Uber could soon allow riders to secure a cheaper ride if they’re willing to wait a short while for their pick-up.
A since-deleted tweet from an Uber employee featured a screenshot showing a later time when fares would be lower. It gave users the choice of requesting the ride immediately, or waiting a few minutes for a cheaper ride.
“If you’re OK leaving later, we’ll request your ride at 17:00 for a lower price,” the message within the screenshot reads (via Quartz).
The scheme could be used to help riders affected by the so-called “surge pricing,” where the cost of ride-sharing leaps up at busy times. One of the current problems with booking an Uber at busy times is the app offers no indication when the prices will go down. The leave later feature could also help with resolving that problem.
Related: Best smartphones 2018
In a statement Uber said: “Affordability is a top reason riders choose shared rides, and [they’re] internally experimenting with a way to save money in exchange for a later pickup.”
Currently the feature is only available to Uber employees in LA and San Francisco. Whether it rolls out to users remains to be seen.
Earlier this week it emerged Google Maps has ditched the ability to book Uber rides from within the Android app.
Do Uber surge prices have you hailing black cabs? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
