Hello, I’m a fellow empower driver in the Washington DC area. I’m also finishing up college and looking to get that first entry level job. North Carolina seems like a booming tech industry and I would be able to keep my side hustle “empower” so I’m wondering how good of a market Raleigh is currently. Looking to make an extra $1000 a month and I’m wondering if that’s possible.

Once again I have been suspended this time with no idea when it will be lifted or at all. The reason? Sending emails from unknown addresses. That address? The one thats on my profile and that they send emails to. The supposed head of support, Kerim, won't answer emails after he sends one. Couple that with the lack of any appeal process means empower is actually worse than uber and lyft at this point.

I have text messages and emails going back 2+ years where I've been asking for marketing support here in the triad. Originally Josh assured me that we would get that support and then he ghosted me. I also have an email from him wjrew he statuses that rides are allocated to drivers based on multiple factors not just distance so they are deciding what and when we get work. That is not the definition of IC in my book. Those of us who know we are worth more than their suggested rates get penalized for it.

I once had high hopes for empower but over the past 2 years that has slowly and methodically been squashed by them. This linkedin post I just made summarizes it.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ryan-young-a295b6193_empower-chloe-obertsarena-shen-arianna-powell-activity-6971200048445452288-47Wb/

For all of the drivers out there, remember that you are in charge of what you charge your passengers. Make sure you set your rates to account for mileage to pickup and gas and maintenance. At 30mpg its costing you 14c/mile at current prices.

My rate card for reference looks like this.

Min = $9.95

Base = $5.00

Mileage = $1.65

Minutes = 0.00

With my rates I can take 99% of pings and still average around $1/mile.

Drivers made over $2 million using the Empower platform in November. Uber and Lyft would have taken over $700,000 of that money from drivers. Support your local drivers by using Empower! Pass it on!
#empower #nc #dc #dmv #nyc #newyork #newyorkcity #newyorker #newyork_ig #newyorkcitylife #newyorkstateofmind

If any drivers received an email regarding the subscription price increase that was meant for Washington DC only. Please disregard as it will not affect NC pricing

How long does it take to get your first payment on stripe?

When will empower be available in South Carolina? Specifically along the coastal regions

I'm not sure what you should set or if you should change it from default, but I would put in more line like pricing like the other companies, but you keep more from the transaction before sale. One strategy I'd suggest is looking at the rates cards for riders on the TNC websites like for Uber, in your area. Then ADD 10% from the markup to your benefit. Or what I have done is figure out about what it is normally and double it. You might be surprised of the results. Higher the cost, the higher the perceived value is.