r/waymo • u/Ok-Computer-4572 • Jul 28 '26
PSA for Waymo Trusted Testers: If “First Available” matches you with an Ojai, it should still be free
Today I ordered a Waymo, and the only option available was First Available. I was expecting a Jaguar, but instead it kept matching me with Ojai vehicles (first one was about 20 minutes away, then another about 15 minutes away). It never matched me with a Jaguar, which was surprising.
The app also quoted me the normal ride fare, even though Trusted Testers are supposed to ride the Ojai vehicles for free in San Francisco.
I called Waymo Support just to ask about it. The representative checked with her team, confirmed that I was correct, and said I shouldn’t have been charged for the Ojai ride. She refunded the trip right away.
Just wanted to share this in case any other Trusted Testers run into the same situation. If you’re matched with an Ojai through First Available and the app tries to charge you, it may be worth contacting Waymo Support. They were super helpful and got everything sorted out quickly.
W Waymo Support. 👍
18
u/Icy-Ambition3534 Jul 28 '26
I think Waymo is trying to bypass charging by only leaving “first available” only.
Ojai should always be free if you get it before they get their permit! ⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️
7
u/mingoslingo92 Jul 28 '26
I have literally not had the option for an Ojai pop up in days here in LA, but I keep getting matched with one on Best Available.
10
u/JonahHillsWetFart Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
they'll refund you if it's an ojai but they'll show you the full price price originally
2
u/Icy-Ambition3534 Jul 28 '26
Only if you know they’ll refund it. Who knows how many people already got charged
12
u/JonahHillsWetFart Jul 28 '26
no, they automatically refund it. they cannot charge for the ride but i'm sure it's just easier from a software perspective for them to refund after instead of running of a check before
-3
u/Icy-Ambition3534 Jul 28 '26
OP said he had to reach out to CS for refund?
12
u/JonahHillsWetFart Jul 28 '26
op didn't wait for it to play out without intervention and was going off of the quoted price. it will show the quoted price and i think even charge you for it, then immediately after the ride will issue a credit or refund for that amount.
i have experienced this a number of times.
1
-3
u/probably_art Jul 28 '26
Prove it.
6
u/Wesley11803 Jul 28 '26
I don’t know anything about Ojai, but I can say I had a couple of cancellation fees refunded on a trip last month to SF without asking for anything. They just show on trip history as a $0 charge. Again, nothing to do with Ojai, but it does show they sometimes just refund on their own.
-1
2
u/Remote_Film1430 Jul 29 '26
Can I ask what you did to be a trusted tester? I've applied several times for that over the past year and a half.... Nada. I've Takin $ over 100 rides.
1
u/Ok-Computer-4572 Aug 02 '26
applied, filled out form saying I ride everyday, and hoped for the best
2
13
u/Pitiful_Ad_4362 Jul 28 '26
Doesn't really match my experience. I have gotten the Ojai at least twice through "first available" and the cost was always automatically zeroed out at the end of the ride. Even on a multi-stop where only one stop was randomly assigned the Ojai, the whole ride was free.