Source
r/uber•
RealityOracle

When to not use UberPOOL and when to use UberX instead

UberPOOL has become a popular choice for riders, in large part because it's cheaper than the regular UberX.

However, riders not only forget that you're agreeing to carpool with other riders in the cheaper UberPOOL ride, that this may delay your arrival... but there are some things you're used to doing with UberX that either can't or shouldn't be done with UberPOOL.

  • If you need to get somewhere ASAP or by a certain time, absolutely take an UberX. When you request an UberPOOL you're stating that you don't have a firm timeline and can wait for other rides to start and finish before your arrival.

  • If you need to make multiple stops, request an UberX. It is assumed when requesting an UberPOOL that you only have one destination. The driver interface does not allow for an individual rider to make multiple stops during an UberPOOL ride, so if you need to make several stops you have to request an UberX.

  • If you just want to get where you're going without having to pick up other riders, request an UberX. Most drivers won't give you any say in the matter once you start an UberPOOL ride. You're taking the POOL discount with the agreement that you're okay with picking up and dropping off others.

Posted Apr 21, 2016, 3:45 PM UTC

68
[deleted]•

[deleted]

14
revolutionisdestiny•

If you are not alone. Don't hop into an uber pool with your friend.

3
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
ObLaDiObLaDaDC•

Oh really? I know Lyft gives you the option to say you are alone or with 1 person

1
iansltx•

Another time not to use it: when they're calculating the discount vs. X based on a liberal interpretation of how long/many miles the X trip would take. I've had rides that, looking back, were more expensive on POOL than X...and that's with a match. Felt pretty dumb after doing that once.

2
csgraber•

sometimes, in my exp., Uber hasn't given me the choice.

0
RealityOracleOP•

It should. Some riders have a hard time toggling between the settings. Some just don't bother trying and hit whatever request button is in front of them.

I would contact Support and let them know you aren't able to do so.

1
csgraber•

I've used enough that in San Fran to know you can slide

When I got picked up before SXSW it asked passengers and forced pool

It never did that in San Fran

1
iansltx•

Austin (and maybe other newer POOL cities? I think Miami as well?) has a different UI than SF on this. If you're inside the pool pickup zone you still only get the X option, but you have to put in your destination and the number of riders. Once you do that it'll give you the option for either pool (the left hand side, fixed price) or X (right hand side, $whatever-and-up).

If you're outside the pool zone the UX varies by day, moon phase, etc., but you don't get the option to pick pool.

Uber's hawking pool big-time here...50% discount vs. estimated X fare tonight (which was more like a 35% discount vs. the actual fare along a distance-optimized route), on top of making it the default for rides within the pool zone. So it's plenty easy for folks to hit the wrong thing.

1
kes1981•

Take Select. UberX and Pool are for minimum wage workers. It's the limo for the ghetto

0
snowsnowsnow000•

honestly, my drivers always ask me if they should pick someone up and im like sure! and there just like nah hahaha im good.

-2