Lyft or Uber

[JustRalph]

I had an occasion to use Lyft the other day. I installed Lyft and Uber on my iPad and jumped right in w Lyft.

Any opinions on which is better? I Haven’t used Uber yet, but have an account.

[DeltaLover]

Google is your friend..


https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&q=Lyft+or+Uber&oq=Lyft+or+Uber&gs_l=psy-ab.13..0l10.1979.1979.0.5190.3.2.0.0.0.0.97.97.1.2 .0....0...1.2.64.psy-ab..1.2.173.6..35i39k1.78.VzoYnnNz5ms


https://www.ridester.com/uber-vs-lyft
https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/make-money/side-gigs/lyft-vs-uber/
https://rideshareapps.com/uber-vs-lyft-comparison/

And many more..

[MONEY]

The same drivers drive for Uber and Lyft, so the services are the equal.

With both Uber & Lyft, you can download an App onto your smartphone or computer to see
if there is a driver available nearby before you request a ride.

Drivers for Uber and/or Lyft do not earn enough money on those gigs to pay their living expenses.
After paying for gas and after Uber/Lyft takes their 35% cut, the drivers outside of the 610 Loop
earn about $7.00 an hour. Inside the Loop it's $10.00 an hour. Wear & tear on their cars, not included.

In general people in Houston don't tip.
My son can't find work so he drives for both Uber & Lyft and he has gone as much as two weeks
without a tip.

[PaceAdvantage]

Wow...I tip every single time...can't imagine he went that long without getting one tip?

I know they make it kind of easy not to tip...after all, you don't see the tip screen until you're out of the car, so it's easy to just screw the driver over without having to look him or her in the eye...but seriously...two weeks?

Wow.

[JustRalph]

The same drivers drive for Uber and Lyft, so the services are the equal.

With both Uber & Lyft, you can download an App onto your smartphone or computer to see
if there is a driver available nearby before you request a ride.

Drivers for Uber and/or Lyft do not earn enough money on those gigs to pay their living expenses.
After paying for gas and after Uber/Lyft takes their 35% cut, the drivers outside of the 610 Loop
earn about $7.00 an hour. Inside the Loop it's $10.00 an hour. Wear & tear on their cars, not included.

In general people in Houston don't tip.
My son can't find work so he drives for both Uber & Lyft and he has gone as much as two weeks
without a tip.

What kind of work is he looking for......? What part of town?

[MONEY]

Wow...I tip every single time...can't imagine he went that long without getting one tip?

I know they make it kind of easy not to tip...after all, you don't see the tip screen until you're out of the car, so it's easy to just screw the driver over without having to look him or her in the eye...but seriously...two weeks?

Wow.
I too am a tipper.

I keep my son's records.
Yesterday he worked for six and a half hours.
He earned $52.00 in for 11 fares and got a $2.00 tip.

60 % of the driving in unpaid because it is on the way to pick up the rider.
There is a $4.00 pick up/drop off fee that equaled $44.00

He drove 111 miles and got paid for only 40 miles at 90 cents per mile which was $36.00.
$36.00 + $44.00 = $80.00, minus the 35% uber fee = $52.00 .
Terrible

[MONEY]

What kind of work is he looking for......? What part of town?
He's an oil tanker truck driver with all of the necessary endorsements.
The last company he drove for was paying only $150.00 a day for 16 to 18 hours work daily.

Everything from the hours that drivers had to work to the condition of the trucks was illegal.
Oil prices were down and jobs were scarce so all of the oil companies were overworking and underpaying the drivers.

He resigned late last year and was blacklisted.
No other company will hire him until at least January.

Thanks for asking.

[Track Collector]

About 2 1/2 months ago I became a DRIVER for Uber.

I work in an area much small than Baltimore and/or DC. Uber here has some presence, but I think Lyft is almost non-existent.

Not sure of the hourly rate because I do other things at the same time I am "on the grid" waiting for potential jobs.

Putting lots of miles on my vehicle. Uber only tracks and documents the miles I put on my vehicle once I pick up a passenger and take them to their destination. From what research I done on the internet, I should also be able to claim the miles incurred while in route to pick up the passenger, so I am tracking those miles as well. And, I track my hours while "trolling" in search of potential jobs. (Trolling is important/critical because Uber jobs requests with few exceptions are first sent to the driver closest to the passenger's pick-up location.).

