New Driver Signup Costs

George is a small city and it has been fascinating over the years to watch big corporate move into our midst and try to establish their brand. Some have been successful and have flourished in our community, but others have failed miserably. Perhaps a question needs to be asked as to why these trends show themselves. Is it because of the product? Perhaps it’s the difficulty of breaking into an already strained market? Personally, I think it is both of these, but also comes down to the often-displayed arrogance of corporate. Being well-established and perhaps even international, does not guarantee success, especially in George where the community is faithful to their habits and also vocal to their dissatisfaction. My latest experience with a new “Big Business” that’s putting down roots in George, not only shows the above, but perhaps has some legal ramifications to it too – one that I will be exploring. Uber Eats is now in George! Before I pass any comment on the service itself, as I don’t have much experience with that and will not criticise a delivery service that may well be efficient, I would rather comment on an aspect I have been at the misfortune of witnessing. One of the advantages of a service such as Uber Eats, is that it provides people with job opportunities. This I fully support, especially in the Southern Cape, and as I have a son who is desperately looking to earn some extra cash, he immediately app**** to be an Uber Eats Driver. Here is where things go bizarre! The sign-up procedures are relatively automated, with online platforms that pretty much answer all your questions, other than the ones you’re actually asking! When my son signed up, the system indicates that he can only move through steps, once the previous is completed. The first issue came with the cooler bag – which it indicated he could buy online, in the event he didn’t have one! OK – “in the event he didn’t have one”- so in other words, if he does have one, he need not buy a second one? Well, the system will not allow you to proceed by indicating that you DO already have a bag – and that was the first question their support would not respond to. So, as he really wanted to work, he proceeded to the online shop to buy a cooler bag. Here it also warns the potential drivers not to buy a bag until the system prompts them to do so – as there may not be work available for all applicants. Tyler waited, and a few days later, he got the message, multiple times, to buy his bag and have the vehicle inspected. As this was a vehicle very recently acquired and placed into his name, we already had a full roadworthy certificate from the same place that UBER Eats instructs the driver to get an inspection. However, that was apparently not good enough and another inspection had to be done at a further cost – so the bag and inspection has now amounted to over R1000 from my son’s pocket. At this point, he is only too keen to start working so that he can try to recover these costs and make some cash. However, it’s not so easy as their registration system will not accept his documentation , saying that some information is missing – but no indication of WHAT information is missing, as all has been provide and uploaded. Again, don’t bother trying to ask their support guys – they simply do not answer the question – it’s almost humorous to read the Q&A where Tyler has asked for more information, and to see the response he gets. Subsequent to all this, I managed to reach out to the employee responsible for the rollout in George. On expressing my dissatisfaction to “Jonathan”, I was informed that he is very busy as they are rolling out to multiple cities simultaneously. And this is our problem why? Perhaps rolling out one city at a time would allow for more efficient and professional service! Jonathan also advised me that they were already full to capacity for their drivers in George. Hold on, wait, what!? So, potential drivers are instructed to purchase their bags at hundreds of rands each, to go for vehicle inspections at more expense – and then are told there is no work for them?! Not only is Tyler highly disappointed, but I am confident there must be some form of legal issue involved here. How do you inform prospective employees to not go to expenses, until they are informed to go ahead; and then, after all the procedures are completed with large sums of money paid, to then advise there is no work for them. Jonathan could also not answer this question for me and advised he would have his manager contact me – I am still waiting!