It's important to understand that surge is a rigged game. It is NOT a true reflection of the marketplace supply and demand. Many areas with no surge will have brisk demand, while some high surge areas will produce very few ride requests. That's because the real purpose of surge pricing is to maximize profits for Uber. And they do that by charging higher rates to those they believe WILL PAY IT. In other words, surge pricing targets price-insensitive riders. That is why you will always see it at bar closing time in certain neighborhoods, and during morning commute. Drivers all know about these times and places, the supply is ample, and yet prices still surge. That's because Uber does extensive tracking on the price elasticity of different types of users in different places and times. They know that someone that just arrived at a train station, for example, is not going to want to wait around for prices to go lower. They know that someone going to work needs to get there by a certain time. They know that drunks leaving a closing bar don't pay much attention to price. All this is to say that once you understand what surge really is and how it works, you can begin to think like Uber does. Then you can anticipate the times and places where surge is most likely to be. In other words, don't just look at where surge has been, understand WHY it happened there. Then position yourself where it is likely to happen next. Just always be thinking, where are the most price insensitive, needy, desperate riders likely to be in the next hour. Then just hang out there.
+Reflex Point Good point- you're saying surge pricing helps smooth structural/recurring imbalances in supply and demand. There's probably some truth to that. But if that were their only goal, it would be better accomplished by predictable "peak pricing" at specified times. Just add a surcharge at some hours the way some taxi services do. My point is that by keeping surge rates unpredictable and always changing, Uber is able to manage pricing in a way that benefits THEM.
we wouldn't have to chase a surge if Uber wouldn't keep cutting out rates. my area use to pay $1.60 a mile. after 4 cuts we now are paid $.60 a mile. tell me how that is fair in the first place when cost to operate a car is $.57 a mile.
Right, depending on states, IRS is letting you to deduct as driving expenses 50-57 cent/mile, What dose that mean to you a Slack!!!! or bonus from IRS??? get real you guys should stop driving, get yourself a real job Dude, Uber is just for desperate unemployeds!!!!
ciropersiano I have a salaried office job in downtown Seattle and am also my father paid caregiver, I drive for extra money so your comment is really unfair.
Whoa! Awesome tip about using the pax app for research purposes. I saw surging in specific areas, and too many cars with no surge in other areas. The busy places had cars disappearing quickly. Genius! I know nothing.
I'm a driver for uber and I'm enjoying working with uber cause I meat many people nd I saw many places im happy with uber actually each and every day I smile with my clients I open doors for them nd I ask them wat kind of radio must I play for even about the acon if it's sweetable for them thanks uber thanks again friends u can join uber u wil learn more THANKS A LOT UBER KEEP IT UP
I've come to rely on you for my information at this new Über driver lifestyle. I don't drive nights but have a vane that seats 7 (counting myself). Had no idea I could be paid more until I saw your UA-cam in the subject. They say to just write to them after the ride if there's a "pushback". Learning that everything I write needs at rip ID attached as well before its identified. Loaded in my vehicle twice as suggested. Thanks, man! Also, not getting paid when waiting for no shows that never cancelled. No shows listed on my trips since no ID's on cancelled trips. Finding "starting trip" and them "completing trip" at least gets it logged. Wish me luck.
+Marian McAfee It sounds like you've got the hang of this! Thank you so much for watching these videos, and for taking the time to comment. I hope I can continue to help you earn more money in the future as well. Stay safe out there!
This isn't a hard concept to understand. I write codes and scripts all the time. They likely writing all the logs to a SQL based server which any analyst can run a query with the set parameters to find manipulators.
very good video. i dont stress about surge tho the few time i waited a long time for surge to go up in an event i end up gettting a 2 mile trip...now days i make about $200 a day just taking regular uberx rides and every now and then i get lucky n get surge but i dont chase it or wait it out. imo the most important thing is finding what hours to drive to maximize your proffits
Your tips are awesome bro. Starting for uber this week gonna be using all your pro tips. I live in Atlanta so I'm pretty sure there's a regular surge here. Gonna start that research!
This video was great. I just had my most successful Friday and Saturday night. I worked the $18/hr guarantee and hit all requirements except one and that was a long ride which ate up the hour but I collected more than the guarantee would have paid. I must add that I drive a Passat so I get 30 to 32mph on the open rode. We are also at the $1.00 level and most hours the guarantee is $12/Hr. I must drive because I can't sit and do nothing so I need to satisfy the guarantee with only one ride per hour. I noticed that we are getting many more surges all day probably because we have less drivers working because of the new fares. It is easy to get sucked in to the negativity. I know I have just rambled on with no purpose but I thank Randy for giving me more understanding how the surges work.
your absolutely right, chasing a surge is like dangling red meat in front of a hungry tiger. it will disappear way before you get to it and riders will wait until it is gone. All of ubers updates have shown me it has been about them trying hard to gain more money and pay out less to drivers.
thanks for video on how to get most out of surge. I want to get more money for my time spent. thanks for all your videos. very great full for all you work and information you give.
I have been driving for Uber for 3 days now and I almost gave up until I saw your video. I live in Norman, OK and have not made anything significant yet. Last night I chased the Surge by driving from Norman to Edmond and back to SW Oklahoma City and almost made nothing out of it. I would appreciate it if you could teach me how to understand the tricks to the trade. Thanks.
+Uber Man hey I was scared cause after this morning I seen. I had 3stars by my name then I email them and said I was at 4.7 and now I check its at 4.8 I was like wow I was worried.... Do you know why it told me I was at 3stars???
I have been at this for a month in upstate NY. We have 3 to 4 surge areas and a lot of country/rural coverage. It is impossible to time this perfectly and even if I do. I get a 4 to 5 times surge and take the customer a few miles for a 20.00 fair. Then the surge is over. For me it is far better to just go with the flow and when I land in a surge so be it.
