. I did my part and fulfilled my obligations. I extended the olive branch, use all modes of communication available. Offered to go above and beyond, and she did not want to do what was needed on her end. Now someone may say, well you could’ve just driven and found her, but mind you I did not have an accurate address, if so and if in close range I would have went the distance. I really prefer to pick people up. Constantly cancelling does not help me and my pockets. I want to give the rider the benefit of the doubt! Also if you noticed, Meghan never responded to the multiple texts and she clearly had read them all. This is an indicator to me that she was avoiding the matter in all for whatever reason. When I see people choose not to respond that usually means they are hoping you cancel the ride prior to them having to pay the cancellation fee.

So after about waiting for 8 minutes and 5 seconds I proceeded with the cancellation process. I was not going to wait a second longer. Yes Uber extended the wait time and I was prepared for that mentally so I just used that time to sit in the car and answer emails from my clients in my consulting and coaching practice. Once I was cleared to cancel the ride WITH FEE option checked I made sure I had all my screenshots in case Uber tries to pull a fast one. I always text because phone calls are not tracked and doesn’t prove what was said, but a text thread can help you in situations if anything is ever questioned. I bid you to please use the texting option if possible, this sets a standard with you and riders. Communication is everything and you must effectively do that on a consistent basis.

So my conclusion is it was worth the wait, due to the payout. Now if I had traveled a long distance this could’ve been a lost. Ten minutes zero miles, $7.20 was a win for me. We must be compensated for our time and resources. Don’t allow your time to be wasted my fellow giggers! I believe if they are subject to the consequences it will condition them (them being the rider) to be more respectful and attentive when using the rideshare platform. I can however see this being a loss at times, but as an Uber Pro Diamond driver I am able to use a number of factors to weigh the the costs of it entirely. But this is the chance we take, the game we play, and in all 95% of riders do their part, they are prompt and ready to take off. This was a late night full of Atlanta nightlifers so I totally expect their to be issues and problem children.

So in closing I say before complaining please due your own trial study. See if it is actually a lost or gain or if it balances out for you. I am always open to giving anything a try and maintaining a positive perspective before solidifying any conclusions. I still have some testing to do with this, but overall I don’t think it will be a big deal.

UBER CANCELLATION FEES & HOW RIDERS CAN AVOID THEM

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Well hey hey hey, have you ever been hit with the cancellation bug? I am a rideshare driver and occasional rider and yes I’ve been the victim of the cancellation bug. As a driver I knew I was at fault for not communicating my location as the rider when it happen to me. I was at a large bank preoccupied on my phone. The bank sat at the corner of a major road and had 2 sides for parking and pickup. The driver never reached out to me nor was it his responsibility to do so. Reaching out to riders is a courtesy not a mandate (LYFT we must call on regular rides but not shared rides). I think it’s our due diligence to do, but that’s the luxury of gig jobs like ridesharing, we can do as we like at our discretion. I was at fault and took the loss, but in this blog I am going to advise you on how to not be the victim of the cancellation bug. For more in depth reasons and ways to avoid cancellation click on the above link for my vlog which is deeply detailed. Click above link!

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I believe for the most part drivers don’t want to cancel out rides, there has been a few times I almost cancelled due to wait time and the payout was vastly in my favor. Sometimes the rider seen the inconvenience and greatly tip me, other times it was a long distance trip or had a higher surge than normal. I try to be understanding and put myself in the place of the rider. If I make a courtesy call or text usually I can discern the matter and I am willing to wait. It is those riders that care not to communicate back or totally disregard our time that annoys us rideshare drivers. What we’re asking for is basically communication, respect of time, and understanding of how most rideshare platforms works. We are not the traditional taxi by no means at all, we do not get paid on time! I want you to maximize your rideshare experience, enjoy it, and keeps more dollars in your pockets, so here we go!

THINGS YOU DO THAT CAUSES CANCELLATION FEES:

  1. STOP PINNING your location while still in your office building or apartment. Don’t do this it throws off the GPS showing to possibly be on another street or area oppose to where you are walking to. This causes wasted time and drivers will give up.
  2. DO NOT request an UBER while in an elevator. The elevators tend to take a long time in large office buildings and apartment building. Usually the driver is now forced to waste gas and circle the block and it’s just not worth it. Get to the lobby then send request for rideshare of your choice.
  3. DON’T BELIEVE the arrival time. I have literally shown up 10 minutes earlier than what was projected to the rider, remember it’s just an estimated time. Be ready, be prepared.
  4. STAND distinctly in pickup area! Stand out from the crowd, we cannot drive asking everyone we pass for their name.
  5. (MY FAVORITE) Use the TEXTING feature!!! Communication is everything, text your clothing, where you’re standing, how many people standing w/you, etc. especially in busy areas.
  6. Coordinate w/those you’ve requested an UBER or LYFT for. How can we know who to get if you don’t tell us it’s someone besides you. If you’re a male requesting us to pickup your wife, yet we do to the name see BOB well we’re looking for a male not female.
  7. WALK at least a .25 of a mile outside of major events! If can’t get to you or get to the location and you’re not there I assure you we are cancelling and taking that fee for our lost time. Plus the surge will be lower. *wink wink*
  8. DO NOT REQUEST AN UBER WHILE AT BAGGAGE CLAIM!!!! I refuse to explain as to why, but basically it’s not worth the wait. Walk to the assign rideshare pickup lot then send request.
  9. KNOW ASSIGNED PICKUP LOTS AT MAJOR EVENTS. We are fined high fees in some of these areas if we pickup outside of the assigned lots.
  10. DO NOT CALL OR APPROACH MY VEHICLE W/ATTITUDE!!! Please be respectful!
  11. WRAP UP YA SOCIAL SESSIONS. We are not waiting for you to finish your conversation nor cigarette. This is rude, BE READY!!! When you clearly show disregard for our time that is one of the ultimate forms of disrespect. We don’t care about the .09 cents a minute we get for waiting.

Ultimately we’re out here to make money, drivers don’t make that much on average, they are using their own resources as independent contractors with the rideshare platforms. I love granting great service and giving an awesome rideshare experience, but this is a business, our business and we must be profitable. Wasted time is the death of us. We make most of our money off mileage, but in being able to have quick turn around on those miles; long wait times adds up and just isn’t worth the wait. I hope this piece grants you some understanding and we can continue to bridge the gap between riders and drivers so for the both of us that continuity makes for a better rideshare experience. Take care and be sure to subscribe to my blog and youtube channel!