Uber? Cheaper, more convenient, cleaner?

KT17 · Dec 28, 2015

Cheaper, more convenient, cleaner?

Got an Addison Lee MPV to take 5 of us from KT17 to Stansted at the ungodly hour of 0430 last Weds, £170. Pristine new vehicle, class. Top driver.

On the way back my 20's kids told me to Uber it, quick and responsive, yes,... but knackered Seat Alhambra, stank of fags, wanted to go the wrong way round the M25 and the bill in the end was £177.

Hmm. Any thoughts?

seagull_in_malaysia · Dec 28, 2015

Last time I got an uber cab in Slough it was a brand new Mercedes sedan. Very nice inside - much better than a regular taxi.

mickybha · Dec 28, 2015

z z z z z z zzz

TWOCHOICEStom · Dec 28, 2015

If you ordered an Uber Pop you can't complain about the type of car. But it shouldn't stink of fags for sure. Email customer service. You may well get a refund.

Barham's tash · Dec 28, 2015

KT17 said:
Cheaper, more convenient, cleaner?

Got an Addison Lee MPV to take 5 of us from KT17 to Stansted at the ungodly hour of 0430 last Weds, £170. Pristine new vehicle, class. Top driver.

On the way back my 20's kids told me to Uber it, quick and responsive, yes,... but knackered Seat Alhambra, stank of fags, wanted to go the wrong way round the M25 and the bill in the end was £177.

Hmm. Any thoughts?

When uberring you can turn down options or drivers based on their ratings so you could have checked that first but still no guarantees I guess.

Hampster Gull · Dec 28, 2015

Kids huh

hopkins · Dec 28, 2015

Would they über from London to Brighton ? Just asking as late night gigs in London are a pain to get back from sometimes, and I'm getting old !

Raleigh Chopper · Dec 28, 2015

My bro in law just left to go home after visiting for Christmas he is a London cabbie.
We had a conversation about uber suffice to say he is very angry and sensitive about the subject.
Regarding uber there are two sides to every story but uber seem to be a very cut throat company ( for example when bombs go off and everyone just wants to flee in a cab their fares triple instantly)
On the other hand London cabbie are the world champions at moaning and wingeing.
Having listened to his side of the story it seems that Boris and London have let down the cabbies, it's complicated and no time to go into detail. But watch out for uninsured uber drivers there are a few about.

Hampster Gull · Dec 28, 2015

Raleigh Chopper said:
My bro in law just left to go home after visiting for Christmas he is a London cabbie.
We had a conversation about uber suffice to say he is very angry and sensitive about the subject.
Regarding uber there are two sides to every story but uber seem to be a very cut throat company ( for example when bombs go off and everyone just wants to flee in a cab their fares triple instantly)
On the other hand London cabbie are the world champions at moaning and wingeing.
Having listened to his side of the story it seems that Boris and London have let down the cabbies, it's complicated and no time to go into detail. But watch out for uninsured uber drivers there are a few about.

Wasnt there a legal case in the States that ruled they are emloyees not contractors?

arfer guinness · Dec 28, 2015

I always supported black cabs until a couple of years ago when one wanted to charge me £65 for 3 mile cab ride from Heathrow Terminal 5 to Ashford Middlesex. When I complained to their body I was told as it entailed going outside London they can charge whatever they want. Go for it Uber.

Raleigh Chopper · Dec 28, 2015

arfer guinness said:
I always supported black cabs until a couple of years ago when one wanted to charge me £65 for 3 mile cab ride from Heathrow Terminal 5 to Ashford Middlesex. When I complained to their body I was told as it entailed going outside London they can charge whatever they want. Go for it Uber.

