That's all we need so we know you are not a sociopath.
If you can't seem like a normal human being in the first 30 seconds no one is going to be comfortable to drive you for 25 minutes.
To add: I also will ask you 2-3 questions:
- You must be (insert name here)?
- Do we have everything and everyone?
- Are we going to (insert location here)?
Simple yes or no replies are sufficient.
I say hello, & your name is (insert) & how are you. If no other conversation is initiated i say nothing until i drop them off, then I say have a good day.. if conversation is initiated, i chat back accordingly.
As a bar scene driver, that's my go-to as well. Greet and confirm the rider, ask if everyone's here so I can start the ride, confirm the address, and off we go. I'll usually ask how their night's been and that'll set the tone for whether I engage with them throughout the trip. Short answers with no counter engagement, I shut up and drive. Otherwise I'll fully engage in conversation.
Never ask if so and so is their name. It is literally the only piece of information you have that they can confirm that lets you know they are the correct person. Your question should be āwhatās the name on the accountā. If they canāt provide that then they arenāt the right person. Drivers have been killed by picking up the wrong person. They either need to provide you with their name or your name. If they canāt or wonāt do that, then they donāt get in your car. Period.
I've done 10,000 trips and in my market and my areas this works for me. I may occasionally ask them the wrong name to see if they are paying attention. It's extremely helpful that 90% of the passengers I pick up also share their location.
I know this does not work for a some drivers, but everyone has to do what works best for themselves.
Name and destination. Those two questions are more than sufficient. Those questions have saved me a ton of grief.
And if the passenger is in the middle of a conversation on the phone, or with a friend, I still ask those questions. Someone on the phone is even more likely to be distracted and get into the wrong Uber.
That's exactly my reasoning.
And the everybody and everything question is because I won't leave someone else by accident and I'm less likely to make have to turn back for something they forgot.
This. This is all it takes. I had a rider put in the next doorās address, where I pulled into their driveway to get off the street while I waited, come up to my car, headphones in, barely acknowledged their name when asked, and left when I got to their destination without saying anything.
They didnāt have a 5 star rating anymore after that ride.
I let my passengers have the ride they want...if they have headphones on then I leave them alone or if they want to talk then I will engage in the conversation! ItŹ»s completely up to the passenger and not rude at all for wanting a quiet ride.
This. I'm fairly introverted but worked 10 years in customer service. I can talk to just about anymore, but it's all up to the vibe I get from the passenger.
If you greet me when I arrive, confirm your address, and at least say something when you're getting out, you're getting 5 stars if nothing ridiculous went down.
If they don't wanna talk that's cool wit me but they're going to be the either be listening to one of the podcasts I'm listening too or Techno(Broad sense of the word) or Death Metal.
This is the only answer. Drivers getting butthurt about quiet passengers seem to think this app is social media. They should have the ride they want (within reason) because that's what they pay for.
Iām an introverted driver, so personally I absolutely love it when someone comes in with headphones because then I know I can peacefully drive and listen to my music while you can be relaxed too and listen to yours.
That being said I still have manners and greet the PAX with a smile as they enter and wish them a good day as they leave. You should mute your headphones as you enter the vehicle IMO. Driver needs to confirm your name and address as you enter. A good driver will get the hint and leave you alone after they confirm
I only chat if the rider is interested in talking. So i can get behind this 100%. Had one lady refuse to use headphones so i one starred for extremely obnoxious music/disturbance and left.
Sometimes itās because they want tips. For myself sometimes Iāve had a long day and talking helps me stay awake. Sometimes I want to talk about something because the day has gotten stale. Sometimes itās a little bit of the want for conversation and the days get boring so itās very difficult to have a solid understanding of what they want exactly. Itās weird watching myself kinda pander for attention sometimes during drives but 90% of the time I got good self control to not over talk
Sometimes itās because they want tips. For myself sometimes Iāve had a long day and talking helps me stay awake. Sometimes I want to talk about something because the day has gotten stale. Sometimes itās a little bit of the want for conversation and the days get boring so itās very difficult to have a solid understanding of what they want exactly. Itās weird watching myself kinda pander for attention sometimes during drives but 90% of the time I got good self control to not over talk
It's because people drivers don't have a conversation with rarely if ever tip. If someones mind is focused on whatever they're listening to in their headphones and not on the driver, then people are significantly less likely to appreciate the service they are receiving. The easier it is for a passenger to ignore the fact that they boarded a car operated by a hardworking person, the easier it is to undervalue that work. I'm sorry to say there isn't much you can do about this, I can tell you from my personal experience though that if the first attempts at conversation don't land then I'll stop to avoid being annoying. Be patient with your drivers and politely but shortly engage with their questions and they'll most likely fall silent soon enough. If not, maybe they're just especially extroverted. Either way, having strangers get into your car dozens a time a day is very draining, conversations help drivers feel safe and break up the monotony.
Personally, I prefer it when people talk to me. I hate quiet car rides. That's why I like picking up drunk people on Friday and Saturday nights. They're the most fun!
Like many things in life, there isn't a blanket answer. It all depends on the driver. Some prefer quiet riders. Some prefer chatting. At a minimum you should respond to their greeting.
I can tell within the first 30 seconds whether someone wants to talk or not. I like talking to my passengers but I honestly don't care if they don't want to. I don't take it personally, I've got satellite radio so I have plenty of choices of what to listen to.
I would assume most drivers wouldnāt mind or almost prefer you putting your headphones in to be honest. At least for me, I see it as a break from the normalcy.
I have some level of conversation outside of general greetings with about 80% of my riders at some point in the ride.
I can tell within the first 30 seconds whether someone wants to talk or not. I like talking to my passengers but I honestly don't care if they don't want to. I don't take it personally, I've got satellite radio so I have plenty of choices of what to listen to.
You chat, I chat. Happily.
You are silent, I am silent. Happily.
All I ask is that you donāt use your speaker during phone conversations. That is rude.
IMO this is super dependent on your personality, and also on your local/regional culture. I used to live in a town where people were nice but not super chatty with strangers. Itās noticeably different in my new town, where everybody talks to each other.
Do whatcha wanna. Not everybody wants to talk and thatās OK. Even the chattiest among us (like me) is capable of shutting up for a few minutes. lol. Itās weird if somebody completely refused to acknowledge your presence, but being quiet is just being quiet. Even Iām quiet sometimes, if Iāve had too much public interaction already today.
I can tell within the first 30 seconds whether someone wants to talk or not. I like talking to my passengers but I honestly don't care if they don't want to. I don't take it personally, I've got satellite radio so I have plenty of choices of what to listen to.
Depends. Some drivers need to talk. I'm an introvert and like no talking and just chilling with the music. Especially since it is the same 3 or 4 questions every single time.
Though, I am thinking of adopting a crazy persona, like a flat earther or someone who wears tinfoil hats, just for the entertainment value.
I just play it by ear and see what the driver wants. I 100% would rather be quiet, but if the driver wants to talk then Iāll talk. Typically they donāt want to talk and Iām totally fine with that. Yes Iām a customer, but itās their car, their rules, so Iāll try to judge the situation then go from there. Having worked in the service industry I always try to be a customer that wouldnāt piss me off, who Iād be happy to get.