I am only looking at Uber as some extra income. One thing a really enjoy is the flexibility of working pretty much when and how much I want to, and Uber has not contacted me even once when I have been off the grid for a week here and there due to personal matters. The Uber driving dovetails very well with the other "on-call" income opportunities than come my way. In a few months when tax time rolls around I'll see if the financial benefits are worth my time and vehicle wear. One thing is clear, and that is I will need to file the Uber activity as a business using a schedule C if I have any hope of making it reasonably worthwhile.

One interesting thing (to make sure all passengers get prompt service) is that as an Uber driver, I only know about how far I have to go to pick up a passenger before I accept a job (and that acceptance period is something like 6-8 seconds!), but I have no idea of how far their final destination is until I arrive at the pick-up area. Uber has recently made an improvement to their App to advise drivers in advance of a "Long Trip" which is defined as 45 minutes or longer from the time of pick-up to the drop-off location. Long trips are typically desired as they pay more, but at least a driver can decline if they were already near the time they planned to go off the grid.

Strangely enough, I had never used Uber or a service like them before deciding to become a driver.

Before seeing this, I had considered starting a thread to see if anyone else on the forum was driving for Uber!

[kingfin66]

I have never used one of these services; however, for some reason I am under the impression that Uber and Lyft were cash-free businesses where tipping is not encouraged? Perhaps I have this wrong, or maybe the model changed. I want to make sure that I do what is expected if I ever use the service.

On a separate note, I understand the Uber is now helping Americans become even more lazy by offering a service called Uber Eats where Uber will pick up your food from a restaurant and bring it to you. I am being kind of sarcastic here as this is not any different from restaurants just doing the delivery on their own. It seems as though it is a great thing for restaurants. Has anyone used the service?

[kingfin66]

I too am a tipper.

I keep my son's records.
Yesterday he worked for six and a half hours.
He earned $52.00 in for 11 fares and got a $2.00 tip.

60 % of the driving in unpaid because it is on the way to pick up the rider.
There is a $4.00 pick up/drop off fee that equaled $44.00

He drove 111 miles and got paid for only 40 miles at 90 cents per mile which was $36.00.
$36.00 + $44.00 = $80.00, minus the 35% uber fee = $52.00 .
Terrible

Less gas also? That is a tough way to make a buck.

[Track Collector]

I have never used one of these services; however, for some reason I am under the impression that Uber and Lyft were cash-free businesses where tipping is not encouraged? Perhaps I have this wrong, or maybe the model changed. I want to make sure that I do what is expected if I ever use the service.

Yes, Uber is a cashless system.

Tipping was probably not promoted because if one thought that it was expected (like in the restaurant business), the perceived cost of using the service might be less attractive and result in fewer customers.

To be viable, "Ride Sharing" businesses must do their best to have enough drivers available at any time a passenger might want a ride. This can be a challenge in that one of the selling points for working for them is the completely flexible work schedule which is totally determined by the Driver. As such, Uber and Lyft are always advertising for new drivers. To get an edge in this competition for drivers, Lyft began allowing driver tips thru their App, and Uber was forced to keep pace. So yes, I guess you could say the model has changed. I enjoy and appreciate receiving tips, but I do not have the expectation of receiving them.

I find it interesting that a small percentage of my tips are made in cash. I don't know if it is because the passenger is relatively new to the user service and doesn't know they can do so thru the Uber App, or because they erroneously believe that Uber takes a cut and would rather that I receive it all.

Driving for Uber has certainly been an interesting experience so far!

[kingfin66]

Yes, Uber is a cashless system.

Tipping was probably not promoted because if one thought that it was expected (like in the restaurant business), the perceived cost of using the service might be less attractive and result in fewer customers.

To be viable, "Ride Sharing" businesses must do their best to have enough drivers available at any time a passenger might want a ride. This can be a challenge in that one of the selling points for working for them is the completely flexible work schedule which is totally determined by the Driver. As such, Uber and Lyft are always advertising for new drivers. To get an edge in this competition for drivers, Lyft began allowing driver tips thru their App, and Uber was forced to keep pace. So yes, I guess you could say the model has changed. I enjoy and appreciate receiving tips, but I do not have the expectation of receiving them.

I find it interesting that a small percentage of my tips are made in cash. I don't know if it is because the passenger is relatively new to the user service and doesn't know they can do so thru the Uber App, or because they erroneously believe that Uber takes a cut and would rather that I receive it all.

Driving for Uber has certainly been an interesting experience so far!

Have you looked into Uber Eats. A friend of mine said the his son is doing these deliveries for extra money and makes about $500 per weekend. He also said that he really has to hustle for it, doing the "trolling" thing and being available for many hours.

