[Rajeevraj]

Uberpool launched in Bangalore

Uber has launched the car pooling service in Bangalore((Well.. Only in Kormangala and Indiranagar Areas)

From the time Uber launched in Bangalore over two years ago, we’ve been committed to changing people’s lives by transforming urban mobility and moving cities. Today, we’re excited to announce that uberPOOL is live in Bangalore.

uberPOOL is now the cheapest way to Uber! uberPOOL matches you real-time with another rider heading in the same direction, adds only a few minutes to your trip, and you both save big. Trips are up to 35% cheaper than uberGO and no matter where you’re headed – uberPOOL gets you there for way, way less! Taking uberPOOL actually eliminates congestion by reducing the number of cars on the road – making Bangalore a whole lot greener, cleaner, and more efficient with more shared rides.

How to Pool

• Slide over to the uberGO option on your app
  
  
• Set your pickup location and drop-off locations and request
  
  
• You’ll see 2 options – “Share your car” and “Get your own car”
  
  
• “Share your car” is uberPOOL with a guaranteed fare upfront, so you know exactly what you’re going to pay
  
  
• Request! You might get matched with another rider going the same way
  
  
• Regardless of whether you’re matched or not, the fare will always be less than uberGO
  
  
• Currently uberPOOL is available only between 7AM – 9PM, 7 days a week. You can choose to use PayTM, Airtel Money, Credit or even Debit card. Cash will be coming soon.
  
  
• WHEN: uberPOOL is available between 7AM – 9PM, 7 days a week
  
  
• FROM: You can request an uberPOOL trip from Koramangala, Inner ring road and Indira Nagar currently
  
  
• TO: Anywhere within our city limits. Read our city limits blog to know more
  
  
• WHO: Each request can have a maximum of 2 riders per pick up. You will be matched with another requester, for up to 4 riders in total
  
  
• COST: The upfront fare you’re shown at request is guaranteed whether you’re matched or not – no surprises!
  
  
• Remember, entering your destination is required for every uberGO and uberPOOL trip. Don’t forget to update your Uber app on your phone!
  

Source: Uber Newsroom

[Rehaan]

Guys do keep an eye out when driving past airports or any other toll roads.

In this case i drove past the departures (didn't even stop), and got charged Rs. 110 extra!

Of course Uber was quick to refund the money, but it shouldn't have happened in the first place. Not sure if the driver has to verify if toll/parking was paid or not.

[blackwasp]

Originally Posted by Rehaan

Of course Uber was quick to refund the money, but it shouldn't have happened in the first place. Not sure if the driver has to verify if toll/parking was paid or not.

That is because uber uses GPS system to compute total distance and the places you visit. Eg toll roads. The system is not perfect as it depends on GPS of smart phones which are not accurate in some cases - low network, basements etc - hence the automatic charge.

Usually they will quickly refund the charges. Another advantage is that the distance traveled is very accurate and not prone to rigging by the driver as is the case with metered cabs.

[shipnil]

I think Uber has resumed credit cards in India but I am still unable to select it as a payment method. It shows selected payment methond is not allowed in your country. What could be the reason?

[Rehaan]

Originally Posted by blackwasp

That is because uber uses GPS system to compute total distance and the places you visit. Eg toll roads. The system is not perfect as it depends on GPS of smart phones which are not accurate in some cases - low network, basements etc - hence the automatic charge.

Usually they will quickly refund the charges. Another advantage is that the distance traveled is very accurate and not prone to rigging by the driver as is the case with metered cabs.

Yep, I understand how it works, and that's cool + convenient in most cases. However, I expect 2 things from a 50 BILLION DOLLAR TECHNOLOGY COMPANY :

Common sense & Technology:

• Who calls an Uber and has it wait in the parking lot? That defies the concept of the service.
• Who gets dropped off at the airport and pays for parking?
• If someone proceeds through the "parking" at 30 km/h and vacates the area in less than 45 seconds, should a parking charge be applied?
• Of the # of cars that go to the airport, how many actually use parking (and as a result, should it be the exception or the norm)?
• One more pet peeve i have : How hard is it to figure out which way a car is facing!! In Indian cities with insane traffic, the side of the road the cab is on can make a 15-20 minute difference in pick-up times

[ajmat]

Originally Posted by Rehaan

• Who calls an Uber and has it wait in the parking lot? That defies the concept of the service.

This is happening in Bangalore. LAst few times, I was told to go to the Cafe Day stall and get escorted. Part of the problem is that the KIAL staff, do not let empty non airport taxis pass under the portal, they divert them to pass the car park along the bus stand

[sandeepmohan]

I have been hit twice by surge pricing at an hour that normally does not have such rates.