We had similar many years ago, Heathrow to Northolt, Ashford is just around the corner as well.
The cabbie was well pissed off because he had waited in the Heathrow rank for ages.
Truth is that if they do not get a decent fare into London they can get a ticket that allows them to go straight back to the terminal.
I also doubt that Ashford counts as outside London so that sounds very wrong considering it was a short journey.
Often black cabs shoot themselves in the foot as I told my bro in law.
Also remember on many occasions a few years ago coming out of west end places at 2 or 3 am and asking to go south of the river (Bromley) and they just did not want to know and there were not many cabs around either.
Like I said, 2 sides to every story, but I still feel that black cabs in general have been let down.

arfer guinness · Dec 28, 2015

Raleigh Chopper said:
We had similar many years ago, Heathrow to Northolt, Ashford is just around the corner as well.
The cabbie was well pissed off because he had waited in the Heathrow rank for ages.
Truth is that if they do not get a decent fare into London they can get a ticket that allows them to go straight back to the terminal.
I also doubt that Ashford counts as outside London so that sounds very wrong considering it was a short journey.
Often black cabs shoot themselves in the foot as I told my bro in law.
Also remember on many occasions a few years ago coming out of west end places at 2 or 3 am and asking to go south of the river (Bromley) and they just did not want to know and there were not many cabs around either.
Like I said, 2 sides to every story, but I still feel that black cabs in general have been let down.

As Ashford comes under Spelthorne Council and is not an 020 phone number it's classified as outside London and they have a right not to use the meter. Also, they do not have to join the feeder rank if they return within, I think, half an hour. I used to work at terminal 3 and cabbies would sleep in their cabs overnight just to get the fare into London in the morning.

Raleigh Chopper · Dec 28, 2015

arfer guinness said:
As Ashford comes under Spelthorne Council and is not an 020 phone number it's classified as outside London and they have a right not to use the meter. Also, they do not have to join the feeder rank if they return within, I think, half an hour. I used to work at terminal 3 and cabbies would sleep in their cabs overnight just to get the fare into London in the morning.

Then that is wrong and uber wins this one hands down as it is a very short journey.
I hear that the surrounding streets around Heathrow are chocker with uber cabs and residents can't park.
It's all gone a bit mad in London on the cab scene what with Addison Lee and others as well.
If uber come to Plymouth I think there would be riots.

alfredmizen · Dec 28, 2015

Raleigh Chopper said:
My bro in law just left to go home after visiting for Christmas he is a London cabbie.
We had a conversation about uber suffice to say he is very angry and sensitive about the subject.
Regarding uber there are two sides to every story but uber seem to be a very cut throat company ( for example when bombs go off and everyone just wants to flee in a cab their fares triple instantly)
On the other hand London cabbie are the world champions at moaning and wingeing.
Having listened to his side of the story it seems that Boris and London have let down the cabbies, it's complicated and no time to go into detail. But watch out for uninsured uber drivers there are a few about.

dwayne · Dec 28, 2015

Always interesting to see these kind of topics on nsc. Brighton is definitely way behind London in a lot of trends. Uber is one of those, I believe it's coming to Brighton soon and will do with well. It's been life changing for me, and has made me a lot lazier in London and I use it a lot abroad as well. It's so much cheaper than black cabs.

As for the guy asking whether uber will do London to Brighton, they will......I got one for £110 .... Incredible value.

edna krabappel · Dec 28, 2015

Raleigh Chopper said:
Then that is wrong and uber wins this one hands down as it is a very short journey.
I hear that the surrounding streets around Heathrow are chocker with uber cabs and residents can't park.
It's all gone a bit mad in London on the cab scene what with Addison Lee and others as well.
If uber come to Plymouth I think there would be riots.

Addison Lee are the largest private hire company in the country, I think. I've stopped a few of their cars before & there were some in quite shocking condition (mechanically: I can't speak for their fragrance or seat covers...). So I guess the same applies in the mainstream private hire industry as well as Uber.

I do think there's something quite special about the traditional black cab drivers & the Knowledge, even if they are a bit pricey at times. I'm not sure any other city in the world has anything quite like that. It's not just the streets they know, they have to learn about shops, museums, attractions, places of worship and so on. It's phenomenal. It'd be sad if that was lost because of Uber & co.

Herr Tubthumper · Dec 28, 2015

Wouldn't happen in Germany

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-31942997

Herr Tubthumper · Dec 28, 2015

edna krabappel said:
I do think there's something quite special about the traditional black cab drivers & the Knowledge. It's not just the streets they know......

It's absolutely ****ing everything. Ask them anything and they'll have an opinion on it.

taz · Dec 28, 2015

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/p...and-women-shouldn-t-be-out-late-a6746781.html

edna krabappel · Dec 28, 2015

Herr Tubthumper said:
It's absolutely ****ing everything. Ask them anything and they'll have an opinion on it.

Fair one.

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