London cabbies to protest over smartphone app.
Discussion
Centurion07 said:
Card merchant companies charge more for the wireless facility, so a shop's credit charges might amount to 2/3% of card payments, for taxis it will be A LOT higher.
When you take into account what the average fare is going to be compared to an average shop purchase, taking card payments as a taxi driver works out a lot more expensive when compared to a shop.
err no they don't, When you take into account what the average fare is going to be compared to an average shop purchase, taking card payments as a taxi driver works out a lot more expensive when compared to a shop.
currently run 2 businesses in our household, wife runs a shop, I run a cab company.
both with worldpay both running 2 terminals, hers wired, mine simcard wireless. both cost exactly the same.
depending on your merchant services provider you'll pay a fixed percentage per transaction can be as low as 1.5% although most merchant providers will give you a set amount free included with your terminal rental costs.
I have and still do work both sides of the fence, Private hire(minicab for the southerners) company bit of uber on the side when its quiet.
its a fantastic platform, although I think they have and continue to make some mistakes (surge pricing for one). they are now the biggest cab operator in the UK by qute some margin and I really expect them to be the dominant player in most of the markets they service as for the question of insurance, all docs are checked by uber offices no valid docs on the system no jobs coming through. driver vetting (in the UK) is carried out by local authorities not Uber and again this has to be on file, no licence, no jobs dispatched to the drivers account. personally speaking in my eyes its one of the safest platforms to book a cab through, with them being one of only a handful of providers to provide a photograph of your driver.(lots of people out driving a cab with someone elses licence/vehicle.
anyone have any questions/queries fire away
Glasgowrob said:
I have and still do work both sides of the fence, Private hire(minicab for the southerners) company bit of uber on the side when its quiet.
its a fantastic platform, although I think they have and continue to make some mistakes (surge pricing for one). they are now the biggest cab operator in the UK by qute some margin and I really expect them to be the dominant player in most of the markets they service as for the question of insurance, all docs are checked by uber offices no valid docs on the system no jobs coming through. driver vetting (in the UK) is carried out by local authorities not Uber and again this has to be on file, no licence, no jobs dispatched to the drivers account. personally speaking in my eyes its one of the safest platforms to book a cab through, with them being one of only a handful of providers to provide a photograph of your driver.(lots of people out driving a cab with someone elses licence/vehicle.
anyone have any questions/queries fire away
That's interesting, thanks. Can you answer one of the pressing questions ? Does Uber give you a sufficient fare to make a reasonable profit ? I'm not talking the profitable airport runs but if you get, say, 6 Uber fares of an evening, say £8 each, will you keep enough after costs and Uber's cut, to make it properly profitable ?its a fantastic platform, although I think they have and continue to make some mistakes (surge pricing for one). they are now the biggest cab operator in the UK by qute some margin and I really expect them to be the dominant player in most of the markets they service as for the question of insurance, all docs are checked by uber offices no valid docs on the system no jobs coming through. driver vetting (in the UK) is carried out by local authorities not Uber and again this has to be on file, no licence, no jobs dispatched to the drivers account. personally speaking in my eyes its one of the safest platforms to book a cab through, with them being one of only a handful of providers to provide a photograph of your driver.(lots of people out driving a cab with someone elses licence/vehicle.
anyone have any questions/queries fire away
Glasgowrob said:
I have and still do work both sides of the fence, Private hire(minicab for the southerners) company bit of uber on the side when its quiet.
How do you cope with switching over backflashes depending which system you're working on? And how does the private hire firm feel about you working on 2 systems?George111 said:
Glasgowrob said:
I have and still do work both sides of the fence, Private hire(minicab for the southerners) company bit of uber on the side when its quiet.
its a fantastic platform, although I think they have and continue to make some mistakes (surge pricing for one). they are now the biggest cab operator in the UK by qute some margin and I really expect them to be the dominant player in most of the markets they service as for the question of insurance, all docs are checked by uber offices no valid docs on the system no jobs coming through. driver vetting (in the UK) is carried out by local authorities not Uber and again this has to be on file, no licence, no jobs dispatched to the drivers account. personally speaking in my eyes its one of the safest platforms to book a cab through, with them being one of only a handful of providers to provide a photograph of your driver.(lots of people out driving a cab with someone elses licence/vehicle.
