Stayin' Alive (Please give me a 5)

Had to give them the Dallas Cowboy rating 

Another Friday and it's a busy weekend in my part of the Uber world. Several great acts coming to town plus all the regular weekend stuff that comes with warmer weather and sunny skies.  If you're a driver it's also another night of the game we all love "keep my ratings high," in my book I call it "Stayin' Alive."

Don't get me wrong, I am doing pretty darn good with the ratings.  Part of that comes from the many discussions I have with passengers about the strangely unfair rating system (passengers don't get booted off if they drop below a 4.6 right?).  And I've found that if I get complacent, if I don't have that discussion, I will get  4's more often.  I don't like 4's.

Why do people give 4 stars?  From recent conversations here's the reasoning (note it has nothing to do with the ride or driver)

• From a business executive:  I always gave out 4s because in business there is always room for improvement.
• From most average riders:  Oh! I didn't know it had any impact on the driver.
• From students:  Grades top out at 4 (A) So what could be better?
• From older riders:  I thought 4 meant above average and no one is perfect right?
• From drunks - well let's just say that their finger pointing isn't all that great.

If you are a good, safe driver.  You interact appropriately with your riders (conversing when they want to, being silent when they don't) and are a generally nice person you are probably getting 5's most of the time. Even without water, candy, chargers etc.  And, like me, you wonder why you get a 4  (or lower) every now and then.

Here's what I do to ensure that I am rated 5 stars. 

It's all about educating the riders.  Start by looking at their passenger rating then ask how often they take Uber.  If they have a 5 star rating as a passenger they are either new (read about first time riders here!) or they have been given good ratings by all the other drivers.   I let them know what their rating is and thank them for being a 5 star (or high ranked) passenger.  Most of the time they tell me they had no clue they were being rated by drivers.

I then explain that their ratings are the only way drivers have to tell each other if they are good passengers.  I also have a great story about picking up a 3.7 passenger - I was worried but he turned to be a super nice guy who said, "I think I was a real ass to my Uber driver when I was drunk."  

Then I go on to tell them that we are expected to maintain an average of 4.6 or above lest we be deactivated and basically fired.  They are shocked! Most people can do the math and realize that there is very little room for error.  I let them know that it's perfectly acceptable to give a lower ratings to drivers who deserve it (cars that reek of smoke or drivers who really have no clue where they are going, get lost etc.) but that if your driver gave you a good, safe ride then give rate them a 5 so they can keep driving.

Keep in mind this is all in the course of normal conversation IF the conversation allows.  You can't just launch into this info without any lead in or opening.  When I am able to thread this in the convo I am able to get more people in tuned to the "real" ratings and that helps every single uber driver on the road! 

How is it working for me?  Personally out of 903 rated rides (I'll hit my 1200 passenger today) I have 856 - 5 star ratings.  

And by the way, I do have water, candy mints, tissues, and a charging port in my car. But rarely do I need them and certainly not for ratings purposes. I also introduce myself when they get in the car and thank them, by name, when they exit. 

Time to hit the road!  Hope you all have a terrific weekend with lots of great rides :)

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