UM great video as always. I starred a new channel for just talking about Uber . NY Uber Diver Channel. With this topic I just posted a video about chasing or not chasing surge. This is because NYC is a different animal. I was the one who sent you pic on Facebook with to 2 drivers app not showing the same surge. Thank you for all you do for us with these videos.
WOW, thx, UM! This vlog has definitely prompted me to upgrade my phone so I can download the rider app. It had been suggested to me before but I didn't have enough "space" on my droid to download both partner AND rider app. hmmm...gonna have to "JUST-DO-IT"!
Could you expand a little more how you study the rider app for more info. I am familiar with either using a 2 phone system or toggling between the rider app and driver app, but you said in this video you learned tons by studying the rider app, but I didn't catch exactly what was learned. Thanks for any additional info you can provide.
now all we need is someone to create a program that can observe the rider app and track all the surge trends and create graphs with color coded maps output, so that we can just view the trends in increments of seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years just like the stock market once the data has been accumulated!
Surge chasing seems like a waste of time in my market. I just go to busy areas and surf it, as many rides as possible. I never try to reposition unless the ride took me to boondocks. I'm making $19-20 per hour payout, after Uber take, with this method. I'm sure I could up that if I surfed surges better. But my experience has been that the surge tends to disappear once I get there, or I get a ride that takes me out of the zone anyway.
+Reflex Point Yes, I have a Prius that has been getting 50+ MPG and it has been a very trouble free car. So I have been able to keep my expenses down. Also, I drive in DC which is a very good market for Uber, we never go very long without a ping.
So I'm Charlotte, and I'm watching both the partner and the rider app. Am I suppose to stay up all night to see exactly when the surge starts and ends? And on average, how many hours did you spend researching the rider app until you got it down when to be in the surge zones?
I've never used Uber, know very little about it, thought I'd get some information on being a part time driver for Uber or Lyft. I guess this isn't a beginner's video.! Surges, promo codes, other words that I haven't found an explanation for. A lot more to it than safely getting passengers from point A to point b. I hope someone's made a video for new or would be new drivers for either company
If I'm on my way to pick up a passenger without a surge, and I notice on the passenger app that there is a surge in the area, and thus cancel the trip to accept a trip with surge, is that surge manipulation?
20x20xmanutd No, BUT it is wrong, and they will flag you and watch the pattern. You can be deactivated for it, because you now cost the PAX surge $$ when there was no surge. It's just wrong.
Been driving in NJ and NYC with UberX for 2 years and want to upgrade. What is your recommendation for the type of vehicle to drive? Uber XL? Uber Black or go all the way with Uber SUV? Is the demand for Uber SUV really there to justify the cost of this vehicle? Can a Uber SUV take Uber Black, XL and X passengers as well and if so, how does that work on the app? What about a good way to get people to tip with Uber?
+Paul Eves If it were me... I'd try to go with SUV. 3rd row, 7 passenger. This way you are able to run UberX, UberXL, and UberSUV. I don't believe you can do Black with anything other than an Uber approved "black" vehicle. That is something you will want to ask them. This way, you should have no issues staying busy, and making the most with all platforms.
thank you for your video I just sign for uber they send an email saying that I am ready to start driving but don't know how to start . thanks for the video it is helpful
Couldn't a rider theoretically hire you to drive them just beyond the surge area perimeter, and then try to negotiate the remainder of his/her route with you at non-surge prices, as a second ride?
I'm not sure about going offline for a couple or so hours, when I can still pick up a bunch regular rides around town, to the airports, or who knows where; although I'm here in a major west coast metropolis, not Oklahoma City. I think you're ahead of your time in Oklahoma City, and probably would be in LA as well.
What I hate is when you're diving in a high surge area and then you get pinged to go 15 min out of your way to pick up a 0.00 surge passenger. I refuse to do that because A. thay tell you to drive in the area you want and B. i'm not going to waste my gas going across town to pick up in a non-surge area, I'm out to give people rides but I'm also out to make money. Uber HAS to understand that and if they don't! Fuck em i'll go work for someone else.
+grvonny Yes I don't understand that. I am in the middle of a surge and i get request from someone far away and outside that area. Why? And then if you don't accept it you will mess up your pick up percentage rate. So you are force to pick up someone far
+Raymond Siu I actually don't pick em up or accept it. if I don't take the pick up I'll, most of the time, get someone who is surging in a few minutes after. I have a 4.91 rating and I've maintained it for 8 months so I doubt they'll fire me😄
Thank you Randy. I am grateful for your guidance. Question: Just logging in for those few minutes may produce one ride at the high rate yet it is just one ride then surge is over. How does one maximize income overall? Doing it at all rush hours this way? The other times are not when the bars are open. Of course, this is only my second weekend out and I will certainly do my homework by continuing to watch your videos and driving, and learning the Passenger App as you recommended.
But if you wait in a surge area you can only get one ride at peek. By the time you finish if you try to go back it's all over. So how you supposed to make all these good money?
Great vid, but I have a lot of trouble tracking surges. Where I live it rarely surges, and the closest ones to me are 10-15 minutes away and are sparratic. I mainly drive the morning and evening rush. Any tips?
Pertinent question: I cannot find any icon that allows me to call a rider from outside a gated community until I've "arrived". Seems everyone else manages this but because I can't do this it's become a daily source of lost time & frustration etc. I've written to Über, asked on a blog and the inky answers I've received say "call the rider from your phone ". After arriving (inside the gate, at the exact address) I can then call. The rider, however, is able to call /text me whenever they want . Any ideas appreciated. You ARE the best! Thank you for my new life.
+Uber Man it's okay. Maybe someone else has a ton of gated communities that require access codes or guards that need a last name. I'll live. Appreciate your direct way and tremendous efforts. It's so generous !
