Uber in TV
 

I've noticed on the Uber app that there are more Uber cars showing in TV. Has anyone actually utilized them? Comment on service?

Uber works!
 

My wife and I travel heavily, both domestically and internationally. We use Uber almost everywhere we go due to the convenience, friendly drivers, much nicer cars, and major discounts compared to traditional cabs. No cash is required after the ride, no tipping, and all drivers get reviewed by their riders which is easily seen online. This is a real displacement technology and we are surprised it is not used a lot in The Villages. It is also a great opportunity for folks here that need some part-time work.

When you saved a few dollars, transported yourself in a uninspected and questionably insured ride and then this driver goes back to their full time job and you weakened the full time professionally insured, inspected, maintained, clean, slightly more expensive taxi and you call them for a ride and they don't answer either don't feel angry with them you did it by saving a few bucks. It doesn't happen with one fare but over time it is rough to keep a good taxi business rolling. It's is really great to not tip a driver...if you live on Mars. They are not driving people around as a hobby they are feeding their families. They reality for the Uber driver occurs when repairs and maintenance start to occur. If it works for you then I think it's great.

Uber drivers expect cash tips. Uber drivers rate passengers just like passengers rate the driver. No tips and your rating goes down over time so that you might be hard pressed to get an Uber driver to pick you up. Uber makes $$ on your ride while your driver--as Nucky said--barely breaks even after upkeep costs are included.

If these so called "full time professionally insured, inspected, maintained, clean, Slightly More Expensive taxis existed in most places there wouldn't be an Uber.

With all respect, the Uber model obviously works, and is the wave of the future. Most Uber drivers are part-time, augmenting their other income, and it must work for them since it is voluntary and there is no shortage of drivers in urban areas. Most critics have probably never tried it.

With 120,000 people when The Villages is really rocking why are there no Uber or Lyft drivers available most of the time? Maybe there is a reason I have not considered.

Like many things its good when it all works well but when he doesn't :boom:

One of my main interest would involve insurance requirements and responsibility to see that insurance is maintained. Also along these lines does the passenger's insurance become primary

Another is the vetting of Uber drivers and inspection of their equipment

a third would be the relationship between Uber and the Uber driver as to their contractual agreements

I believe Uber provides the insurance when the driver has passengers. I do not know the details of the coverage.

I have used Uber a couple of times (not here) and the experience was good. The pickup was within a few minutes and the conversation with the driver was very interesting - mostly about their Uber experience so far. Both had been driving for Uber for less than a year.

I have used Uber numerous times outside of TV. Their service has been exceptional (and I always tip). I make a point of asking how long they have been with Uber and how they like it. Many have driven for two years or more and all have been very satisfied. Proof of insurance, background check and car inspection are required before you can drive for Uber. The only complaints i have heard come from Taxi drivers.

So who is a good company here in the Villages if you need a ride? How much notice or planning does it take to get a ride?

I used Uber 2 days ago here in The Villages!
So glad Uber is here!
I went from Buttonwood to SpanishSprings, $21.00, not cheap.
The same $21 I had paid in taxi a few months back.
Paul, my driver, was pleasant, punctual and informative.
He said as of January 8, the day I used Uber, there were 7 Uber drivers in TheVillages. I told him Uber needed to advertise more he agreed.
My Uber driver, Paul, is a Villager himself, doing it for the social aspect, gets him outta the house. ( and surely the extra income can not hurt )
I think that as more Uber drivers become available here, the prices, I hope, will go down. But I still love Uber, fast, friendly, convenient.
I have used it in Miami and Atlanta and now in TheVillages!!!!

And I wonder about the professionally inspected and insured taxi's in this area. Who controls that?

No inspections in Florida for personal cars, so no idea about 'professional or corporate' cars, and I have never seen an inspection station. I did see somewhere the requirements for an Uber driver, as I recall (and I may be wrong), a newer vehicle (less then 5 years old?), 4 doors, clean driving record, etc. My insurance policy specific limits coverage IF the vehicle is being used for business purposes.
As for tips, I was under the impression that these were INCLUDED in the fee, so there was no cash involved at all.

It was no cash needed, but recently tip is no longer included. Used them this weekend in Chicago. Saved $65 each way to and from airport, compared to taxi, and shuttle service. Fares change, depending on time of day. If you add app to your phone you can check cost at different times of the day. We saved $30 by leaving 1 hour later on trip to the city. All drivers were friendly and good drivers. Clean cars ( 2 Cadillacs and a highlander) It only takes one complaint and uber is on it. Felt much safer than the last taxi ride in Chicago.
You can go online to uber to see how drivers are paid and how it works.

Hey all. Tips were never really included in Uber. They had a class-action lawsuit Uber Settlement Could Provide More Clarity About Tipping Drivers - ABC News

I also never tipped as I thought it was included but i was wrong. It was a game changer for me as the reason I used Uber was because I thought tip (and everything else) was included.