anyone have any questions/queries fire away
That's interesting, thanks. Can you answer one of the pressing questions ? Does Uber give you a sufficient fare to make a reasonable profit ? I'm not talking the profitable airport runs but if you get, say, 6 Uber fares of an evening, say £8 each, will you keep enough after costs and Uber's cut, to make it properly profitable ?its a fantastic platform, although I think they have and continue to make some mistakes (surge pricing for one). they are now the biggest cab operator in the UK by qute some margin and I really expect them to be the dominant player in most of the markets they service as for the question of insurance, all docs are checked by uber offices no valid docs on the system no jobs coming through. driver vetting (in the UK) is carried out by local authorities not Uber and again this has to be on file, no licence, no jobs dispatched to the drivers account. personally speaking in my eyes its one of the safest platforms to book a cab through, with them being one of only a handful of providers to provide a photograph of your driver.(lots of people out driving a cab with someone elses licence/vehicle.
anyone have any questions/queries fire away
Glasgowrob said:
George111 said:
Glasgowrob said:
I have and still do work both sides of the fence, Private hire(minicab for the southerners) company bit of uber on the side when its quiet.
its a fantastic platform, although I think they have and continue to make some mistakes (surge pricing for one). they are now the biggest cab operator in the UK by qute some margin and I really expect them to be the dominant player in most of the markets they service as for the question of insurance, all docs are checked by uber offices no valid docs on the system no jobs coming through. driver vetting (in the UK) is carried out by local authorities not Uber and again this has to be on file, no licence, no jobs dispatched to the drivers account. personally speaking in my eyes its one of the safest platforms to book a cab through, with them being one of only a handful of providers to provide a photograph of your driver.(lots of people out driving a cab with someone elses licence/vehicle.
anyone have any questions/queries fire away
That's interesting, thanks. Can you answer one of the pressing questions ? Does Uber give you a sufficient fare to make a reasonable profit ? I'm not talking the profitable airport runs but if you get, say, 6 Uber fares of an evening, say £8 each, will you keep enough after costs and Uber's cut, to make it properly profitable ?its a fantastic platform, although I think they have and continue to make some mistakes (surge pricing for one). they are now the biggest cab operator in the UK by qute some margin and I really expect them to be the dominant player in most of the markets they service as for the question of insurance, all docs are checked by uber offices no valid docs on the system no jobs coming through. driver vetting (in the UK) is carried out by local authorities not Uber and again this has to be on file, no licence, no jobs dispatched to the drivers account. personally speaking in my eyes its one of the safest platforms to book a cab through, with them being one of only a handful of providers to provide a photograph of your driver.(lots of people out driving a cab with someone elses licence/vehicle.
anyone have any questions/queries fire away
From what I have read, drivers need to basically work 18 hour days to make any sort of good money after costs? I assumed this was non surge times.
drainbrain said:
How do you cope with switching over backflashes depending which system you're working on? And how does the private hire firm feel about you working on 2 systems?
personally i've not worked for uber for a number of weeks due to having more profitable avenues open to me, but back flashes are a 10 second change over. having spoken to the council enforcement officers on the matter there is no legal obstacle to working for 2 separate companies.a lot of companies are deeply against people working for 2 systems and demand exclusivetly from their drivers, But at the end of the day unless your driving one of their vehicles they can't say anything as your not an employee, merely renting a radio from them. I do a fair bit of work with our local drivers association and know quite a few drivers who work with a private hire company during the week and switch over to Uber when the surge pricing kicks in at the weekends. although a number of drivers have been asked to leave their existing private hire companies for doing this, i can't imagine many companies would make a big issue unless your very blatant about it, radio rentals run anywhere between £6500-£7000 a year so its a fair hit for every driver you bin
p1stonhead said:
They must be absolutely raking it in. The company is valued somewhere like £70b.
From what I have read, drivers need to basically work 18 hour days to make any sort of good money after costs? I assumed this was non surge times.
nowhere near give me a couple of mins i'll post up a few earnings statements to show you From what I have read, drivers need to basically work 18 hour days to make any sort of good money after costs? I assumed this was non surge times.
less than 3 hours out in the evening
Edited by Glasgowrob on Friday 8th April 19:55
We spent some time in London last week and the black cabbies were again hard work. The main problems were:
1. Short changing / Assuming that the change was their tip.
2. Picking and choosing jobs. Light on, doors locked, "where you going mate?" then declining the fare because it doesn't suit them.