+Marian McAfee Marian, if you click the clipboard icon on the top right hand corner of your driver app, it'll allow you to contact the rider directly to request the gate code and/or let them know you've arrived. you are more than welcome to message me if you still need help. btw... Uberman your videos are awesome!
Thanks for the info I was thinking that there stuff going on with the surge. There a area in my city but on the outside of the city. Every night it is a surge
Uber man, is there a way to see when an area surged through out the day? I accepted a fare when I thought it was surging but they didn't add surge to the fare.
Passed everything with flying colors. I'm doing the Leasing Program option, being I don't want to wear out my car too much. Just have to get down there to the dealership now. I live near Disneyland (California)by the way. Would you say that's good?. Any tips? :) You rock Man!! Keep it up!
Shawnofthe80s You're not doing the Santander lease right? That is a HORRIBLE deal. If it's the new financing program, that is a much better deal. I'd say Cali is a GREAT market. Just find your "spot".
I love your videos Uber Man !! Ive be slowly earning more and more since I have been watching , however I have a question about surges . If a rider request a ride from a surge zone , and I get pinged , do I get the surge price when I accept the ride or when I pick them up ?
HI Uberman. Have you heard of the Surge Chase App? Another driver told me about it and I'm just not sure about signing in on it due to it wants my Uber sign in. What are your thoughts?
I have a Dui in 2014 and got caught driving on a suspended license in 2015. I recently finished my Dui class did the hard suspension on my license and got my restriction off. now that I have my license back can I drive for uber and do the xchange lease? I'm 23 years old. thank you
Hey Uber Man, great video. I just started driving today, and am located up in NW OKC. Have you had any luck with the Edmond area? I really try to avoid downtown, but sounds like thats the money maker down there.
So what you are saying is that if you log in into the rider app it will first show if they have to pay a surge price but the driver app is still not showing that area in red? So if I am understanding correctly, I could be in an area where the surge area is about to begin, get a request and get paid the surge price before it displays on the driver app and I wold know that because on the rider app it was already displaying a surge price before. I am so confused!.. Please explain in detail this technical issue Thanks Uberman
+Uber Man To be honest, you should listen to Payton, you would have way more subs and views if you would get to the point faster and more clearly. I have tried watching several of your videos and although I think that you have great insight into how uber works, I do believe that your videos and how you communicate your points need some work. Anyways, thanks for your videos! Don't take it the wrong way I appreciate what you do!
+Uber Man Jorge put it perfectly. I'm sure we're not the only ones to feel this way. We wouldn't bother telling you this if we didn't want you to succeed. Just because you have a lot of views, doesn't mean you can't have more! Don't let your ego get in the way of learning and improving. One of the most important aspects of communication is knowing your audience. In my experience, the VAST majority of Uber drivers are men, so it can be assumed it's mostly men watching these videos. When men tell/listen to stories, we tend to want to get to the main point quickly without too many tangents. Succinct, clear communication.
Not really sure, but wouldn't you be able to use the Uber website to check surges? That way say, if your on your computer on netflix or something, you can split screen it?
hello Uber-man, i'm from San Diego ca. have a question for you, last Monday April 4 had a trip request from san ysidro boarder to riverside ca. it was a 112 miles ride and it was a 2.3 surge price, it was a 264 dlls fare for the rider but the trip is not showing on my trips, I've been told that the trip is on hold for security purposes do you know any thing about that?
also, why can't you just stay logged in and have Uber track your whereabouts, so they'll know who's in what area and whose closest to the fare for the fastest pick up? Does Uber have a dispatcher who can send the fare to your Uber/personal cell phone?
so ... was parked enjoying the night waiting for a ride when Surge hit, and I was right in the middle of it. 2.5 no less. BUT .. after 5+ minutes, no pings. Waited and Waited. . . . nothing. After about 8-10 minutes, the Surge vacated. Why No Rides .. What Did I Do Wrong.
Hello Uber Man, I just started driving 3 days / nights ago but I was not referred by anyone. How do I enter the PROMO CODE if I have already started driving? I have so many questions to ask you man. Do I just need to get to the Playstore and download the Rider App?
My surge map never tells me how much the surge is. For example it never says like "2x or 4x" It never says anything. I just have certain colors on the map in certain areas. Like one might be light orange, one might be yellow and one might be bright red, but none of them say anything. Is that possibly something that is just in my area? I'm sure the different colors mean different things, but I don't understand them. Thanks.
That's how Uber does it! LOL. Yes, many areas have the surge multipliers, others have those honeycombs. The deeper red it gets, the higher surge it should be.
Question - so there's an NHL Game and I can hear on the radio its last few minutes of the third. I log off, drive 15 mins to the stadium and wait until I'm in the middle of the surge to log on. Is that manipulation? Otherwise, sure as sh*t I'm going to get a ping before I get into the surge and never see it. Happens a lot!
Lyft has a place in the Rider app that asks the rider if they want to add a tip and that tip is included, whereby Uber tells riders they don't have to tip. The tips I have gotten was money actually handed to me.
hello I hope you can help me with this question. I was in surge area yesterday during rush hr Friday evening in LA I saw request come through peaking over 2 I accepted but learned after I drop customer it was flat fare I was pissed. I know this has to be incorrect and I was stuck in traffic for 1:57 min as well taking customer to game across town. what happen or is their something missing that I am not aware of. i am 100% sure it was red and peaking over 2.0 when I accepted. I am concern going forward if this has happened before or does this just slip through cracks on occasion? I just want make sure that Uber is holding up their end of bargin. OBW customer had me wait when I arrived and then had to go pick up additional person that was riding along that wasn't put in that I remember.
+dlp2600 They can have as many passengers as you have seat belts with no additional charge. As for the surge, you need to email partners@uber.com and have them check in to that.
uber man I live in Oklahoma city i just started driving for uber I have been doing it for 2 Weekends and I guess I'm uber x because I drive a 2014 Honda Accord I drove for like 8 hrs and barley made $100 I guess it's like a regular job ..
