Be Uber aware
Following last year’s New Year's Eve fallout, driving service Uber has sent out numerous warnings about its pricing.
|||After all the partying on New Year’s Eve, revellers would usually turn to popular app Uber to get a ride home, but many are being scared away by possible high prices.
Following last year’s New Year's Eve fallout, where users were charged exorbitant sums, driving service Uber has sent out numerous warnings about its pricing, which included a statement and informative video.
On its site, Uber explained surge pricing: “Just like flights and hotel fees increase during holiday periods due to demand, (surge) pricing happens when demand for rides is high and there are not enough drivers on the Uber system to accommodate the influx.
“Fares increase temporarily to incentivise drivers to come onto the platform and offer rides to accommodate the demand.”
Users are notified a number of times of the hiked rates before they approve the ride and can choose to be alerted when prices are back to normal.
Uber also offers tips on how to work around the surge pricing: “Remember that everyone will be leaving in the hour after midnight on New Year’s Eve. This is the busiest time, and when the highest multiples on dynamic pricing are most likely to occur. To avoid high multiples on dynamic pricing, try to request your ride before or after peak periods.”
But some Uber users are still unhappy and are threatening to boycott the service.
It's a risk Uber will take: “We’d rather be expensive and reliable,” said Alon Lits, Uber's general manager for sub-Saharan Africa.
The Star