3. Dirty / tired cabs
4. Poor driving.
5. General attitude of entitlement.
Glasgowrob said:
……. a lot of companies are deeply against people working for 2 systems and demand exclusivity from their drivers….
Funnily enough Stevie at GPH and John C at Network (the Auriga users who charge 130-140 for a pda) are amongst the most strenuously against it, though as uber can never compete with private hire in Glasgow one has to wonder why they got so worked up? I think at first it was perceived as a threat but once it rolled out and obviously wasn't a threat things got more relaxed. Is 99% of uber work in Glasgow still city centre based? Of course in all the outlying areas (most of) the 'hacks' are non-London Cab style vehicles and they've been carrying 2 radios for years as of course do some of the black hacks too. Glasgow's always been miles behind, but hopefully soon badges will be national rather than council zoned so everyone will dance to the same tune.
Can't really see how you do 10 second backflash changeovers given how they're usually glue stick downs and in Hampden's case external stick downs. Do you use a different type which is more easily removable/replaceable?
Enforcement's/Police Scotland's only problem with working 2 systems is working with the 'wrong' backflash. The big problem for GCC will be when the job dispatch source is scrutinised. Hopefully if uber passes scrutiny everyone will be able to follow suit so it's goodbye to needing multi staff manned bases!!
Don't think there's really so much dislike of black hacks in Scotland like there is in London. But of course there's masses of lucrative account work which uber can't do. As your screen shows there's no shortage of work for private hire-quite the opposite- but I'd doubt if private hire has 'lost' even 1% of its business to uber. Don't hear much muttering from black hack guys either. Or any exodus to join uber, who as far as I've heard are still paying several hundred pounds to anyone to join because….well….you tell me.
It'll be interesting to see if it lasts. Glasgow's expanding tourism and gateway potentials will probably help by use from visitors etc who use uber elsewhere already. I hear it's very difficult to make a living apart from at peak times, which isn't surprising given how many drivers hate working when the traffic's mental. TBH I've watched an uber Glasgow screen on a typical afternoon and it didn't really seem like many of the little black 'ants' on screen were doing much apart from moving around city centre plots, and absolutely zero presence in the huge schemes which are the killing fields for private hire. To succeed long term that'll have to change, but without competing on price or quality of service it's hard to see how.
drainbrain said:
Funnily enough Stevie at GPH and John C at Network (the Auriga users who charge 130-140 for a pda) are amongst the most strenuously against it, though as uber can never compete with private hire in Glasgow one has to wonder why they got so worked up? I think at first it was perceived as a threat but once it rolled out and obviously wasn't a threat things got more relaxed.
Is 99% of uber work in Glasgow still city centre based? Of course in all the outlying areas (most of) the 'hacks' are non-London Cab style vehicles and they've been carrying 2 radios for years as of course do some of the black hacks too. Glasgow's always been miles behind, but hopefully soon badges will be national rather than council zoned so everyone will dance to the same tune.
Can't really see how you do 10 second backflash changeovers given how they're usually glue stick downs and in Hampden's case external stick downs. Do you use a different type which is more easily removable/replaceable?
Enforcement's/Police Scotland's only problem with working 2 systems is working with the 'wrong' backflash. The big problem for GCC will be when the job dispatch source is scrutinised. Hopefully if uber passes scrutiny everyone will be able to follow suit so it's goodbye to needing multi staff manned bases!!
Don't think there's really so much dislike of black hacks in Scotland like there is in London. But of course there's masses of lucrative account work which uber can't do. As your screen shows there's no shortage of work for private hire-quite the opposite- but I'd doubt if private hire has 'lost' even 1% of its business to uber. Don't hear much muttering from black hack guys either. Or any exodus to join uber, who as far as I've heard are still paying several hundred pounds to anyone to join because….well….you tell me.
