[cameldrv]

A huge part of what made Uber great when they first launched UberX was the driver ratings. This forced the drivers to provide good service, unlike the previous standard for taxis.

The problem now is that you can't give your driver a rating until the ride actually starts. This allows the drivers to play all sorts of games before the ride starts. If I match with a driver, and he drives around aimlessly for 10 minutes, then calls me, asks where I'm going, and then demands I cancel the ride (and get charged), that should be one star, but currently it's impossible to rate this bad driver.

[mustacheemperor]

When you cancel an Uber ride there is an option to choose "the driver told me to cancel" or "the driver was not moving" - I would hope that has some impact on their rating internally, but I wonder what it actually does.

[lhorie]

I thought Uber rolled out upfront pricing some time last year, so drivers wouldn't feel compelled to be playing these games anymore.

[xp84]

They know fare in my recent experience, but not where you are going. Probably theoretically for “diversity” reasons but also because Uber’s interests probably line up with giving all the rides rather than only the ones going to “good neighborhoods.”

Drivers on the other hand, want to know mainly so they can decline up front to take someone 50 miles in the “wrong” direction from where they are trying to be next.