It all depends on who you ride with...
It’s really no wonder at all why Uber has begun a massive ad-campaign in an attempt to clear their name. An astounding number of scandals have piled up over the years, turning the perception of Uber from the hip, frugal alternative to taxis into a shadowy, dystopian look into the future. Spying, fare-manipulation, it’s all there. It almost gives credence to the protests of the cabal of cabbies, who can no longer charge whatever they want (how sad). Luckily, there is a simple solution to this, and it’s not drunkenly shambling all the way home, across town, at 4 AM. It’s Lyft!
Upfront and Consistent Pricing
Now, I say the solution is simple, because I can’t believe I joined the party so late! What I’ve found as I’ve started using Lyft is that it’s possible run a ride-share company without signing souls away in exchange for profit. The price you see before you call for a ride stays that way. The drivers are more laid-back, so there’s less of that awkward electricity in the air. Speaking of support, if you need help with anything, Lyft’s customer service is unmatched, with friendly reps who aren’t nervously reading off a script. Unlike the bulky multiplier of a “surge”, Lyft’s “Prime Time” hours calculate with percentages, not distance, and only affect the initial cost of the ride. If your day-to-day often demands you share a ride in rush-hour, Lyft is the obvious choice. Need to make a stop on the way to your ultimate destination? Set a “waypoint” to the grocery store or to drop a friend first! Want to plan ahead? Schedule your ride for a later time, and Lyft takes care of the rest. There is an unmistakable receptiveness towards customers with Lyft. The word “uber” may have etched its place in the vernacular, but I think there’s a reason I see more and more people mention Lyft in their social media these days.
A valued customer, or just another "mark?"
When was the last time you took an Uber somewhere? Did it seem like the fare jumped up a few dollars from what you were expecting? Generally, coming out of any transportation, you’re probably too pre-occupied with being where you need to be to investigate further. Perhaps Uber’s “upfront” pricing is worth questioning. Turns out, not only has it adjusted the final price for passengers, they’ve lied about it to the driver! Worse still, it appears Uber may be adjusting your price based on how “rich” you appear to be. How old is your phone? What bank account or credit card have you entered into the app? Where are you coming from and where are you going? The little details could be affecting your fare.
Test it for yourself
Seriously, next time you’re with a friend with a “Black Card” of some sort, ask them to get a quote on a ride with Uber, while you do the same. See a difference there? You might be surprised to find a gap in your fares by almost a dollar, maybe more. That doesn’t seem like much in the grand scheme of things, but it certainly adds up, especially for Uber’s coffers. Looks like a lack of respect for the consumer, if you ask me. Another test: if you can strike up a conversation with your Uber driver, get into how they like the job. Bring up the fare discrepancies issue with them, and if they’re willing, after the ride, go ahead and compare your prices. How much higher will your fare compare to theirs? Heck, compare just between the two apps; it’s not always consistent, but I think you’ll generally find the Lyft price is cheaper.
A System Rife with Abuse
Uber’s system is just plain busted: It’s an anecdote, so take it for what you will, but I got to talking to a Lyft driver, Saeed, of his time driving for Uber, and why he left. The level of exploitation available to drivers is pretty shocking. At certain places where there’s a higher chance of a long-distance fare, such as the airport, drivers will accept a passenger’s hail, but upon seeing the distance and price, they may be inclined to immediately cancel the ride, allowing another driver to do the same, and so on. With every cancellation, the price climbs, and eventually gets high enough that a driver will accept it and actually pick the passenger up. It reminds me of the public account at certain gas-stations in my city that everyone knew; eventually, someone would hit the “jackpot” of a massive discount on their gas. In Saeed’s case, the practice of ride-shunting and unfair pricing in general were just too shameful for him to continue, so he decided to work with Lyft exclusively. Given how many more cars are available on my screen with Lyft, I get the feeling his sentiment is shared with a good number of drivers.
Yes, Uber is indeed bigger, but over the years, it’s starting to become clear how their conduct may have gotten them there. Do you want an awkward, sterile ride with a “professional” driver, or one with someone you feel you can relate to, maybe have a good chat? Would you like anxiety every time you get in the car, wondering how much the actual total will come to? Would you like a typically less expensive ride?
A Smooth Ride
I get the feeling you’d prefer a genuinely “upfront” calculation? Two ubers for a stop before getting home, or just one Lyft so you can take a quick detour, then continue on your way? You might also prefer receptive customer service when you need an adjustment, not a dry, fruitless phonecall with someone who clearly just wants to go home. If you care for the treatment of employees, you can rest assured Lyft drivers are treated with fairness, unlike Uber. Finally, maybe you’d prefer not to be spied on…
Uber's Scandals
Confused on that last one? Well, turns out Uber has been diligent the past few years, and not to improve the service for customers. We all remember the surges during emergencies, such as terrorist attacks, but it goes deeper. Turns out, they’ve been up to more than just manipulating prices. If you’re a driver, you may be driving for both services, but it seems Uber is not a fan of that practice. Just last year, the FBI opened a case-file against the company for spying on those who use both apps in order to track where “Lyfters” were, and how many there are in a given area (the program was called “Hell” of all things). “Greyball” was an initiative for Uber to skirt local regulations. Not only drivers are being affected; passengers may want to watch themselves with Uber as well. The FCC is investigating a program called “God view,” which tracks individual passenger’s movement via GPS, even when not using the app! Given how untrustworthy they have been, who knows where that data goes? All this turmoil, along with unfair prices, are what you face every time you use Uber. Maybe Lyft hasn’t been perfect, but have you heard this much ruckus from them? Even as I write this post, Uber has been slapped with another investigation, this time for gender discrimination. I didn’t know you could fit so many skeletons in one closet!
This is called “damage control.” You don’t run ads like this unless your company really messed up. Take note of how they manage to acknowledge their bad rep without actually addressing specific problems or how they’ll fix them…
The Choice is Clear
Instead of experiencing all that anxiety, you could always swerve on that tire-fire and give Lyft a try! Enjoy a comfortable and easy ride with a driver who sees you as more than a source of income. Rest assured that your fee will not fluctuate wildly from the initial estimate. Avoid yet another “killer-app” extracting your user-data for their own gain, leaving you exposed/exploited. Know that if any issue arises, there is customer support that cares. Take pride in knowing you will no longer support a company with so few scruples, all while continuing to enjoy the ride-sharing phenomenon!
A comfortable ride, no BS fees or date exploitation, great customer service, all while contributing to the life of your community! Who else but Lyft has your back?
