It appears that a pattern is forming for my Uber workdays. Almost all of my riders are of young, college age with a couple older folks thrown in. Almost all of my trips are relatively short - less than $10 fare, and the wait between trips seems to run about a half hour. I did 4 trips yesterday during 3 hours of online, available-to-drive time. I start driving around 10 AM in order to miss the morning work traffic, take out about an hour in the middle of the day to do my errands and personal stuff, and drive to about 3 PM in the afternoon so that I miss the evening rush hour traffic. I may have to increase my availability if I want to make the kind of money that I expect to make. I still love the flexibility and freedom to work any hours I wish. I also wanted to mention that I found out in the class the other night that I am able to drive in any Arizona city that I wish. I am not able to drive in other states though, as that requires a different drivers license and registration. That is a nice benefit.
We both work again today and I expect to put in my usual time driving for Uber. Depending on the football games that are being televised today, the day may be shorter, although I am able to work earlier and/or later as a result of it being Saturday - there shouldn't be any rush hour traffic.
Thanksgiving is creeping up on us and we will have to finalize all the plans for our hosting the dinner this year. We already have purchased the turkey and some other items, but we need to make sure that all of our guests know about the plans. That needs to be done this weekend sometime. Josie will probably make the calls to everybody and make sure there are no questions. It should be a fun day and we are hoping that it all come together...
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Friday, November 6, 2015
Uber 101
I'll start off with the review of my Uber 101 class that was held last night in Tempe, AZ:
(The small print says: 5years, 340+ cities, 61 countries)
There were about 100 people present and from a show of hands at the start of the class, more than half of the attendees have not performed their first trip yet. The class was about an hour and a quarter and was mostly a disappointment for me. I went to the class with a few questions, but there were so many people and so much emphasis on getting started, I didn't get a chance to ask my questions. Besides, it was a challenge (for me) trying to understand what the presenter was saying in the large room. I did get several new website addresses though that should provide the answers for me.
We also went to the RV show at the stadium during the day. That also was a disappointment for us. The show was solely put on by La Mesa RV, a large dealer in the Phoenix area. That was OK, but the inventory they had looked pretty much the same as the last time we attended their show. We didn't stay very long and left after about a half hour. It's a good thing that parking was free and the show was free.
The real good news from yesterday was the result of WMU's football game against Ball State University in Kalamazoo. Austin's team won again, 54-7, and they keep looking better and better each game. They are in first place in the MAC Conference and are 5-0 in Conference play. They are once again bowl eligible - for the second straight year - and, depending on how they finish their final three games, will have some nice choices for a bowl. That is very exciting...
(The small print says: 5years, 340+ cities, 61 countries)
There were about 100 people present and from a show of hands at the start of the class, more than half of the attendees have not performed their first trip yet. The class was about an hour and a quarter and was mostly a disappointment for me. I went to the class with a few questions, but there were so many people and so much emphasis on getting started, I didn't get a chance to ask my questions. Besides, it was a challenge (for me) trying to understand what the presenter was saying in the large room. I did get several new website addresses though that should provide the answers for me.
We also went to the RV show at the stadium during the day. That also was a disappointment for us. The show was solely put on by La Mesa RV, a large dealer in the Phoenix area. That was OK, but the inventory they had looked pretty much the same as the last time we attended their show. We didn't stay very long and left after about a half hour. It's a good thing that parking was free and the show was free.
The real good news from yesterday was the result of WMU's football game against Ball State University in Kalamazoo. Austin's team won again, 54-7, and they keep looking better and better each game. They are in first place in the MAC Conference and are 5-0 in Conference play. They are once again bowl eligible - for the second straight year - and, depending on how they finish their final three games, will have some nice choices for a bowl. That is very exciting...
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Signs of Winter
Our first taste of winter came yesterday when we only had a high 69. The high country received a record amount of snowfall for the date. We didn't get much precipitation until later in the day and we finished the day with about .15" of rain. We hadn't planned a whole lot to do anyway, so it wasn't a problem for us.
We went to the Arrowhead Mall to check out a sale on tennis shoes at Macy's - we both need a new pair. They didn't have the style that we wanted, so we ended up walking around the mall and not buying anything - except a pretzel at Wetzel's Pretzels. They are the kind of money saving trips that we like.
Today will be a little busier as we plan to go to the RV Show being held this weekend at the stadium. We always like to keep up with changes and developments in the RV world.
WMU (5-3) also has another game today that will be televised on the CBS Sports network again. They play the 3-6 Ball State Cardinals at home in Kalamazoo. They should win this game if they don't take them for granted. These last four games are very important for them as a bowl bid is a real possibility now as long as they don't stumble.
I have a Uber meeting tonight in Tempe that will conflict with the televised game, but I will record the game and watch what I miss following the meeting. I am anxious to attend the meeting to finally clear up some procedures that I am not sure about. Maybe I can also get some tips on how to increase the number of trips I take each day...
