All About Uber
In this article we will review a number of details regarding Uber, starting with their promotional codes and going into describing their app and car categories.
Ubers Promo Codes for 2017
Get your free Uber ride($15 for new customers): https://www.uber.com/invite/aqgn55
Uber Promo Codes for existing customers
Unfortunately, currently, there are no promotional codes available for new customers. However, from time to time Uber sends promotional emails to existing customers, giving $5-$10 off on 10 rides. The email looks something like this:
$5 off 10 rides
You have places to go and people to see. Now, for a limited time, save $5 on each of your next 10 rides with Uber in Seattle. See details below.
or:
50% off 10 rides
You have places to go and people to see. Now, for a limited time, save 50% on each of your next 10 rides with Uber in Seattle. See details below.
UberEats Promo Code Email from Uber for existing customers
There’s still time to get $10 off
Why go out when you can stay in? Let us take care of a meal this weekend. Simply pop open the app, enter promo code SUMMERTIME10 and get $10 off your first UberEATS order.
This offer expires tomorrow at 11:59 pm, so order up!
ORDER NOW
Get $10 off your first order with promo code
SUMMERTIME10
Offer valid in Washington through July 30, 2017, at 11:59 pm
Before you use Promo codes, you first need an account and an app. So if you are not an existing Uber customer, download the app and then apply the codes mentioned here. If you want to enjoy a free ride or other new user bonus, first find an Uber customer or Driver that will give you their referral code. This will give you and them a first time sign up bonus.
After you download the app, and you register for an account:
Choose the "my account" button on the top left of the screen
Press "promotion" and enter the referral code you received.
This will give you your first free trip.
Make sure you enter the code before you place the ride, it has to be inserted in the app during the request process.
Uber codes can be saved for use in different states.
Make sure you use up all the credit of the first ride during the first ride, so when you do sign up, think of a minimum $15 ride. Anything below that and you lose the difference, anything above that and you gets the full discount but will pay the difference. The Uber app has a fare estimator, so you can check out different destinations to get an estimation of how much the ride will cost.
Once you use up your first free ride coupon, you have no more free rides unless you try out these other options.
Use your first Uber ride credit
This is the first and most common step; all new customers should take a promotional code from an existing customer. If you know someone that is an Uber rider, then get their referral code, you get a free ride, and they get one too.
After you download the app and log in, you input the referral code in the "payment" screen and just request a ride.
The moment you take your first ride you are considered to be an "existing customer" and can only use the next four methods to get free Uber rides.
Use an Uber Competitor
Since there is more than one ride-share company, Lyft is quite prolific and slowly catching up to Uber in the US and Canada (only). It's worthwhile joining up to Lyft and then taking a free ride from them. You can also apply some of these five points to Lyft as well as to Uber.
Here are the instructions to becoming a Lyft customer:
- Download the Lyft app from either App Store, Google Play, or directly from the Lyft.com site.
- Create an account; this is a similar process to Uber
- Login to your new account
- Tap "Settings" in the upper left corner of the screen. (It has 3 horizontal lines arranged in a square)
- Tap the "Payment" button on the screen.
- In the "Add promo code" box type in the promo code and then click "Apply." The promo will be applied to your account.
Refer a Friend
So far you have used up your first and only free ride from Uber and Lyft. Now it's time to add more free rides by referring friends and relatives to these apps using your referral code. Uber has a "give ride" and "get ride" referral program; you should use both and make sure you give the referral code to the new applicant. The moment the new customer takes their first ride, you will be credited for a free ride.
The referral system connects with your mobile devices contact list, and you can e-mail, SMS text or post the referral code to your social media accounts. In fact, you should promote your referral code as much as possible, even adding it as a signature sentence in all your outgoing e-mails.
If you want to go the next step, and you have business cards, get new ones with your referral code printed on them. If you don't have any business cards, print some out with your referral code in big letters where your name should be, also print out flyers if you are that keen and post them in many public places, such as bars, restroom walls, bulletin boards, café's and malls, even hotels are a good place too. Do not promote them on social media paid for advertising such as Google Adsense or Facebook ads.
Take a ride with a first-time rider
If you have managed to sign up a new referral customer, you can try to get them to take their first ride with you. Remember, you have a free ride credit now, so use it to go both ways. If your friend is going anywhere interesting or in your direction, join them and enjoy the ride. You can use the referral code credit to get a ride back. This works quite well, and if you are going in the same direction, or if you can arrange a referral at a time when both of you (or more) need to ride somewhere together, this is a really good way of riding for free.
Once all your contacts have Uber, and you used this method, then refer to the other methods, and start referring them to Lyft as well.
What is Uber?
Uber is a comprehensive private transportation service that connects private car owners with passengers in much the same way as a taxi service, but with one difference. Uber doesn't maintain a fleet, and the drivers are all independent contractors.
