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Similar to previous months, in February, Lime retained the top spot in average user ratings among scooter companies in the Apple and Google app stores (4.86/5). Lime also continued its reign as the most popular of all operators worldwide in terms of activity in the app stores.
Other apps saw improvements in user satisfaction in February, reversing a trend earlier this winter, when user ratings were stagnant across the board. The average user ratings jumped 10% for Grin, 8.2% for Hive, and 4% for Tier last month. For Grin, this was the first positive growth in months. Although Hive is still trailing far behind others, it has been steadily improving its rating over the last two months, suggesting the service is making much-needed changes.
In terms of popularity, as measured by activity in the app stores, Neuron Mobility saw the highest increase (23%) last month, followed by Hive (12%).
Using app store activity as a rough indicator of the market share, five operators, Lime, Bird, Spin, Grin, and Voi, provided more than 90% of trips globally.
Lime was the most popular app last month, controlling 29.6% of activity globally. It also led in key App Stores, including Germany, where it beat Voi (56% to 20%), in France, where Dott came in second (61% to 19%), and the U.S., where Spin was number two (59% to 26%).
User Reported Issues
Going through all user reported issues in February from the comment section, most of the issues can be grouped under the following:
- App Issue
- Scooter Issue
- Cannot Start Ride
- Cannot End Ride
- Unavailable Scooters
- Overcharging
- Customer Support
- Expensive
- Other
App Issue – 34%: Issues and Bugs related to the sharing app is the most reported in February, similar to the previous month. Users reported issues in login, time to load, payment setup, etc. Here are some of the comments:
Poorly coded, multiple bugs in the app. Verifications constantly fail, entry fields glitch and become unusable, card entry fails, etc.
App logged me out and when I tried to log back in told me I couldn't login because my email was already in use. No way to go back, closing and reopening the app ends up stuck on the same screen. What a buggy mess
Scooter Issue – 12%: Scooter issues are common, with reports on failing brakes, low battery, scooters shutting down mid way. This time, there were two incidences where an accident was reported. Both were from SPIN, where one user reported to have broken an arm. Here are some of the comments:
Got in a bad accident thing wouldnt stop and i ended up getting flung off at 15mph landing on my left leg first
Can be very risky, specially for the learners. The speed can go pretty high very fast, no acceleration system to control the speed. I had an serious accident while riding and broke my arm.
Tried 2 scooters, both had no battery power despite saying otherwise. Charged me $2 to go 300ft.
There are few operators that provide a mobile holder/charger attached to the scooter stem. A WIND user reported that a faulty holder resulted in a broken phone.
My phone broke because the phone holder was loose and it slipped out at max speed. Don't trust the phone holders!
Overcharging – 11%: Many users reported that they were overcharged, more that what they expected for the ride. Few users also reported that cash was debited from their accounts without authorisation.
Added a payment method on android phone, my card was charged instantly 50 PLN, cannot remove payment card info without contacting a support, and support does not responding. Got charged 8 additional PLN without even unlocking scooter. Scam
MY RIDE IN THE APP WAS $5.00 BUT I WAS CHARGED over $20, the scooters are slower than uber/ jump scooters, I would not recommend this at all
Cannot Start/End Ride – 14%: There seems to be an improvement in ‘Start Ride’, where only 4% of the comments were related to Starting a ride (vs 12% in Jan).
Tried six rides, lock does not unlock 50% of times. Still charged for everything.
3x today the damn things wouldnt let me end the ride. Spent a total of 16 minutes paying for s*it i wasnt using just trying to end the ride. I want to be reimbursed for this BS
I have been trying to end a ride (2 scooters) for 40 minutes!! The trip was $25 and it would not let me end ride due to network error! The ride is now $60 and counting! Nobody there to answer tech support phone call, been on hold over 30 minutes! DO NOT USE THIS SERVICE I am still being charged
Customer Support, Unavailable Scooters, Expensive, Others – 29%: Interestingly, users reported less on lack of Customer support (3%). European operators seem to respond to more comments in the App Store vs others.
One user reported via the App Store that his pregnant wife was hit by a speeding JUMP bike on a sidewalk.
Pregnant wife was just hit by a jump bike. My wife and I were on vacation walking out of a museum and someone was riding a jump bike going full speed, downhill, and illegally on the sidewalk. I tried to block most of the impact but she was still thrown to the ground and now we are on the phone with her doctor trying to figure out how to get an emergency ultrasound. She also has a bruised elbow, side, and limited motion in her arm. Cities lack proper bike lanes and riders can't operate safely.
Note: Data gathered from 150+ Apple and Google app stores across the globe. If interested in more insights on the data collected, do send me a message!
If you are in scooter sharing business, spend some time in analysing user comments of all players. –> A treasure trove that would help you serve better!
