Up to $20 off the first ride with Uber.
Sign up with the code: SYDNEYSAFE70 (The code SYDNEYSAFE96 also works - thanks noskich)
First-time riders only.
Expires 30/06/16.
Referee and referrer get 50% off first/next 2 Uber Reserve Rides.
Referrer gets $300-$500 once referee completes at least 30-40 deliveries.
Referees may be eligible for special offers based on the number of trips or deliveries they made after signing up through an invitation.
Can someone with an iphone or android check if this is still available: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/222912
I've never used Uber so curious how it works. When you book a ride how do you know which car it is & how does the driver know your the passanger? Also is it a fixed price or per klm? Ahh I have a lot to learn with this new world !!
You request an uber, a couple seconds later one gets assigned to you. It'll show you the drivers name, photo, car model and licence plate and also give you the ability to call them. http://i.imgur.com/Z9IYaev.png
As for cost it's billed at a per minute + a per km rate. Also there is a minimum fare.
Its all listed on their website. Perth for example https://www.uber.com/cities/perth/
$2 base fare + $0.32 per minute + $1.00 per km (with a minimum fare of $5).
Edit: oh, also the drivers phone will tell him your name and he has the ability to call you (although he wont know your number)
Minimum fare has changed to $6.
Still $5 in Perth
You get shown the details of the car (carplate, brand, make, colour as well I think?) and the driver's name/average rating. You also have the ability to call the driver.
You pick your location/point on the map to communicate where you are (and it's up to you stay there, otherwise call the driver to tell him).
I think the pricing is similar to taxi (flagfall + per/km charge) but cheaper than taxi.
Also note there are several different "types" of Uber, most commonly:
There's also this thing called "surge pricing" that exists with UberX, which basically acts as a multiplier during times of high demand for taxis. The rationale behind it is to charge you extra as a passenger, because there's lots of demand for UberX's in the area you're requesting the taxi, and also to encourage other UberX drivers to pick passengers up from the area. It's like being paid penalty rates for Saturday/Sunday/public holiday work.
You'll know if you have to pay for surge pricing as you have to manually type in the multiplier value to confirm that you "accept" it.
edit: beaten to it
Thanks a lot for the info, will give it a try next time I need a cab..
Note that uBer Black drivers must be licenced to carry passengers and are typically Hire Cars, so aren't just 'randoms' unlike uberX
How do you use the code if you already have an account? Set up a different account would work?
Uber have made it very hard for multiple sign ups.
Even if you use a different credit card and name, you will need a new device as well.
Probably linked to IMEI, or Google Account or AppleID. I've never worked out what.
Is this something new… I always had Uber installed on my android. Used to log out and sign in with different email address.
Fairly new, maybe the last six months?
And you've been able to redeem promo codes each time?
@Pigey: I add the promo codes by logging on to their website.
https://login.uber.com/login
@spk: Thanks. Worked for me. (I have already signed up with Uber, but haven't taken my first ride, as yet.)
Do they still charge you $8.00 for the minimum fare?
$6, I used uber today.
It varies by city. It's $8 in Sydney.
Oh ok, I'm in Melbourne.
I feel the past few uber rides ive taken to the airport (including family and friends) have really dishonest drivers. They deliberately take the longest way.
I usually will whip out my gps when ubering, but my interstate family members dont. They take the route with 30% more kms.
Could there possibly be more traffic on the more direct route? Did the driver follow their GPS or just took whichever route they felt like?
Not sure if you are from sydney, but the route was annandale vicinity to domestic airport. The route i would usually take is cleveland st then down oriordian st then airport. Shortest and quickest way. But the uber driver went from annandale through the city, cross city tunnel, then to airport.
That route ended up $15—20 more for my relative to pay. I mean it is small amount but the uber driver’s route was not faster.
Not sure if you are from sydney
It says if you click on my user name ;)
I just had a quick check on Google Maps and it does suggest the route taken by the driver. In current conditions, their route is 16.5 km and it takes 22 minutes while your route is 11 km and it takes 28 minutes. The driver may not have been dishonest but just took the quickest route suggested by their GPS.
But yea, $20 is a lot for an extra 5 km. The driver should've also asked if your relatives wanted to avoid tolls.
@ronnknee: Oh oops forgot about clicking on the username. Do you suggest to ask the Uber driver for the shortest way (distance wise) instead?
But yeah I agree, the 6 mins advantage is not worth much, particularly on the early weekend when there's barely any traffic. I'm generally very OCD, and love to be at the airport 2.5 to 3 hours before the plane departs. So the 6 mins saved don't matter. However, if it was 5pm on a weekday, I would think the tollway route would be faster. Since Alexandria is jammed like crazy during 5pm.
Also just give them a low rating if you think you're being taken for a ride
This is a bad idea, rating a really importants to drivers and people might give them bad rating while the driver took the fastest route (based on traffic)
Agreed. If you have an issue with it, raise a fare review.
Having said that, if a driver really is deliberately (and blatantly) taking a longer route, being dishonest and just km general being a dick, then sure give a negative rating. I see nothing wrong with that.
@illumination: Yes and no, the best imo is to go on Uber website have a journey review, you can enter a comment and they will ask you what happened.
@exa: That's what I said.
I was just saying if it's clear that a driver is just a dick in general, then give him a bad rating, but otherwise raise a fare review.
Go to the website https://riders.uber.com/trips#_ choose a trip and click on Get a Fare Review it will send a message to support that usually will reimburse you more than the detour cost.
What often happened to me is that the uber app is bad and they end up using waze instead but some don't.
Did you reflect that in your rating?
I sent the uber team a support ticket and they said it was a google map route and was within the acceptable range. Even though it was an extra $15-20 more because of the tollway. See my comment above. It wasnt me who took the ride but a relative.
Hmmm..doesn't sound like the outcome of the ticket was satisfactory or even reasonable.
When I used to take cabs for work frequently years ago, I was always asked whether I would like to take the toll.
This happened to me while I was vacationing in Perth early this year.
I contacted Uber and they calculated what a more direct route would cost, and refunded me the difference.
I find I'm using Uber a lot these days. Are there any AMEX credit cards that give double or triple points? (does Uber count as a travel purchase)?
Please put in title that this is for SYDNEY only. Some might thought it is nationwide even promo code might have given some hint.
The code WOW16 would be much better.
Somewhat redundant.
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/233193