JOHANNESBURG – Loyal uber riders are already complaining about the high price rates for using Uber during the festive season and high pricing rates.
Uber users are expected to budget for using the app during the holidays for significant price increases due to the surge pricing on Uber. Uber says the surge concepts works as follows:
Demand for rides increases
There are times when so many people are requesting rides that there aren’t enough cars on the road to help take them all. Bad weather, rush hour, and special events, for instance, may cause unusually large numbers of people to want to ride Uber all at the same time.
Prices go up
In these cases of very high demand, fares may increase to help ensure those who need a ride can get one. This system is called surge pricing, and it lets us continue to be a reliable choice.
Riders pay more or wait
Whenever we raise rates due to surge pricing, we let riders know in the app. Some riders will choose to pay, while some will choose to wait a few minutes to see if the rates go back down to normal.
So users are told to check for rides at off-peak times to get good rates, but Uber rates are expected to drop after the festive. Alternatives like taxify are available to make trips easier to drop the demand and help fix prices.
@uber_rsa your Dynamic pricing encourages a +480% (R181 to R791,48) increase after a fee has been accepted?
— Zikhona Madlingozi (@BlackReign007) December 25, 2017
Wow @Uber_RSA u guys choose to triple increase your prices coz it's Christmas? Wow guys! Wow!!!
— Bruno Snow (@Nocturnal_Dj) December 25, 2017
Uber is now R300 from where we are.. I just got sober
— Lilly ka Bae (@brie_msimanga) December 25, 2017
About to book flights to Durban cheaper than @thegesha’s recent Uber trips 😂
— yash0505 (@yash0505) December 25, 2017
@Uber_RSA is surging on Christmas. These people have no shame. No surprise from the company that brought your surging whilst escaping a terrorist attack
— Gift Qetu-Yates (@GiftQY) December 25, 2017
Thank you @Uber for killing my budget – it cost me R600 just to go to church, family, and friends on Christmas day. Please don't respond with information about surges/demand pricing? This is emotional blackmail, and you know it. #UberMustFall
— Christelle du Toit (@writechristelle) December 26, 2017