[Track Collector]

Have you looked into Uber Eats. A friend of mine said the his son is doing these deliveries for extra money and makes about $500 per weekend. He also said that he really has to hustle for it, doing the "trolling" thing and being available for many hours.

I signed up for Uber EATS about a month ago, but in the two and a half weeks I was available for work I have not had a single EATS delivery request yet. I work in the Hagerstown area (city population about 40K), but Uber itself has only been available here about 18 months, so I think it is still in the growing stage here. During the mid-day there can be long periods of little to no activity. I work more during the evening and night hours because I tend to be a night owl, and because I get more transportation requests. Sometimes I sense I am one of few or even the lone driver available on the grid at that time.

I currently am ok with the conditions, as it is what it is. Sometimes I rest at my house (working on my laptop :) or watching a sporting event) while waiting on calls. I am sure Uber does not condone this, but I can be on my way to a new pickup within 60 seconds, which is negligible time when it comes to the customer. The Uber App for the customer (which is different than the one for the driver) notifies the customer when I am "close" to the pick-up point. They can even follow my pick-up progress on a map, and one time after accidentally turning too early, the passenger texted me to say "that I was gong the wrong way"! :D More than 50% of the time the customer is not ready and I have to wait for them to arrive and enter my vehicle.

For those who have thought about driving, the sign-up process is relatively quick. One needs their driver's license, car registration, and to obtain a vehicle inspection certificate. All can be uploaded to Uber using the camera function of your cell phone. While not known in advance, after a certain number of jobs Uber gave me a "promotion" bonus of $100 which more than covered for my vehicle registration costs.

I hope folks have not minded these longer post responses. I thought those who are not familiar with Uber might find them informational and/or interesting.

[kingfin66]

I definitely appreciate the responses. Uber is part of our culture now. It is great to hear the perspective of someone who is involved on the provider end of things. Keep them coming!

[JustRalph]

TC :ThmbUp:

[_______]

Lyft didn’t service my area (Ventura County in California) until about 18 months ago so I had only used them when traveling.

I would use Lyft when possible because they allowed tipping but if the wait was longer for a Lyft, I would Uber instead. Spoke with the Uber drivers many times about taking a cash tip and some would but most were afraid I was a mole from corporate and declined politely.

There is almost nothing to distinguish them as services other than availability and in many areas outside major urban cores, Uber is and Lyft isn’t. I prefer to support Lyft when possible because until recently Uber was run by screaming assholes.

But from a consumer standpoint, if you don’t care about how they are treating their employees, they are almost indistinguishable.

Edit: Yes. I know Uber now allows tips. That was recent though.

[Robert Fischer]

driving uber worked for me for a few specific reasons

-i'm disabled, and could stop, or take a day off at any time if I was sick

-i had a vehicle that was paid-off and just new enough to be eligible (~10 years), but not new enough to be of any real value that would be lost driving

-made quality business cards and placed in certain seasonal areas that were outside uber's range

-developed regular customers (exchanged info for outside app rides)

-planned ahead and did events

-used a 'seeded' tip cup

I too am a tipper.

I keep my son's records.
Yesterday he worked for six and a half hours.
He earned $52.00 in for 11 fares and got a $2.00 tip.

60 % of the driving in unpaid because it is on the way to pick up the rider.
There is a $4.00 pick up/drop off fee that equaled $44.00

He drove 111 miles and got paid for only 40 miles at 90 cents per mile which was $36.00.
$36.00 + $44.00 = $80.00, minus the 35% uber fee = $52.00 .
Terrible

try a seeded tip cup

for some reason a 'seeded' tip cup in the cup holder helps increase tips. Not up to cab level, but at least it pays for a bit of gas/food/coffee...

Here's a starter one that I made. I put the money pictured in the cup, and then passengers get the idea, and/or think that tipping is the norm. Can use a 32oz, or a super-big-gulp 64oz(just put a ball of paper in the bottom half).


http://i67.tinypic.com/v2ziwp.jpg

[PaceAdvantage]

I have a question for drivers...do you get to see who has and who hasn't tipped you?

[BaffertsWig]

Is the uber fee the same nationwide (35%)? I have a friend that drives and makes around $22/avg per hour here, after gas expenses, in Portland. They also have a program where you rent the car from them and they pay for all the monthly maintenance, the girl I got a ride from participates in that program and said she makes bank.

