Mindphuck - How UBER psychologically abuses and manipulates its drivers.

Ever wonder what it would be like to drive for UBER? Sounds cool right? Help get people around, drive your car when you want, make a little bit of money, meet lots of people, and who knows, maybe even pick up the woman (or man) of your dreams?

According to a few studies, only about 7% of UBER drivers last longer than one year. That means about 14 out of every 15 drivers quit within a year. Why such a high turnover rate?

Other than low compensation (about $5/hour after expenses), UBER uses an automated and anonymous rating system to evaluate drivers. Each passenger has the option to anonymously rate a driver between 1-5 stars. A driver would need a minimum of 4.6 score (92%) to be able to drive for the company. A score under that amount and the driver will be deactivated and will no longer be able to drive for the company (4.8 or 96% for UBER black). To put that into perspective, a driver would need about 9 out of every 10 ratings to be 5-Star just to keep their job.

It would make perfect sense for any company to ensure that their employees/drivers (referred to as Partners by UBER) give the best possible service to their clients. Revenue is the key to any company. Increasing and maximizing revenue is the objective of this privately held company owned and funded mainly by bankers, as revenue determines the value of UBER.

So how do they do that? By giving a service that people will love. A very simple, cheap and convenient service with meticulously clean cars and drivers that are willing to do practically anything for the client. Anything for that 5 star rating.

UBER basically encourages customers to do whatever they want on their ride. Sit where they want, listen to the music that they want and even choose the route that they want to take. The company also encourages their drivers to offer water, candy, gum, chocolates and phone chargers (apple & android) to give the rider the best possible experience (all at the drivers expense of course). So drivers are always trying their best to please their riders. Not to mention giving them a safe, smooth and comfortable ride.

No matter what drivers do however, they will never ever have a perfect 5 star rating. The average rating for UBER drivers is around 4.7. A really amazing driver may be up to 4.95. As per some drivers, 85-90% are great customers and people. It’s the rest that are the problem.

Now imagine you do your best only to find out you didn’t get a 5 star? But you don’t know by whom and for what? It makes you feel kind of shitty and not appreciated. If you’re like me, you question peoples character and the whole world. It makes you a little angry. You don’t understand. You did your best, gave them a perfect ride and even kissed their ass. It starts playing with your head. Was it that annoying 17 year old? The business guy that didn’t shut up and was invading your headspace with his loud obnoxious phone call? Did you unknowingly say something wrong to somebody or in a tone that may have been misinterpreted? Did you have B.O? Is the car not clean enough? What the fuck is it? What the fuck did I do wrong? What the hell is wrong with people? What do they expect? Some people are just never happy. Will the next ride be a 5 star? Imagine constantly over thinking and being paranoid for no logical reason? Since clients have up to 3 days to rate a driver, so many drivers are constantly checking their ratings, some even in the middle of the night. Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to check your ratings? (weird, I know) Then seeing that it went down a point and not being able to get back to sleep because your upset and have no idea why some rider may not have liked you give you a lower rating a few days later? Even though it shouldn’t even matter and means nothing. This amounts to psychological abuse. Playing with people’s psyche, being judged by a no one that you gave your best to. Why? Why?

Oh! yeah,…because UBER enables them to do so? because their customers are their most valuable asset. They must keep them happy at all costs. As for the drivers, they really don’t give a shit about them. UBER has found a way to keep them in line and obedient. There are so many out there willing to try it out and give their best at the beginning. There will always be an abundant supply.

So as an UBER driver, I am done prostituting myself and letting anyone judge me. None of these asshole clients who I usually give 5 star service to and 5 stars as a client ratings are ever going to be able screw with my head anymore. The whole joke is that clients don’t even care about the ratings and have no clue how it can mess with someone’s head.

Who in the hell needs a $5 an hour job that you gets you stressed about useless ratings.

Goodbye UBER!, You greedy and disgusting capitalist pigs sucking drivers of their energy, the capital off their vehicles and screwing with their heads for your own benefit. Best of luck trying to keep good drivers.

So am I just an overthinking nut bag and take things too much to heart or do I make any sense here?