Grab/Ryde issues and charges

[Mcf777]

in the app, look under payment or promo

Oh thks.

Saw it and it shown "one free ride"

 

Does it mean from one corner to another corner of Singapore totally free?

[ins1dious]

Monday no car... so had to use taxi. Had meeting at United Square so totally about 14kms from work.

 

Rush to meeting so called for Uber... went down from office... ride came in under 5 mins. Total cost was $15/-

 

Back from meeting to work... no hurry... wait around... smoke ciggie... catch a cab (it was a brown Chevy... didn't note the operator) and return... cost was $13/-

 

Both instances... the drivers were friendly and careful... the cabs were clean. The Uber driver was young and had started with them for only a month. The cab driver was an old grandfather with no teeth so heavy lisp when he spoke... but super friendly.

 

What I'm getting around to... in a round about way... is that when using either service, there was no noticeable difference in experience and/or cost. Uber does have a convenience factor... seeing how I called for the cab and then went down... instead of going down and hailing.

 

But the fare I paid to Uber is not the full cost of the ride as they will "top-up" with incentives to the driver... If these things were actually transparent, i.e., if the customer had to pay the full fare (instead of this discounted rate) or if the Uber drivers only received whatever discounted fare that Uber set (no further incentives)... will we all be taking Uber rides and will there even be any Uber drivers?

 

I doubt it. This is not a knock on Uber. I use it all the time when I'm traveling abroad. Just observing/questioning how their business model can best serve us here in Singapore.

Edited October 28, 2015 by ins1dious

[Fcw75]

Oh thks.

Saw it and it shown "one free ride"

 

Does it mean from one corner to another corner of Singapore totally free?

 

As long as your first ride is less than $20 than it's free.

[13177]

Tried taking uber same route during the morning peak, the fare is about $3 plus more when there is a slight heavy traffic along the road as compared with smooth traffic.

[Fcw75]

Monday no car... so had to use taxi. Had meeting at United Square so totally about 14kms from work.

 

Rush to meeting so called for Uber... went down from office... ride came in under 5 mins. Total cost was $15/-

 

Back from meeting to work... no hurry... wait around... smoke ciggie... catch a cab (it was a brown Chevy... didn't note the operator) and return... cost was $13/-

 

Both instances... the drivers were friendly and careful... the cabs were clean. The Uber driver was young and had started with them for only a month. The cab driver was an old grandfather with no teeth so heavy lisp when he spoke... but super friendly.

 

What I'm getting around to... in a round about way... is that when using either service, there was no noticeable difference in experience and/or cost. Uber does have a convenience factor... seeing how I called for the cab and then went down... instead of going down and hailing.

 

But the fare I paid to Uber is not the full cost of the ride as they will "top-up" with incentives to the driver... If these things were actually transparent, i.e., if the customer had to pay the full fare (instead of this discounted rate) or if the Uber drivers only received whatever discounted fare that Uber set (no further incentives)... will we all be taking Uber rides and will there even be any Uber drivers?

 

I doubt it. This is not a knock on Uber. I use it all the time when I'm traveling abroad. Just observing/questioning how their business model can best serve us here in Singapore.

 

Brown colour is SMRT.

 

Yes, Uber goes right to your doorstep at no charge. If you were to call for a cab to come to your office/home, then it will costs slightly more than Uber.

 

Yesterday night I dropped off a lady at Hillside Drive. Fwah, it's so deep inside. Wonder how she get to work everyday, have to depend on her parents dropping her off at the main road.

Edited October 28, 2015 by Fcw75

[Fcw75]

Tried taking uber same route during the morning peak, the fare is about $3 plus more when there is a slight heavy traffic along the road as compared with smooth traffic.

 

This morning?

 

You sure got no surge pricing? Rainy days always got surge.

 

Got the lightning logo. If not careful, it will strike hard at your credit card.

[Duckduck]

But the fare I paid to Uber is not the full cost of the ride as they will "top-up" with incentives to the driver... If these things were actually transparent, i.e., if the customer had to pay the full fare (instead of this discounted rate) or if the Uber drivers only received whatever discounted fare that Uber set (no further incentives)... will we all be taking Uber rides and will there even be any Uber drivers?

 

I doubt it. This is not a knock on Uber. I use it all the time when I'm traveling abroad. Just observing/questioning how their business model can best serve us here in Singapore.

 

this is wat ive been posting abt that in the end when uber becomes really big n reduces driver incentives, it wont solve the current taxi situation... enjoy the ride while it lasts

[13177]

This morning?

 

You sure got no surge pricing? Rainy days always got surge.

 

Got the lightning logo. If not careful, it will strike hard at your credit card.

Ya, this morning and no surcharge, didn't see any lightning logo when i request for ride, and the fare already been billed.

Brown colour is SMRT.

 

Yes, Uber goes right to your doorstep at no charge. If you were to call for a cab to come to your office/home, then it will costs slightly more than Uber.