It'll be interesting to see if it lasts. Glasgow's expanding tourism and gateway potentials will probably help by use from visitors etc who use uber elsewhere already. I hear it's very difficult to make a living apart from at peak times, which isn't surprising given how many drivers hate working when the traffic's mental. TBH I've watched an uber Glasgow screen on a typical afternoon and it didn't really seem like many of the little black 'ants' on screen were doing much apart from moving around city centre plots, and absolutely zero presence in the huge schemes which are the killing fields for private hire. To succeed long term that'll have to change, but without competing on price or quality of service it's hard to see how.
Quick reply as I'm between jobs I'll tryIs 99% of uber work in Glasgow still city centre based? Of course in all the outlying areas (most of) the 'hacks' are non-London Cab style vehicles and they've been carrying 2 radios for years as of course do some of the black hacks too. Glasgow's always been miles behind, but hopefully soon badges will be national rather than council zoned so everyone will dance to the same tune.
Can't really see how you do 10 second backflash changeovers given how they're usually glue stick downs and in Hampden's case external stick downs. Do you use a different type which is more easily removable/replaceable?
Enforcement's/Police Scotland's only problem with working 2 systems is working with the 'wrong' backflash. The big problem for GCC will be when the job dispatch source is scrutinised. Hopefully if uber passes scrutiny everyone will be able to follow suit so it's goodbye to needing multi staff manned bases!!
Don't think there's really so much dislike of black hacks in Scotland like there is in London. But of course there's masses of lucrative account work which uber can't do. As your screen shows there's no shortage of work for private hire-quite the opposite- but I'd doubt if private hire has 'lost' even 1% of its business to uber. Don't hear much muttering from black hack guys either. Or any exodus to join uber, who as far as I've heard are still paying several hundred pounds to anyone to join because….well….you tell me.
It'll be interesting to see if it lasts. Glasgow's expanding tourism and gateway potentials will probably help by use from visitors etc who use uber elsewhere already. I hear it's very difficult to make a living apart from at peak times, which isn't surprising given how many drivers hate working when the traffic's mental. TBH I've watched an uber Glasgow screen on a typical afternoon and it didn't really seem like many of the little black 'ants' on screen were doing much apart from moving around city centre plots, and absolutely zero presence in the huge schemes which are the killing fields for private hire. To succeed long term that'll have to change, but without competing on price or quality of service it's hard to see how.
Come
Back to this later
Uber has approx 200 cars in Glasgow that's 200 people not handing over £130-140 a week I think that represents a very real threat to the existing ph companies especially those companies with large accounts to service. Those drivers in the beginning had to come from somewhere Glasgow licensing at the moment is around 10-12 weeks to get a new driver on.
The majority of ubers work is granted city centre although for example I never seem to have a problem getting one in the east end. Their sphere of influence is slowly expanding.
Don't hold out much hope for national licencing. Our drivers association has been waiting for years on this. It's s subject I'm all to familiar with and it will remain as it is for the foreseeable future.
Backlashes apart from hampdens externals are aerofilm instant peel off/ restick although most of the undesirables I know of don't dven bother changing flashes. Police Scotland have 0 interest GCC enforcement guys are great and do know their stuff but there a very small team and can't exactly pull someone for a backflash especscif the vehicle also contains a radio from the company on the flash. Uber is fully licences by Glasgow city council and from the feedback I'm getting are bending over backwards to assist with any official enquirers etc in fact my sources say they are fare better when it comes to dealing with complaints and issues than any other operator
Initially there was some serious money getting thrown about by uber in terms of signup and referral bonuses
They are here to stay though they have bugger all running costs 3 staff and an office the size of a broom cupboard in Glasgow. And they offer s lot of benefits that the large Ph/minicab firms won't. Ie part time working the ability to treat it like a ghost radio etc(some drivers just want a backflash to look authentic whilst they go about their own stuff be it legal or not)
And whether we like it or not they are the biggest cab co in the world and are only going to get bigger. They are already expanding in Scotland(currently Edinburgg and Glasgow) with applications lodged in another 6 areas) in terms of covering the schemes etc they are slowly but surely moving out of the city and I would imagine by the end of this year will be the third largest operator in Glasfow(currently no 4) in terms of fleet size.