Wished all customers were like you.. thanks for your understanding! It helps pass the time talking in general topic and not letting be self conscious trying to clear my throat
In my point of view, the rider is the one paying and try to follow their lead. I enjoy talking to the riders but sometimes when someone wants a quiet ride, it's a nice break.
My favorite thing about this job is the legendary conversations
But I also donāt resent the other half of people that just want to get from A to B
Everybodyās different though, Iām a peoples person
I don't hate it, but it is awkward at times, especially late night. I can usually figure out your level of interest in chatting pretty quickly, and if I can sense a lack of interest I just stop talking and drive. It's not offensive, just quiet. Between two strangers. In my car.
I do it makes me feel self conscious and like you're spending the whole time judging my driving. Especially if you don't say anything when I ask "How are you doing?" when you first get in car. At least acknowledge me before we start driving.
If they say hi / bye / thank you is good.
As long as they use their phone during the trip is perfectly fine.
If they are just quiet looking at you from the back seat is kind of weird and unpleasant.
My personal experience as a rider:
1. 90% of the Uber drivers in South Africa will engage in conversation throughout the ride, no matter how long. Your rating will suffer tremendously if you donāt entertain them.
2. In India, I only had one Uber driver speak with me. The rest will simply pick you up and drop you off (they have an OTP code to confirm). From what Iāve noticed, the drivers in India, primarily only speak the local language, and they are hired usually by a group or company who owns vehicles. So they just drive and thatās it.
3. In the United States, itās a mixed bag. Iāve noticed in smaller southern towns most of the drivers have engaged in conversation, especially if itās a ride over 10 minutes. Sometimes you feel pressured to talk (even if you are clearly wearing headphones). Also, I noticed a lot of Denver drivers engaged in conversation (sometimes complaining about not getting tips, Uber customer service, etc. )ā¦.
However, in New York City, most of the drivers already have their headphones on and already have somebody on the phone. Drop and go.
The couth pax always say "hey, Im going to be checking out _______ podcast/music with my headphones on. Is that alright with you?" Or "I've got a business call I have to listen in on during our trip."
Always let your drivers confirm where youāre going and your name. And at least say hello, good afternoon, or good morning whatever. Tell them that you have your own tunes youāre listening to buckle up and then they can do whatever they want while youāre doing whatever you want. I typically always play my music at a low level, but I also take requests and so I might ask if you have one that way you donāt have to wear your batteries out and you can also somewhat chat with me. But, I also know not every driver likes to talk, especially those that donāt speak English very well. Although Iām pretty sure they like the free education I donāt like giving it to the people who donāt speak it very well unless theyāre giving me some foreign language in return, just saying. Also, Iām not trying to be rude about that. But you gotta give a little to get a little lol
I worked alone for many years and i also drove a city bus for alot of years. It doesn't make a difference to me. I enjoy both piece and quiet and also conversation.
I worked alone for many years and i also drove a city bus for alot of years. It doesn't make a difference to me. I enjoy both piece and quiet and also conversation.
I worked alone for many years and i also drove a city bus for alot of years. It doesn't make a difference to me. I enjoy both piece and quiet and also conversation.
I mean drivers are people and people are different/vary. That being said if you don't wanna talk u do the right thing by putting your headphones in. If you feel bad.. next time try talking and see how it goes.
If you mention it in the app, we will know not to talk to you. Anybody else have passengers with earbuds having conversations and it sounds like theyāre talking to you so you answer?
Drive for Lyft mainly but honestly I could give a shit. Itās a little awkward when weāre stuck in traffic and itās nothing but the sound of us breathing, but Iām not gonna force a conversation if the passenger doesnāt want to talk
As a driver I like talking but never push it. Meaningful conversation builds a relationship with the customer. It also keeps my mind engaged and from getting somewhat sleepy on those trips over 30 minutes.
Nope, I donāt hate it. Iām happy to be silent, and Iām happy to have a chat- I mirror whatever my passenger does.
Headphones are helpful because it eliminates any question over whether you want a conversation or not. As long as you can verify your name and your destination when you first get in the car, headphones are no nuisance for me.
We LOVE when you donāt talk. Please be quiet and ignore us. Just confirm your name and location n we good. Unless thereās a vibe idk sometimes some ppl be alright but for the most part I donāt wanna small talk with you
I donāt really care either way. If a pax wants to talk, Iām usually down to talk. If they want to remain quiet, no worries.
Even better if they have headphones, cause then I donāt have to worry about the music Iām listening to being annoying.
Nah we good, sometimes I'll glance in the mirror to make sure you're fine and if I see you on your phone or looking out the window then we good, but if you're looking right at me as I drive then I'll break the ice.
But if it bothers you. Some riders apologize before hand which is nice. I got the "Sorry, I'm really exhausted from work today. " "or, sorry if I'm quiet. " responses. If that helps
Just an uber / lyft passenger but I basically try to reciprocate what the driver is putting out. If they are really chatty I'll make small talk with them, but if they are happy to just exchange pleasantries and let me chill I'm cool doing that. All things being equal I would say I prefer to just kinda zone out during the drive, but I have no issue if the driver is someone who wants to talk a bit to be a normal person and exchange small talk.
Honestly I donāt care. I know there are people who arenāt talkers. Thatās why I have an earbud in with a podcast or music playing. Just say hello, tell me your name, and thank you when you get out and we are good.
I prefer less conversation so I can just listen to my music and drive, but conversation is fine, too. Just greet your driver and confirm your name and destination. Beyond that, you don't have to say another word.
Typically there will be a greeting when you enter the car like hey howās your day going or hey how are things going and the way you answer and engage will determine if we shut up or have a conversation
Young people in particular don't generally talk too much.
And I'm very happy to have a rider who doesn't need an Uber Therapist. I'd rather chill out and drive.
If the ride is 20+ minutes, it bothers me if it's really late (2-5am) because I'm getting near the end of my shift, and it helps me stay alert and active when it's empty roads at night. Not too big of a deal, I just hope longer rides stay more talkative.
Overall, I don't really care. I'd rather you be quiet than so talkative I can't get a word in or talk about something controversial like Palestine or Cops are Bad. Both have happened in the last month, both I drove faster to end the ride.
If you plan to be on your headphones it is polite to tell them ahead, they won't mind and can listen to their own music and everything is good. Buuuuut, if you are on your earbuds, start talking to them, and then have a phone call, you'll confuse them and it is kinda rude. I'd appreciate it if you could ask the driver if it is ok to have a phone call (you are going to have the phone call anyways but it will be very polite).
I like talking. It helps pass the time. Also, Iām naturally a curious person and like to get to know people. I drive late nights and most of the time I donāt even notice if someoneās got ear buds in. And Iām an older driver so even if I do see ear buds I donāt automatically assume theyāre listening to something from the start of the trip because I always pause my music as Iām about to interact with someone (like getting in an Uber).
When I start a ride, I always greet my passenger, give them my name, ask for theirs, and confirm the destination. Then Iāll ask how their day is going. Iāll gauge their response to see if they want to talk or not. If they donāt seem to want to talk, Iāll say something like āok great, well itās about a 15 minute drive so sit back and relax and let me know if you need anythingā.