So out of all of the generic emails that they send and that you complain about how did you obtain enough information about Uber's platform and how they keep track of surge manipulation?
Always, always, always rate the non-tipping riders 4 or below to alert other drivers and yourself. Because, after a few non-tipping rides, these cheap riders' ratings will show up low 4 or below 4, then you decide...... Example, non-tipping riders after 5 rides (5+4+4+4+4)/5=4.20, after 10 no-tipping rides (5+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4)/10=4.10 ...... I'll not pick up riders with less than 4.33 rating because most likely these are either problem or non-tipping riders.
This sounds ridiculous how would you organize enough drivers to sign off to trigger a surge the time and effort it would take to organize that is not worth a 2.5x
why would any rider be okay with going with a 7x ride wage? like holy shit. I would never pay that much for a taxi... hell, that's the reason I don't use taxis...
+Garrett Stewart (GretSeat) Because some people are rich and can afford it. I've already pick up a few wealthy people and drove them to their mansions. They had no problem paying alot. But I do understand that the majority won't pay that much. Also maybe they might be in a rush and can't wait so they will pay that much. Also it could be 4 people in your car and they will split the bill. There are many different reasons why people will pay that much!
It's important to understand that surge is a rigged game. It is NOT a true reflection of the marketplace supply and demand. Many areas with no surge will have brisk demand, while some high surge areas will produce very few ride requests. That's because the real purpose of surge pricing is to maximize profits for Uber. And they do that by charging higher rates to those they believe WILL PAY IT. In other words, surge pricing targets price-insensitive riders. That is why you will always see it at bar closing time in certain neighborhoods, and during morning commute. Drivers all know about these times and places, the supply is ample, and yet prices still surge. That's because Uber does extensive tracking on the price elasticity of different types of users in different places and times. They know that someone that just arrived at a train station, for example, is not going to want to wait around for prices to go lower. They know that someone going to work needs to get there by a certain time. They know that drunks leaving a closing bar don't pay much attention to price.
All this is to say that once you understand what surge really is and how it works, you can begin to think like Uber does. Then you can anticipate the times and places where surge is most likely to be. In other words, don't just look at where surge has been, understand WHY it happened there. Then position yourself where it is likely to happen next. Just always be thinking, where are the most price insensitive, needy, desperate riders likely to be in the next hour. Then just hang out there.
+Reflex Point Good point- you're saying surge pricing helps smooth structural/recurring imbalances in supply and demand. There's probably some truth to that. But if that were their only goal, it would be better accomplished by predictable "peak pricing" at specified times. Just add a surcharge at some hours the way some taxi services do. My point is that by keeping surge rates unpredictable and always changing, Uber is able to manage pricing in a way that benefits THEM.
that's very tactical and logical. you, active/D? vet? paintball? milsim/airsoft?
that's very tactical and logical. you, active/D? vet? paintball? milsim/airsoft?
+Rideshare Warrior no, dummy. Surge rates only go to the driver. Uber doesn't get any extra profit from surge. Time to readjust your tinfoil hat
They get 25% of surge. Just like everything else
we wouldn't have to chase a surge if Uber wouldn't keep cutting out rates. my area use to pay $1.60 a mile. after 4 cuts we now are paid $.60 a mile. tell me how that is fair in the first place when cost to operate a car is $.57 a mile.
It does not cost $.57/mi to operate a car. You need to spend more time learning the true cost of this business.
+Uber Man true cost of the business? please educate me. tell me how 4 pay cuts down 37% of original pay is justified
Right, depending on states, IRS is letting you to deduct as driving expenses 50-57 cent/mile, What dose that mean to you a Slack!!!! or bonus from IRS??? get real you guys should stop driving, get yourself a real job Dude, Uber is just for desperate unemployeds!!!!
ciropersiano I have a salaried office job in downtown Seattle and am also my father paid caregiver, I drive for extra money so your comment is really unfair.
Don't blame Uber blame Lyft . Competition drops prices. Why would Uber want a lower price if they get a percentage of what you make.
Whoa! Awesome tip about using the pax app for research purposes. I saw surging in specific areas, and too many cars with no surge in other areas. The busy places had cars disappearing quickly. Genius! I know nothing.
+Aaron Pewtherer LOL, well I am Uber Man!!
I'm a driver for uber and I'm enjoying working with uber cause I meat many people nd I saw many places im happy with uber actually each and every day I smile with my clients I open doors for them nd I ask them wat kind of radio must I play for even about the acon if it's sweetable for them thanks uber thanks again friends u can join uber u wil learn more THANKS A LOT UBER KEEP IT UP
Happy to have you here!!
i dont do surge unless im there... i just drive in my city.
I've come to rely on you for my information at this new Über driver lifestyle. I don't drive nights but have a vane that seats 7 (counting myself).
Had no idea I could be paid more until I saw your UA-cam in the subject. They say to just write to them after the ride if there's a "pushback". Learning that everything I write needs at rip ID attached as well before its identified. Loaded in my vehicle twice as suggested. Thanks, man!
Also, not getting paid when waiting for no shows that never cancelled. No shows listed on my trips since no ID's on cancelled trips. Finding "starting trip" and them "completing trip" at least gets it logged. Wish me luck.
+Marian McAfee It sounds like you've got the hang of this! Thank you so much for watching these videos, and for taking the time to comment. I hope I can continue to help you earn more money in the future as well. Stay safe out there!
This isn't a hard concept to understand. I write codes and scripts all the time. They likely writing all the logs to a SQL based server which any analyst can run a query with the set parameters to find manipulators.
how did you learn?
very good video. i dont stress about surge tho the few time i waited a long time for surge to go up in an event i end up gettting a 2 mile trip...now days i make about $200 a day just taking regular uberx rides and every now and then i get lucky n get surge but i dont chase it or wait it out. imo the most important thing is finding what hours to drive to maximize your proffits
Your tips are awesome bro. Starting for uber this week gonna be using all your pro tips. I live in Atlanta so I'm pretty sure there's a regular surge here. Gonna start that research!