Whether this is a good thing for the trade/city who knows
Edited by Glasgowrob on Saturday 9th April 06:04
Edited by Glasgowrob on Saturday 9th April 06:49
Bullett said:
What's a backflash?
up here its a rear window sticker identifying the radio circuit or company a vehicle is associated with, most are of a semi transparent style, although some operators prefer an external solid sticker. this is supposed to have the company name and phone number,Interesting thread. I don't want to derail it but I just thought I'd share something that seems to be happening a lot recently, and that is bus drivers overcharging. The fare is for a further distance than asked for but not by much. Wether this is because some customers underpay etc, and the driver is seeking to make up the balance I don't know.
BlackLabel said:
order-order.com said:
The black cabbies’ union has launched a PR offensive to convince Londoners they are willing to modernise, vowing to spark “London’s taxi revolution” with super-fast wifi, credit card payments and ranks outside night tube stops. All sensible, consumer-friendly suggestions from the black cab industry, which needs to innovate to keep up with the competition.
Unfortunate then that a group of cabbies are also crowdfunding legal action against new TfL rules to install credit card machines in their cars. Despite the fact that there is huge public demand for this service, Action For Cabbies is asking for £300,000 to challenge TfL over the machines in court. Publicly they want to look like modernisers, less publicly they’re challenging the very same modernisations they claim to support. Why could they possibly be so keen to make sure they’re only paid in cash?
http://order-order.com/2016/04/07/cabbies-try-to-block-card-machines-in-cabs/Unfortunate then that a group of cabbies are also crowdfunding legal action against new TfL rules to install credit card machines in their cars. Despite the fact that there is huge public demand for this service, Action For Cabbies is asking for £300,000 to challenge TfL over the machines in court. Publicly they want to look like modernisers, less publicly they’re challenging the very same modernisations they claim to support. Why could they possibly be so keen to make sure they’re only paid in cash?
Cabbies: wah wah wah, the onward march of technological progress threatens our USP, meaning we can't pick and choose and generally provide s
t service on our termsTFL: So, incorporate some tech that'll increase your desirability instead of whining about it.
Cabbies: wah wah wah, don't you tell us what to do. lets go block some roads and cause traffic jams that'll fix it.
We used Hailo again a few days ago. Efficient, transparent and fare starts (as normal) when you get in the taxi (London, W2)
Once home, we received our Hailo receipt (wrong fare but may have been a typo) alongside a promo for pre booking. Money off code and a referral promo also. Good modern 'Uber like' tech! This is an example of trying to compete.....
Yesterday, arrived at Coventry Mainline Station and wanted to have lunch in the Artisan on Ryley St. Jumped in a 'black cab' in the rank and my God..... After a minute or so, we suggested that Uber could clean up! Driver had never heard of our destination. He dug out a street map/mini A to Z style book and proclaimed 'no such road in Coventry'. I talked him in via Google maps using neighbouring roads. Utterly useless!
Personally we use Uber Exec as a rule and it has been brilliant in all but one example - stupid route to work. Luckily I had a discount (referral promo) so didn't bother kicking off. A Black Taxi in London has actually taken me onto the Embankment/Lower Thames St during Boris's cycle works when I specfically asked him not to.... There are idiots/sharks everywhere but Black Taxis in London do need to sharpen their act up!!!
Hackneys are still amongst the best in the world though but???
Once home, we received our Hailo receipt (wrong fare but may have been a typo) alongside a promo for pre booking. Money off code and a referral promo also. Good modern 'Uber like' tech! This is an example of trying to compete.....
Yesterday, arrived at Coventry Mainline Station and wanted to have lunch in the Artisan on Ryley St. Jumped in a 'black cab' in the rank and my God..... After a minute or so, we suggested that Uber could clean up! Driver had never heard of our destination. He dug out a street map/mini A to Z style book and proclaimed 'no such road in Coventry'. I talked him in via Google maps using neighbouring roads. Utterly useless!
Personally we use Uber Exec as a rule and it has been brilliant in all but one example - stupid route to work. Luckily I had a discount (referral promo) so didn't bother kicking off. A Black Taxi in London has actually taken me onto the Embankment/Lower Thames St during Boris's cycle works when I specfically asked him not to.... There are idiots/sharks everywhere but Black Taxis in London do need to sharpen their act up!!!
Hackneys are still amongst the best in the world though but???
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