You probably weren’t since you use Uber like a normal person, but I signed up because my friend had some promo offer for a $20 ride credit, and “free” is my favorite four-letter f word, despite the frequency with which I use the other one. And then I got five more free rides, and it’s ass below zero out here in Chicago, so I used it. And it sucks.
Here’s why:
[ul]
[li]Fewer cars. An Uber is never more than 5 minutes away, even if you live in the sticks like I do. My first Lyft gave me an ETA of 15 minutes and took 20.[/li][li]Inaccurate ETA. See above.[/li][li]App doesn’t update how long it’ll take your car to arrive in realtime. It tracks the car, but no matter what, it always says your car is arriving in whatever the original time estimate was. So from the time you request your ride til it shows at your door, it is always coming in 15 minutes, even though you can see it’s like a block away.[/li][li]No fare estimate feature in the app. What?[/li][li]To contact the driver, you must call - not text. Lame.[/li][li]Optional tip for driver. Say what? Uber’s model, however fucked up you think it is, doesn’t allow for tipping as the whole kit and caboodle is included in your fare. Considering Lyft and Uber are about the same price-wise, what’s up with the tip? And no, I’m not anti-tip, and yes I tipped the damn guy (don’t want him leaving “Cheap asshole” rider reviews for me), but I don’t have to with Uber so there’s that.[/li][/ul]
I do like that it lets me set my home and work addresses, though. Wait, I just checked to see if Uber has that option, and it does. Never mind; there are no advantages of Lyft over Uber.
[ul]
[li]That moustache is a fucking stupid hipster affectation. Looks like they got rid of it recently, at least partially. Still hate that it was there originally.[/li][/ul]
Actually, I do have to point out one thing: I used Uber for the first time on Monday, and the nearest car was 10 minutes away. And I don’t live in the sticks, just a Bay Area suburb. The driver told me that was typical: There still aren’t that many Uber drivers this far out from San Francisco itself.
I was actually going to include that stupid moustache in my list of grievances and decided against it for whatever reason, but yes, I hate(d) it too.
Probably would have taken a Lyft until the next day. And I exaggerate a little when I say I live in “the sticks.” I live in the city of Chicago proper, just not in one of those neighborhoods where every brunch spot has an hour wait and there are cabs outside all the time.
But yeah, in general these apps work better for people in cities than they do suburbs, so while 10 minutes isn’t impressive, Uber has more drivers than Lyft or Sidecar, so it beats the alternatives.
I have no idea what kind of assbackwards technophobic place you live in, but where I live everyone I know (friends, coworkers, boss) uses Uber at least periodically, regardless of whether they own one or several cars. Obviously not for everyday errands, but they’re a great alternative to taxis. You don’t know anyone who’s ever taken a cab? Or you do, and the people you know are still trapped in 1998 and haven’t heard of ride apps? Or maybe you’re just old? My mother has never used Uber, but she’s 70.
Why am I even entertaining the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard? Anyway, so Uber is better than Lyft in every way. Even if Lyft had more drivers, their app is inferior. They at the very least need to build a fare quote into the app.
That’s fine, but acting like it’s some weird abnormal thing is ridiculous. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t used Uber (outside of some older folks, and people who live out in the burbs), but I don’t act aghast that they haven’t. Your age, location, blah blah blah, affect what’s typical in your life. I get that my gang of youngish (30s-50s) city dwellers are more likely to use an app to replace cabs than, say, my 75 year old aunt who lives out in suburbia. I think my post was fairly obviously written as a review of ride apps for people who use them. If you don’t, good for you. Have a doughnut.
I’m enjoying watching y’all fight. I live out in the country. Without a car I’d die. I ride cabs from the airport to the hotel when traveling, but that’s about it.
Getting pretty common around here. It’s my wife who first started using every once in awhile (and yes, we both own cars), and I used Uber for the first time to go to the airport after Yellow taxi took their sweet ass time trying to find a cab for me, calling me back in a half hour and saying they still haven’t found anyone, do you want us to keep trying? I said, “fuck that,” asked my wife to Uber it, and ten minutes later, we had a nice Lincoln Towncar (or similar full-sized upmarket vehicle) that looked pristine, smelled good, and had a cheery, pleasant, helpful driver. I’m never using a cab again if I can help it. (Street hailing is about the only thing I’ll ever use it for, and that’s rare for me personally.)
I don’t use Uber but I know lots of people who have and a good friend of mine is an Uber driver part time and I hardly live in an urban area. It’s extremely popular and useful. I actually don’t know anyone who uses Lyft however but I certainly know of it.
@pulykamell - People on the SDMB have made a full-time job of taking pride of never having even heard of or used whatever incredibly popular thing that makes life easier. Uber is a smartphone app, and everyone likes to brag here about how they’ve had the same Nokia since the devil was in a crib, plus who the hell takes taxis, right guise?
Actually, seriously, who the hell takes cabs? I guess if you’ve never used one of the super awesome apps, it’s just normal to you, and I can see why. I haven’t in a long while. The last time I did, it was because there was one right in front of me, so I hailed it. Otherwise I just push buttons on my phone, and boom, insta-car. Lyft still sucks though.
you’re the one who said “normal” people use Uber. maybe that’s “normal” where you live but in case you hadn’t noticed the US is a large, diverse country and what you consider to be “normal” isn’t actually “normal” everywhere. But I’ve been told there’s nothing of value in this country outside of NYC, Chicago, and SoCal, so don’t let me get in the way of how awesome you are.
Hey, you had 2 hours to get in before me.