Sales leads! Every person you meet can be a potential source to lead me to my next sale. You never know who can help you out in this world so I have a chat with everyone I can. For example my Uber driver wants to be a Firefighter. Well my dad was a district chief of the Calgary Fire Department prior to retirement. I was able to give him some tips about the fire department.
In return he mentioned his brother works in finance and might be looking for a career change I gave him my card. Nothing may come from it or something may come from it. If I didn't strike a conversation I would have never known. Being polite and friendly to people is always a good strategy in life!
Sales leads! Every person you meet can be a potential source to lead me to my next sale. You never know who can help you out in this world so I have a chat with everyone I can. For example my Uber driver wants to be a Firefighter. Well my dad was a district chief of the Calgary Fire Department prior to retirement. I was able to give him some tips about the fire department.
In return he mentioned his brother works in finance and might be looking for a career change I gave him my card. Nothing may come from it or something may come from it. If I didn't strike a conversation I would have never known. Being polite and friendly to people is always a good strategy in life!
This annoys me. Do you keep an emergency business card in your sock at all times? What about when you're in the pool? Do you have a waterproof business card pinned to the inside of your speedo?
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Sales leads! Every person you meet can be a potential source to lead me to my next sale. You never know who can help you out in this world so I have a chat with everyone I can. For example my Uber driver wants to be a Firefighter. Well my dad was a district chief of the Calgary Fire Department prior to retirement. I was able to give him some tips about the fire department.
In return he mentioned his brother works in finance and might be looking for a career change I gave him my card. Nothing may come from it or something may come from it. If I didn't strike a conversation I would have never known. Being polite and friendly to people is always a good strategy in life!
Have a buddy who worked in sales. Going out with him was a tiring endeavour, he would talk to anyone and everyone we had the smallest interaction with, cabbies, servers, people on the street, random people next to us at the bar. Long conversations too, I just want to buy a product or service from you I don't want your life story. I came out to the bar to talk to my buddy not everyone else in there, I stopped hanging out with him for awhile. He's calmed down now that he is management and doesn't live or die by commission.
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I really don't take cabs to talk. It's nice when the driver is friendly, but it doesn't bother me the least bit if he just asks where I'm going, and doesn't say another word until we get there. But sometimes it's a great conversation. They're usually immigrants, so if you get them talking they can tell you all kinds of interesting stuff about Romania or India or some such place you may have never been.
The best is when they want to talk about the thing you're doing. I had a great ride down to the pub last April for the kings game where we clinched. The very Indian driver talked hockey with me, and commented that "Johnny Goooodrow sure can hockey!"
I hope that guy is making money and feeding his family. But I don't feel bad that there's a better service that I will be using exclusively, until Calgary taxis learn how to answer the phone, and arrive in reasonable amounts of time.
I signed up to be a driver today, took about 20 minutes and included taking four photos of my documents and watching a short "how to" video. Gonna give it a shot when I get home from work and see what the earning potential is like. I was intrigued that the only vehicle requirements are 2005 and newer, and 4 doors.
When I was 18, a friend and I drove for Keys Please on some weekends and we had a great time making money helping people get home safe. I would expect this to be a similar experience at certain times of the day. Guess ill find out soon enough
Little update, I received an email tonight from Uber with regards to my driver application. I am now required to obtain and submit a criminal record check as well as a three year drivers abstract. They are providing a website for which to obtain the background check, it's my responsibility to visit a registry for the abstract. This delays my intended start date of this Friday as I'm still out of town but should ease the minds of those concerned about safety, if only a little.
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They are providing a website for which to obtain the background check
I'm curious about which site they are using. I know that asking the Calgary Police for a background check can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks to do. What sort of turnaround are they telling you you'll get from this site?
If an Uber driver is doing the background check from a website like backcheck.ca , then they are probably not exposed to the vulnerable sector check where your finger prints are take to prove that you don't have any arrests/ convictions of sexual assault.
It is apparent to me that Uber's biggest problems have little to do with the City of Calgary taxiplates or livery services bylaw.
1) drivers may working for hire without the appropriate licence. A class 5 licence is for personal driving. Class 4, 2 or 1 allows you to drive passengers for hire. Anyone operating a taxi anywhere in Alberta has to have this licence
2) Vulnerable sector check. if you go for a police check to your local station and they find out you are driving seniors or kids, the cops insist on the vulnerable sector check. Any taxi company in alberta (Town or city) could take kids or seniors at any time.
3) Provincial insurance requirements remain unmet (as per Alberta superintendent of Insurance).
Uber seems has convinced us that the City of Calgary is at fault for presenting barriers to implementation of Uber. In reality, Uber is pulling a fast one on the provincial regs.
The city has had 10 years to figure this out, including a full year of working with Uber. Uber hasn't convinced me of anything. I think it's the city's fault and I'm glad they are "pulling a fast one on the provincial regs". It'll force the regulations to change to suit the market, ultimately benefiting the consumer.