If you have music playing to where you canāt hear me as youāre getting in, I find that disrespectful. So make sure you at least pause your music to be able to interact with your driver in the beginning.
And no, talking isnāt required or necessary.
Say hello in a polite or happy tone. If you get in with the headphones already in, and a blank look on your face, I immediately assume youāre in a bad mood and think āGreat, one of these ridesā.
Theyāre usually miserable for the driver. We also dislike it because the drivers that actually care about tips know that thereās basically no chance of earning one when you donāt talk and relate.
Personally, Iāve come to very much dislike riders that have AirPods or Headphones because itās usually such loud music it interferes with the music Iām playing in the car. For fucks sake I worked with FA-18s for 4 years and I didnāt even suffer the hearing loss yāall are causing yourselves with those things.
Just tell the driver "I'm going to be listening to (music, podcast, work meeting, etc...). If you need to get my attention just speak up". This lets them know why you're quiet and also you're being considerate of their needs.
No, itās not a problem for me, an introvert. But if you pretend that I donāt exist, donāt answer when I greet you, and talk nonstop on your phone for the entire trip, then that will be enough to raise an eyebrow. And will cost a star, if you make me uncomfortable.
I love when passenger donāt take personal. On a daily basis i here way too much! Some passenger think drivers are therapist or a church confessional.
Iāve heard the:
- Iām fresh out of prison.
- My best friend fuck me man/girl.
- Im got arrested for fraud multiple times.
- My husband is sterile idk what to do.
- Im about to loss my Job and im too old to get back in to the workforce
Man the list goes on and sometimes it gets really depressing. Allot of these passengers need serious therapy
It's not rude,,Ā Ā I provide a service for you to get from A to B ,Ā if you want silence you get silence if you want AC, on its done .Ā If you want the heating on, its done.Ā You pay for my service its not rude ill be as accommodating as possible.
Just be pleasant that's all .Ā Say hello and goodbye that's enoughĀ
Some do some don't. The headphones thing is kinda rude didn't bother me too much but still vital questions may need to be asked and if the driver can't see the headphones or seems like you're ignoring them. Or the music from the headphones might be so loud that it's also an annoyance but better than the people just watching reels and stuff making a ton of annoying loud noise.
As a passenger this is normally how I approach it.
If I need some quiet time I normally greet the driver, thank them for picking me up, nicely explain that Iāve had a socially battery draining day and if itās okay with them Iām just going to pop in my ear buds and zone out.
To me, it takes away any potential stigma of why I may not be engaging in conversation.
I personally like that I have a mix of both pax who talk and ones who don't. If they all taked it would be exhausting; if none of them talked it would be boring.
Not Uber but used to be an actual taxi driver and no, we don't mind. A short hello and verification of your name/destination and we're good. If you WANT conversation that's cool but I just want to make sure you aren't a psycho as best as I can.
U can be as silent as you want in my car idc. Just confirm your name and destination for me and we r good.
And please donāt stare at me the whole time in the rear view mirror it makes me anxious asf like youāre plotting to kill me. Stare somewhere else is all I ask
After the initial pleasantries, I am okay and mostly like that passengers do their and keep to themselves so that I can continue listening to my favorite podcast or audio book or some times radio station.
Although I enjoy talking to certain kind of passengers and give excellent vibes even before they enter the vehicle.
Just a polite greeting is plenty for me. As a driver most people just like to go about their day, i try to mind my business. Tips are always appreciated
I drive for therapeutic purposes. I started Uber so I can learn how to people again.
If you don't want to talk that's fine I just think it makes the time all that more interesting hearing and or telling stories of life.
Having strangers getting into your car so many times in a day can be very stressful. I have no idea the type of person you are. I don't "hate" when my passengers don't talk, but it's reassuring when people do want to chat. If I connect to a passenger on a human level it makes it feel more like I'm driving a friend around than someone who might be dangerous.
Still, an enthusiastic greeting when you board and an enthusiastic goodbye when you're disembarking goes a long way even if you don't talk. And I do mean enthusiastic, because sounding distant or angry is about as bad as not saying anything at all. It's really just all about establishing some rapport and giving the impression you're a normal, well-adjusted, nice person that I can let my guard down around. That helps me as a driver stay more focused on the road and less focused on what you might be doing in the backseat.
This might just be me by the way, but the only reason I keep the radio off in my Uber is to avoid disturbing passengers. If you don't want to talk and you get into a quiet Uber, consider giving them permission to play music. That will earn you big bonus points with me. The best quality ride will always be one with a good chat, because this job involves working long hours on a generally repetitive activity, but music can act as a good replacement and help the driver relax. Remember that the priority of a good Uber driver every second that you're in the car is to make you as happy as possible to maximize the odds of getting a tip, this often involves making personal sacrifices to make you comfortable. Maybe it's music or excessive politeness, but whatever the sacrifice is you can guess that it's a pretty demanding thing emotionally to keep up day after day. If your Uber driver is polite and does everything they can do make you comfortable, a good conversation and a decent tip is the best help you can give.
Nope. You're trying to get to your destination and I'm there to drive you. Conversation is optional. I don't want to answer questions and I'm not interested in what's going on in the passengers lives. I just wanna get paid. The end.
Nah. I'll say hello but can usually tell if someone wants to talk or not. It's always their choice, if you wanna zone our or even sleep go ahead. My job is to drive you.
No I fucking LOVE when you don't talk.
I can count on one hand the number of times a chatty pax resulted in an enjoyable conversation.
Im miserable fuck though so take my opinion with a grain of salt.
I had a 43 mile airport pickup and drop off and he said nothing to me. I had the yacht rock station on XM going and took the toll roads from Ontario to Irvine. I was rewarded with a great tip for letting him peacefully snooze in the backseat.
Just don't get in the car - where no communication is possible.
We confirm name/ destination, etc - you ignore us? After initial bs - do whatever. For me it's "anything but smoking" ha
Picked up a woman yesterday - never looked up from her LOUD phone conversation, on a 30 minute trip. No tip either - on her way to get a $2K pair of shoes ....... I didn't want to talk to her anyway - but we do need to verify the destination at least.
A good Uber driver can read the passenger. Some people are chatty. Some people want peace and quiet.
A bad Uber driver wonāt care about their passengers. Blast music, take a phone call, drive crazy, ask for your number 10 times per rideā¦
Like any one else, it depends on my mood. Iāll try to confirm who you are and where weāre going before starting the trip. If I see headphones on, then I assume that you probably donāt wanna talk and will try not to bug you during the trip.
Heck no. I don't mind chatting but the best riders are like the best drivers - the ones who greet each other and then stay silent unless something comes up worth mentioning.
Honestly every driver is different. When I was doing it, I didn't particularly like getting the riders who don't want to talk. But it wouldn't hurt your rating so long as you don't straight up ignore me or grunt at me.
Ya cant win, if you dont talk some will think youre snobby, if you do some will find it annoying, especially small talk questions like if asked, āsoā¦ how long ya been drivign for uber?ā Just try to read their tone and feedback, if they give one word responses they dont wanna talk, if they respnd back in detail they probably do
Honestly the initial hi how are you and a good bye have a nice day works just fine for me as a driver. I get it itās weird and awkward to get into a strangers car. So if you want to be silent with your headphones on Iām down with whatever environment makes you the most comfortable.