+Maurice Weathington Go get that money, it's out there! Thank you, and please let me know how it goes. Good luck to you.
This video was great. I just had my most successful Friday and Saturday night. I worked the $18/hr guarantee and hit all requirements except one and that was a long ride which ate up the hour but I collected more than the guarantee would have paid. I must add that I drive a Passat so I get 30 to 32mph on the open rode. We are also at the $1.00 level and most hours the guarantee is $12/Hr. I must drive because I can't sit and do nothing so I need to satisfy the guarantee with only one ride per hour. I noticed that we are getting many more surges all day probably because we have less drivers working because of the new fares. It is easy to get sucked in to the negativity. I know I have just rambled on with no purpose but I thank Randy for giving me more understanding how the surges work.
+Robert Rosen I'm glad it's working out for you. And thank you for commenting, and watching!
your absolutely right, chasing a surge is like dangling red meat in front of a hungry tiger. it will disappear way before you get to it and riders will wait until it is gone. All of ubers updates have shown me it has been about them trying hard to gain more money and pay out less to drivers.
thanks for video on how to get most out of surge. I want to get more money for my time spent. thanks for all your videos. very great full for all you work and information you give.
+Paul Novak Thank YOU! I appreciate you watching, and taking time to comment.
I have been driving for Uber for 3 days now and I almost gave up until I saw your video. I live in Norman, OK and have not made anything significant yet.
Last night I chased the Surge by driving from Norman to Edmond and back to SW Oklahoma City and almost made nothing out of it.
I would appreciate it if you could teach me how to understand the tricks to the trade.
Thanks.
ua-cam.com/play/PLENTlY20kQN10y1JwuHRWc8SfOfE4rWly.html
Friend me on Facebook: facebook.com/randyshear1980
My ninja with the clutch late night uploads
Kavoen Sachedina :) Ya know it maaaan!
Hey guys today was my 1st day as a uber driver in 2hrs I did 44.39 great for 3 trips .... I also have another job from 4pm-11pm
+cartel pineda Good work! Welcome to Uber!
+Uber Man hey I was scared cause after this morning I seen. I had 3stars by my name then I email them and said I was at 4.7 and now I check its at 4.8 I was like wow I was worried.... Do you know why it told me I was at 3stars???
Thanks for making this video....I'm definitely going to start utilizing the rider app....
gen genn You bet.. It is a valuable tool for us drivers.
I have been at this for a month in upstate NY. We have 3 to 4 surge areas and a lot of country/rural coverage. It is impossible to time this perfectly and even if I do. I get a 4 to 5 times surge and take the customer a few miles for a 20.00 fair. Then the surge is over. For me it is far better to just go with the flow and when I land in a surge so be it.
You are the man Randy!!! Don't judge me but I study your videos!! Helps me out a lot
carlton robinson That's what I'm here for! :) Study away! And thank you.
you're amazing. love the video .I'm a new driver .I really don't understand how to make the most of the surge .now I know better .thanks know you
Happy to help!
UM great video as always. I starred a new channel for just talking about Uber . NY Uber Diver Channel. With this topic I just posted a video about chasing or not chasing surge. This is because NYC is a different animal. I was the one who sent you pic on Facebook with to 2 drivers app not showing the same surge. Thank you for all you do for us with these videos.
NY Uber Driver I just got that!! I'm confused as to how that works... Something is VERY wrong with that man, what is your take on it?
WOW, thx, UM! This vlog has definitely prompted me to upgrade my phone so I can download the rider app. It had been suggested to me before but I didn't have enough "space" on my droid to download both partner AND rider app. hmmm...gonna have to "JUST-DO-IT"!
+divinelez02 Just fo it! Get that nice new device!
Could you expand a little more how you study the rider app for more info. I am familiar with either using a 2 phone system or toggling between the rider app and driver app, but you said in this video you learned tons by studying the rider app, but I didn't catch exactly what was learned. Thanks for any additional info you can provide.
now all we need is someone to create a program that can observe the rider app and track all the surge trends and create graphs with color coded maps output, so that we can just view the trends in increments of seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years just like the stock market once the data has been accumulated!
+EasternMerchant That'd be great
EasternMerchant I agree,but also they need to make an app where the most rides are given at any time.
And track the time of the year too.
Glad I stayed on to watch the "Up next" video, thanks for this.
LOL
geez. in DC we never get more than 4x surge.
Surge chasing seems like a waste of time in my market. I just go to busy areas and surf it, as many rides as possible. I never try to reposition unless the ride took me to boondocks. I'm making $19-20 per hour payout, after Uber take, with this method. I'm sure I could up that if I surfed surges better. But my experience has been that the surge tends to disappear once I get there, or I get a ride that takes me out of the zone anyway.
Ken Ramsey Some markets are like that, and you do what works for you. Sounds like you have it pretty well figured out.
+Reflex Point Yes, I have a Prius that has been getting 50+ MPG and it has been a very trouble free car. So I have been able to keep my expenses down. Also, I drive in DC which is a very good market for Uber, we never go very long without a ping.
Catching a ride in the surge then going offline to get back to surge, is that ok?
Yes it is.
So I'm Charlotte, and I'm watching both the partner and the rider app. Am I suppose to stay up all night to see exactly when the surge starts and ends? And on average, how many hours did you spend researching the rider app until you got it down when to be in the surge zones?
I spent many, many hours over a week observing. This takes work to get down.
+Uber Man how consistent are the surges in the particular area you mapped out?
I drive in okc. Wow! That surge and $1 a mile, things have changed!
Do Uber drivers get any of the surge monies, when driving the passenger? Or does it all go directly to Uber?