10/22, 11pm. Wanted to catch a cab to go home after Girish and the Chronicles at Hard Rock. I check the app and its 3x surge pricing! Rs. 300 - 365 estimated journey expense for a 7km trip. I took a rick, chap wanted double the meter. Cost me Rs. 120. I tip the guy Rs. 20.

10/26, 720am. Wife fires up the app to find 1.5x surge pricing. Has never happened in the last 6 months and she books a cab at around the same time, every day, for her work commute.

Are we finally seeing 'pay back time' for Uber or is it a case of a majority of drivers off Uber due to the long weekend, causing a short supply in cabs, hence an increase in demand which leads to surge pricing.

[audioholic]

Originally Posted by sandeepmohan

I have been hit twice by surge pricing at an hour that normally does not have such rates.

Are we finally seeing 'pay back time' for Uber or is it a case of a majority of drivers off Uber due to the long weekend, causing a short supply in cabs, hence an increase in demand which leads to surge pricing.

The whole of last week, Uber drivers decided to 'strike' because of their new payment scheme which the drivers were against. And as the week progressed, everyone went out of station which led to surge prices in my area as well, which I had never seen till date. I came home from office on last wednesday and the driver was explaining the way the company was taking these drivers for a ride literally. It seems now they are paid by the hour and not by the number of trips or distance. So in all, a driver ends up getting the same money irrespective of how much he travels in that hour, be it a short drop or a trip to the airport.

Looks like these companies have mad policies.

[sandsun7]

My sister-in-law had a bad experience with Uber (Bangalore) yesterday when she booked a cab from Peenya to Jakkur. The driver who accepted the ride never turned up nor did he receive calls, but the app started showing 'on trip' after a few minutes. Around 40 minutes later, she gets an invoice for the journey which she never took!
Uber support promptly apologized and refunded Rs. 250 uber credits to her account soon after she wrote an email to them. From the map shown in the invoice, the driver seem to have roamed around the pick up point without actually picking her and ended the journey somewhere near Dasarahalli.

I have always had good experiences with uber, so I believe this driver was one of those few black sheeps who have managed to get into the system.

[reverse_gear]

Don't think the government will be too happy with this kind of pressure tactic...but Uber's not one to care, I guess.

[audioholic]

Yesterday I had to take an uber from Marathahalli Bridge and I had to cancel five bookings just because the drivers would refuse to pick up. Finally boarded a bus just before it started to pour and took a cab later half way down the route. Raised an issue with Uber and got a standard and a rubbish reply that they are not charging me anything for the cancellation. Something needs to be done to these drivers. Else they should modify their system to take into consideration traffic jams and delays.

[msdivy]

On Uber - This Is How Uber Is Entering A Deep Shit Zone in India

Something surprising in this article. During the cab ride, Uber sent this message,

“Uber is canceling the trip. Please drop the passenger at a safe location”.

Is it true? Can Uber send such message?

[Rehaan]

Originally Posted by audioholic

Raised an issue with Uber and got a standard and a rubbish reply that they are not charging me anything for the cancellation. Something needs to be done to these drivers.

The worst thing is that you don't get the opportunity to rate the drivers if they cancel the trip!

Originally Posted by msdivy

Something surprising in this article. During the cab ride, Uber sent this message,Is it true? Can Uber send such message?

That's very strange. Wonder what the reasoning was. Either way, just abandoning a customer mid-ride is the last thing they should be doing!

Any company that comes to India with "International" technology and processes, and thinks that they are going to function perfectly here without the need to adapt, is just naive.

[shipnil]

I took a ride yesterday with credit card as payment mode selected. Uber could not charge the card. Now it shows outstanding balance. I have tried to pay from their website multiple times using a different card and paytm cash as well. It always gives error. I don't even see a contact us option / customer care email. Not sure how to pay it now and without that I won't be able to use their services again.

[kiku007]

Originally Posted by shipnil

I took a ride yesterday with credit card as payment mode selected. Uber could not charge the card. Now it shows outstanding balance. I have tried to pay from their website multiple times using a different card and paytm cash as well. It always gives error. I don't even see a contact us option / customer care email. Not sure how to pay it now and without that I won't be able to use their services again.

Happened to me once. After a day somehow the problem got rectified by itself by deducting money from my card/paytm wallet (Don't remember which one). Until then, yes you can't use Uber for a ride.

You may also write an e-mail to them, and they may apologize for this and even waive the trip cost as a bonus