Uber operates a number of different car categories under its ride-share service; these categories split the level of the service delivered to Uber's customers and each level of service is defined by different requirements.
Uber Car Categories
Uber's car categories are split into 4 distinctive types, of which one has two service levels:
- UberEats: the food delivery service, a simple door to door delivery service.
- UberX: standard car category, uses four-door cars.
- UberPOOL: rides sharing section of UberX and UberXL
- UberXL: larger car category than UberX, these are 6 seater vans.
- UberSelect: the first luxury level, and uses luxury cars.
- UberSUV: Uber's SUV luxury level, these are all full-size SUV's that have black exteriors and black leather interiors.
- UberBLack: Uber's primary luxury level, uses exclusive cars that have black exteriors and black leather interiors.
- UberLUX: Ubers top line service in LA only
Understanding the Uber Fare
Uber's fare is made up of a number of factors, these are:
Base Fare: this is the flat fee that Uber charges for each ride, it varies according to the car category UberX, Uber Black, SUV, etc.
Cost per Minute: This is what Uber charges for every minute from the moment the ride begins. It takes into account traffic and other circumstances that can cause a ride to take longer than expected.
Cost per Mile: This is what Uber charges for every mile drive. Drivers usually take the fastest route, but when traffic or other instructions are foreseen, they will choose a different route. Uber charges for the shortest distance in a pre-quote fare.
Booking Fee: This is an extra fee that Uber charges to cover its operational costs. It is not included in Uber Black and SUV fares.
Surge Price: This is an additional multiplier that is added when there is a lot of strain in the system, basically a supply and demand function. So if you are in a surge area, your overall fee can multiply by up to x3.
Tipping: This is purely optional, while there is an Uber tipping platform, the passenger can give the driver cash at their own discretion.
The Fare is calculated like this:
- Base Fare + ((Cost per minute x time of the ride) + (cost per mile x ride distance) x surge boost multiplier) + booking fee = Passengers Ride Fare
Minimum Fare
There is a minimum fare rate that is set to assure a certain level of income for the Uber driver. This varies per city and is based on the above calculation being no lower than the minimum fee. If the total is lower, then you will be charged the minimum price.
Up Front Fare and Quote
Uber has developed an upfront fare estimator that calculates how much a ride will cost based on all the above parameters stored in its memory. This historical data takes into account all the variables and the time the passenger makes the call adds into the equation surge and traffic factors. A basic calculation will always be used as the baseline, most probably the baseline will increase due to traffic and surge fluctuations.
To get an estimation, all you need to do is open the app and supply a destination, and the app will calculate the ride. Uber has been known to add a random sum for extra income, and this is not an exact science, more of a random number generator based on the overall price and with hopes that the passenger agrees. Uber does not provide detailed information on how the prices are reached, so you are in the dark on the overall cost, but if you know the time and mileage, and you know the base fare and fees, you can work it out and see the difference.
How to receive an estimate
- Open your Uber app
- Input the destination
- You will get the estimate. If you scroll the screen to the side, you will see how the estimate is broken down.
Uber pricing is dependant on every category and city.So there is a lot of variances, in other words, a user in NY will receive a different price to a user in Seattle. Add to that the various services that include UberX, Uber XL, Uber Select, Uber BlackCar, Uber SUV and Uber Pool.
Tipping
As of July and part of Ubers 180 days of the change, they added a tipping feature to the app. Passengers can now pay tips directly via the app or in cash to the driver.Tips are purely discretional, but tipping is urged as a sign of appreciation.
- Always wait until the ride is over and you are ready to leave the car.
- Rate your driver, and remember, a 4-star rating is bad! In fact, it's like this: Anything under 4.6 is considered to be an unsuccessful ride. So when a passenger rates less than 5, Uber expects feedback to explain the rating.
- Tip the driver in the next screen; the passenger can select one of three options: no tip, a pre-set tip or a personal tip amount. The passenger can tip in cash if they prefer.
A Brief Review of the Uber App
Ubers app is constantly evolving, it includes a number of core features that are upgraded for efficiency, and new features are added from time to time.
GPS
Ubers app uses GPS navigation and operates like Waze and Google Maps.
Matching
The app will match your request with a driver; you can then see the drivers progress on the map.
Pricing
The app gives a detailed breakdown of the fare you pay, the estimate you initially receive is based on the pricing factors discussed above, but the actual ride will generate a complete breakdown of the fare.
Rating and Feedback
All drivers need to be rated, anything under a five-star rating will require an explanation. After the rating has been made, you can tip the driver in the app as well. Customers can also send in complements or complaints.
New Uber Drivers
Do you want to drive for Uber? Do you know that new Uber drivers get Sign-ups bonus upto $325 depending on your city. Click on the referral link(code) below to sign up and recieve your sign-on bonus today!
Not interested in hauling people? Try DoorDash food delivery service. Get the DoorDash Referral Code for up to $1000 sign-up bonus.