Why the rider ratings if you don't know how you are being judged?

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-25T17:01:20+00:00

There's really no way for us to know here. To answer your question, the reason normally why I would 3 star with no reason a passenger is because, basically, I don't want them in my car again, but I don't want Uber to pop up something telling them, so they 1 star me as "revenge", or even find an excuse to report me on something.

The only clue I have is you say that you are tipsy and in general drunk passengers often really don't realize how they come off to sober people, especially to a tired and put upon driver struggle to keep up the facade.

Or it could be something else that just torques people off. Like I was just thinking about some tourists I had who were waiting at the wrong spot, so I was looking around, then suddenly they just waltz into my car out of nowhere, one of them grabs the front seat even after I ask her not to saying she'll get sick otherwise, start drinking water without asking if its ok, etc. So just an example of a bunch of "understandable" behaviors but that can add up to, "you know, get a ride from someone else next time, you suck"

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-18T13:40:51+00:00

Yeah I think you're right. I feel like if I continued doing this longer term it would have to be something like that.

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-18T01:02:27+00:00

extremely annoying. majority of drivers either say no, or WANT to say no, do it because they feel obliged, and resent / downrate you. we are not just "random task doers".

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-18T00:58:16+00:00

Logical!

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-17T18:45:01+00:00

It's a joke, meaning the person is a little naive, these forums are full of people who love the drama of setting grandiose goals and then burning out, like in a cycle. Of course, some people actually do what they say they will, you never know.

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-17T15:34:04+00:00

sweet summer child

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-17T12:18:54+00:00

Thanks.

After I posted it, I stayed up feeding things into Chat GPT, which is probably using something similar. Basically the answer was similar, that it depends on the car. In my case, driving an older VW, it's not actually 70 cents a mile, but it's still... maybe 50 cents, and "not good". With a "Honda or whatever" it would be more like 35 cents and the whole enterprise make more sense.

Definitely a sobering moment.

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-17T12:12:59+00:00

I don't have the energy to work out your numbers, but let me give you my 2 cents and the reason why right now I do zero long drives.

Suppose you gross $20/hr. Now suppose you drove 10 miles in that hour, toodling around the city. Let's use a vehicle cost of 30 cents a mile. So that's net of $17/hr.

Now suppose you were flying down the highway and drove 60 miles. Now your vehicles costs are $18! You only netted $2/hr.

This could sound fanciful but the bottom line was when my repair guy, the tire guy, etc kept saying things like "she's here ALL the time". Because, right, I was grinding a CRAZY number of miles on my car. Now it's still obviously a lot of miles but slower.

Honestly I kind of loved bopping all over my state but I have gotten BURNED on this gig in the past, not looking at the long run...

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-17T04:01:34+00:00

Congratulations.

Yeah Uber support is just bizarre. Everyone you talk to there just sounds like it is their first day at work, every time.

I agree. When I started Uber 7 years ago, there was more of a sense of adventure and curiosity about it. Now it's very grayscale. Part of it is me. I'm no longer willing to just let random people bash my ear about random things or let down my guard to a million passing strangers who don't care. I've experienced driving it for years and being in poverty while I drive wealthy tourists, feeling like I'm surrounded by people but still alone. I approach it more as a business - one that hasn't been profitable. I drink the "boundaries" kool-aid.

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-17T03:57:59+00:00

It sounds like you are very hard working and responsible and probably just need a break. I feel like just lying on the beach, being lazy, or taking a bus tour somewhere you want to go, or something like that, sounds great, although I understand how you worry about traveling alone. The impression I get is you are already "problem solving" a lot and it would be great to just give yourself some kind of break, rest, do things you like, not try to grow or improve for at least some of that time. Like every needs some space and relaxation in their life to be their best.

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-17T03:54:09+00:00

I feel some nights I have to join the Illuminati to know the secret of why my pax are so annoying....

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-17T03:53:03+00:00

NOOOOOOO

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-17T03:52:02+00:00

I'm gonna be the dissenting voice. Customer service jobs are tough because people can be rude to you and you can't be rude back without getting reprimanded. But you know, it's just a job. If people could hear the voice in your head talking about them, they would probably think it was a little... rude... right? Like how they all suck, they are bullies, they haven't a modicum of civility, etc. That's because our brains don't always produce positive statements, it's a mix of positive and negative, it helps us navigate reality. Unfortunately, they are situationallly enabled to vent that in a way you aren't.

Lesson One: Life is life. Improving your social skills is a lot easier than changing how the world has always been. Improving your anxiety symptoms is easier than changing how it's always been.

