Taxi Driver Online

This is quite short and to the point, and nothing particularly new here


'Uber makes billions but drivers get peanuts'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn5x3plnpnro

Some Uber taxi drivers claim they are earning half of what they did a year ago as their costs have increased and the company's commission charges have risen.

Drivers protested outside Bristol's Ashton Gate stadium on Friday as Uber executives met with GMB union members.

It follows previous demonstrations held by taxi drivers across the country, including in Bristol, against Uber's commission rates.

A spokesperson from Uber said it charges drivers higher commission rates than it did before, but said they are only "slightly higher".

Karolina, who didn't want to give her full name, is an Uber driver in the city and said she is struggling to earn a living.

"You get £1.20 per mile if you're lucky," she said.

"I'm driving every day 12 to 15 hours, but their commission is too high."

A representative from Uber said 30 drivers attended the meeting on Friday with company executives.

In January, a short experiment was conducted by the BBC which demonstrated commission rates of about 47%.

Uber driver Florin Stalos works in Bristol and said he is making significantly less now compared to a year ago.

"Our expenses are going up, but the earnings are going down every month.

"I used to make around £800 every week, before expenses. Now, I make £350-£400 a week.

"Uber is making billions in profits, but drivers get peanuts," he added.

How else were the goodies provided by the Supreme Court judgement to be paid for?

Good job *Karolina* didn't give her full name. That way, no one will ever guess who she is

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Anyway, a motley crew - don't Uber have any kind of dress code, or is this them in their civvies?

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/9 ... 1.jpg.webp

yesterday I got a phone call from a local driver(not one that worked for me) asking "advice". During the phone call he claimed Uber are now grabbing local fares offering a £3.00 anywhere in town fare but paying their drivers more than £3.00 per fare.

IF this is anywhere near the truth then I can see why drivers get agrieved because they are being offered huge earnings initially declining sharply once uber are established. I advised against going over but it sounds like his mind is made up, that said he mentioned about going to uber on a previous call but hasn't done it yet.

Uber are still doing the equivalent of what the US and Europe accuses China of doing with Steel and other goods. As they are a US company they are never investigated

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

For many years people on here and elsewhere have said Uber are building up a monopoly only to turn the screw when drivers can't go back, as the firms they once worked with are no longer there.

To be honest, I didn't share that view, but it appears that view was right.

No longer do we read stories in the press about surge pricing, or Uber not being able to clear the cheap jobs. Uber drivers have reaped what they sowed, but I can't blame them, as if I were new to the trade again, there is a very good chance I would have started with Uber.

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IDFIMH

I think that's the way it's played out wherever Uber has arrived - good times for drivers at the start, but it doesn't last.

When they moved in here (Blackpool) in large numbers just over a year ago, before they got their local Ops licence, it was their normal fares. Once they got their Ops licence in September it was 50% discount on all fares, then a £5 off every journey for a few weeks in November, then back to 50% discount. Then a few weeks back the discount dropped to 30%. Very rare to see surge pricing in operation at night, although it did for a very short period last night when the boxing finished. Also seeing their cars parking up between jobs now. Vast majority are still from out of town, although seeing more Blackpool licenced cars with them now.

Here in Oxford it’s free commission since Feb for the drivers and half price fares inside the city and £5 Off ither fares. The fares outside the city are at 2005 prices and the cheapos love the uber alis. Surge pricing only when the football was on, no ideas on how long the free commission and discounted fares will last

Asking as a non-Uber - are these discounted jobs just sent out to Uber drivers as take it or leave it?