[BaffertsWig]

I have a question for drivers...do you get to see who has and who hasn't tipped you?

I'd assume they see the tip after you leave it. I wonder if they see that before they leave you your user rating. Would be beneficial for drivers so they can see who tips and who doesn't and adjust service accordingly. When I used to deliver sub sandwiches in college we knew who tipped and who didn't. Those who never tipped were always the last to get their food.

[Robert Fischer]

as of 2016 we either got a cash tip, or could see an app tip. We don't have to rate immediately and/or could adjust ratings.

I used to rate on basics like on-time, not an unpleasant psycho, didn't throw up, etc... mostly 5s.

Some drivers are focused on tipping and start with '3' and upgrade for tips.
Only time I did that was when providing special services (e.g. had to wait 10 minutes for pax, or picked up from sandy beach w/ kids, and soiled the upholstery).

In Uber's rush to monopolize the market, tips were initially advertised as unnecessary, and more recently marketed softly as an option.

I think that in the world we live in, 'services' should be tipped. It provides incentive for exceptional personalized service, and there is a power dynamic at play that actually makes the customer feel good, provided they aren't broke.

[BaffertsWig]

In Uber's rush to monopolize the market, tips were initially advertised as unnecessary, and more recently marketed softly as an option.


Probably in the minority, but the tipping option was the reason why I favored using Lyft over Uber. Much easier to tip via in-app than the traditional way because I don't always have an appropriate amount of cash on me (in certain denominations, what have you.) I think maybe they realized that and that's why they added the feature to lure drivers into using their service over Lyft, or more than Lyft I should say, as most drivers use both apps simultaneously. It'd be interesting to see a cost-comparison between the two services and compare what the driver earns from a fare when driving for Uber vs. Lyft.

[MONEY]

driving uber worked for me for a few specific reasons

-i'm disabled, and could stop, or take a day off at any time if I was sick

-i had a vehicle that was paid-off and just new enough to be eligible (~10 years), but not new enough to be of any real value that would be lost driving

-made quality business cards and placed in certain seasonal areas that were outside uber's range

-developed regular customers (exchanged info for outside app rides)

-planned ahead and did events

-used a 'seeded' tip cup



try a seeded tip cup

for some reason a 'seeded' tip cup in the cup holder helps increase tips. Not up to cab level, but at least it pays for a bit of gas/food/coffee...

Here's a starter one that I made. I put the money pictured in the cup, and then passengers get the idea, and/or think that tipping is the norm. Can use a 32oz, or a super-big-gulp 64oz(just put a ball of paper in the bottom half).


http://i67.tinypic.com/v2ziwp.jpg
Thanks for the suggestion, but happily the blacklisting must have expired late last month.
My son has been contently driving an oil tanker truck for last two weeks.

[green80]

I too am a tipper.

I keep my son's records.
Yesterday he worked for six and a half hours.
He earned $52.00 in for 11 fares and got a $2.00 tip.

60 % of the driving in unpaid because it is on the way to pick up the rider.
There is a $4.00 pick up/drop off fee that equaled $44.00

He drove 111 miles and got paid for only 40 miles at 90 cents per mile which was $36.00.
$36.00 + $44.00 = $80.00, minus the 35% uber fee = $52.00 .
Terrible

When he pays for fuel and includes wear and tear on a vehicle, it looks like he is losing money working.

[Fred Mertz]

When I use a credit card, I always put $0 tip and tip them appropriately in cash.

My brother, the waiter, told me that this is preferred by the workers. If it is on your card then it is in the big database and subject to Big Brother/IRS oversight.

[Valuist]

Screw Uber. I installed their app and they refused to believe the phone number I gave them was mine. Sent them a screen shot. Still didn't believe it. I proceeded to uninstall the app, and now will only use Lyft. No runaround from Lyft when I signed up. No need for screenshots or any nonsense.

[kingfin66]

When I use a credit card, I always put $0 tip and tip them appropriately in cash.

My brother, the waiter, told me that this is preferred by the workers. If it is on your card then it is in the big database and subject to Big Brother/IRS oversight.

I think we all can agree that taxes are too high, but shouldn't people who receive tips as part of their income be required to pay taxes the same as anybody else? I don't understand the social acceptance for people who earn income in this manner to seemingly get a free pass on taxes. Tax avoidance is smart, but tax evasion is illegal.

[Tom]

Amen.

[Fred Mertz]

I will continue to tip with cash regardless of what you two statists think.

