CoffeeCat (20,088 posts)
3. My husband and I both have driven for Uber...
I drove for Uber for a few months. I was curious, and I thought it would be fun. When they first came to our city, the rates were decent and you could make decent money (as a part-time job). However, they cut rates
I don't know why in the hell Uber does this. They've got a perfectly good business model. Why not pay people decently? Now, the rates are so low ($1.10 per mile). The only people attracted to this job are fools who don't realize that in most circumstances you are not making decent money, after expenses.
You "don't know why Uber does this..." because they're in the business to make a profit. You don't like their stipulations for driving for them.. hang it up. They'll either adapt so they can attract more drivers, or go under. That's how a free market works.
My husband stayed in the job and has continued to do it, but he's strategic about when he drives. He only drives on Friday and Saturday nights for a total of 12 hours. He makes between $250-$350 per weekend. That is decent.
However, when you factor in your gas, wear-and-tear and taxes--it's barely worth it.
DUmmie math apparently. You can't say $250-$350 for a weekend is decent, then factor in expenses, and say it's barely worth it. The problem here is not Uber, it's the fact you can't add and subtract.
Unfortunately, our family continues to enjoy the perils and trappings of the lovely "new economy". Laid off in 2008 for a year, we blew through savings. We're employed now (network engineer and freelance writer) but our income will never be what it was in 2008. Benefits have been cut. We're paying $550 per month for healthcare alone.
But... weren't you guys out there beating the Obamacare drums on how it would save us all? Guess your "chickens are coming home to roost".. huh?
We have two teenaged daughters that want to go to college. So, this is why my husband Ubers. Yes, they have us by the balls, but we're not the one percent. So, we just work more.
Uber is like AirBnB and other "shared economy" situations. People need more money, or they fall behind (or they can't send their kids to college). You do what you have to do.
Uber has you by the balls?
. You do realize you have to sign on to the app to get work right? To get them to let go of your balls... don't sign on.
If Uber is your college savings plan for your kids... I hope your kids at this point are smart enough to have a Plan B (or at the very least, are way smarter than their parents). Either that or both of you get a real part time job. If you can get on at a busy Pizza shop.. you can make 2-300 in a weekend delivering pizza's... and I don't think it would be near the wear on your vehicle, gas, etc. that Uber would be.