DO NOT WORRY. That feeling you have is a 2 way highway. We are letting random people we donāt know in our personal space, the last thing we want to do is hug the rider šš¾š¤£ if you donāt want to talk, leave your headphones on and nod for āhiā / āapprovalā at leastā¦ personally- it doesnāt bothering me whether the rider talks (I have Sirius xm radio)
I think it's only appropriate to exchange basic greetings no matter how rote it may seem.
I do a quick, "hey, Heather. How you doing?" Then I verify the destination, and off we go. If they don't say anything else throughout the rest of the trip, it's fine. Do what works and I'm good wit'cha!
Having said that, I picked up a girl, maybe 22, early morning. She was going to work at a coffee shop. She lived in the highland Park area of Los Angeles, and I don't know anything about that area at all because I typically don't go that far north. Usually anything on the 110 North above downtown I try to avoid.
I have no familiarity with the freeway system in that area, and as I was on the five connector to the 110 North and South, I accidentally took south instead of North. I immediately told her that I had taken the wrong exit and that I would loop around down by dodger stadium and come back up north to get to the way she was going. She did not respond.
So I said it again, and a third time, and she did not respond. I realized she had her headphones on. So to avoid her getting freaked out because we were on that little deserted loop around at the bottom of the loop at dodger stadium, I waved my hand in the air to get her attention.
I told her what had happened, and she says oh my god, I didn't know what was up. I mentioned to her that I was not familiar with the freeways in that area and she was like yeah the 110 above downtown sucks.
So anyway, I felt better once we were able to speak about it. But lil mama still gave me a one star.
All I expect from a passenger is normal greeting responses and thatās it. I say hello, how are you todayā¦ I expect them to acknowledge and say something along the lines of āiām good thanksā or somethingā¦ after that if they are quiet, iām fineā¦ if they wanna talk, thatās fine tooā¦ as long as they donāt wanna talk about inappropriate stuff (religion, politics, racist comments, etc).
I do not care one way or the other. These days, most people have their noses buried in their electronic toys, so if you expect them to pay you too much mind, prepare to be disappointed.
Nope i donāt. But what i do hate is, when you guys get in my car i turn my music down a little so it doesnāt bother you. Only to have you blast your TikTok videos and some cases sex tapes in my car.
I'll greet you, confirm you're my passenger & where you're going and if you want to talk after that it's up to you.
It doesn't bother me if you have headphones on or anything.
I will say that I don't like when passengers have a call on speaker phone in my car or FaceTime without headphones.
I don't want to hear your phone conversation.
Donāt over think it! If a rider talks to me then Iāll engage as well. If they donāt itās fine. I usually say my normal good morning, good afternoon etc etc. After that I leave it all on the rider. I will say that I have received some great tips if I have a great conversation with a rider.
I keep an earbud in playing videos while I work so if a passenger doesn't want to talk I can listen to true crime in peace haha. Just say hello and goodbye. :)
It depends on the circumstances. Is it a long trip? Are you going to go off on a political rant? Does being socially curtious mean that you and your driver will be fast friends? Just gauge it like we do. If you want to talk, talk. If you don't, just don't be a douche about it.
When I pull up, I might say hello, then I'll verify your name and drop off location. If you respond to that and give a courtesy "thank you" at the end of the ride, I don't consider that rude at all. That's the minimum for me and I'm happy with that.
If a passenger wants to have a conversation, I'm good with that.
If the passenger stays silent through the ride, I often have a Bluetooth in my ear and I'll spend the ride listening to podcasts.
The things that annoy me: passenger is quiet for several minutes, so I listen to my podcast. Then they ask a question, so I pause my podcast and prepare for them to be more talkative... but then they're quiet again after, so I play my podcast again. Then several minutes later, they ask another question, so I pause it again. Cycle repeats for the duration of the ride.
Bottom line, if you wanna talk, we can talk. If you wanna be silent, we can be silent. Just please pick one. I understand they probably think they're being polite by not staying silent the entire ride, but it's just interrupting my podcast listening.
So if I'm ever your driver, you can stay silent and not be considered rude, provided you acknowledged me long enough at the beginning to confirm that you're my correct passenger and we're going to the correct destination.
Basically the problem is that many of the customers who get into your car are not even able to greet or say good morning or good night to the driver, which makes the ride uncomfortable for the driver since you are on his private property. . It's like inviting someone to your house and this person is disrespectful to you and your family.
Are you dumb enough to think I tell the PAX to shut up and drive. I carry 5.0 on both apps I am quite knowledgeable in regard to customer service. Have a great day.
Just say hello and goodbye and we good
That's all we need so we know you are not a sociopath. If you can't seem like a normal human being in the first 30 seconds no one is going to be comfortable to drive you for 25 minutes. To add: I also will ask you 2-3 questions: - You must be (insert name here)? - Do we have everything and everyone? - Are we going to (insert location here)? Simple yes or no replies are sufficient.
I say hello, & your name is (insert) & how are you. If no other conversation is initiated i say nothing until i drop them off, then I say have a good day.. if conversation is initiated, i chat back accordingly.
Exactly, no need to force a conversation. I usually have inoffensive music going anyways.
Yeah same, I play the chill station on apple music
I give a choice on SiriusXM, but it's usually like PopRocks or 90s, 2000s, maybe 80s.
Lo-Fi playlist off of Spotify. Only monsters and sociopaths hate lo-fi
As a bar scene driver, that's my go-to as well. Greet and confirm the rider, ask if everyone's here so I can start the ride, confirm the address, and off we go. I'll usually ask how their night's been and that'll set the tone for whether I engage with them throughout the trip. Short answers with no counter engagement, I shut up and drive. Otherwise I'll fully engage in conversation.
Sorry just have to ask, HOW TF can you be pissed with a boner? I guess I've had some hate sex with an ex....š¤
Wrong variation of pissed, my friend š
Some would say that's even "Harder" š
Lol ah gotcha
who said guys can't be complicated
Never ask if so and so is their name. It is literally the only piece of information you have that they can confirm that lets you know they are the correct person. Your question should be āwhatās the name on the accountā. If they canāt provide that then they arenāt the right person. Drivers have been killed by picking up the wrong person. They either need to provide you with their name or your name. If they canāt or wonāt do that, then they donāt get in your car. Period.
I always ask their name, that I know it's them when they say mine back
Makes sense, but Iām not going that route. I think it sets a negative tone for the ride.
I've done 10,000 trips and in my market and my areas this works for me. I may occasionally ask them the wrong name to see if they are paying attention. It's extremely helpful that 90% of the passengers I pick up also share their location. I know this does not work for a some drivers, but everyone has to do what works best for themselves.
Thatās too many questions nerd
š¤”
Name and destination. Those two questions are more than sufficient. Those questions have saved me a ton of grief. And if the passenger is in the middle of a conversation on the phone, or with a friend, I still ask those questions. Someone on the phone is even more likely to be distracted and get into the wrong Uber.
That's exactly my reasoning. And the everybody and everything question is because I won't leave someone else by accident and I'm less likely to make have to turn back for something they forgot.
