Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes • Hacker News Board

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#41

Post by SilasX » Thu, Mar 16, 2017, 2:11 AM UTC

redm wrote: post #4

No Tipping is one of the main reasons I liked Uber; no cash, no pressure, you just get out of the car and walk away with everyone happy. I would rather pay more for each fare and have Uber aggressively prohibit tipping. I suspect many people feel the same way and if Uber doesn't get it under control, it could be the biggest challenge they face.

I do feel the same way! But Uber's relentless fare-cutting has made it such a bad deal for drivers that I feel the awkwardness has come right back, since I'd pretty much have to tip in order to not feel like I'm taking advantage of the driver.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#42

Post by stoptypingnow » Thu, Mar 16, 2017, 2:13 AM UTC

nlawalker wrote: post #28

Well if someone chooses to share their car, you should just be happy that things worked out such that it was convenient for them to pick you up. And certainly you can share an extra couple bucks with them. We're all just sharing , right?

The issue with Uber is tipping can affect ratings and Uber plays like tipping isn't part of the mechanics. They've pushed driver payout so low it's now important for drivers to figure out how to get extra money from their fares. Lyft has pricing parity with Uber so the same issue exists but they help the situation by allowing tips to be collected in app but not expose the tip during the ratings process. It's a more honest and mature mechanic and why I've switched over to Lyft completely.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#43

Post by whistlerbrk » Thu, Mar 16, 2017, 2:13 AM UTC

slater wrote: post #13

acheron wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But tipping sucks. That was one of the reasons Uber was better than Lyft in the first place. Then some assholes sued and now Uber drivers are allowed to ask for tips. Nice job breaking it, hero.

Why does tipping suck?

People shouldn't need to beg for money in order to have a stable income when they are already working regular hours. The cash flow problems it creates for individuals and the awkward social dance it makes is problematic for everyone. No one likes two prices, they want to know what they are paying ahead of time everything included, any extras/feeds/charges/gratuities make for a bad customer experience

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#44

Post by nunez » Thu, Mar 16, 2017, 2:14 AM UTC

zdean wrote: post #34

Serious question for those who are pro-tipping...where do you draw the line? How do you choose which products/services are tip-worthy and which aren't?

I treat tips the same way that sales managers treat commissions. (I wouldn't be surprised if that's the model it came from, actually.)

If you pretend to care about me and my company while we eat at your restaurant (or whatever) and do all that you can to make the experience a good one for us, then we will tip you well and we will more than likely come back. 20% is usually my minimum, but I've tipped 50-100% sometimes.

Treat us like shit, and you'll get tipped equivalently. (I've tipped 5% before for really crappy service. I don't like doing that, though.)

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#45

Post by jayess » Thu, Mar 16, 2017, 2:14 AM UTC

My uber drivers have been steadily dropping in quality, more often than not taking the wrong directions to my destination, despite the fact that the GPS right in front of them tells them where to go.

I've been using Lyft more and more lately. Drivers just seem.... better. And I don't mind tipping in the app.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#46

Post by RealGeek » Thu, Mar 16, 2017, 2:15 AM UTC

gcr wrote: post #36

zdean wrote: post #34

Serious question for those who are pro-tipping...where do you draw the line? How do you choose which products/services are tip-worthy and which aren't?

Whenever worker exploitation is involved (such as in this case), or when the worker materially relies on tips to stay afloat, I always try to tip. Wherever it's accepted by society, I also generally tip.

Tipping is an incentive for employers to squeeze the workers even more. Employers need to pay the workers a decent wage rather than them relying on tips.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#47

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Mar 16, 2017, 2:15 AM UTC

untog wrote: post #23

TheChaplain wrote: post #11

Born and raised in northern Europe I find the US tipping culture weird. To me, tips are a bonus for service that goes above and beyond the expected.

Unfortunately it's the nature of the beast when wages are so low. Bartenders are typically paid next to nothing and depend on tips, whereas in Europe they are paid a decent amount and don't need tips to get by. Unfortunately US politics means this won't change any time soon. Evidently it's simpler for every American to carry around spare dollar bills every day than it is to pass meaningful legislation.

[deleted]

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#48

Post by mmel » Thu, Mar 16, 2017, 2:15 AM UTC

Won't peole rate uber drivers who do this poorly?

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#49

Post by camus2 » Thu, Mar 16, 2017, 2:16 AM UTC

acheron wrote: post #3

Kronopath wrote: post #2

Lyft has a good solution for this, in that they prompt you to give a tip through the app at the end of the ride. More and more they're seeming like the (at least marginally) more ethical and sane ride-sharing app.

But tipping sucks. That was one of the reasons Uber was better than Lyft in the first place. Then some assholes sued and now Uber drivers are allowed to ask for tips. Nice job breaking it, hero.

> Then some assholes sued and now Uber drivers are allowed to ask for tips. Nice job breaking it, hero.

err, tipping isn't mandatory. "The assholes" you are talking about are not employed by Uber therefore should be allowed to ask for tips if they want. Remember, Uber "is just an app", or so they say... "The assholes" want to make hands meet, just like you. You might not care about their point of view or their interests but nobody's going to be driving you at loss or with ridiculous margins for much longer. So there is no need to insult people who fight for their rights.

Rich and powerful people use the law to their advantage all the time when they don't blatantly violate it like Uber. I didn't see you complain about that, nor call them "assholes".

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#50

Post by toomuchtodo » Thu, Mar 16, 2017, 2:17 AM UTC

pmorici wrote: post #32

raldi wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What does "rank and yank" mean? It's not mentioned on the page you linked to.

They cut anyone with a rating below X where X is determined market by market in order to balance out the number of new drivers they have coming in with the number of drivers they are cutting for bad ratings and also taking into account growth for demand in the market. In new or rapidly growing markets they hardly cut anyone ever but in mature markets with ample supplies of drivers they demand a very high average rati…

It appears only the desperate drivers are left in the system, making ranking and yanking self-defeating unless Uber wants to continue to canabilize its diminishing capacity.