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-   -   Has your Uber & Ola usage pattern changed in the last 2 - 3 years? (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/street-experiences/264666-has-your-uber-ola-usage-pattern-changed-last-2-3-years-2.html)

99% of the time is self-driving. Only instances where i hail a taxi is when i'm travelling in train along with family. For that 1% of time, Ola/Uber have failed me with last minute cancellations, demanding extra fare, etc., Now i rely on a local taxi provider for such trips.

Usage of both Ola and Uber has dropped to early zero post covid. Their service has been deteriorating for a while now, as mentioned above. It's rare to find a well maintained cab and drivers often cancel after first asking for your destination. I have to note, the experience in Hyderabad is still reasonable when compared to Delhi, especially the condition of the cabs (I was there last week).

For airport runs, Sky Cabs is now the preferred choice, since you're assured a clean and well-maintained Toyota Etios or similar. The only times we use Ola/Uber is when there is absolutely no other option. Last time we used them was when we had to go to a detailing shop to pick up the Superb a few months ago.

I only use cabs for airport trips or when I am travelling. I have stopped using Uber and Ola completely because the cabs are too dirty and I am talking premium category. Recently I have started using BluSmart, they are well maintained and reliable.

Mine hasn't changed much. I use Ola/ Uber only for Airport/ station trips or to Mumbai airport from Pune. My work doesn't require any travel and there is enough parking in the office. If parking is an issue somewhere and I'm going alone, I prefer by bike.
As others have felt, surely the service levels and availability has degraded to a large extent in the last couple of years. Still its better in Pune compared to some other cities. My parents almost missed a flight from Mumbai airport, because the cab driver cancelled at the last moment and getting another cab took a lot of time. Even for within city runs, getting a cab is getting difficult. If the weather is favorable, then for short distances we prefer Ola/ Uber auto. For Pune- Mumbai airport trips, we used to rely on Ola/ Uber but learned our lesson and now would use only the local intercity cab providers.

Voted a yes. And a change in pattern means that I have uninstalled both the apps. I tried it during 2020 end for city commute and found out that a ride never gets allotted and it keeps cancelling. After a few failed attempts, just uninstalled the apps. They are plain junk now. I had already wrote on another post that their business will not continue and does not have a great way forward. They don't have control over the business to begin with. Drivers demand cash, don't want to go certain routes, will call and trouble to know location details, will NEVER go to the airport and on and on. I can drive my car where there is parking and where there is none, metro has decent connectivity, no thank you.

It's a running account between Ola/Uber and the driver, and most of the customers actually auto-pay via wallets directly to Ola/Uber. So every week during the payment schedule, the calculations are done on the overall revenue from the driver, and the driver is paid what's due to him.

I have stopped using Ola and Uber. Multiple reasons..

1. Very tough to predict the availability and waiting time.

2. Very high price, anywhere between Rs30 to 60 per kms, depend on the time direction (ride to or from home).

3. Cab quality and up keeping has gone to dogs. Most of them refuse to turn on AC even in summer.

Mostly work from home, offices have plentiful parking, so have little use of either Ola/Uber.

However it does seem that we have unrealistic expectations. The prices should remain constant, BUT the cabs should be maintained, a/cs should be chillers, and cabins should smell like daisies.

If someone provides such a differentiated service, most of us jump ship if a rickety cab costs 50 bucks less.
As usual, a comic has it just right.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSzgCDIUzq0

The price is a put off these days, but when you have to you have to.
OLA is the preferred one. In Pune AC buses are good and I take Ac buses during non peak hours as its totally worth it.
They are fast,cheap and decently maintained.

Quality of cabs has been not an issue, have also taken outstation OLA a few times and the experience has been good.
Once on a prime sedan booking we got a Brand new Ertiga for an outstation trip.

For other needs in city, i have my smart car Nano.
It is a gem to use and park which removes my parking anxiety by a long way.

I know this but in scenarios where the "cash" mode payments are higher during a week, how does Ola/Uber make money? Many people that I know of pay using cash only (or direct UPI payment to driver). My personal experience is that cancellations are lower if the driver knows that payment is via cash.

Ola has started certain unethical practices. The price quoted at the beginning of trip has no relevance to the final fare. I found out the hard way that the final fare can even be 50% higher than the quoted fare.

The intention to trap customers is very much there as the fine print is extremely small.

There is a small ”i”next to the quoted fare.



On clicking on the small “i” the implications become clear - fare can change if the fare takes longer due to traffic or “other factors”:

Have stopped Uber and Ola completely. Once while I was descending the lift the driver cancelled my ride because I could not authorize my flat number at the gate. Ass. It was like 30 seconds--from when he called and said he is reaching. Some money was cut. Immediately booked another. I stood outside my condo. After sitting: AC not working.

Electric Blue cab I use now. Advanced booking. Courteous drivers, and clean cabs.

I alternate between Bangalore and Chennai and here is how my Ola/Uber usage has changed:

1. I used to always choose Uber and then Ola in that order for the entire trip. Now I look for Metro or other local train services, plan my trip and use uber or ola for trip to the nearest Metro station only. This way I tend to reach my destination much faster.
2. For shorter distances, especially in Bangalore, I prefer Uber/Ola Autos. Drivers after coming to pick me up, say that they will cancel the trip and ask me to pay only the price that the App had showed during booking time. LPT: Save a screenshot of the app showing the price and show the price screen to the driver before agreeing. This will save trouble at the end of the journey.
3. I always choose cash as the payment mode and pay the driver through UPI. Previously it used to be other digital options as payment.
4. I never check price using my phone. I ask others in my location to do the check and let me know if the rates are reasonable. I've burnt my fingers a few times by checking a couple of times. Every-time I check the price keeps going up.

If I need to pick a service I always pick Uber.

Regards,
lsjey

Unchanged

I have not relied on Uber/Ola to begin with. Mostly thanks to the number of cancellations I've seen booking from my workplace way back in 2018. I have only used for the occasional service center visit, 2-3 social venues where there is no parking, couple of outstation rides and that's about it.

Where I reside now, Ola/Uber are taboo rl: Missus takes the local auto/taxi whom we know personally and the rides are usually pick-wait and return trips.

Thanks to the above non-existence, my ride prior to April 2023 was December 2021 :cool:

On that lone ride earlier this month, got the following information from my taxi driver:

• The driver now knows your source, destination as well as mode of payment.
• I even had the opportunity to see a live ride rejection during that ride.
• Cash/UPI means you have better chance for a ride. Majority would reject if its card payment.
• More the distance, better are your chances of getting a ride.
• More traffic at the given time at your destination? Lesser the chance of getting a ride. That live rejection I saw was for Chennai Central station.

In summary, lesser your reliance, more peace of mind you'll have. This isn't specific to Ola/Uber, but to any form they take in the years to come.

I used Uber a lot till I got my driver’s license in 2020. An average of 200kms per week. It worked flawlessly back then allowing me to travel without bothering anyone.

But after the pandemic Uber just frustrates me. I have a 8AM class on Mondays and I live 30kms away from my college. The 3 times I’ve taken an Uber to college, I’ve walked in >15 minutes late. Everything has gone for a toss- the cars, the drivers and the prices too. Nowadays, I prefer to drive myself or get a chauffeur to drop me off early in the morning. I also use the local train primarily for my daily commute.

Fortunately, I’ve figured out parking in most hotspots of the city that are good enough for at least my Honda.


PS- About a month or two back, my dad had a red eye flight out of Bombay and 3 drivers cancelled after calling. I had to drive him to the airport at 3 AM at quite a brisk pace. Tells a lot about the dependability of these services.