Uber?

Quote: Wizard

Permission granted.

OK, folks, if you want to try Uber for free like I did, use the following promo code:

ubera01qz

Gives us both $20 towards an Uber ride.

Same link being posted at WoV. Wiz, if the permission was only for DT just nuke the WoV post and tell Zuga so it does not look like spamming.

Quote: AZDuffman

Actually he had just dropped off someone a few minutes before. Cabs do not cruise for fares here, you never hail one. Guy did say he was doing 70 hour weeks, but that is same as most cab divers.



If he is smart, he just takes the mileage deduction. I do that for courier work. It is key to keeping your money. Heck, as an abstractor I could deduct almost $90 a day for car expenses plus tolls plus parking.

I expect you understand ADZ but many people think that "Oh it is deductible it doesn't cost me anything". All a deduction saves you is the income tax on the deduction, I don't know the US tax amounts but in BC for someone that thinks being an UBER driver is worthwhile that would be 20%. The government mileage deduction is usually pretty close to the cost of running your vehicle. In Canada it is 48 cents per kilometre which is close if you actually track all your expenses. I am sure the drivers comments on earnings that EB linked to don't take that into account just their fuel. Why do you think your vehicle was in the shop that is going to happen more often the more you use it.

Quote: AZDuffman

Guy did say he was doing 70 hour weeks, but that is same as most cab divers.
.

Some work 70, most work less. 50-60
would be a good average. Most taxi
companies have 12 hour shifts, you
can't have the car longer than 12 hours.
Shifts are usually 3am-3pm. The 3am
drivers seldom start before 5am, no
business. And most 3pm guys
quit at 1am, to miss the drunks.

Reading the Uber driver board, a big complaint
is there are too many Uber drivers and more
coming all the time. Their goal is to saturate
every area and have a hugely low response
time. Uber drivers say they are treated like
crap by Uber because they are easily replaceable.

There's a great story from the LA area where
one Uber driver works 14 hours a day and
makes 1500 a week. He thought he was doing
fantastic until another driver broke everything
down for him and pointed out he was not even
making minimum wage because he drove an
SUV. The guy almost burst into tears.

Tons of complaints about too many grocery
store fares, or somebody going to the liquor
store and back, 4 blocks away. It's taxi cab
driving, that's what you do. Uber acts like
everybody is going to the airport, or across
town. Hell no, they got drunk after work
and now want to puke in your nice car.

Bob, do cabbies need a class C license? I don't recall, and it didn't pop up easy for me on a search.

These are some requirements for Nevada: http://taxi.nv.gov/Driver_Info/Driver_Permit_Requirements/, not rocket surgery but does give the clients some assurance.

Of particular note is the yearly physical, and work hours. Unwanted things are going to happen, but they do anyway. There are few small business's that can make any profit if they go by all the rules, and no wealth will ever be accumulated without proper tax planning.

Most people are just eeking out a living, which ever way it goes. Like Bob said, when they figure out what the costs are, some providers will get ruined. Lousy time to be going broke and losing your vehicle. Good luck.

I always thought that a lot of people were borderline criminals as it is. But as long as they could eek out a living and enjoy some freedom, they weren't willing to do crime. As the workers lose their ability to afford their chose lifestyle, crime will be a more attractive option.

Quote: petroglyph

Bob, do cabbies need a class C license? .

No city will let you drive a cab without one. Also a
cab license with your pic on it, and a real background
check. Uber has none of these.

Quote: kenarman

I expect you understand ADZ but many people think that "Oh it is deductible it doesn't cost me anything".

I totally get that, but the point is Uber is a business, not a wage. One must do the accounting. You are right, though. I bet over half the population does not understand how deductions and costs work. Well over half maybe.

Quote:

Why do you think your vehicle was in the shop that is going to happen more often the more you use it.

Of course it is, but I bought my vehicle to use it. Smart thing is buy an older vehicle as you can get away with. When I bought mine I was doing abstracting and 150 miles a day commuting. No way I am buying real late model to just mile it up. Now it is a work vehicle and will mile up even more. But when it wears out I will buy again. Equipment wears out.

This is a very recent article about what a
joke Uber driver background checks are.

http://www.fastcompany.com/3050172/tech-forecast/the-truth-about-ubers-background-checks

Sorry AZDuffman, I am not trying to screw you but Uber is offering a $30 credit for new users using offer code RIDIN30.

Just so everyone knows, I do not get anything when someone uses that code.

https://www.uber.com/promo

Quote: DRich

Sorry AZDuffman, I am not trying to screw you but Uber is offering a $30 credit for new users using offer code RIDIN30.

Just so everyone knows, I do not get anything when someone uses that code.

https://www.uber.com/promo

Do what saves the most.

As a note, I had to ask for my credit because it did not take. They gave it right to me but be sure you enter it carefully, not as intuitive as it should be.

Great video from an Uber driver who got
out his calculator. Even better is the comments.