Justin Smith: Sorry Uber, but the thrill, and the love, is gone

GEEZ, what has happened to Uber? We had it good there for a while, but now it’s gone to hell, writes Justin Smith.

GEEZ, what has happened to Uber? We had it good there for a while, but now it’s gone to hell.

The ride-sharing service came to Melbourne and we embraced it with the gusto of Donald Trump on Twitter. It was remarkable and we loved it. .

UBER TOLD TO PLAY FAIR IN VICTORIA OR RISK AXE

We went from a decades-long habit of saying “I’ll just get a taxi” to “Yo, I’ll hitch an Uber” in very little time.

And even while the worn-out taxi industry protested in the streets against the illegal invader, we didn’t care.

We were sick of them. Their cars were yellow wrecks, the drivers were miserable and lazy, the booking services were antiquated, and we were being treated like it was a free, community service — even while we paid and paid.

The coming of Uber was classic free-market stuff.

We found something better and we went for it. It was real love.

While the worn-out taxi industry protested in the streets against the illegal invader, we didn’t care. Picture: Ian Currie

It started as a novelty, then quickly became a serious alternative, and then the destroyer of the taxis.

Even though there were concerns about legalities, and the existing licences for the taxi owners, and the regulations and insurance for Uber, we didn’t really care. That was for the bureaucrats to work out.

All we knew is that there was something better — something beyond the stink of old cars and grumbling.

With Uber, we knew where all the cars were, the app was easy, we booked quickly and they didn’t muck us around. The drivers were relaxed and happy to have us along for the ride, they knew our destinations and let us flick through our phones or rest or chat, and then when we arrived, there was no fiddling with cash or cards.

The simplicity was beautiful, and the value was immediate.

But it’s changed. B.B. King would say “the thrill has gone”.

In romantic terms, Uber has gone from a generous lover who lived for our delight, to a cranky voice who tells us to put the bins out.

Uber should know that we are becoming better at change, and we will flick them if needed. Picture: AAP

Uber has declined in all areas, and threatens to become the low equal to taxis. Recently, I’ve had drivers cancel on me, get lost trying to find me, grumble at me about their lives, ask me for directions, and cart me around in bombs as though I’m a broke student getting a lift off a mate.

One driver chewed at my ear with misery and then, two minutes from home, said: “Hey, you want a mint, man?”

Nah, I don’t. I just wanted you to turn down the road like the GPS said and not take me the long way around. That’s what I want.

And instead of just letting you out, they have now started asking me to make sure I give them a
good rating.

In short, it’s not about me any more. It’s become all about them. Just like the taxis.

It’s an immutable fact in life — humans get sick of other humans when they become familiar.

Taxi drivers saw us as a necessary annoyance, and now so does Uber.

But they should know that we are becoming better at change, and we will flick them if needed.

We want Uber to do well. We need them. But carrying bottles of water and small items of confectionery is not what we want.

They know what we want because they used to give it to us.

Justin Smith is a 3AW presenter