Yes, a company that allows its drivers to operate without insurance or a proper licence and which has allowed dozens of people previously convicted of violent offences through its background check process is one that is interested in "ultimately benefiting the consumer". The city's concerns are very legitimate.
There are really two issues here. The first is the idea of Uber - which is to break up the taxi cartels and give consumers more options. Everyone but taxi drivers supports that.
The second is the entity of Uber, which is pretty damned evil. And while I believe the ultimate end of this scenario is a relaxation of protectionist rules for taxi companies, Uber is going to find itself embattled from all sides due to its complete disdain for all regulation - including those that exist to protect drivers and riders. And deservedly so.
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Have a buddy who worked in sales. Going out with him was a tiring endeavour, he would talk to anyone and everyone we had the smallest interaction with, cabbies, servers, people on the street, random people next to us at the bar. Long conversations too, I just want to buy a product or service from you I don't want your life story. I came out to the bar to talk to my buddy not everyone else in there, I stopped hanging out with him for awhile. He's calmed down now that he is management and doesn't live or die by commission.
I didn't say every conversation I have is a hard sell. Calgary is an incredibly small city so being pleasant and friendly to people always pays off. I am not going to be a dick when the Uber driver asks me what I do for a living and just ignore him.
Yes, a company that allows its drivers to operate without insurance or a proper licence and which has allowed dozens of people previously convicted of violent offences through its background check process is one that is interested in "ultimately benefiting the consumer". The city's concerns are very legitimate.
There are really two issues here. The first is the idea of Uber - which is to break up the taxi cartels and give consumers more options. Everyone but taxi drivers supports that.
The second is the entity of Uber, which is pretty damned evil. And while I believe the ultimate end of this scenario is a relaxation of protectionist rules for taxi companies, Uber is going to find itself embattled from all sides due to its complete disdain for all regulation - including those that exist to protect drivers and riders. And deservedly so.
And they are currently operating at a loss. This is about market share, people. That said, I do agree that taxi companies won't just go quietly into the night.
If I use Uber can I choose my car. For example my family is going to have to go to the airport, that is 4 people each with a suitcase and carryon, we are going to need more than a Prius. Can I choose say a driver with a bigger SUV or minivan?
If I use Uber can I choose my car. For example my family is going to have to go to the airport, that is 4 people each with a suitcase and carryon, we are going to need more than a Prius. Can I choose say a driver with a bigger SUV or minivan?
In the states you get to select between a Uber Car or go up to a SUV/Van/Truck for an increased price.
And they are currently operating at a loss. This is about market share, people. That said, I do agree that taxi companies won't just go quietly into the night.
Yup. And it is a good strategy. Undercut the competition by ignoring all the rules, build that loyal fan base up to cult-like levels, then eventually raise prices enough to turn a profit.
But the business plan has some major challenges ahead. Lawsuits like the one in Toronto alleging Uber misrepresented the nature of its insurance policy is one. That the California Labor Commission has ruled one driver was an employee rather than an independent contractor is another - and Uber is being sued all over the place over that one. That's the key issue, imnsho. If Uber loses the employee vs. contractor battle and has to start paying out overtime, material costs, medical, etc. They're done.
The flip side though is that some insurance companies are looking at offering "commercial lite" plans that would not be as expensive as full commercial insurance, and greater competition almost always benefits the consumer. Even if Uber ultimately goes down in flames, successors willing to respect consumer and driver protections will follow in its footsteps.
Last edited by Resolute 14; 10-20-2015 at 09:47 AM.
I'm curious about which site they are using. I know that asking the Calgary Police for a background check can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks to do. What sort of turnaround are they telling you you'll get from this site?
The company they are using for the Background check is " First Advantage Canada" and the turn around time they suggest is 4-6 business days.
I've had a few background checks from various police detachments in the last few years and I think the delay in the city is simply supply demand. I've had a background check done, including a vulnerable sector check, in 24 hours in a small town in the north. I would guess CPS just decided how many resources they were willing to allocate for the checks and the demand has set the 2-6 week timeframe.
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I'm curious about which site they are using. I know that asking the Calgary Police for a background check can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks to do. What sort of turnaround are they telling you you'll get from this site?
Quote:
Originally Posted by shogged
The company they are using for the Background check is " First Advantage Canada" and the turn around time they suggest is 4-6 business days.
I've had a few background checks from various police detachments in the last few years and I think the delay in the city is simply supply demand. I've had a background check done, including a vulnerable sector check, in 24 hours in a small town in the north. I would guess CPS just decided how many resources they were willing to allocate for the checks and the demand has set the 2-6 week timeframe.
Thats really good!
I almost missed the start of a soccer season when I was coaching because the CPS check took almost 6 months but I renewed it early while my last check had still been valid. But my assistant coach apparently shared a birthdate with a criminal with outstanding warrants and missed the whole season waiting for a clean check.
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