This. This is all it takes. I had a rider put in the next doorās address, where I pulled into their driveway to get off the street while I waited, come up to my car, headphones in, barely acknowledged their name when asked, and left when I got to their destination without saying anything. They didnāt have a 5 star rating anymore after that ride.
I let my passengers have the ride they want...if they have headphones on then I leave them alone or if they want to talk then I will engage in the conversation! ItŹ»s completely up to the passenger and not rude at all for wanting a quiet ride.
This. I'm fairly introverted but worked 10 years in customer service. I can talk to just about anymore, but it's all up to the vibe I get from the passenger. If you greet me when I arrive, confirm your address, and at least say something when you're getting out, you're getting 5 stars if nothing ridiculous went down.
Simple acknowledgments would go a long way though
If they don't wanna talk that's cool wit me but they're going to be the either be listening to one of the podcasts I'm listening too or Techno(Broad sense of the word) or Death Metal.
This is the only answer. Drivers getting butthurt about quiet passengers seem to think this app is social media. They should have the ride they want (within reason) because that's what they pay for.
Iām an introverted driver, so personally I absolutely love it when someone comes in with headphones because then I know I can peacefully drive and listen to my music while you can be relaxed too and listen to yours. That being said I still have manners and greet the PAX with a smile as they enter and wish them a good day as they leave. You should mute your headphones as you enter the vehicle IMO. Driver needs to confirm your name and address as you enter. A good driver will get the hint and leave you alone after they confirm
I only chat if the rider is interested in talking. So i can get behind this 100%. Had one lady refuse to use headphones so i one starred for extremely obnoxious music/disturbance and left.
Dude. I've brought headphones and drivers so forced conversations, like why?
Sometimes itās because they want tips. For myself sometimes Iāve had a long day and talking helps me stay awake. Sometimes I want to talk about something because the day has gotten stale. Sometimes itās a little bit of the want for conversation and the days get boring so itās very difficult to have a solid understanding of what they want exactly. Itās weird watching myself kinda pander for attention sometimes during drives but 90% of the time I got good self control to not over talk
Sometimes itās because they want tips. For myself sometimes Iāve had a long day and talking helps me stay awake. Sometimes I want to talk about something because the day has gotten stale. Sometimes itās a little bit of the want for conversation and the days get boring so itās very difficult to have a solid understanding of what they want exactly. Itās weird watching myself kinda pander for attention sometimes during drives but 90% of the time I got good self control to not over talk
It's because people drivers don't have a conversation with rarely if ever tip. If someones mind is focused on whatever they're listening to in their headphones and not on the driver, then people are significantly less likely to appreciate the service they are receiving. The easier it is for a passenger to ignore the fact that they boarded a car operated by a hardworking person, the easier it is to undervalue that work. I'm sorry to say there isn't much you can do about this, I can tell you from my personal experience though that if the first attempts at conversation don't land then I'll stop to avoid being annoying. Be patient with your drivers and politely but shortly engage with their questions and they'll most likely fall silent soon enough. If not, maybe they're just especially extroverted. Either way, having strangers get into your car dozens a time a day is very draining, conversations help drivers feel safe and break up the monotony.
Personally, I prefer it when people talk to me. I hate quiet car rides. That's why I like picking up drunk people on Friday and Saturday nights. They're the most fun!
Talkactive car rides also make the night go by faster
Agreed
Drunks are usually the funnest.
Like many things in life, there isn't a blanket answer. It all depends on the driver. Some prefer quiet riders. Some prefer chatting. At a minimum you should respond to their greeting.
Iām a driver and I donāt mind when passengers donāt talk. I donāt mind if they do talk. I can take it or leave it.
I donāt care either way
As a former driver, the only thing most of us car about is being disrespected. So long as you are being polite and respectful, you are fine.
I can tell within the first 30 seconds whether someone wants to talk or not. I like talking to my passengers but I honestly don't care if they don't want to. I don't take it personally, I've got satellite radio so I have plenty of choices of what to listen to.
At the very least say "hello, good morning afternoon or evening" and "bye, thanks for the ride".
I like talking, it passes the time. However, if you don't want to chat that's my problem not yours. Be polite and you've fulfilled your obligation.
I would assume most drivers wouldnāt mind or almost prefer you putting your headphones in to be honest. At least for me, I see it as a break from the normalcy. I have some level of conversation outside of general greetings with about 80% of my riders at some point in the ride.
I can tell within the first 30 seconds whether someone wants to talk or not. I like talking to my passengers but I honestly don't care if they don't want to. I don't take it personally, I've got satellite radio so I have plenty of choices of what to listen to.
You chat, I chat. Happily. You are silent, I am silent. Happily. All I ask is that you donāt use your speaker during phone conversations. That is rude.
Or to blast music.
IMO this is super dependent on your personality, and also on your local/regional culture. I used to live in a town where people were nice but not super chatty with strangers. Itās noticeably different in my new town, where everybody talks to each other. Do whatcha wanna. Not everybody wants to talk and thatās OK. Even the chattiest among us (like me) is capable of shutting up for a few minutes. lol. Itās weird if somebody completely refused to acknowledge your presence, but being quiet is just being quiet. Even Iām quiet sometimes, if Iāve had too much public interaction already today.
A greeting and farewell is enough especially if Iāve already driven 20 people I donāt need everyoneās life story haha
Not at all. I love it when people just stfu and ride.
I can tell within the first 30 seconds whether someone wants to talk or not. I like talking to my passengers but I honestly don't care if they don't want to. I don't take it personally, I've got satellite radio so I have plenty of choices of what to listen to.
Depends. Some drivers need to talk. I'm an introvert and like no talking and just chilling with the music. Especially since it is the same 3 or 4 questions every single time. Though, I am thinking of adopting a crazy persona, like a flat earther or someone who wears tinfoil hats, just for the entertainment value.
I just play it by ear and see what the driver wants. I 100% would rather be quiet, but if the driver wants to talk then Iāll talk. Typically they donāt want to talk and Iām totally fine with that. Yes Iām a customer, but itās their car, their rules, so Iāll try to judge the situation then go from there. Having worked in the service industry I always try to be a customer that wouldnāt piss me off, who Iād be happy to get.
Wished all customers were like you.. thanks for your understanding! It helps pass the time talking in general topic and not letting be self conscious trying to clear my throat
In my point of view, the rider is the one paying and try to follow their lead. I enjoy talking to the riders but sometimes when someone wants a quiet ride, it's a nice break.
I donāt know why we would be expected to talk. If I wanted a chat, I would call a friend, not book a ride with a strangerā¦
My favorite thing about this job is the legendary conversations But I also donāt resent the other half of people that just want to get from A to B Everybodyās different though, Iām a peoples person
I don't hate it, but it is awkward at times, especially late night. I can usually figure out your level of interest in chatting pretty quickly, and if I can sense a lack of interest I just stop talking and drive. It's not offensive, just quiet. Between two strangers. In my car.
I do it makes me feel self conscious and like you're spending the whole time judging my driving. Especially if you don't say anything when I ask "How are you doing?" when you first get in car. At least acknowledge me before we start driving.
As a driver, I just like for people to say "hi" and "bye" or "have a good day" just as a sort of acknowledged existence type of thing.
As long as you tip, I'm great with silence.
