Is anyone used Uber (ride sharing service) instead of taxis?

[Hal65]

Apparently that ride sharing service Uber is in Bangkok. I checked their service and it is cheaper than the metered taxis: https://www.uber.com/cities/bangkok

Anyone used it? How long does it take for them to arrive at your location?

Edited March 16, 2015 by Hal65

[TheSpade]

Yeah recently.

Booked it and the driver called me straight away, he spoke English and asked him where I was and wanted to go, 2 minutes later he arrived at my condo, got in and he put the location into his GPS and away we went.

Hassle free. Very polite. Efficient. No drama. Certainly a lot better than 99% of Bangkok taxi drivers.

I'd say useful if you're going somewhere far and you know it's going to be a struggle to get a taxi driver to go there or if you don't have the Thai to explain where you want to go, otherwise not really a great need for it considering the non stop taxis available everywhere in Bangkok.

Edited March 16, 2015 by TheSpade

[Hal65]

Glad to hear it, I'm so sick of getting quoted flat fees just because of my skin color, I might have to start using this myself. On the other hand I heard that Uber was banned in Bangkok. The legal situation seems ambiguous because it is clearly listed on their (Uber's) website as an active city.

[swampdonkey]

Glad to hear it, I'm so sick of getting quoted flat fees just because of my skin color, I might have to start using this myself. On the other hand I heard that Uber was banned in Bangkok. The legal situation seems ambiguous because it is clearly listed on their (Uber's) website as an active city.

You are correct Uber have been banned since December.

Seems they are still business as usual.

[fishbrando]

I'd say useful if you're going somewhere far and you know it's going to be a struggle to get a taxi driver to go there or if you don't have the Thai to explain where you want to go, otherwise not really a great need for it considering the non stop taxis available everywhere in Bangkok.

Therein lies the problem - often the taxis won't stop to pick you up, or will refuse to take you.

[Suradit69]

Glad to hear it, I'm so sick of getting quoted flat fees just because of my skin color, I might have to start using this myself. On the other hand I heard that Uber was banned in Bangkok. The legal situation seems ambiguous because it is clearly listed on their (Uber's) website as an active city.

"I'm so sick of getting quoted flat fees just because of my skin color ..."

They probably assume you're a tourist. If they don't want to use the meter, you can counter with your own offer.

If you ask in Thai "how much?" And reply to the offer in Thai that it's "very expensive," most will drop the price. Your skin color shouldn't prevent you from learning a little "taxi Thai" at least. If you stay in Asia you need to learn to negotiate in good humor and not start fuming & going apoplectic.

Sometimes they just enjoy watching a farang turn red and throw a hissy fit as he fears the loss of face ... a major problem for many farang. There are some cranky taxi drivers (who wouldn't be ... after dealing with Bangkok traffic day after day), but I've found most to be reasonable people. Same applies to tuktuk drivers who tend to get you there is half the time it takes a taxi.

Edited March 17, 2015 by Suradit69

[gerry123]

Glad to hear it, I'm so sick of getting quoted flat fees just because of my skin color, I might have to start using this myself. On the other hand I heard that Uber was banned in Bangkok. The legal situation seems ambiguous because it is clearly listed on their (Uber's) website as an active city.

Please tell what skin color are you ??

[HidyHo]

Glad to hear it, I'm so sick of getting quoted flat fees just because of my skin color, I might have to start using this myself.

You're so right!!! I mean this doesn't happen to Thais at all. I mean you don't see Thai people complaining about those outrageous taxi drivers asking crazy money after they get off work at 2am on Sukhumvit (while waiting for taxis that prefer to stop for farangs over them) or at MBK.

[Lumbini]

Great service , don't forget to enter promotional code for 200 baht credit .

[nithisa78]

Haven't any of the posters ever had to push a hack in the big city? Rhetorical. itch itch itch

If there are any takers, I'm looking for partners, we can start Cry Baby Visa .

[kingalfred]

uber is not banned.Lies! uber black is legal. And to go down the route of "legality" on transport in Bangkok opens a huge "can of worms", from bangkok taxis not using meters to bald tyres and drivers who are not in a fit state!

[chondan]

Uber taxi

Credit card. What the hell. Cash is cash.

[seank]

Took 10minutes to arrive, hassle free and not expensive. But it depends how many drivers are working, the more than the better.

