UBER - Everyone's Private Driver

 While I was in Sydney last week for the #DellSocialBiz TweetUp with @ByJove, aka Richard Margetic, Dell’s Global Social Media Lead, I used a new little app called UBER. This is my story.Uber is your on-demand private driver. I knew I had to get a taxi to the TweetUp on Thursday night, so I thought, instead of calling a boring old taxi, I'll give Uber a shot. I'll admit I had rung Oscar from Uber earlier that day to chat about the app, the service, and tell him all about my nice walk through Hyde Park - but I have to be honest, the trip was much more than even I was expecting after being told what to expect.You request a ride using the iPhone or Android app, or from m.uber.com. I used the iPhone app because, well, because i have an iPhone. Obviously. Earlier in the day I had signed up, and THAT itself was a fun process. You type your details in then TAKE A PHOTO of your credit card and it saves the details. UHMAYZING.I opened up the app, ordered a car with a few short clicks - and got a text to say my car was now on its way! So easy! Here is a blow-by-blow of how it went down.

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As I watched the screen the little black car moved along the streets and got closer and closer to me!

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Suddenly, it was just around the corner.

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I then got a text message saying my car was arriving. I was already staring at the Uber app, but it would have been handy if I was reapplying my lipstick in the mirror or inside a bar with friends. No need to wait out in the cold for it to come!

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Sure enough, a snazzy black Holden Caprice came sliding up in front of the hotel lobby and stopped. I jumped in, and Adam said 'Hi Dani'. I felt like the Queen! I kept watching for a little while as the car took me to the bar for the TweetUp.

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Then suddenly it was over!

The ride was smooth and sleek, like you would expect it to be! Adam was professional and friendly and I felt so important getting into the great looking car - I'm not goona lie either people on the street were like 'who's that guurrl' when I got in.

The service costs about 10% more than a normal taxi. The upside to that is you get a personalised service 24/7 available to you, and you get a taxi on demand. You know when its about 3am, normal 'taxi changeover time', and you can't get a cab to save your life because none are going 'your direction' (UM YOU'RE A CAB - YOU ARE MEANT TO GO WHATEVER DIRECTION I TELL YOU!) Well in those circumstances, this little baby really comes in to its own. For the rest of the 23 hours a day, it's just awesome to have. It is worth the little extra 10% or so to be able to holla a ride from inside the bar, or when you know you have 10mins to go getting ready, and BOOM it's there.

This app NEEDS to come to Auckland. NEEDS to. I have my deets saved and will be totally using it again next time I am over on the big island. I told all my friends in Sydney about it last week and made them download it on their phones in front of me.It's just the nice kind of friend I am.

 

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