Experiences using Uber/Lyft daily over an extended period of time? Sudden price hikes? (1 Viewer)

[Doug B]

To the point: If you use Uber or Lyft to commute to work at the same time every day over a few weeks ... does the price suddenly double (or more) after your first several rides?

Our one car is in the shop for major repair work. Has been there since early last week, getting it back late next week.

I've been calling Uber for my wife to get to work every morning (~five miles, no crossing the river, no downtown). All last week, her rides to work have been $17-19. Today, the price jumped to just under $42.

Now. I understand that Uber employs surge pricing. But that can't just be simple surge pricing alone, because it's the same trip as last week. Holiday pricing for St. Patrick's Day? Maybe, but at 7:00 a.m.? It was a little nippy outside this morning (47 degrees) where last week had mild mornings. Were more people who might have walked to work or to the bus stop suddenly calling an Uber to stay out of the cold?

Considering all of that ... is it a known thing that Uber's algorithm bumps up your rate once they "know" you have to get an Uber every day? Some Googling on the topic suggests that Uber's algorithm does exactly that. Some people switch between Uber and Lyft for this reason. Some people walk a block or two to change the pickup/dropoff locations so that Uber's algorithm doesn't make the connection (dubious about this one).

Anyone have any experiences or insight into this? Thank you in advance for any information and advice.

 

[Doug B]

Just as a data point ... I've just taken a look at the price to reserve an Uber ride tomorrow morning (via Uber Reserve). Right now, it's $27. I understand that I almost certainly won't get that price if I call for an on-demand ride tomorrow morning (right?).

 

[sonicboom]

Uber is great. No more waiting at the car repair shop for hours, just call Uber to take you home, so napping can be done.

I think Uber charges based on supply and demand. If you call during a busy period and only one person is available, maybe they have a really expensive luxury vehicle or something, so they charge a premium.

If you don't like the price, you can always call a Taxi, or something.

 

[Doug B]

Uber is great. No more waiting at the car repair show for hours, just call Uber to take you home, so napping can be done.

Until this morning, I'd have been in agreement. I've only ever used Uber for one-off rides until this past week, and the prices have always seemed reasonable. But the script has seemed to flipped now that we're using Uber regularly.

 

[Doug B]

Downloaded the Lyft app and checked with both right-now on-demand rides and reserved-in-advance rides. More expensive than Uber so far.

 

[buzd]

I've always thought the reserved rides were more expensive than on demand rides.

 

[buzd]

And I don't use if for commuting, but the rides I take regularly stay priced fairly consistently.

 

[St. Widge]

I've never used Uber for commuting. I did once use it for a week at Disney World and didn't have a problem with sudden price hikes and the cost remained consistent. But, I would imagine that the cost is going to be high for morning commutes due to the likelihood of traffic at that specific time and the amount of demand.

 

[Doug B]

would imagine that the cost is going to be high for morning commutes due to the likelihood of traffic at that specific time and the amount of demand

Yes, there is surge pricing between 7-9 am.

However: The surge pricing during morning rush hour last week was around $17-19. Today, the price for the same exact ride at the exact same time jumped to almost $42.

 

[St. Widge]

Yes, there is surge pricing between 7-9 am.

However: The surge pricing during morning rush hour last week was around $17-19. Today, the price for the same exact ride at the exact same time jumped to almost $42.

Yeah, that sucks. Maybe try a Taxi company? Only time I recall seeing numbers that high in New Orleans was on Endymion Saturday but I don't really use Uber much.

 

[Tapxe]

But that can't just be simple surge pricing alone, because it's the same trip as last week

Could be many different things or nothing at all.

My guest today is Keith Chen. He's a behavioral economist at UCLA. He's also the head of economic research at Uber, the ride-sharing company. Keith's going to talk about some of the behavioral anomalies that Uber has observed

 

[staphory]

Might it be better to just rent a car?