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PostPosted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 6:47 pm 
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Sussex wrote:
christopherwk wrote:
What I meant to say was that these apps use GPS to calculate the fare by measuring the speed, distance and time. The fare is not known until the end of the journey.

Interesting.

Is there no reason why the calculation can't be done pre customer getting in?


You won't know how long you'll be stuck in traffic until you're actually in it!

The rates are on their website anyway (Uber), and you can do a quote on their app, which will give an estimate fare, anyway.


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PostPosted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 8:34 am 
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christopherwk wrote:
You won't know how long you'll be stuck in traffic until you're actually in it!

The rates are on their website anyway (Uber), and you can do a quote on their app, which will give an estimate fare, anyway.

Maybe that's the case in London, but 99.9% of the time down here we know what the traffic is like and could give a very good and accurate estimate if we needed to.

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PostPosted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 11:41 am 
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Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2014 8:37 am
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christopherwk wrote:
Sussex wrote:
christopherwk wrote:
What I meant to say was that these apps use GPS to calculate the fare by measuring the speed, distance and time. The fare is not known until the end of the journey.

Interesting.

Is there no reason why the calculation can't be done pre customer getting in?


You won't know how long you'll be stuck in traffic until you're actually in it!

The rates are on their website anyway (Uber), and you can do a quote on their app, which will give an estimate fare, anyway.


As far as I'm aware, a quote is legally binding once accepted so despite it saying quote, it isn't.

More importantly its not even an accurate estimate, its the mileage charged at their standard low rate, it doesn't take into account their below 11 mph tarrif nor does it take into account any price surging. Someone looking in advance for a price (as many people do) will not have a clue what the price will actually be as the have no way of being able to predict how busy Google Cabs will be at the time they want the car.

Another thing I've noticed playing with Google Cars website is that their quotes do not take the shortest route, something which many licensing authorities have as a condition for PHV.

They seem to be using Google Maps routes, which give that Google is a huge stakeholder in the company makes sense, thing is google maps usually always take the quickest route and require personal intervention from someone with good road knowledge to adjust to the shorter route.

And that's without going into the taximeter nonsense, that in itself is a complete red herring in this case. The real problem here is accountability and transparency for the customer.

Who does the customer complain to? Can't complain to Uber, they aren't a PH company apparently, they appear to say that all drivers work for themselves which in turn would mean every single driver would need their own operator licence to take bookings and as we know, those booking can't be taken over the phone in a car and must be made to the registered office. That is a safeguard in place for the customer as a single point of enquiry.

What happens if a driver goes off route and needlessly increases the fare as a result? Who does the customer complain to? Uber won't seem to entertain it


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PostPosted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 8:27 pm 
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Bicks wrote:
As far as I'm aware, a quote is legally binding once accepted so despite it saying quote, it isn't.

Then give an estimate.

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