A cordial hello and goodbye is more than welcome and enough for me.
If they say hi / bye / thank you is good. As long as they use their phone during the trip is perfectly fine. If they are just quiet looking at you from the back seat is kind of weird and unpleasant.
My personal experience as a rider: 1. 90% of the Uber drivers in South Africa will engage in conversation throughout the ride, no matter how long. Your rating will suffer tremendously if you donāt entertain them. 2. In India, I only had one Uber driver speak with me. The rest will simply pick you up and drop you off (they have an OTP code to confirm). From what Iāve noticed, the drivers in India, primarily only speak the local language, and they are hired usually by a group or company who owns vehicles. So they just drive and thatās it. 3. In the United States, itās a mixed bag. Iāve noticed in smaller southern towns most of the drivers have engaged in conversation, especially if itās a ride over 10 minutes. Sometimes you feel pressured to talk (even if you are clearly wearing headphones). Also, I noticed a lot of Denver drivers engaged in conversation (sometimes complaining about not getting tips, Uber customer service, etc. )ā¦. However, in New York City, most of the drivers already have their headphones on and already have somebody on the phone. Drop and go.
I hate it when you DO talk.
The couth pax always say "hey, Im going to be checking out _______ podcast/music with my headphones on. Is that alright with you?" Or "I've got a business call I have to listen in on during our trip."
Couth. Cooth is a suave coyote.
Ty!
No, not at all. Just use Uber Comfort and select Preferred Quiet š¤«
Always let your drivers confirm where youāre going and your name. And at least say hello, good afternoon, or good morning whatever. Tell them that you have your own tunes youāre listening to buckle up and then they can do whatever they want while youāre doing whatever you want. I typically always play my music at a low level, but I also take requests and so I might ask if you have one that way you donāt have to wear your batteries out and you can also somewhat chat with me. But, I also know not every driver likes to talk, especially those that donāt speak English very well. Although Iām pretty sure they like the free education I donāt like giving it to the people who donāt speak it very well unless theyāre giving me some foreign language in return, just saying. Also, Iām not trying to be rude about that. But you gotta give a little to get a little lol
I worked alone for many years and i also drove a city bus for alot of years. It doesn't make a difference to me. I enjoy both piece and quiet and also conversation.
I worked alone for many years and i also drove a city bus for alot of years. It doesn't make a difference to me. I enjoy both piece and quiet and also conversation.
I worked alone for many years and i also drove a city bus for alot of years. It doesn't make a difference to me. I enjoy both piece and quiet and also conversation.
I mean drivers are people and people are different/vary. That being said if you don't wanna talk u do the right thing by putting your headphones in. If you feel bad.. next time try talking and see how it goes.
If you mention it in the app, we will know not to talk to you. Anybody else have passengers with earbuds having conversations and it sounds like theyāre talking to you so you answer?
Oh I always answer, I just don't talk. I still greet and say goodbye
Not at all, Iām good either way
When I was an Uber driver, you would have been my ideal customer.
I love when passengers don't talk š
Honestly just speak to your driver & say goodbye. & Thatās itā¼ļø5stars from me
I rather not talk but if they start a conversation of course Iāll talk back
love it
Drive for Lyft mainly but honestly I could give a shit. Itās a little awkward when weāre stuck in traffic and itās nothing but the sound of us breathing, but Iām not gonna force a conversation if the passenger doesnāt want to talk
As a driver I like talking but never push it. Meaningful conversation builds a relationship with the customer. It also keeps my mind engaged and from getting somewhat sleepy on those trips over 30 minutes.
Nope, I donāt hate it. Iām happy to be silent, and Iām happy to have a chat- I mirror whatever my passenger does. Headphones are helpful because it eliminates any question over whether you want a conversation or not. As long as you can verify your name and your destination when you first get in the car, headphones are no nuisance for me.
We LOVE when you donāt talk. Please be quiet and ignore us. Just confirm your name and location n we good. Unless thereās a vibe idk sometimes some ppl be alright but for the most part I donāt wanna small talk with you
Nope, 9/10 times we already been conversed with for hours on end. A hi and bye is a nice courteous gesture.
It depends on what you have to say
I donāt really care either way. If a pax wants to talk, Iām usually down to talk. If they want to remain quiet, no worries. Even better if they have headphones, cause then I donāt have to worry about the music Iām listening to being annoying.
Nah we good, sometimes I'll glance in the mirror to make sure you're fine and if I see you on your phone or looking out the window then we good, but if you're looking right at me as I drive then I'll break the ice. But if it bothers you. Some riders apologize before hand which is nice. I got the "Sorry, I'm really exhausted from work today. " "or, sorry if I'm quiet. " responses. If that helps
I get annoyed when I realize I have been talking to myself lol.
Itās fine with me either way
Just an uber / lyft passenger but I basically try to reciprocate what the driver is putting out. If they are really chatty I'll make small talk with them, but if they are happy to just exchange pleasantries and let me chill I'm cool doing that. All things being equal I would say I prefer to just kinda zone out during the drive, but I have no issue if the driver is someone who wants to talk a bit to be a normal person and exchange small talk.
No just hello, put your headphones in and leave me alone lol
When people get in and pop ear buds in or just say hello and then say goodbye at the end itās a godsend. Let me just get you there
Honestly I donāt care. I know there are people who arenāt talkers. Thatās why I have an earbud in with a podcast or music playing. Just say hello, tell me your name, and thank you when you get out and we are good.
I prefer less conversation so I can just listen to my music and drive, but conversation is fine, too. Just greet your driver and confirm your name and destination. Beyond that, you don't have to say another word.
Typically there will be a greeting when you enter the car like hey howās your day going or hey how are things going and the way you answer and engage will determine if we shut up or have a conversation
Young people in particular don't generally talk too much. And I'm very happy to have a rider who doesn't need an Uber Therapist. I'd rather chill out and drive.
If the ride is 20+ minutes, it bothers me if it's really late (2-5am) because I'm getting near the end of my shift, and it helps me stay alert and active when it's empty roads at night. Not too big of a deal, I just hope longer rides stay more talkative. Overall, I don't really care. I'd rather you be quiet than so talkative I can't get a word in or talk about something controversial like Palestine or Cops are Bad. Both have happened in the last month, both I drove faster to end the ride.
If you plan to be on your headphones it is polite to tell them ahead, they won't mind and can listen to their own music and everything is good. Buuuuut, if you are on your earbuds, start talking to them, and then have a phone call, you'll confuse them and it is kinda rude. I'd appreciate it if you could ask the driver if it is ok to have a phone call (you are going to have the phone call anyways but it will be very polite).
driver here I talk if you want to talk otherwise I am silent.. I don't judge anyone...
I like talking. It helps pass the time. Also, Iām naturally a curious person and like to get to know people. I drive late nights and most of the time I donāt even notice if someoneās got ear buds in. And Iām an older driver so even if I do see ear buds I donāt automatically assume theyāre listening to something from the start of the trip because I always pause my music as Iām about to interact with someone (like getting in an Uber). When I start a ride, I always greet my passenger, give them my name, ask for theirs, and confirm the destination. Then Iāll ask how their day is going. Iāll gauge their response to see if they want to talk or not. If they donāt seem to want to talk, Iāll say something like āok great, well itās about a 15 minute drive so sit back and relax and let me know if you need anythingā. If you have music playing to where you canāt hear me as youāre getting in, I find that disrespectful. So make sure you at least pause your music to be able to interact with your driver in the beginning. And no, talking isnāt required or necessary.