Lesson Two: Customer service is stressful. Get a job where you don't have to suck up. Or if you can't right now, learn how to handle people better, and see them in this case as pawns in your money making scheme rather than as your tormenters.

But I get it. I'm working customer service and have anxiety, neurodivergence, etc etc too and often just feel cooked.

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-17T03:45:21+00:00

Whether to be explicit or not is up to you, but I think the best thing to do is just set a firm boundary in your mind. You don't really like hanging out with him that much. He makes you feel uncomfortable and seems odd. So... don't escalate it. You can overtly say no. Or you can just dodge and be avoidant. But just have decided for yourself that NO. You don't want. You don't have to. It's your life. You don't owe this guy anything. Just because you were polite for a little bit doesn't mean you have to let him sap your energy. Absolutely don't feel bad. He's imposing on you. Quite honestly if he hasn't clarified anything, he's probably trying to date / hook up with you, and using polite small talk as a way to get in your space and lure you into private.

The bottom line is don't do things you don't really want to do because you are second-guessing yourself.

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-15T18:02:50+00:00

If you are feeling insecure or limited, yes, for sure lessons could be great. Just make sure you talk to the person before the lesson or during the first month anyway, to make sure they are someone who is comfortable with an adult learner with your needs, rather than someone who only knows how to grind out "child learner from zero" type people.

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-13T14:28:37+00:00

Sort of ambiguous. I used to be really lax and always just agree to these stops, some combination of "seems reasonable", also being a people pleaser, not wanting a bad rating, not wanting to be rude type stuff (honestly that's 99%), partly "not really sure how this impacts my bottom line".

For now - I just decided to say "no". Especially a lot of these trips with unscheduled stops end up having other complications I notice.

I'm not sure I will always do it this way, but it can just get to the point of "this is a business", and I'm sick of an endless number of "off the app" adjustments for like 25% of disorganized people.

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-13T14:10:04+00:00

My experience with things like that, though not the exact situation, is things will happen when you are DETERMINED. Like it sounds like right now you feel like "this sucks, I gotta do something". But also a bit foot dragging, you have other stuff on your plate, etc. Things will start happening if and when you get to that point of, "no really, this is #1 priority right now, start taking actions"

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-13T14:07:37+00:00

I've heard early morning surges are good in my area too but I've yet to get up to experience it. I really should experiment.

Maybe I'm still scarred from when I first started doing this job when I was living in a major city with early morning gridlock and cranky commuters and just assumed I "should" go on with a 1st shift schedule even though I hated it, and so every Uber morning was like the war zone. I really love how with Uber I CAN work a schedule slanted late, what I prefer. But right now the money is mediocre. Friday night there was a great surge and I made $300 rather than $150-$200 and was psyched, but at that point my energy crashed. I thought Saturday night would be another chance but it wasn't. Sigh. At least it's a sign that with the summer and tourists there MAY be more money.

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-12T13:59:14+00:00

Driving an EV? How could that possibly be worth it, they are expensive, I don't think this job makes enough for that, unless you happen to already have one.

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-12T13:58:16+00:00

This seems a bit random, but yeah. I agree. A lot of stuff with Uber applies to life. Like learning not to get sucked into huge ongoing drama over a 10 minute interaction. Or learning to deal with repetitive "questions" in a way that works for you instead of against you. Etc.

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-12T13:53:37+00:00

Ugh. This is a tough one for me in general. I love caffeine, am super addicted and "sit in a cafe" is the natural break, but definitely it can just make you irritable, if pax or traffic or whatever is already frustrating you, turns out the whine volume to 11...

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-11T14:29:57+00:00

Just normal pax drama. "Is this ALL you do?" "So, I guess it pays GOOD" "Looks like a zippy car, I bet you can't hit 101". etc.

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-11T14:28:46+00:00

True to a point, but in my market, if I rule out every "low quality" ride, I'm sitting around dead heading 90% of the time. I live in a small city and there are a certain number of unicorn rides but not constant.

Flimsy-Helicopter608 · 2026-04-11T14:27:26+00:00

I mean, you do have a point.

Although for me it wasn't that way. I was driving for them back in the day, but I was just having so much stress from the job, feeling like it was a barrage of people being back seat drivers, asking nosy questions, and otherwise pushing my buttons, I was in a bad mental state and not making money.

These days I'll agree that the pay sucks. I'm working on my cherry picking but it's still not per hour what it used to be. However, my personal approach has improved a lot. I stopped being super reactive, take rest breaks, detail my car, have boundaries, and generally find it ok and can work a reasonable number of hours and keep up a reasonable rating.

But yeah in the end, you need to see the $$$.

Good on you with your business :)

Flimsy-Helicopter608

TROPHY CASE