We went to the Arrowhead Mall to check out a sale on tennis shoes at Macy's - we both need a new pair. They didn't have the style that we wanted, so we ended up walking around the mall and not buying anything - except a pretzel at Wetzel's Pretzels. They are the kind of money saving trips that we like.
Today will be a little busier as we plan to go to the RV Show being held this weekend at the stadium. We always like to keep up with changes and developments in the RV world.
WMU (5-3) also has another game today that will be televised on the CBS Sports network again. They play the 3-6 Ball State Cardinals at home in Kalamazoo. They should win this game if they don't take them for granted. These last four games are very important for them as a bowl bid is a real possibility now as long as they don't stumble.
I have a Uber meeting tonight in Tempe that will conflict with the televised game, but I will record the game and watch what I miss following the meeting. I am anxious to attend the meeting to finally clear up some procedures that I am not sure about. Maybe I can also get some tips on how to increase the number of trips I take each day...
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Uber101
I received an email and a text message yesterday inviting me to attend a class on Thursday - Uber101. It came at a good time as I was getting somewhat frustrated by some of the questionable functions of the software. I ran into the same problem yesterday that I've had for the last several days, and that is getting the trips started when I pick up a rider, and also ending the trip when we arrive at the destination. The software doesn't automatically bring up the information on the screen for these functions and I can't find out anywhere on the help screens how I can make it work smoothly. I will certainly find out on Thursday evening at 6:30 PM when I attend the class being held in Tempe.
I drove for only a couple hours yesterday and had a couple short trips and one cancellation. The good news is that my first week's pay was automatically deposited in my bank account this morning so that part of the system works great. Good thing! I also got my second tip yesterday and Josie suggested I put those in a jar and just let them accumulate. That's a good idea, as then I'm not likely to spend it on something I won't remember.
We also received a response from Danny, our manager from Aramark at the Spring Training games. He was happy that we were coming back and has put us on the sheet as Retail Cashiers at the stadium for the games this year. As the Royals have won the World Series, we would expect larger crowds this coming year and more Royals merchandise being sold. It's nice having the World Series champions sharing the facility (with the Texas Rangers) that we will be working.
Josie is off the next two days so I will also take the days off from driving. Part of our agenda for the next couple days includes finalizing our plans for Thanksgiving. We will plan to have everybody at our house for Thanksgiving dinner this year. After all the years that we were not able to have it at our house, we can now step up and contribute. We only wish that Patty and her family could be included. Maybe Christmas will be the time for them to come and visit. If there is not a bowl game for Austin this year, I believe they are planning to come...
I drove for only a couple hours yesterday and had a couple short trips and one cancellation. The good news is that my first week's pay was automatically deposited in my bank account this morning so that part of the system works great. Good thing! I also got my second tip yesterday and Josie suggested I put those in a jar and just let them accumulate. That's a good idea, as then I'm not likely to spend it on something I won't remember.
We also received a response from Danny, our manager from Aramark at the Spring Training games. He was happy that we were coming back and has put us on the sheet as Retail Cashiers at the stadium for the games this year. As the Royals have won the World Series, we would expect larger crowds this coming year and more Royals merchandise being sold. It's nice having the World Series champions sharing the facility (with the Texas Rangers) that we will be working.
Josie is off the next two days so I will also take the days off from driving. Part of our agenda for the next couple days includes finalizing our plans for Thanksgiving. We will plan to have everybody at our house for Thanksgiving dinner this year. After all the years that we were not able to have it at our house, we can now step up and contribute. We only wish that Patty and her family could be included. Maybe Christmas will be the time for them to come and visit. If there is not a bowl game for Austin this year, I believe they are planning to come...
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Wait Time
The only negative that I see at this stage of my UBER experience is the wait time. I don't understand yet how they determine where to send me to expect a lower wait time between trips. When I sign on to drive I am given an opportunity to accept a short trip - at my expense - to an area they select where I may get a trip assigned quicker than if I stay at home waiting for one to be assigned. So far, I have had better success driving to Glendale. Twice I have been assigned trips while entering downtown Glendale on my way to a recommended wait location. Other times, I still wait between trip assignments - sometimes for an extended period of time - no matter where I wait. Yesterday was one of those occasions. I was signed-on to drive for three hours but was only assigned three trips. It could have been the result of an issue they had with my vehicle registration. I received an email stating that they needed a better image of my registration. I could have been held back as a result of that issue which I have taken care of yesterday afternoon. I'll check on that this morning to make sure there are no outstanding issues.
I receive daily updates from Workamper News regarding openings for employment. That is how we located the opportunities that we worked during our time on the road. The update from yesterday included a request for cashiers and cooks for the Spring Training games in Surprise Stadium where we worked for two years. We may try to apply again for a cashier position in the retail store at the stadium. We will see about that.