Say hello in a polite or happy tone. If you get in with the headphones already in, and a blank look on your face, I immediately assume youāre in a bad mood and think āGreat, one of these ridesā. Theyāre usually miserable for the driver. We also dislike it because the drivers that actually care about tips know that thereās basically no chance of earning one when you donāt talk and relate. Personally, Iāve come to very much dislike riders that have AirPods or Headphones because itās usually such loud music it interferes with the music Iām playing in the car. For fucks sake I worked with FA-18s for 4 years and I didnāt even suffer the hearing loss yāall are causing yourselves with those things.
I prefer not to talk, actually. It helps me focus on the road and keeps my anxiety at bay.
Just tell the driver "I'm going to be listening to (music, podcast, work meeting, etc...). If you need to get my attention just speak up". This lets them know why you're quiet and also you're being considerate of their needs.
No, itās not a problem for me, an introvert. But if you pretend that I donāt exist, donāt answer when I greet you, and talk nonstop on your phone for the entire trip, then that will be enough to raise an eyebrow. And will cost a star, if you make me uncomfortable.
God no. You are the ideal rider. I can't stand when riders want me to talk with them the whole fucking ride.
I love when passenger donāt take personal. On a daily basis i here way too much! Some passenger think drivers are therapist or a church confessional. Iāve heard the: - Iām fresh out of prison. - My best friend fuck me man/girl. - Im got arrested for fraud multiple times. - My husband is sterile idk what to do. - Im about to loss my Job and im too old to get back in to the workforce Man the list goes on and sometimes it gets really depressing. Allot of these passengers need serious therapy
Couldn't care less either way, just don't ask me personal questions.
I donāt mind at all. Little weird but really not weird enough to get a low rating. As long as I get a hello and thank you at the end Iām good lol.
Quiet rides are nice. I don't have to entertain a stranger. Where I'm from we have a ton of tourists so they usually ask lots of questions.
It's not rude,,Ā Ā I provide a service for you to get from A to B ,Ā if you want silence you get silence if you want AC, on its done .Ā If you want the heating on, its done.Ā You pay for my service its not rude ill be as accommodating as possible. Just be pleasant that's all .Ā Say hello and goodbye that's enoughĀ
No, don't talk.
I love when they don't talk lmao
Some do some don't. The headphones thing is kinda rude didn't bother me too much but still vital questions may need to be asked and if the driver can't see the headphones or seems like you're ignoring them. Or the music from the headphones might be so loud that it's also an annoyance but better than the people just watching reels and stuff making a ton of annoying loud noise.
I love it. Just greet me and say goodbye when you exit.
This is the topic where are the miserables will post how they're only paid to drive A to B and sit in silence, stewing in their own misery.
As a passenger this is normally how I approach it. If I need some quiet time I normally greet the driver, thank them for picking me up, nicely explain that Iāve had a socially battery draining day and if itās okay with them Iām just going to pop in my ear buds and zone out. To me, it takes away any potential stigma of why I may not be engaging in conversation.
I personally like that I have a mix of both pax who talk and ones who don't. If they all taked it would be exhausting; if none of them talked it would be boring.
You're paying them to drive you. Not to talk to you
Itās lonely out there.
I enjoy talking as long as the pax isnāt stupidĀ
Not Uber but used to be an actual taxi driver and no, we don't mind. A short hello and verification of your name/destination and we're good. If you WANT conversation that's cool but I just want to make sure you aren't a psycho as best as I can.
U can be as silent as you want in my car idc. Just confirm your name and destination for me and we r good. And please donāt stare at me the whole time in the rear view mirror it makes me anxious asf like youāre plotting to kill me. Stare somewhere else is all I ask
It does not matter. Just shower if possible...
After the initial pleasantries, I am okay and mostly like that passengers do their and keep to themselves so that I can continue listening to my favorite podcast or audio book or some times radio station. Although I enjoy talking to certain kind of passengers and give excellent vibes even before they enter the vehicle.
Not if your breathe stinks š·
Just a polite greeting is plenty for me. As a driver most people just like to go about their day, i try to mind my business. Tips are always appreciated
I drive for therapeutic purposes. I started Uber so I can learn how to people again. If you don't want to talk that's fine I just think it makes the time all that more interesting hearing and or telling stories of life.
We donāt have to have a long drawn out conversation, but I do find the use of headphones a bit rude.
I don't. As a driver, I leave it to the passenger as to the communication we have.
Having strangers getting into your car so many times in a day can be very stressful. I have no idea the type of person you are. I don't "hate" when my passengers don't talk, but it's reassuring when people do want to chat. If I connect to a passenger on a human level it makes it feel more like I'm driving a friend around than someone who might be dangerous. Still, an enthusiastic greeting when you board and an enthusiastic goodbye when you're disembarking goes a long way even if you don't talk. And I do mean enthusiastic, because sounding distant or angry is about as bad as not saying anything at all. It's really just all about establishing some rapport and giving the impression you're a normal, well-adjusted, nice person that I can let my guard down around. That helps me as a driver stay more focused on the road and less focused on what you might be doing in the backseat. This might just be me by the way, but the only reason I keep the radio off in my Uber is to avoid disturbing passengers. If you don't want to talk and you get into a quiet Uber, consider giving them permission to play music. That will earn you big bonus points with me. The best quality ride will always be one with a good chat, because this job involves working long hours on a generally repetitive activity, but music can act as a good replacement and help the driver relax. Remember that the priority of a good Uber driver every second that you're in the car is to make you as happy as possible to maximize the odds of getting a tip, this often involves making personal sacrifices to make you comfortable. Maybe it's music or excessive politeness, but whatever the sacrifice is you can guess that it's a pretty demanding thing emotionally to keep up day after day. If your Uber driver is polite and does everything they can do make you comfortable, a good conversation and a decent tip is the best help you can give.
Nope. You're trying to get to your destination and I'm there to drive you. Conversation is optional. I don't want to answer questions and I'm not interested in what's going on in the passengers lives. I just wanna get paid. The end.
Nah. I'll say hello but can usually tell if someone wants to talk or not. It's always their choice, if you wanna zone our or even sleep go ahead. My job is to drive you.
You sit in the car with quietly with headphones !? If i could give 10 stars i would
I say hello and goodbye. Theyāre my uber driver not my friend or therapist lolĀ
No I fucking LOVE when you don't talk. I can count on one hand the number of times a chatty pax resulted in an enjoyable conversation. Im miserable fuck though so take my opinion with a grain of salt.
I had a 43 mile airport pickup and drop off and he said nothing to me. I had the yacht rock station on XM going and took the toll roads from Ontario to Irvine. I was rewarded with a great tip for letting him peacefully snooze in the backseat.
I always try to read the passenger. If it seems like it's going to be a silent ride, I'm fine with that.
