"I asked if they considered to pay the driver more? [...] He then added that I must realize that they were not competing with Taxis for the drivers, but rather with Walmart."
Ask HN: How can Uber drivers make money when pool rides are so cheap?
11–19 of 19 posts
Re: Ask HN: How can Uber drivers make money when pool rides are so cheap?
#12Are you comparing to Lyft or Lyft Line?
I was about to say, I live in the SOMA and the prices were about the same between Pool and Line last I checked (Started using Lyft exclusively recently).
Re: Ask HN: How can Uber drivers make money when pool rides are so cheap?
#13Are you comparing to Lyft or Lyft Line?
I'm comparing Lyft Line and Uber Pool.
Re: Ask HN: How can Uber drivers make money when pool rides are so cheap?
#14It's Uber who loses money on those rides, not the drivers. They are trying to get you to use them, instead of the competition. If their strategy works then they can eventually start charging more because they'll be the only rideshare in town.
> It's Uber who loses money on those rides, not the drivers. If you want to view it that way then it's both drivers and Uber that's losing money. I do Lyft on the side over summer as a poor grad student. I only have 3 pool ride and those three the passenger didn't have to share any ride with anybody and I made less than if those ride were not pool. You're also implying that in the long ride Uber will win if it works…
I always have 2 others in my Uber Pool or Lyft line. Some Uber drivers have told me they make the money through trip bonuses and not so much on the fares themselves, they get a certain bonus when they get to a certain number of trips, but I can't imagine that would make up the difference.
Re: Ask HN: How can Uber drivers make money when pool rides are so cheap?
#15It's Uber who loses money on those rides, not the drivers. They are trying to get you to use them, instead of the competition. If their strategy works then they can eventually start charging more because they'll be the only rideshare in town.
> It's Uber who loses money on those rides, not the drivers. If you want to view it that way then it's both drivers and Uber that's losing money. I do Lyft on the side over summer as a poor grad student. I only have 3 pool ride and those three the passenger didn't have to share any ride with anybody and I made less than if those ride were not pool. You're also implying that in the long ride Uber will win if it works…
When Uber offers promotional discounts to first-time riders, does that discount come out of the driver's pay? I was just trying to say that what the customer pays and what the driver earns aren't always directly linked.
And you're putting words in my mouth. I didn't say the end justifies the means. I was speculating as to what Uber's goal is for subsidizing rides, rather than charging what they cost.
Re: Ask HN: How can Uber drivers make money when pool rides are so cheap?
#16I use Lyft Line almost exclusively and they are only slightly pricier for me (vs Uber Pool. I always compare and take Lyft if it is under $2 more expensive).
Re: Ask HN: How can Uber drivers make money when pool rides are so cheap?
#17I've been driving my own car with/for uber for over a year now. I have the grandfathered 20% Uber share fee deal and driving for them is barely break even. For the past 6 months, I've posted signs facing the PAX, taped to the back of the front seat headrests that clues them in about Uber's misinformation campaign which convinced riders that the tip was included and that it was distributed to drivers. Also I printed out any of the numerous national magazine stories (U.S. News and World Report, for one) and stuffed them in one of the seat pouches for PAX to read. The tipping in some cases has been generous ($15-$20) and in others, just a few dollars. The tipping makes the Uber driver experience marginally profitable until something better comes along. Most PAX feel good about tipping once you diplomatically clue them in. Like some will say "nice car, very clean." That gives me the opportunity to thank them and say it helps by encouraging tips. They're all surprised at that until I explain that Uber is fighting to be the low cost rideshare—especially when compared to lift, which includes a tipping mechanism in their app. When the rider compares destination estimates—which may be materially the same—Uber wins it for them because they really believe that the tip is included and that you don't have to add it as you do in Lyft's app. This is another example of how the unscrupulous and immoral Uber continues to climb to the top on the backs of the drivers... who, trust me, are not getting rich and barely making expenses.
Re: Ask HN: How can Uber drivers make money when pool rides are so cheap?
#18I've been driving my own car with/for uber for over a year now. I have the grandfathered 20% Uber share fee deal and driving for them is barely break even. For the past 6 months, I've posted signs facing the PAX, taped to the back of the front seat headrests that clues them in about Uber's misinformation campaign which convinced riders that the tip was included and that it was distributed to drivers. Also I printed out any of the numerous national magazine stories (U.S. News and World Report, for one) and stuffed them in one of the seat pouches for PAX to read. The tipping in some cases has been generous ($15-$20) and in others, just a few dollars. The tipping makes the Uber driver experience marginally profitable until something better comes along. Most PAX feel good about tipping once you diplomatically clue them in. Like some will say "nice car, very clean." That gives me the opportunity to thank them and say it helps by encouraging tips. They're all surprised at that until I explain that Uber is fighting to be the low cost rideshare—especially when compared to lift, which includes a tipping mechanism in their app. When the rider compares destination estimates—which may be materially the same—Uber wins it for them because they really believe that the tip is included and that you don't have to add it as you do in Lyft's app. This is another example of how the unscrupulous and immoral Uber continues to climb to the top on the backs of the drivers... who, trust me, are not getting rich and barely making expenses.
Re: Ask HN: How can Uber drivers make money when pool rides are so cheap?
#19If prices are surging here & there thru the day/night we are not making a dime. Uber's take on me is 25% (I WAS ONE DAY BELOW THE CUT OFF DATE TO BE AT THE 20% RATE) then wear & tear if you drive regularly would exceed 25-30% Then gas is +- 25% AND since we are "independent contractors we get 1099'ed & so at the end of the day we make no money. I enjoyed it at first but now that I look at the big picture after paying my taxes this year & all I can brag about is that I probably saved quite a few people DUI's & met some fun people along the way!