I looked a couple days ago and an Uber trip for the bottom of TV to the top is over 32$ and TV taxi is 24$... both do not include a tip. You can download the Uber app and check prices without buying anything.

You are absolutely INCORRECT regarding tipping for Uber drivers. Just because Uber advertises that it is "cashless" does not mean you shouldn't tip!! There are many articles on the internet that list not tipping something that passengers do to Uber drivers that is not appreciated by the drivers. Rating 4 stars for a good ride is another.

Do you also realize that the rating system is a 2 way street? I personally know several Uber drivers and many of them will not pick up riders with lower ratings, and they also give riders a low rating for not tipping.

Thank you for correcting me on the tips, I have not used uber yet, so I will check them out before first use.

Uber provides the insurance when you have a customer in your car. I have used them a couple of times (not here). Good experience and relatively new, clean cars.

I use The Villages Transportation taxi. I have called short notice and pre arranged. Always a delight!!

A bit nervous to try now that I have seen a arrest for a DUI on a driver working for Uber in TV!!

No, the drunk said he worked for Uber. He doesn't pass the requirements to drive for Uber so I find that highly doubtful. In addition to the requirement that the driver have a clean driving record, pass a background check they must also have a valid drivers license, not a permit like this guy claimed he had.

Uber Driver Requirements • I Drive With Uber

I think the person claimed he was driving for Uber but that was not substantiated in article I read.

You must have a smart phone to use Uber...

We, hubby and I still have the old school flip phones. Same fed gov plan that we started in 1998 $9.95 per phone Sprint. how could we give that up.

Maybe that could be a reason....older people, such as myself still use the phone to talk to people.....we don't text....

True you do need a smart phone. If your phone dies I have couple really old flip phones the kids play with.:pepper2:

the stores still sell flip phones and they are not cheap....not as much as a smart but in the $100's at the sprint store...

I just looked at the Uber app....it's currently (7:30 pm) showing 6 Uber vehicles in use in TV between 466 & 466A.

With all due respect, I have read all of these posts and I have the following comment based upon many, many UBER rides in the U.S. and abroad: I estimate that the majority of posters here have never had an UBER ride. Try it once, and then report back.

Uber ride
 

You got me---never had an Uber ride. As a matter of fact, Uber wasn't even in business the last time I rode in a taxi. My son lives in an Illinois city about the size of TV and surrounding area and he uses Uber all the time. He thinks they are the best thing since sliced bread.

Uber is awesome, I would never take a cab again

So true. We have used Uber when traveling and it is amazing.

I have used UBER in places like Tampa Fl,, Sacramento Ca, and Virginia Beach VA...every experience was top notch and very reasonable. Cars were always relatively new clean and in good shape and drivers were always courteous. Never ran into a "tipping" issue with a sign posted in the car and the price quoted was the price paid.

With all due respect, I personally HAVE taken more than several Uber rides. My daughter also drives for them up north. If you are not tipping, you are WRONG!!! Just do an internet search and you will find that Uber is backing up on their "tip is included" company line. Uber is so much better than a taxi, not only are the prices better, but so is the service. If you think the wonderful service that the drivers provide does not deserve a tip, well, then, you are being inconsiderate. Uber is also very misleading on their prices. The pricing break down is a booking fee, a base fee, and then a per mile and per minute charge; nowhere in this breakdown is there an allowance for a driver "tip". The drivers do not get any share of the booking fee, and the base fee and per mile/per minute charges are usually very minimum. If you take a ride that is around $14, by the breakdown, uber gets around 5.25 and the driver around 8.75. If a driver can do 2 of these trips an hour, that seems like a very nice wage. However, that $17.50 is BEFORE the driver takes out for their income tax, fica tax (they must pay both ends because they are an independent contractor,) gas, costs to keep their vehicle clean, additional mileage, wear and tear on the car, plus other consumables such as brakes, tires and fluids; their wage is now about $9-11 per hour. Still, not a bad wage, however, tips are a nice way to show that they are appreciated and their service is great.

I don’t understand the no-tipping thing. Personally I don’t care if the company says tipping is strictly prohibited, I’m still tipping. I take Uber often. I took them last week in Honolulu. I asked the driver how it was working out for her. She said on a good day she averages $8/hr. net and on a bad day she averages $5/hr net. Ladies and gentlemen, please tip.

It's simply what decent people do. :thumbup:

u b e r in tv
 

in the not-too-distant future, i will be needing someone to drive from TV to either Ft. Lauderdale or Miami for a cruise, which apparently no one else goes to via bus between May and October....

how could i find out what that cost would be?

many thanks,

sonja

Am I wrong or does $25.62 seem high from my Home near Brownwood to Spanish Springs (1 way) ?

From Whelling to downtown Chicago (35 minutes) uber was $18

$25.62 does seem high for a trip that should take under 30 minutes. Does that include the tip? Two round trips a week and you're in to some big money.

Rates are different in every market. Can't compare Chicago to here. The Villages is in Ocala's market which is higher than Chicago's market. Chicago has some of the lowest Uber rates in the country, as does Orlando.