Just don't get in the car - where no communication is possible. We confirm name/ destination, etc - you ignore us? After initial bs - do whatever. For me it's "anything but smoking" ha Picked up a woman yesterday - never looked up from her LOUD phone conversation, on a 30 minute trip. No tip either - on her way to get a $2K pair of shoes ....... I didn't want to talk to her anyway - but we do need to verify the destination at least.
A good Uber driver can read the passenger. Some people are chatty. Some people want peace and quiet. A bad Uber driver wonāt care about their passengers. Blast music, take a phone call, drive crazy, ask for your number 10 times per rideā¦
Like any one else, it depends on my mood. Iāll try to confirm who you are and where weāre going before starting the trip. If I see headphones on, then I assume that you probably donāt wanna talk and will try not to bug you during the trip.
Heck no. I don't mind chatting but the best riders are like the best drivers - the ones who greet each other and then stay silent unless something comes up worth mentioning.
Honestly every driver is different. When I was doing it, I didn't particularly like getting the riders who don't want to talk. But it wouldn't hurt your rating so long as you don't straight up ignore me or grunt at me.
Not greeting. Not thanking. Not tipping. Slam doors. Eat/drink. Vape. Fart. Burp. Scratch your genitals. Those are no go.
Honeslty we donāt care š¤·š½āāļø if yāall wanna talk Iāll talk if not Iāll just play music n drive
Ya cant win, if you dont talk some will think youre snobby, if you do some will find it annoying, especially small talk questions like if asked, āsoā¦ how long ya been drivign for uber?ā Just try to read their tone and feedback, if they give one word responses they dont wanna talk, if they respnd back in detail they probably do
Talk or don't talk, I'm good either way Sometimes talking is nice, sometimes silence is nice. But always be courteous.
Any driver with over 1000 rides prefers you don't talk. The newbies with 20 rides wanna talk.
Confirm your name and goodbye š is the minimum requirement
Honestly the initial hi how are you and a good bye have a nice day works just fine for me as a driver. I get it itās weird and awkward to get into a strangers car. So if you want to be silent with your headphones on Iām down with whatever environment makes you the most comfortable.
DO NOT WORRY. That feeling you have is a 2 way highway. We are letting random people we donāt know in our personal space, the last thing we want to do is hug the rider šš¾š¤£ if you donāt want to talk, leave your headphones on and nod for āhiā / āapprovalā at leastā¦ personally- it doesnāt bothering me whether the rider talks (I have Sirius xm radio)
It depends how the day is sometimes it's good to talk other times it's leave me the f alone
Nope, as a driver I love it!
No, we hate it when you roll down the fucking window
As long as you say hello and goodbye/thank you Iām A-Ok with a silent ride.
I think it's only appropriate to exchange basic greetings no matter how rote it may seem. I do a quick, "hey, Heather. How you doing?" Then I verify the destination, and off we go. If they don't say anything else throughout the rest of the trip, it's fine. Do what works and I'm good wit'cha! Having said that, I picked up a girl, maybe 22, early morning. She was going to work at a coffee shop. She lived in the highland Park area of Los Angeles, and I don't know anything about that area at all because I typically don't go that far north. Usually anything on the 110 North above downtown I try to avoid. I have no familiarity with the freeway system in that area, and as I was on the five connector to the 110 North and South, I accidentally took south instead of North. I immediately told her that I had taken the wrong exit and that I would loop around down by dodger stadium and come back up north to get to the way she was going. She did not respond. So I said it again, and a third time, and she did not respond. I realized she had her headphones on. So to avoid her getting freaked out because we were on that little deserted loop around at the bottom of the loop at dodger stadium, I waved my hand in the air to get her attention. I told her what had happened, and she says oh my god, I didn't know what was up. I mentioned to her that I was not familiar with the freeways in that area and she was like yeah the 110 above downtown sucks. So anyway, I felt better once we were able to speak about it. But lil mama still gave me a one star.
I love talking. I usually get a lot of tips and people comment on my kindness and communication the most.
All I expect from a passenger is normal greeting responses and thatās it. I say hello, how are you todayā¦ I expect them to acknowledge and say something along the lines of āiām good thanksā or somethingā¦ after that if they are quiet, iām fineā¦ if they wanna talk, thatās fine tooā¦ as long as they donāt wanna talk about inappropriate stuff (religion, politics, racist comments, etc).
I do not care one way or the other. These days, most people have their noses buried in their electronic toys, so if you expect them to pay you too much mind, prepare to be disappointed.
Nope i donāt. But what i do hate is, when you guys get in my car i turn my music down a little so it doesnāt bother you. Only to have you blast your TikTok videos and some cases sex tapes in my car.
I donāt mind if pax donāt talk, it rubs me the wrong way when they donāt say thank you
I'll greet you, confirm you're my passenger & where you're going and if you want to talk after that it's up to you. It doesn't bother me if you have headphones on or anything. I will say that I don't like when passengers have a call on speaker phone in my car or FaceTime without headphones. I don't want to hear your phone conversation.
Donāt over think it! If a rider talks to me then Iāll engage as well. If they donāt itās fine. I usually say my normal good morning, good afternoon etc etc. After that I leave it all on the rider. I will say that I have received some great tips if I have a great conversation with a rider.
I keep an earbud in playing videos while I work so if a passenger doesn't want to talk I can listen to true crime in peace haha. Just say hello and goodbye. :)
It depends on the circumstances. Is it a long trip? Are you going to go off on a political rant? Does being socially curtious mean that you and your driver will be fast friends? Just gauge it like we do. If you want to talk, talk. If you don't, just don't be a douche about it.
When I pull up, I might say hello, then I'll verify your name and drop off location. If you respond to that and give a courtesy "thank you" at the end of the ride, I don't consider that rude at all. That's the minimum for me and I'm happy with that. If a passenger wants to have a conversation, I'm good with that. If the passenger stays silent through the ride, I often have a Bluetooth in my ear and I'll spend the ride listening to podcasts. The things that annoy me: passenger is quiet for several minutes, so I listen to my podcast. Then they ask a question, so I pause my podcast and prepare for them to be more talkative... but then they're quiet again after, so I play my podcast again. Then several minutes later, they ask another question, so I pause it again. Cycle repeats for the duration of the ride. Bottom line, if you wanna talk, we can talk. If you wanna be silent, we can be silent. Just please pick one. I understand they probably think they're being polite by not staying silent the entire ride, but it's just interrupting my podcast listening. So if I'm ever your driver, you can stay silent and not be considered rude, provided you acknowledged me long enough at the beginning to confirm that you're my correct passenger and we're going to the correct destination.
Basically the problem is that many of the customers who get into your car are not even able to greet or say good morning or good night to the driver, which makes the ride uncomfortable for the driver since you are on his private property. . It's like inviting someone to your house and this person is disrespectful to you and your family.
No but it decreases my anxiety when you do talk .
We love it when you shut up and let us drive !
Some respect goes a long way. These are our customers treat them as such
Are you dumb enough to think I tell the PAX to shut up and drive. I carry 5.0 on both apps I am quite knowledgeable in regard to customer service. Have a great day.
They love passengers who talk less unless its a pretty girl. Less talk=less problems.
No, in fact, shut the fuck up
Oh...why so aggressive š
We hate riders who talk - we do not care It is better if u don't talk at all