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The Gig Economy: An Overview Of Uber And Its Rise To Popularity
The gig economy was the natural result of the rising cost of goods and services combined with the stagnation of income for the middle class. On-demand apps like Uber (and later iterations such as Uber Eats) provided platforms for customers to access cheap products/services while allowing workers to ‘hustle’ and make easy money on the side.
At the time Uber was founded, private transport options were expensive, inaccessible, and few and far between. Because they offered lower prices, instant bookings, and a wide range of transport options (for customers) and a near-endless network of customers, schedule flexibility, and incentives (for drivers), Uber now makes up a majority of the passenger transport market share, as well as a quarter market share for food delivery.
Plenty of apps have tried to follow Uber’s ‘sharing’ model and use of technology to bridge sellers and consumers. Although they’ve had many bumps along the way (and more than a few lawsuits), Uber remains one of the most influential and iconic companies today.
Uber’s Rating Scale: What It Is & How It Works
The Uber rating scale is a simple one: after you complete your trip, the app will prompt you to rate your driver on a scale of one star to five stars, with five stars being the highest. Conversely, drivers are also asked to rate YOU as a passenger using the same scale. The system is used to reward good drivers and passengers, while weeding out the bad ones.
Why There’s An Uber Passenger Rating
It makes sense to have a driver rating; after all, as a passenger, you want to know if you will be safe and comfortable on a ride with someone who is virtually a stranger. Drivers with low ratings are removed from the system, ensuring that you get consistent, high-quality service from Uber.
Similarly, passenger ratings are a way for Uber to protect its drivers. “Respect is a two-way street, and so is accountability,” said Kate Parker, Uber’s head of safety, in a blog post. “Drivers have long been expected to meet a minimum rating threshold which can vary city to city. While we expect only a small number of riders to ultimately be impacted by ratings-based deactivations, it’s the right thing to do.”
What Is A Good, Average, And Bad Passenger Rating, And Why Does It Matter?
While Uber doesn’t explicitly mention the thresholds for good and bad ratings, we can make some easy assumptions about the kind of ratings you should be aiming for.
Of course, having a 5-star rating is the best possible score you can get. But very few people on the app have this rating, and it’s incredibly difficult to achieve. But you don’t need to have a perfect rating to reap the benefits of a good passenger score; a high 4.5-4.9 rating is just as good. The average passenger rating is around 4.6.
With a good passenger rating, you can expect to book rides faster, get matched with better drivers, and potentially get exclusive perks in the future. On the flip side, having a bad rating reduces your likelihood of getting rides quickly and may even get you banned from Uber, so be sure to keep your rating above a 4.0.
Uber Rating FAQs
How to rate drivers on the Uber app?
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Complete your trip with your Uber driver.
- Once the ride has been completed, the app will ask you to provide a rating for your Uber driver (and other passengers, if you used Uber Pool).
- Consider your overall trip: did your Uber get you to your destination safely and quickly? Was the driver loud and aggressive? Did you have an overall positive or negative experience?
- Using the 5-star scale on the screen, press the number of stars that correlates to your rating. One star is the lowest, while five stars is a perfect rating.
- OPTIONAL: Explain why you gave that rating. This is highly encouraged if you gave less than 5 stars.
- Submit the rating by tapping “Rate Rider” on the screen.
How can I see my Uber passenger rating?
If you’re wondering “where can I check my rating?”, it’s actually quite easy to find. Your Uber passenger rating is displayed under your name in your profile. But if you can’t see your star score for some reason, follow the steps below. You can check your rating whether you’re on an iPhone or Android.
- In the Uber app, tap on your profile icon.
- Tap on ‘Help’, then ‘Account Settings and Rating’.
- Choose ‘I’d like to know my rating’ then submit.
How can I improve my Uber rating?
Improving your Uber rating is all about being a good passenger. Here are some tips:
- Be at your pickup location before your driver arrives to reduce wait time.
- Communicate respectfully and politely with your driver and the other passengers.
- Avoid playing loud music, eating messy food, being boisterous, throwing up in the backseat, and other obnoxious behaviour.
- Follow Uber’s rules on passenger limits, transporting pets, and others.
Conclusion
There are lots of perks to being a highly-rated Uber passenger. But mostly, it’s rewarding to just be a good person, regardless of the benefits. Act with respect and kindness, and you’ll see your Uber passenger rating improve in no time.
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