I've never used Uber, know very little about it, thought I'd get some information on being a part time driver for Uber or Lyft.
I guess this isn't a beginner's video.! Surges, promo codes, other words that I haven't found an explanation for. A lot more to it than safely getting passengers from point A to point b. I hope someone's made a video for new or would be new drivers for either company
is there anyway to add a promo code after you have already signed so you can get your 30 ride bonus?
Yes there is. It's in the app under "help". My referral code is 3ORKNX you can email me @ ubermanyoutube@cox.net
If i log off 30m prior to surge and log on when it peaks, would that be considered as manipulation?
+Albert Shevchuk Do you log back on after surge? Do you do this often?
yes i keep working till 3-4am, and i do it weekends, i mean thats prob the only time it will work
Depends, are riders requesting in that 30 minutes? Here, that rarely happens, as 90% of riders don't request until bars close.
If I'm on my way to pick up a passenger without a surge, and I notice on the passenger app that there is a surge in the area, and thus cancel the trip to accept a trip with surge, is that surge manipulation?
20x20xmanutd No, BUT it is wrong, and they will flag you and watch the pattern. You can be deactivated for it, because you now cost the PAX surge $$ when there was no surge. It's just wrong.
Been driving in NJ and NYC with UberX for 2 years and want to upgrade. What is your recommendation for the type of vehicle to drive? Uber XL? Uber Black or go all the way with Uber SUV? Is the demand for Uber SUV really there to justify the cost of this vehicle? Can a Uber SUV take Uber Black, XL and X passengers as well and if so, how does that work on the app? What about a good way to get people to tip with Uber?
+Paul Eves If it were me... I'd try to go with SUV. 3rd row, 7 passenger. This way you are able to run UberX, UberXL, and UberSUV. I don't believe you can do Black with anything other than an Uber approved "black" vehicle. That is something you will want to ask them. This way, you should have no issues staying busy, and making the most with all platforms.
thank you for your video I just sign for uber they send an email saying that I am ready to start driving but don't know how to start . thanks for the video it is helpful
You bet! Start here: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ubercab.driver&hl=en
Couldn't a rider theoretically hire you to drive them just beyond the surge area perimeter, and then try to negotiate the remainder of his/her route with you at non-surge prices, as a second ride?
+VideoNOLA Yes, they could per Uber's TOS.
What do you mean by "you'll see cars popping up and disappear"?
do you need 2 phones, one for rider app? and one for driver? very good tips,appretiated it.
+rafael guerrero No, you can run both from one device.
I'm not sure about going offline for a couple or so hours, when I can still pick up a bunch regular rides around town, to the airports, or who knows where; although I'm here in a major west coast metropolis, not Oklahoma City. I think you're ahead of your time in Oklahoma City, and probably would be in LA as well.
Thank you Bobby. I really appreciate that. Around these parts it dies out for awhile.
What I hate is when you're diving in a high surge area and then you get pinged to go 15 min out of your way to pick up a 0.00 surge passenger. I refuse to do that because A. thay tell you to drive in the area you want and B. i'm not going to waste my gas going across town to pick up in a non-surge area, I'm out to give people rides but I'm also out to make money. Uber HAS to understand that and if they don't! Fuck em i'll go work for someone else.
+grvonny I agree 100%
+grvonny Yes I don't understand that. I am in the middle of a surge and i get request from someone far away and outside that area. Why? And then if you don't accept it you will mess up your pick up percentage rate. So you are force to pick up someone far
+Raymond Siu I actually don't pick em up or accept it. if I don't take the pick up I'll, most of the time, get someone who is surging in a few minutes after. I have a 4.91 rating and I've maintained it for 8 months so I doubt they'll fire me😄
The acceptance rate worth nothing and is resetting after 7 days. Always decline these far away requests and low rating cheap riders. Next!
Thank you Randy. I am grateful for your guidance. Question: Just logging in for those few minutes may produce one ride at the high rate yet it is just one ride then surge is over. How does one maximize income overall? Doing it at all rush hours this way? The other times are not when the bars are open. Of course, this is only my second weekend out and I will certainly do my homework by continuing to watch your videos and driving, and learning the Passenger App as you recommended.
+Peter Listino Thank you, and you are most welcome. Best thing to do, is work the rushes. AM rush to work, evening rush home, bar close rushes.
+Uber Man Thank you for your helpful reply.
Hello Uber Man, i dont see the other cars on my app like u explained. Is there something wrong with my app?
You have to use the passenger app. Not the driver app.
But if you wait in a surge area you can only get one ride at peek. By the time you finish if you try to go back it's all over. So how you supposed to make all these good money?
Can u explain in more detail watching the cars in the Uber rider app?
Is the regular App from uber for customers only.
Great info thinking about starting driving since I recently lost my job. subbed thumbs up
+MrNITEHAWK82 How is it going mate?
Great vid, but I have a lot of trouble tracking surges. Where I live it rarely surges, and the closest ones to me are 10-15 minutes away and are sparratic. I mainly drive the morning and evening rush. Any tips?
I wish I did have some tips for you. Driving the rush only is hit, or miss.
Pertinent question: I cannot find any icon that allows me to call a rider from outside a gated community until I've "arrived". Seems everyone else manages this but because I can't do this it's become a daily source of lost time & frustration etc. I've written to Über, asked on a blog and the inky answers I've received say "call the rider from your phone ". After arriving (inside the gate, at the exact address) I can then call. The rider, however, is able to call /text me whenever they want . Any ideas appreciated. You ARE the best! Thank you for my new life.
+Marian McAfee This is the first time I've heard of this issue. I wish I could help, but I'm at a loss here! I am sorry :(
+Uber Man it's okay. Maybe someone else has a ton of gated communities that require access codes or guards that need a last name. I'll live. Appreciate your direct way and tremendous efforts. It's so generous !
