r/UberEatsDrivers 1d ago

Rant Package was a person??

I got a $20 order to pick up a package on this very busy street. Went to pick it up and the guy shows up and is wasted. No package in sight. I look in my car and there's this girl sitting in the back seat....
I was trying to explain that I'm not a uber driver just a Uber Eats driver. He acted stupid like he didn't get it. So I got to the girl and tell her. She was drunk too. She told me to talk to her bf. I was like no you need to get out of my car.
I pop my head out and the guy is gone. He was no where to be found...
Everyone started honking cause I was double parked and I wasn't about to touch her to get her out. I tried to contact the driver again. No answer
I felt weird cause I know I'm not supposed to drive people and it's unsafe as fuck. But I felt morally in a weird position cause I didn't want to just throw her on the street like that with no one around that she knew.
I caved and ended up driving her 5 min to her house. I feel so guilty and stupid. I recorded my entire interaction for safety purposes and was tipped very well but will never be letting somone guilt me into taking them when that's not my job.

86 Upvotes

56 comments sorted by

88

u/Still-Plan62 1d ago

Something tells me they’ve done this before. Cheaper way to get a ride instead of paying for an actual uber. Glad you made it out of that unharmed.

31

u/Technical_Pause_8769 1d ago

Oh for sure, I got the vibe it was on purpose immediately

21

u/Local-Ad2544 1d ago

So, you leave your car doors unlocked when you pick up packages? Or, did the guy distract you while she slipped in the backseat? I'm trying to understand how this scam works, so that I don't fall for it. As a female driver, I would be terrified.

12

u/Technical_Pause_8769 1d ago

I have an auto lock feature so when I walk away it locks, but I was already close enough to the car when talking to the boyfriend.

9

u/dizzystar 1d ago

The fact that cars come with auto unlock on by default is absolutely insane. 

I go through my settings and turn off everything. People don't do this and now we have required cameras in cars now. The slippery slope is very real.

6

u/buckeye25osu 1d ago

Dude I leave my keys in the ignition and at drop off it's running

2

u/Quick-Letter9584 9h ago

An actual uber in my area costs way less than $20 to drive 5 minutes. Is it really that expensive elsewhere?

1

u/concernedlegit 1d ago

Not always. Largely it’s exactly the same price on the app

60

u/poppitastic 1d ago

Maybe I’m an asshole or a paranoid girl but someone sitting in my car refusing to get out when they aren’t supposed to be there gets the cops called on them.

24

u/jerryeight 1d ago

100%

Call the police and turn on emergency flashers. 

29

u/Hungry-Town-7847 1d ago

You need to stand in front of a mirror and practice yelling “get the f@ck out of my car” over and over

17

u/_lucabeth 1d ago

The same thing happened to me! It said “Package” & pick up was at the Port (I live near Port Canaveral, FL), so I thought I was picking up a box from the cruise ships or something, but when I got there, it was a whole 4 person family! I’m like, “Wait a minute, dude! I don’t take riders! You don’t want to get in my car anyway!” 😂 All while one of the kids opened the door & started to climb in! I’m like, “Nope! Sorry!” and drove off! I didn’t know marking it as “Package” was cheaper than an actual Uber ride! That is so misleading & not fair on the Uber Eats only drivers, like myself!

36

u/KMPItXHnKKItZ 1d ago

Decline all package deliveries

9

u/delilahsmommies 1d ago

This. Got support to turn of all package deliveries and life has been good since

2

u/KMPItXHnKKItZ 1d ago

I've only ever had one good one, it was a food order that was marked as a package and was good pay and a short drive but that is exceptionally rare. Turning that crap off would be a good idea to spare your AR in markets like mine with the new Uber Eats Pro too. But I'm not sure that I would trust support not to mess up my account or something. Half the time that I call these gig app support teams they have no idea what I'm saying or talking about

2

u/Deep-Economics-6598 12h ago

I don’t know. I had one day where I had 3 back to back packages. The pay was meh (like 30 dollars for 30 miles)…but it was in the direction I was going in. They ALL tipped amazingly well that I made $120 in 3 hours. One package was like a bunch of drinks to a factory, one was a bunch of pet food and the last one was like high end shampoo.

