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All The Programs And Features That Uber Is Currently Testing

Harry here.  Today, new RSG contributor Ryan King and I take a look at all the programs and features that Uber is currently testing!

One of my favorite parts about running this blog is that sometimes I feel like I am looking into a crystal ball.  Not only does every single person with an idea for the next hottest rideshare app or driver product pitch me, but I also get forwarded e-mails from drivers and passengers across the country about ALL the new programs that Uber is testing. And there are a lot.

New Lyft Driver - Earn 1500:week

So I thought it would be cool to have an article that catalogues everything Uber is working on to improve the Uber experience.  Not all of these features and programs benefit drivers, but I’ll let you guys be the judge of that in the comments below.

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If you see something that should be on the list, don’t hesitate to reach out to me via e-mail or in the comments below. [Read more…]

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Uber Fare Estimator For Passengers

Today, we’re launching the Uber Fare Estimator Calculator in partnership with Rideshareapps.com. The Uber Fare Estimator will allow you to see what an Uber ride will cost the passenger before you go and it’s updated in real time.  Let us know what you think!

The estimates come directly from the Uber App so they are as accurate as you can get. This is perfect for when you are trying to figure out how much a ride will cost beforehand and you’ll also be able to compare the different levels of Uber service.  Let us know what you think about this calculator and if there are other calculators you’d like to see us create.

Want your first ride free as an Uber passenger?  Click here!

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10 Steps to Improve Your Uber Passenger Rating: A Guide From Your Uber Driver

Harry here.  Dealing with passengers is a big part of the job, but at times it seems like we let these guys get away with too much.  It would be nice if Uber sent out a rider etiquette e-mail once in a while, but until then, RSG contributor Christian Perea lays down the rules for passengers in his car.  Agree with him, or have something to add?  Leave a comment below.

Every few weeks some media outlet publishes a guide on how to protect or improve your passenger rating on Uber or Lyft. I think they all suck though because they have click-bait titles and are written by passengers who just ask a few Uber drivers some questions while riding with them.

This of course skews the feedback because the driver is…driving. Remember, the driver wants a good rating too, so they go a little lightly. I am going to give it to you pretty straight and many of you are not going to like how you get downrated by your Uber or Lyft driver. This is the unadulterated truth for all you Uber passengers who want to treat your driver like a human 🙂

Your Uber Passenger Rating: A Guide From Your Uber Driver

Your Uber Passenger Rating: A Guide From Your Uber Driver

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Rideshare Options in Europe: Uber Dublin Review

For those who follow me on Facebook, you may already know that I recently spent a week in Ireland with my wife. But in-between all the site seeing and Guinness drinking, I made a concerted effort to take Uber as much as possible and talk to as many drivers as I could.

Dublin is a very walk-able city but there are actually somewhere around 15,000 licensed taxi drivers (that’s more than in New York, a city with 7-8x the population).  And unlike the US, almost all of these drivers are independent owners and operators of their vehicles. So they already enjoy much of the flexibility that we all value here in the States with Uber.

In Dublin, Uber is mainly used by Americans and other European tourists. Many of the local Irish residents actually use a different app, called Hailo, that is immensely popular in Europe right now. Hailo is a smartphone ride-hailing app that works exactly like the Uber passenger app but for taxis. Nearly all of Dublin’s taxi drivers now use Hailo and like Uber, they are only charged if they get a fare request. There are also no weekly or monthly minimums like with traditional taxi services. [Read more…]

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How to Add More Magic to Your Uber Ride With Music

I’ve always been a big fan of live music.  And one of the things I enjoy most about driving is putting on a good playlist and seeing how the passengers react to it.  I don’t play a lot of main stream stuff but it’s awesome when the passengers says, “Hey great song!” and it usually leads to a nice rating and once in a while even a tip.

Today, I’m sharing a guest post from Joe Strandell, who I first met on Facebook when he shared his music strategy with me.  I was very intrigued by what he does so I asked him to guest post and he kindly obliged.  If you have an idea for a really valuable and/or unique post, feel free to e-mail me and pitch me on it.  One of my goals this year is to feature more city-specific content so if there are some strategies that work well locally, I’d love to hear about them.

Hey RSG fans, my name is Joe and I drive for Uber part time in Santa Barbara. I’m originally from Nashville though and it was in Nashville where I developed my love for music. Today, that passion lives on through Uber.

Sometimes there’s time for music during your Uber ride. Sometimes there isn’t. But music has the ability to break all sorts social divides. It’s a powerful connector. [Read more…]