+Marian McAfee Marian, if you click the clipboard icon on the top right hand corner of your driver app, it'll allow you to contact the rider directly to request the gate code and/or let them know you've arrived. you are more than welcome to message me if you still need help. btw... Uberman your videos are awesome!
Can you put the code on my reply the arrow is blocking it and how do I get a vehicle with uber help?
+lawndaleboy1 3ORKNX is my code. I'd stay away from using Uber to get a car.
how do you work the system to your advantage if most of your town is college student revenue?
Thanks man! Great information I really appreciate it! There is definitely an art to driving for Uber.
***** We are the artists ;) Thanks for watching.
I am an early riser. Would there be enough Uber requests in Greater Baltimore to start Uber driving at 5 a.m.? How would one know?
Join the Uber Man Driver Network on Facebook, and ask people that drive that market.
Thanks for the info I was thinking that there stuff going on with the surge. There a area in my city but on the outside of the city. Every night it is a surge
Uber man, is there a way to see when an area surged through out the day? I accepted a fare when I thought it was surging but they didn't add surge to the fare.
+riman34 Sadly, no there's not. Sorry.
+Uber Man thank you
Yeah, surge history would be a data goldmine.
+Brent driver companion on Android. Not sure how well it works but I'm trying it out don't know much about it yet.
Passed everything with flying colors. I'm doing the Leasing Program option, being I don't want to wear out my car too much. Just have to get down there to the dealership now. I live near Disneyland (California)by the way. Would you say that's good?. Any tips? :) You rock Man!! Keep it up!
Shawnofthe80s You're not doing the Santander lease right? That is a HORRIBLE deal. If it's the new financing program, that is a much better deal. I'd say Cali is a GREAT market. Just find your "spot".
Uber Man, is there a way that drivers can receive a text message alert from Uber when there is a surge? (or from any other source)
Yes, there is. It's in the settings of the driver app. Open the driver app, click on account, click on settings. Click on Surge Pricing.
+Uber Man I just tried that and I don't see anything about surge pricing in the driver app
Hi, I've never seen any cars, where do you see them at??
Use the passenger app.
Uber man who surge pays more Lyft or uber ? And does Lyft and uber has max fare?
I love your videos Uber Man !! Ive be slowly earning more and more since I have been watching , however I have a question about surges . If a rider request a ride from a surge zone , and I get pinged , do I get the surge price when I accept the ride or when I pick them up ?
You get the surge rate that was there when you accepted it. Thanks for the compliment, and I am happy your getting better! Stay safe.
next ride isn't woking well half cancel rides I've seen it happen every night
+gary harris Well that stinks. I haven't even seen one here at all in some time.
HI Uberman. Have you heard of the Surge Chase App? Another driver told me about it and I'm just not sure about signing in on it due to it wants my Uber sign in. What are your thoughts?
I have not heard of it. I'd not use it.
I have a Dui in 2014 and got caught driving on a suspended license in 2015. I recently finished my Dui class did the hard suspension on my license and got my restriction off. now that I have my license back can I drive for uber and do the xchange lease? I'm 23 years old. thank you
Does the partner app show surge zones still? I just see a google map with no zones. (Android app)
+upgrader99 It is sketchy. Mine works, until I drive in to the zone, then it goes away...
Hey Uber Man, great video. I just started driving today, and am located up in NW OKC. Have you had any luck with the Edmond area? I really try to avoid downtown, but sounds like thats the money maker down there.
I used to stay busy in Edmond. OKC is busier though.
So what you are saying is that if you log in into the rider app it will first show if they have to pay a surge price but the driver app is still not showing that area in red?
So if I am understanding correctly, I could be in an area where the surge area is about to begin, get a request and get paid the surge price before it displays on the driver app and I wold know that because on the rider app it was already displaying a surge price before.
I am so confused!.. Please explain in detail this technical issue
Thanks Uberman
+Raymond Siu That is correct.
I live in Orlando, FL. My area down town has a surge ever night almost. How do I find it using the rider app?
Too many words. Always get to the point. Key to good teaching.
+Louis Payton Good advice, but after 2 years, and almost 14K subs, I do what I do, and it seems to work. Thanks though.
+Uber Man To be honest, you should listen to Payton, you would have way more subs and views if you would get to the point faster and more clearly. I have tried watching several of your videos and although I think that you have great insight into how uber works, I do believe that your videos and how you communicate your points need some work.
Anyways, thanks for your videos! Don't take it the wrong way I appreciate what you do!
+Uber Man Jorge put it perfectly. I'm sure we're not the only ones to feel this way. We wouldn't bother telling you this if we didn't want you to succeed. Just because you have a lot of views, doesn't mean you can't have more! Don't let your ego get in the way of learning and improving. One of the most important aspects of communication is knowing your audience. In my experience, the VAST majority of Uber drivers are men, so it can be assumed it's mostly men watching these videos. When men tell/listen to stories, we tend to want to get to the main point quickly without too many tangents. Succinct, clear communication.
Not really sure, but wouldn't you be able to use the Uber website to check surges? That way say, if your on your computer on netflix or something, you can split screen it?
DatGuyUnknown | Let The Unknown Gaming Begin! You can't see surges on the website.
Oh that sucks!
Do you recommend I get the Uber phone and use my personal phone for the rider app.
+Darrell Williams Personal phone is best.
If I’m in the surge area, but a ping comes from 15 minutes away, do I still get surge pricing?
hello Uber-man, i'm from San Diego ca. have a question for you, last Monday April 4 had a trip request from san ysidro boarder to riverside ca. it was a 112 miles ride and it was a 2.3 surge price, it was a 264 dlls fare for the rider but the trip is not showing on my trips, I've been told that the trip is on hold for security purposes do you know any thing about that?