I will go with Josie this morning to deliver a piece for a funeral service at a location in Avondale. It needs to be there by 7:30 AM, so I will help her with it before she goes into the shop for her regular schedule. Then, I will check on the registration situation on my vehicle before driving again for UBER today. The registration document is fairly large, so the problem is getting the entire image captured, clearly, using the camera on my smart phone. Maybe the smart phone isn't so smart:)...
I receive daily updates from Workamper News regarding openings for employment. That is how we located the opportunities that we worked during our time on the road. The update from yesterday included a request for cashiers and cooks for the Spring Training games in Surprise Stadium where we worked for two years. We may try to apply again for a cashier position in the retail store at the stadium. We will see about that.
I will go with Josie this morning to deliver a piece for a funeral service at a location in Avondale. It needs to be there by 7:30 AM, so I will help her with it before she goes into the shop for her regular schedule. Then, I will check on the registration situation on my vehicle before driving again for UBER today. The registration document is fairly large, so the problem is getting the entire image captured, clearly, using the camera on my smart phone. Maybe the smart phone isn't so smart:)...
Monday, November 2, 2015
Good Football Results
The Cardinals played in Cleveland yesterday and won their game, 31-20. They are 6-2 now in the tough Western Division of the NFC. The Seahawks won a defensive struggle, 13-12, against the Dallas Cowboys, in Dallas where it is always tough to win. I still worry about their offense, but the defense is very strong and is leading the league again in defense. Fortunately, the Cardinals and the Seahawks have a bye week next week before facing each other in the first of two match-ups for the year. That should be a great game.
We packed away Halloween until next year. Josie is ready to put up our new Christmas tree but it is still a bit early for that. She did get a head start (for us) on Christmas shopping as we went to Costco to return a couple items and she picked up an item that was a good buy.
I'm hoping for a busy day today when I hit the road again for UBER. Saturday was a dud and I'm sure it was because of Halloween. Along with some more riders, I expect to gain more experience with the system to make it more comfortable for handling the fine points of processing the trips. I'll try the 10 AM - 3 PM time frame today.
That about wraps it up for now...
We packed away Halloween until next year. Josie is ready to put up our new Christmas tree but it is still a bit early for that. She did get a head start (for us) on Christmas shopping as we went to Costco to return a couple items and she picked up an item that was a good buy.
I'm hoping for a busy day today when I hit the road again for UBER. Saturday was a dud and I'm sure it was because of Halloween. Along with some more riders, I expect to gain more experience with the system to make it more comfortable for handling the fine points of processing the trips. I'll try the 10 AM - 3 PM time frame today.
That about wraps it up for now...
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Successful Halloween
The major story from yesterday was, of course, Halloween. We had purchased three of those huge bags of candy at Costco to give to the trick-or-treaters and we went through 2.5 of them. They each contained about 200 pieces of candy. We haven't had a Halloween experience like the one last night since we lived in Toledo, OH, in the mid 1970's.
This is how we set up our front for the occasion:
We sat outside on our chairs with a bottle of wine and settled in at 5:50 for the crowd. This is a photo taken during the evening:
Our neighbor across the street was all set to go at the same time:
The fun began at almost 6 PM and we had steady groups of kids and whole families until 8:30 PM. These shots will give some indication of the crowd:
It was a fun time for us as we got to enjoy a "real" Halloween for the first time in many years. We estimate that we had a couple hundred trick-or-treaters for the night. Once the kids started coming around for the second time and they got older, we closed it down and turned out the lights.
My day with UBER was dead. I started out at 10 AM again and did not get one rider for an hour that I was signed on to drive. I did get one rider that cancelled his ride before I got a chance to pick him up at his location. I tried again in the afternoon for about a half hour and still had no riders. I suspect that the real action didn't begin until later in the afternoon and close to the end of the trick-or-treat time, and for sure, when the parties were breaking up. I wanted no part of that action. I will try again Monday as Josie is off today and we will both enjoy the day off together...
This is how we set up our front for the occasion:
Our neighbor across the street was all set to go at the same time:
The fun began at almost 6 PM and we had steady groups of kids and whole families until 8:30 PM. These shots will give some indication of the crowd:
It was a fun time for us as we got to enjoy a "real" Halloween for the first time in many years. We estimate that we had a couple hundred trick-or-treaters for the night. Once the kids started coming around for the second time and they got older, we closed it down and turned out the lights.
My day with UBER was dead. I started out at 10 AM again and did not get one rider for an hour that I was signed on to drive. I did get one rider that cancelled his ride before I got a chance to pick him up at his location. I tried again in the afternoon for about a half hour and still had no riders. I suspect that the real action didn't begin until later in the afternoon and close to the end of the trick-or-treat time, and for sure, when the parties were breaking up. I wanted no part of that action. I will try again Monday as Josie is off today and we will both enjoy the day off together...
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