A Hesitant Uber Manila User Now Impressed

I’ve been hearing good reviews about Uber however I was hesitant to use it.

I registered it long ago in case I needed it.

They had been generous in giving me 5 days of free credits just to use the service and so I did.

What is Uber?

Uber is a ride booking app that connects you with partner drivers which you can hire per destination.  Think of it as a private taxi service with better cars, safe and well mannered drivers.

So far in Manila, you can also choose between UberX (economy cost) and Uber black (premium)

How many uber drivers are there?

Large number of Uber drivers in the US are female

According to the WSJ, Uber has 160,000 drivers in the US. (source: @Uber Touts Its Employment Opportunities)

Uber is now available in 54 countries around the world (source: @Page on uber.com)

In September 2014, Travis Kalanick stated that Uber was recruiting 50,000 drivers a month (source: @Uber Adding 50,000 New “Driver Jobs” a Month, Up From 20,000 in May)

What happens when you book a ride with Uber?

• Once you confirm your location where to pick you up and your destination, The name and photo of the driver including the Type of car and plate number will appear.  You can also contact the driver directly.

(took this screenshot on my 2nd ride,  Billy is an excellent and careful driver

he is also proactive in confirming the route to take to the passenger)

A black Toyota Vios arrived to pick me up after 4 minutes I made the booking.

You can even see where the car is located as it approaches your pick up point.

You can also do a fare estimate before you make the booking.

• My driver is Mr. Jose Arnel and he is an accommodating fellow sharing his good experiences as an Uber partner driver and how Uber works.  The interior of the car is clean as well as the exterior.  Better than most regular taxis in Manila.  I was even surprised and impressed he spoke fluent English
• 
• At the end of the trip, you get to rate your driver from 1-5 stars with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest.  The drivers also rate you as a passener.  Mr. Arnel shared that passengers who have a low rating are suspended from using the service and when drivers fall below 3.5, they will be suspended as well.
• You also get a copy of the receipt sent to your email, including the time, distance, map route, name of driver and your rating
• 

How to find your Uber rating?

Using the app, open the left meu bar and click on Account and choose

“I’d like to know my rating”

The next window lets you submit your request to know your passenger rating

After a few minutes, your rating will be sent to your email

How do I find the Uber service?

• I like that your fare gets charged to your credit card so you don’t need to worry about having no change unlike using regular taxi services where they don’t give you change.
• Response is fast and map data is accurate (you would need to have mobile internet to use the service)
• Uber x drivers could be part-time working professionals or former professionals turned full-time.
• So far the first car I rode in is clean

How does this compare to GrabTaxi?

Uber is more professional than GrabTaxi.  I’ve had 2 bookings in GrabTaxi that are cancelled because the drivers do not arrive when they accept the booking.  Wasted 2 hours waiting for nothing as they travelled farther from the pick up point.

How to get started using Uber

1. Sign up for an account at Uber’s website here to get your first ride free and with free credits
   • You would need to register a payment method like a credit card.
   • Does Uber accept debit cards? – Yes! Just input your debit card number like you would with a credit card.
2. Before you click on the Create Account button, Enter Promo Code snu6f so that you would get your free ride when your account is setup
   • 
3. Once your account is set, Download the app to your smartphone, available in iOS and Android
   • 
4. After downloading the app, use your account profile to sign in.  Allow the app to access your location and send you notifications
5. You’re ready to book your ride!

Remember to type in snu6f to get your free ride!*

*only valid for new sign ups

Uber Founder
Uber Technologies Inc. is an American worldwide online transportation network company headquartered in San Francisco

What’s your experience when you used the Uber Manila service?

Uber driver stories in the News
What happens during an Uber ride?

Drivers, passengers concerned over move vs. Uber, Grabcar

Uber in Manila reviews from Netizens