+Bernardo Gutierrez This is completely normal.
also, why can't you just stay logged in and have Uber track your whereabouts, so they'll know who's in what area and whose closest to the fare for the fastest pick up? Does Uber have a dispatcher who can send the fare to your Uber/personal cell phone?
That is how it works. Just like you said.
so ... was parked enjoying the night waiting for a ride when Surge hit, and I was right in the middle of it. 2.5 no less. BUT .. after 5+ minutes, no pings. Waited and Waited. . . . nothing. After about 8-10 minutes, the Surge vacated.
Why No Rides .. What Did I Do Wrong.
Nothing at all. Sometimes that happens.
Hello Uber Man, I just started driving 3 days / nights ago but I was not referred by anyone.
How do I enter the PROMO CODE if I have already started driving?
I have so many questions to ask you man. Do I just need to get to the Playstore and download the Rider App?
Yes, download the rider app as well. It's probably too late to enter a promo code, sorry.
Do you ever come back out to do some work for Uber any more Randy ? Or is it all over in your city ?
Rex.
What if you live in a small town wanting to go to larger to make it worthwhile?
My surge map never tells me how much the surge is. For example it never says like "2x or 4x" It never says anything. I just have certain colors on the map in certain areas. Like one might be light orange, one might be yellow and one might be bright red, but none of them say anything. Is that possibly something that is just in my area? I'm sure the different colors mean different things, but I don't understand them. Thanks.
That's how Uber does it! LOL. Yes, many areas have the surge multipliers, others have those honeycombs. The deeper red it gets, the higher surge it should be.
even when you zoom in?
Yes. Zooming in works! Thanks!
no problem
Question - so there's an NHL Game and I can hear on the radio its last few minutes of the third. I log off, drive 15 mins to the stadium and wait until I'm in the middle of the surge to log on. Is that manipulation? Otherwise, sure as sh*t I'm going to get a ping before I get into the surge and never see it. Happens a lot!
super helpful vid @uberman thank you!
You're welcome. Thanks for watching, and commenting.
rarely do I hear about tips? Are tips not allowed driving for Uber??
Yes they are.
Lyft has a place in the Rider app that asks the rider if they want to add a tip and that tip is included, whereby Uber tells riders they don't have to tip. The tips I have gotten was money actually handed to me.
You are awesome. So glad I found you on UA-cam
Thanks! I appreciate that.
hello uber man, still the rider app good for finding hot spots, thanks for your tips.
+rafael guerrero Hi, yes it sure is.
Thanks, keep us posted on latest of the strike, keep up the good work.
+rafael guerrero Will do. Thank you.
how long have you done uber and delt with taxes at the end of the year
This November is 3 years.
+Uber Man get an accountant. I married one.
Joseph Altschul I know taxes. S/P for 12 years. :)
I'm just bragging
hello I hope you can help me with this question. I was in surge area yesterday during rush hr Friday evening in LA I saw request come through peaking over 2 I accepted but learned after I drop customer it was flat fare I was pissed. I know this has to be incorrect and I was stuck in traffic for 1:57 min as well taking customer to game across town. what happen or is their something missing that I am not aware of. i am 100% sure it was red and peaking over 2.0 when I accepted. I am concern going forward if this has happened before or does this just slip through cracks on occasion? I just want make sure that Uber is holding up their end of bargin. OBW customer had me wait when I arrived and then had to go pick up additional person that was riding along that wasn't put in that I remember.
+dlp2600 They can have as many passengers as you have seat belts with no additional charge. As for the surge, you need to email partners@uber.com and have them check in to that.
can you set Uber only for your local area only?...
Sadly, no.
Thanks for the info brother....👍
uber man I live in Oklahoma city i just started driving for uber I have been doing it for 2 Weekends and I guess I'm uber x because I drive a 2014 Honda Accord I drove for like 8 hrs and barley made $100 I guess it's like a regular job ..
Many thanks for this insightful video ! I really appreciate your candour. God bless.
I made 53 dollars yesterday night and I plan to do Sacramento early
+blueeyed vroom Nice!!
I don't chase the surge at all i just sit in my area and wait for pings because i know eventually my ping will get me there
Thanks for liking my comment 😀
So out of all of the generic emails that they send and that you complain about how did you obtain enough information about Uber's platform and how they keep track of surge manipulation?
Over 3 years, and these videos, I've gotten to know a few people.
Always, always, always rate the non-tipping riders 4 or below to alert other drivers and yourself. Because, after a few non-tipping rides, these cheap riders' ratings will show up low 4 or below 4, then you decide...... Example, non-tipping riders after 5 rides (5+4+4+4+4)/5=4.20, after 10 no-tipping rides (5+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4)/10=4.10 ...... I'll not pick up riders with less than 4.33 rating because most likely these are either problem or non-tipping riders.
hey...any suggestions for nyc drivers?
This sounds ridiculous how would you organize enough drivers to sign off to trigger a surge the time and effort it would take to organize that is not worth a 2.5x
How do you see surges in the uber app?
7x surge?!?!? California driver could kill for that kind of surge...
willski81r It's a great market here.
how much can you do in 30 min???
+Sherif Ali Depends on surge, location, PAX, etc.
Hello 😊 do you still Uber and does your referral code still work?
Thanks! Awesome info, keep it up!
Thanks!
great info. thanks!
+begbrain You are welcome. Thanks for watching.
why would any rider be okay with going with a 7x ride wage? like holy shit. I would never pay that much for a taxi... hell, that's the reason I don't use taxis...
+Garrett Stewart (GretSeat) Because some people are rich and can afford it. I've already pick up a few wealthy people and drove them to their mansions. They had no problem paying alot. But I do understand that the majority won't pay that much. Also maybe they might be in a rush and can't wait so they will pay that much. Also it could be 4 people in your car and they will split the bill. There are many different reasons why people will pay that much!
+Garrett Stewart (GretSeat) Some people are too drunk to realize how much they are about to spend, others can afford it, and just don't care.