I just filled out three checks to pay my property taxes; bought and paid for. Only thing is, you don't own it, you pay rent.

[Dave Schwartz]

Thanks for the suggestion, but happily the blacklisting must have expired late last month.
My son has been contently driving an oil tanker truck for last two weeks.

About that tip cup...

I was in a cab years ago in NYC and a guy had just such a cup (actually a jar).

I asked if he wasn't concerned about someone stealing his tips when he wasn't looking.

He laughed and showed me how the the bills were all just bits and pieces, glued together and that the jar itself was attached very securely to the little frame that held it.

Went on to say that he loses one or two a year but the total loss is maybe 3 dollars.

[JustRalph]

I will continue to tip with cash regardless of what you two statists think.

I just filled out three checks to pay my property taxes; bought and paid for. Only thing is, you don't own it, you pay rent.

Just got notified that my real estate taxes are going down 900 bucks this year (20%) after a few changes at the state

I feel the same way you do. You can own it outright, but somebody has their handout, no matter what you do.

[thaskalos]

I will continue to tip with cash regardless of what you two statists think.


:ThmbUp:

I also tip only in cash...and I let the tip-recipient decide for HIMSELF/HERSELF whether to report his/her tip-income or not. The way I see it...my money has already been taxed enough.

[highnote]

:ThmbUp:

I also tip only in cash...and I let the tip-recipient decide for HIMSELF/HERSELF whether to report his/her tip-income or not. The way I see it...my money has already been taxed enough.

I get frequent flyer miles by using my credit card. Sometimes I tip in cash if I have cash on me, but more frequently I find myself tipping using my credit card.

By the way... someone mentioned that people in Houston don't tend to be good tippers. I grew up in a small town in Appalachia near Youngstown, Ohio. I worked as a bus boy in high school and I delivered pizza for a local pizza shop and also Dominos. I rarely got tips. People didn't have much money. Then I moved to NYC. Tips were more generally expected and most people were pretty generous because they tended to have money.

I almost always tip -- even if it is just a tip jar on the counter of the deli, Chinese takeout, or donut shop.

[kingfin66]

I will continue to tip with cash regardless of what you two statists think.

I just filled out three checks to pay my property taxes; bought and paid for. Only thing is, you don't own it, you pay rent.

I get it as I have to do the same thing. Taxes suck. They are too high and there are too many of them. I am just wondering why so many people seem to want to give people who earn tips a pass on paying income taxes. As far as tipping goes, I agree that cash tips are good. In fact, when I travel to Mexico, tipping in cash is the only way that I know for certain that my server gets the tip, but I still think they should pay a tax on it.

Statist?

[thaskalos]

I get it as I have to do the same thing. Taxes suck. They are too high and there are too many of them. I am just wondering why so many people seem to want to give people who earn tips a pass on paying income taxes. As far as tipping goes, I agree that cash tips are good. In fact, when I travel to Mexico, tipping in cash is the only way that I know for certain that my server gets the tip, but I still think they should pay a tax on it.

Statist?

Speaking for myself, I greatly appreciate it when I receive service above and beyond my expectations...so I tip liberally, and always in cash. As far as I am concerned, this money is a gift from me to someone who deserves it...and I think that "gift taxes" are terribly unfair. Having already paid taxes on the money that I have...when I give it away, I'd like it to be received by the recipient TAX-FREE.

[highnote]

Speaking for myself, I greatly appreciate it when I receive service above and beyond my expectations...so I tip liberally, and always in cash. As far as I am concerned, this money is a gift from me to someone who deserves it...and I think that "gift taxes" are terribly unfair. Having already paid taxes on the money that I have...when I give it away, I'd like it to be received by the recipient TAX-FREE.

I thought a person was allowed to give a gift of up to $10,000 tax free? Maybe that is only to family members?

[kingfin66]

Speaking for myself, I greatly appreciate it when I receive service above and beyond my expectations...so I tip liberally, and always in cash. As far as I am concerned, this money is a gift from me to someone who deserves it...and I think that "gift taxes" are terribly unfair. Having already paid taxes on the money that I have...when I give it away, I'd like it to be received by the recipient TAX-FREE.

Shockingly, the IRS does not agree with your assessment that tips are a gift.

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/tip-recordkeeping-and-reporting

It is good that you tip well.

[thaskalos]

Shockingly, the IRS does not agree with your assessment that tips are a gift.


The IRS has their "assessments"...and I have mine. I'm not encouraging people to avoid reporting their tips to the IRS...I just refuse to "force" them to do so.