This post is being written by AJ, our first Jeffsetter correspondent. This is AJ’s first post – hopefully the first of many!
Patience is a virtue, and Uber is proving this point. I am an avid user of Uber, since it first arrived in DC. As an avid user, I am familiar with the infamous (or famous, which ever you prefer) surge pricing. Recently, I noticed a way to avoid paying surge pricing. No, it is not taking Lyft or a cab, but it does take a little bit of patience.
During peak times, Uber users may see this notification screen appear when requesting a ride:
But, have you ever looked closely at this notification? I tend to blindly accept the higher fare, unless it’s one of those rare 7.3x the normal fare surges. Have you ever clicked the “Notify me if surges ends” button? Typically, I miss the notification because of my phone settings. Other times, I just take a cab because I don’t want to wait thirty minutes. However, my Luddite phone knowledge and Uber losing business are not the point of this post.
The point is the fine print. The what? Didn’t you see it on the notification screen shot? The tiny words below the two buttons…..Allow me… “Enhance (click,click,click) Enhance (click,click,click)” – 10 pride points if you can name the movie.
See it now? “This rate expires in 2 min”
Wait what? I wait just two minutes, and I don’t have to pay the surge pricing?! I can wait two minutes.
In this example, I waited two minutes, and no more surge pricing for my ride. “By the power of Greyskull,” it worked! (10 more pride points, if you can name this movie. No, the movie is not He-man. Come on, that would be too easy.)
I have done this several times now, and each time the 2 min warning has worked. This is über amazing!
The rate expiration seems to be personalized. In other words, the surge overall surge continued for other riders. In this example, my friend requested an Uber at the end of my 2 minute warning. My friend still received the notice for surge pricing of 1.3x, even though the surge pricing had expired for me.
Caveat: The wait may depend on the size of the surge, i.e., a longer wait time for higher surges. My surge pricing was in the 1.3x-2.1x range when I tested this hack, observation.
Any different experiences from readers?
Summary of post:
- One observation to save you money (if you have a little bit of patience);
- A possible 20 pride points; and
- One awkward pun.
Welcome to the blog, AJ!
P.S. If you still have not signed up for uber, feel free to use our referral link so we both get a free ride: uberjeffsetter