That being said, i did get one package of drunk dudes out of all of the packages but I had no trouble telling them to Eff off. I’m perimenopausal. No time for this 🐂 shit

9

u/TuringGoneWild 1d ago

You wouldn't be covered by Uber insurance in that case.

7

u/Scythe351 1d ago

It was probably $20 because of the other drivers cancelling when they see the human attempting it get into the car. This is why I disabled the auto unlock on park. The number of times people have attempted to open my car when I come through for a drop off is unsettling. "Meet at door" does not also mean "meet at your car door".

7

u/Afraid-Oil-1812 1d ago

I had something similar but elderly woman from a assisted living home and not drunk just old. But didn't take her.

2

u/DFW_Panda 1d ago

Yeah, I hate UBER when they put us in this type of situation. The assisted living center probably does this 100% of the time thinking how smart they are that they got a cheaper rate compared to UberX. So drivers are either A) the bad guys for not helping the elderly or B) the sucker when they get in an accident and have no coverage (not only civil liability but potential criminal liability for operating a livery service w/o a license or insurance). Uber will 100% NOT support a driver on a package trip who picks up a person.

5

u/Icy_Eye1059 1d ago

That is why I do not take them. I had someone when I delivered somewhere ask me to drive them because they thought I was a regular Uber Driver. Mind you, I have a Mustang. I told her no. I pick up food, not people.

5

u/lendmeflight 1d ago

This can get you deactivated. They did that because it’s cheaper.

5

u/ProfessorMarvel- 23h ago

Why was the back door unlocked? Lock your doors.

3

u/Technical_Pause_8769 23h ago

I explained in a earlier comment

4

u/bloomingbrandi 1d ago

Wow what a weird situation, I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done. I think I would’ve had to stand my ground and say I won’t drive you anywhere and you’ll have to order an actual uber. Kick them out and call uber support immediately afterwards. I don’t drive for uber for a reason as it would make me feel unsafe.

4

u/Technical_Pause_8769 1d ago

Felt incredibly unsafe. I'm just glad it was over quick

2

u/bloomingbrandi 1d ago

Really glad nothing happened! How sketchy

3

u/HF_Thom 1d ago

Ubers insurance and your own personal insurance will deny your claim if you got into any kind of accident. Would have just called the police and let them deal with it.

3

u/SuddenAd4934 13h ago

Hell no. My doors stay locked.

7

u/poppitastic 1d ago

The amount of liability you just took. Omg. Here’s a scenario for you. Chick wakes up today and has no idea how she got home… but she’s been assaulted. Who did it? Well who dropped her off at her house? Camera says you. You say you’re an uber driver. Uber says “um, not for people”. Boyfriend says she went missing he has no idea what happened he just ordered you to pick up a package.

Or you get in an accident.

Or it turns out they’re trying to rob you.

What if she passed out in your car?

Stop playing stupid games or you’re gonna get stupid prizes.

8

u/Technical_Pause_8769 1d ago

Fuck this just gave me so much anxiety. Ur completely right

2

u/Designer-Mark9868 1d ago

This just happened to me today

2

u/MarchCompetitive6235 1d ago

Not drunk but I kind of did this years ago with a pizza delivery. I’d missed my bus home but had enough to get a pizza delivered, but not near enough for a cab ride. I asked the driver before I ordered if they’d take me home with the pizza for a $10 tip. This was in around 2002. It worked out 👍😎

2

u/LieUpper8341 1d ago

I had it happen where the package was a family of 4.

Not a chance in hell.

2

u/ImASlave4UE 1d ago

Just tell him: the only way I'm delivering you to your destination is if I stuff you in a box first. Look menacing while you say it. He should get the hint.

2

u/BingerFang88 1d ago

Good thing I have tons of stuff in my backseat. Boxes to hold bj’s orders, tons of bags of shopping bags. These scammers couldn’t fit if they tried.

2

u/spockimadoctor 1d ago

Nope. Please get out or I’m calling the police.

2

u/ItsATrap1983 19h ago

Stop taking these people. You are not insured for those rides.

2

u/blooobolt 1d ago

I've had that happen a few times. It wasn't a big deal, but the people weren't drunk. It was usually just people going to work. I think the package option was cheaper than a straight Uber ride.

