With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Uber Driver Wants To Teach Others How To Jack Up Prices
There's a Los Angeles Uber driver who uploaded a tutorial on YouTube, claiming that his instructions on how to cheat the system and jack up prices works. Uber is saying that it doesn't work.
The driver, who goes by the name Brian, posted the "Driving for Surge" video on an Uber driver forum last week. It was accompanied by the message, "It would be nice if we all got on the surge bus and rode to profits together. Here's a little how to, please follow and share."
He's since taken down the video, but the Washington Post reports that the clip shows Brian repeatedly accepting then quickly canceling pickup requests until Uber's surge pricing goes into effect and increases to 2.1 times the regular price in some areas.
Uber spokesperson Taylor Patterson told NBC Los Angeles that they have many "safeguards" to protect customers from drivers trying to gouge prices. "Consistently canceling rides in an effort to manipulate the app or discriminate against riders is in violation of the contract that driver partners sign," Bennett said. "Driver partners who do this may be deactivated from the system."
Support for LAist comes from
The Washington Post says that since there are hundreds of drivers in a city, it's unlikely that one driver can affect the whole system and kick up prices. The way surge pricing works is that Uber uses an algorithm that goes into effect when many users request rides and there aren't enough drivers to satisfy those requests.
Other Uber drivers on the forum were upset with Brian's request for them to all band together to stir up prices. "This is a terrible strategy. You'll get deactivated within a week with that many trip cancellations," one user wrote. "It's way easier to just open up the passenger app, and keep it on your position. Once it's surging, you'll see the lightning bolt, and then it's time to hop online with the driver app."
However, another member wrote that Brian's method does work. "Always someone that'll say this strategy is horrible and will get you deactivated without trying it. You guys live in fear of Uber. I've been doing this for months and haven't received one note from Uber."
Brian told NBC Los Angeles that he doesn't think he's price-gouging customers, but is only doing it because there's a price war going on between the rideshare companies. He argues that he has no choice because Uber has been cutting their rates so that they can be competitive with the other companies.
"I don't like doing this, I don't like canceling 50 rides in a day," Brian told NBC Los Angeles. "All we want to do is give people rides make some money and be with our families. With Uber constantly cutting rates they make it difficult to do that."
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Heavy rain from the early-season storm could trigger debris flows. Snow is also possible above 7,000 feet. -
Jet Propulsion Laboratory leadership announces that 11% of the workforce is being cut. -
The rock legend joins LAist for a lookback on his career — and the next chapter of his music. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care.
Best of LAist