Uber has been stacking up reasons why to avoid them since their arrival in Argentina in 2016. Multiple lawsuits, a very irritated taxi union, scams and drivers avoiding taxes just to name a few. It remains a more inexpensive option with a decent level of accountability, but with issues stacking up… here are our top 5 reasons not to use Uber in Buenos Aires.
1. Taxi Union vs Uber
At the center of the Uber in Argentina conflict is the Argentinian taxi syndicate. It’s the same old story from around the world, but with the kicker of a very powerful taxi union. Local companies and individual drivers have completed their bureaucratic paper work, paid their dues and purchased their expensive taxi licenses. Uber arrives and undercuts the taxi pricing, skip the licenses, waltz past the existing organization. It is indeed a paradigm shift, but the taxi union is fighting it tooth and nail. Uber has been off and on illegal in Argentina since it’s inception in Buenos Aires which lays the groundwork for reasons #2-#5.
2. Airport pick up conflicts
Planning on having an Uber pick you up at the airport? There is definitely no Uber pick up zone and on the contrary, the driver may face fines, physical threats from taxi drivers and in some cases have their car damaged. The airports, especially EZE (Ezeiza International) is prime territory and has a pecking order. Uber is the lowest man on the totem pole so expect to coordinate your pick up point (likely in Spanish), to pretend the driver is a friend (sitting up front) and hope the WiFi signal is strong enough to reach outside if needed.
3. Cancelled rides and minor scams
At some point a clever Uber driver found that when customers paid in cash she/he kept the entire amount and Uber did not get their commission. How long this ruse can last, who knows, but many drivers will now only accept cash payments as their Uber commission has stacked up to a sizable sum. If they accept credit card payments they will not get paid their share creating an odd stand off. Expect a driver or two to cancel as soon as they realize you expect to pay with your card.
There have been reports of drivers claiming credit card payments did not go through and insisting on a cash payment. Uber does have a great customer service reputation and refunds are processed quickly, but still an annoyance.
Several users have reported Ubers dawdling about nearby the pick up point and never quite arriving. The client will cancel the trip and be charged a small fee which the driver is paid. The fee can be removed, but again you will have to contact customer service.
4. It may not be legal
As of the publishing date Uber is not legal…again, in Argentina. This will likely change shortly, but how this applies to accidents, insurance, fines and arrests is unclear. Uber drivers have been detained, had their vehicles towed and customers questioned by police in the past during other illegal stints.
5. Missing taxes and jobs
With a lot of immigration in recent years and the taxi market fairly saturated (approx 1 taxi per 80 inhabitants of Buenos Aires) the private transportation sector has felt Uber’s presence. New arrivals desperately seeking work can often times find locals subletting their cars and accept the lower wages offered by Uber all while skipping the taxi licensing process. You’ll certainly recognize a newcomer to Buenos Aires compared to a veteran cab driver, the latter knows the thousands of Buenos Aires streets like the back of their hand.
To balance the article a bit we can say with confidence that the local taxi drivers have gained some notoriety over the years. The vast majority are honest, hard working fellas, but once in a while running a fast meter, taking the scenic route, poorly maintained vehicles will appear. If taxis were to add some culpability and a more trustworthy, convenient system of charging customers I cannot imagine Uber surviving for very long, but until then the market certainly looks to be demanding alternatives.
Solutions and Suggestions
-Public transportation is ample and inexpensive in Buenos Aires. Buses and the subway lines can get you to all the famous sites and popular neighborhoods. You’ll need a SUBE card which is easily topped up with credit at kioskos and subway stations around the city.
-The taxi union and the government have created a couple of apps that are beginning to rival Uber. Check out Cabify and Easy Taxi.
Airport drop off
Drop offs at AEP or EZE with Uber should not be an issue, but pick ups will be. For the least expensive, but potentially time consuming method try Manual Tienda Leon. They have a kiosk or two inside the airport and you’ll see their main mini-office/pick up area outside in front of the parking lot. Cost per person is about $10-$15 USD.
-Taxi EZE is a private taxi service that accept credit cards (at a higher rate) and can be reserved on site. If you are arriving in the morning or along side several other flights expect a wait. Cost per vehicle paid with a credit card is around $40 USD. The fleet is a bit dated and cars may or may not have climate control.
-Not to toot our own horn, but if you feel like splurging a bit to have a driver waiting specifically for you, we offer EZE pick up service for around $50 USD per vehicle. Climate control, relatively new vehicles, mostly bilingual drivers.
