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posted by martyb on Wednesday February 04 2015, @11:55AM   Printer-friendly
from the it's-nice-to-be-nice dept.

David Streitfeld reports at the New York Times that people routinely use the Internet to review services from plumbers to hairdressers but now the tables are turned as companies like Uber are rating their customers, and shunning those who do not make the grade.

"An Uber trip should be a good experience for drivers too," says an Uber blog post. "Drivers shouldn’t have to deal with aggressive, violent, or disrespectful riders. If a rider exhibits disrespectful, threatening, or unsafe behavior, they, too, may no longer be able to use the service." It does not seem to take much to annoy some Uber drivers. On one online forum, an anonymous driver said he gave poor reviews to “people who are generally negative and would tend to bring down my mood (or anyone around them).” Another was cavalier about the process: “1 star for passengers does not do them any harm. Sensible drivers won’t pick them up, but so what?”

In response, some consumers are becoming more polite and prompt. "The knowledge that they may be rated is also encouraging people to submit more upbeat reviews themselves, even if the experience was less than stellar," writes Streitfeld. "When services choose whom to serve, no one wants to be labeled difficult." The result may be a Barney world says Michael Fertik referring to the purple dinosaur who sings, “With a great big hug and a kiss from me to you/ Won’t you say you love me too.”

 
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  • (Score: 2) by goodie on Wednesday February 04 2015, @04:12PM

    by goodie (1877) on Wednesday February 04 2015, @04:12PM (#141168) Journal

    Quick questions from a guy who's typically weary of these things... These are slightly OT but not too much (I hope!).

    Do many people here actually have used Uber? If so, how frequently and as drivers or customers? Because I see the ads online these days and I'm wondering if it's only for people who drive around all day long and have nothing better to do. Mind you in many countries (especially ex-USSR) you can hail any car on the street, ask how much to go somewhere and agree with the person to get driven there. But in those countries, you're not always guaranteed you'll arrive safe, in one piece, with all your belongings etc.

    Anyway am I just too prude or is this a revolution it claims it wants to be? I'm interested to hear opinions about this!

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  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by isostatic on Thursday February 05 2015, @01:00AM

    by isostatic (365) on Thursday February 05 2015, @01:00AM (#141371) Journal

    I use uber a lot, in 3 continents, last used it about 45 minutes ago.

    In the UK you get a minicab, so it's just like phoning up local minicab firms and finding someone who will come out, except you see exactly where they are and how long they will be, you know the toute they'll take, you don't need to deal with paying cash, or getting a receipt, or tipping, or remembering to claim the tip on expenses.

    As 90% of my trips are for work, Im not too bothered about the cost, I want the ease of use. I don't want to stand around in freezing weather at 0630 hopping my cab will turn up as I did this mopenong on a non-uber booking. I want to see my cab is on washeay road 2.3 miles away and will be here in 6 minutes.

    Forget the ride share function which doesn't exost in the UK, just give me an easy minicab booking system

    The times I've used it abroad are great too. No more flagging down half a dozen cabs waiting for one who will take a credit card (Brussels November ), or queueing for 20 minutes at the airport (Singapore December), or working out the directions at 2.30am at LAX last month. I wouldn't bother somewhere like cairo, and wouldn't risk it in Rio or gaza, but on the whole it's great.