[BudRight]

Glad to hear it, I'm so sick of getting quoted flat fees just because of my skin color, I might have to start using this myself. On the other hand I heard that Uber was banned in Bangkok. The legal situation seems ambiguous because it is clearly listed on their (Uber's) website as an active city.

"I'm so sick of getting quoted flat fees just because of my skin color ..."

They probably assume you're a tourist. If they don't want to use the meter, you can counter with your own offer.

If you ask in Thai "how much?" And reply to the offer in Thai that it's "very expensive," most will drop the price. Your skin color shouldn't prevent you from learning a little "taxi Thai" at least. If you stay in Asia you need to learn to negotiate in good humor and not start fuming & going apoplectic.

Sometimes they just enjoy watching a farang turn red and throw a hissy fit as he fears the loss of face ... a major problem for many farang. There are some cranky taxi drivers (who wouldn't be ... after dealing with Bangkok traffic day after day), but I've found most to be reasonable people. Same applies to tuktuk drivers who tend to get you there is half the time it takes a taxi.

They don't know or care if he's a tourist. The correct response to hearing a number is to close the door and try the next one. Even in Sukumvidt after a dozen or so taxis you'll get one who nods which is the correct response.

[Ducking and]

Bud-right, Bud.

[Hal65]

They don't know or care if he's a tourist. The correct response to hearing a number is to close the door and try the next one. Even in Sukumvidt after a dozen or so taxis you'll get one who nods which is the correct response.

This is what I do too. I want to pay taxi drivers who don't try to upcharge.

[elgenon]

Anyone with experience regarding Uber vs Easy vs Grab Taxi?

[LostDemocracy]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

I'd say useful if you're going somewhere far and you know it's going to be a struggle to get a taxi driver to go there or if you don't have the Thai to explain where you want to go, otherwise not really a great need for it considering the non stop taxis available everywhere in Bangkok.

Therein lies the problem - often the taxis won't stop to pick you up, or will refuse to take you.

And if its raining, their meters will be broken.

[HooHaa]

Glad to hear it, I'm so sick of getting quoted flat fees just because of my skin color, I might have to start using this myself. On the other hand I heard that Uber was banned in Bangkok. The legal situation seems ambiguous because it is clearly listed on their (Uber's) website as an active city.

You are correct Uber have been banned since December.

Seems they are still business as usual.

no they are not banned, one of their services was suspended, the other remains operative.

to answer the OP, i use them often, though friday afternoon, i could not find a car in my vicinity. that was a first.

[Tycoon]

Glad to hear it, I'm so sick of getting quoted flat fees just because of my skin color, I might have to start using this myself. On the other hand I heard that Uber was banned in Bangkok. The legal situation seems ambiguous because it is clearly listed on their (Uber's) website as an active city.

"I'm so sick of getting quoted flat fees just because of my skin color ..."

They probably assume you're a tourist. If they don't want to use the meter, you can counter with your own offer.

If you ask in Thai "how much?" And reply to the offer in Thai that it's "very expensive," most will drop the price. Your skin color shouldn't prevent you from learning a little "taxi Thai" at least. If you stay in Asia you need to learn to negotiate in good humor and not start fuming & going apoplectic.

Sometimes they just enjoy watching a farang turn red and throw a hissy fit as he fears the loss of face ... a major problem for many farang. There are some cranky taxi drivers (who wouldn't be ... after dealing with Bangkok traffic day after day), but I've found most to be reasonable people. Same applies to tuktuk drivers who tend to get you there is half the time it takes a taxi.

What a load of crap, basic 101 in living life anywhere

[taony]

I use grab and like it.

[Suradit69]

Could Uber TukTuk be coming soon? http://techcrunch.com/2015/04/09/uber-autorickshaw-india/?ncid=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29

Uber Launches Auto Rickshaw Service In India

UberAuto is a new category for hailing auto rickshaws that is debuting in New Delhi. Uber said it is “a cash-only service for now,” with fares calculated using existing transport regulations.

Edited April 9, 2015 by Suradit69

[FritsSikkink]

Glad to hear it, I'm so sick of getting quoted flat fees just because of my skin color, I might have to start using this myself. On the other hand I heard that Uber was banned in Bangkok. The legal situation seems ambiguous because it is clearly listed on their (Uber's) website as an active city.

Amsterdam is listed but they are illegal there.