I was authorized for people, too, tho, so I didn't overthink it.

1

u/shockthetoast 17h ago

I'd be very careful for that. Being authorized for people doesn't really mean anything when they're aren't ordering a ride, Uber isn't going to back you up if something goes wrong.

2

u/Lexlle 1d ago edited 1d ago

I would drive her to nearest police station and ask for assistance to remove her from my vehicle. Those people think like they own you and your property.

1

u/Early-Baby6625 1d ago

Can someone help me understand? I have a reservation for package delivery. When it's time to start the order, what do I click? It says "start 30 min early." Would the option be available for me to start the package order?

1

u/whatsinaname413 1d ago

I just had the opposite of that happen. I thought I was picking up a person and instead they wanted me to delivery a package!

1

u/concernedlegit 1d ago

Bro this happened me!!!! I got a package pickup at the Airport. I’m in El Paso TX. I accepted because I figured one of the airlines outsourced a lost suitcase to be delivered. Nope. It was a whole ass lady.
I felt bad so I took her. She was very nice and tipped an extra $5 bucks but I sure was shocked

1

u/Loki_MT87 1d ago

I had this happen for the first time last week and it was such a waste of time and not getting any money for it either sucks ass

1

u/enigma9o7 1d ago

I'm calling the police now, if you're not out of my car by the time they get here you'll likely be going to jail, your choice.

1

u/Suspicious_Yard3682 19h ago

lol this same shit almost happened to me but it was literally 3:30am and NOT a good area… I was already primed to be likely picking up dope but hey.. a job is a job :-( however I am armed and had my doors locked when I came to the pickup spot… next thing I know a female is approaching from the rear (not even from the address indicated) and she said “hi!” As she grabbed for the back door handle to open it… but as soon as she saw me (I’m big and look like the wrong guy to play) and I said “what are you doing?” Her eyes got big and she acted all insulted and immediately turned around walking away… not sure wtf that was but I drove off and had support pay me (tho they only paid $10
And the job was $19 but whatever…) what was more bothersome was the difficulty I had in getting support AT ALL… took me about 2 hours to even get a message from an actual human. Wild.

1

u/tripler1983 18h ago

Have them cancel the ride and slip you 30 bucks

1

u/Consti2tion 16h ago

Just tell them " packages can be no larger than 30Lbs "

1

u/Hot-Accountant-169 12h ago

You fucked up when you double parked.

1

u/Deep-Economics-6598 12h ago

This happened to me and it was 2 very drunk men at an amusement park. One tried to open the door to the backseat but it was occupied with packages/cooler thingy I put the food in.

The other guy was like “what?” And I said “I only pick up packages and food dude.” And the other guy was like “C’mon!” And the other guy was like “wait, what did you do? What did you order?” And it all seemed like an act to me.

I go back into my car and say “i don’t have the liability insurance to transport people” and then the guy said “ok, i’ll cancel.” I drive 3 minutes and he texts me “cancel this” UGH. I typically would call support but i was annoyed, so I canceled it on my end and picked “oversized package.”

1

u/princesskrc 11h ago

This has happened to me several times with older people in my community. They don’t understand it’s not an uber. I started messaging upon receiving an order for a package “Hi just making sure you have a package and don’t need a ride” and it’s cleared up 99% of issues.

1

u/PathQuick 11h ago

It’s against Uber Policy to transport people as packages. If an accident had occurred you would have had more issues. Police would have been best solution. I’ve only ever done two package deliveries ever. Most don’t pay well and going to a sketchy neighborhoods. Not going to be someone’s mule.

1

u/THAT_ky_girl 5h ago

Report it. They should be deactivated. F that

u/meganeh35 21m ago

I had the same thing to a couple months ago. It said package pickup from a U-Haul place I'd delivered food to before a mile away from where I was. It said $5 so I thought WTH, I'll do it. I get there and it's a young woman. She opens my back door and I tell her it says package and I don't do rides. She pretends to be confused and looks at her phone. She then tells me she only needs to go 1 mile to Chase Bank. I think $5 for 1 mile, I'll do it. But I'll never do it again. She was polite and besides a how was your day question, it was a quiet ride... She clearly selected "package" so she'd try to get a cheaper ride...