 

Yesterday night I dropped off a lady at Hillside Drive. Fwah, it's so deep inside. Wonder how she get to work everyday, have to depend on her parents dropping her off at the main road.

Hillside drive? Those landed property area sure very deep inside. Maybe she takes taxi everyday? Lol.

[ins1dious]

this is wat ive been posting abt that in the end when uber becomes really big n reduces driver incentives, it wont solve the current taxi situation... enjoy the ride while it lasts

 

True true.

 

But definitely the cab operators need to step up their game as well. For one... they can bring some sense into the cab rental rates. Are they a taxi service operator or are they a car rental company? They want to have their cake and eat it too. Comfort for example, reported a turnover of almost a billion SGD and revenue of almost $70m for year ended 2014 for its Singapore taxi business alone. And this is with about 17,000 taxis

 

KBW/LTA when scrutinizing Uber/Grabtaxi... should look into this and other factors (such as cost of COE or those various/confusing tiers of surcharges/fees) that add to the cost for these companies as well.

 

I don't think it will be challenging to meet the cost of Uber operations... only the customer service/expectations need to be met. 

Brown colour is SMRT.

 

Yes, Uber goes right to your doorstep at no charge. If you were to call for a cab to come to your office/home, then it will costs slightly more than Uber.

 

Yesterday night I dropped off a lady at Hillside Drive. Fwah, it's so deep inside. Wonder how she get to work everyday, have to depend on her parents dropping her off at the main road.

 

+1

 

And I think Uber will be also be a lot cheaper once the various midnight charges kicks in for the regular cabs.

[13177]

And I think Uber will be also be a lot cheaper once the various midnight charges kicks in for the regular cabs.

Uber ride should definitely cheaper than taxi during the peak hours and when you booked for a taxi. 

[Donut]

True true.

 

But definitely the cab operators need to step up their game as well. For one... they can bring some sense into the cab rental rates. Are they a taxi service operator or are they a car rental company? They want to have their cake and eat it too. Comfort for example, reported a turnover of almost a billion SGD and revenue of almost $70m for year ended 2014 for its Singapore taxi business alone. And this is with about 17,000 taxis

 

KBW/LTA when scrutinizing Uber/Grabtaxi... should look into this and other factors (such as cost of COE or those various/confusing tiers of surcharges/fees) that add to the cost for these companies as well.

 

I don't think it will be challenging to meet the cost of Uber operations... only the customer service/expectations need to be met. 

 

+1

 

And I think Uber will be also be a lot cheaper once the various midnight charges kicks in for the regular cabs.

 

Yeah, those taxi companies need to change biz model. They got too comfortable in our market as a "cartel"  They all forgot that this is a fast changing world.  They think they can eat the cake forever and forever.  Bloody blood suckers.

 

Same goes to our Telco companies "cartel".  When Whatsapp and those free calls apps came in, they made so much noise, say not fair la, blah blah blah. 

 

They all think everyday is Sunday........

[Fcw75]

Yeah, those taxi companies need to change biz model. They got too comfortable in our market as a "cartel"  They all forgot that this is a fast changing world.  They think they can eat the cake forever and forever.  Bloody blood suckers.

 

Same goes to our Telco companies "cartel".  When Whatsapp and those free calls apps came in, they made so much noise, say not fair la, blah blah blah. 

 

They all think everyday is Sunday........

 

As I mentioned before, they should step up to the challenge instead of cry father cry mother to the govt every time some thing not going their way.

[Kangadrool]

with apps, gahment should relook into opening up private taxi ownership again. 

[Blueray]

with apps, gahment should relook into opening up private taxi ownership again. 

 

oh, you mean the black and yellow ones ? good idea

[Nzy]

oh, you mean the black and yellow ones ? good idea

 

Those are still around right? I have seen a few of them. 

Edited October 31, 2015 by Nzy

[Blueray]

Those are still around right? I have seen a few of them. 

 

yup, but I think getting fewer and some in pretty run down condition ...

 

don't see new ones.

[Nzy]

yup, but I think getting fewer and some in pretty run down condition ...

 

don't see new ones.

 

The ones I saw were quite new. I think there was a camry and another Toyota.

[inlinesix]

True true.

 

But definitely the cab operators need to step up their game as well. For one... they can bring some sense into the cab rental rates. Are they a taxi service operator or are they a car rental company? They want to have their cake and eat it too. Comfort for example, reported a turnover of almost a billion SGD and revenue of almost $70m for year ended 2014 for its Singapore taxi business alone. And this is with about 17,000 taxis

 

KBW/LTA when scrutinizing Uber/Grabtaxi... should look into this and other factors (such as cost of COE or those various/confusing tiers of surcharges/fees) that add to the cost for these companies as well.

 

I don't think it will be challenging to meet the cost of Uber operations... only the customer service/expectations need to be met. 

 

+1

 

And I think Uber will be also be a lot cheaper once the various midnight charges kicks in for the regular cabs.

 

Reviewing policy on Uber/Grab has an impact on Future Economic Committee as Uber/Grab is disruptive technology.