I did my first Uber ride a few weeks ago. Here are my impressions:
UBER
Pros:
Cars were available right around the corner from where I was standing.
I knew the exact fare before I boarded.
The ride was prepaid, so when I got to my destination, all I had to do was hop out and not have to fumble with money, credit card, tec.
Cons:
Driver was to talkative, asking all kinds of personal questions about my business that were none of his business.
The exact location of where I was picked up and dropped off is now sitting in Uber's database, and no doubt already sold to other marketers. Fortunately I'm not paranoid, but if I ever end up in some sort of court case, and counsel for either side starts asking why I was at such and such a location at such and such a date and time, I will be.
There were lots of cars near my location because I was downtown in a major city at the tail end of rush hour. That may not always be true in every place at every time.
The fare, while not excessive, was not the super bargain that some people make it out to be.
STANDARD TAXI
Pros:
If you are arriving at an airport of train station, there's always a line of them waiting for you -- no need to wait.
Drivers will usually shut up if they see you don't want to talk.
Cons:
Unless you negotiate a fixed fare, you are never sure what the final fare will be, and you have to fumble with money or credit card at the end of the ride to pay.
It may be a little more expensive than Uber.
In general, I would see no point in fumbling with a smartphone to hail an Uber when arriving at an airport or train station where there are many cabs lined up ready to go. Also, for those 5 AM rides to the airport of train station from my home in a quiet residential neighborhood, I see no difference between calling an Uber or calling my local cab company to pick me up at a certain time.
In fact, the only advantage I see that Uber gives is having the exact fare prepaid before you board. I seems to me that conventional can companies could do the same, so in general I don't plan to be a regular Uber customer, though I may use it on occasion if I can't find a cab.
UBER
Pros:
Cars were available right around the corner from where I was standing.
I knew the exact fare before I boarded.
The ride was prepaid, so when I got to my destination, all I had to do was hop out and not have to fumble with money, credit card, tec.
Cons:
Driver was to talkative, asking all kinds of personal questions about my business that were none of his business.
The exact location of where I was picked up and dropped off is now sitting in Uber's database, and no doubt already sold to other marketers. Fortunately I'm not paranoid, but if I ever end up in some sort of court case, and counsel for either side starts asking why I was at such and such a location at such and such a date and time, I will be.
There were lots of cars near my location because I was downtown in a major city at the tail end of rush hour. That may not always be true in every place at every time.
The fare, while not excessive, was not the super bargain that some people make it out to be.
STANDARD TAXI
Pros:
If you are arriving at an airport of train station, there's always a line of them waiting for you -- no need to wait.
Drivers will usually shut up if they see you don't want to talk.
Cons:
Unless you negotiate a fixed fare, you are never sure what the final fare will be, and you have to fumble with money or credit card at the end of the ride to pay.
It may be a little more expensive than Uber.
In general, I would see no point in fumbling with a smartphone to hail an Uber when arriving at an airport or train station where there are many cabs lined up ready to go. Also, for those 5 AM rides to the airport of train station from my home in a quiet residential neighborhood, I see no difference between calling an Uber or calling my local cab company to pick me up at a certain time.
In fact, the only advantage I see that Uber gives is having the exact fare prepaid before you board. I seems to me that conventional can companies could do the same, so in general I don't plan to be a regular Uber customer, though I may use it on occasion if I can't find a cab.