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Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

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Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#51

Post by jforman »

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.

You seem to want to kill the messenger here. If Uber's practice was unlawful, it would've been stopped eventually.

And why was Uber's practice unlawful? The "free market" of contractors Uber relies on to drive down costs also allows drivers freedom of speech to ask for tips. Uber can either have an open driver market or they can limit their drivers' speech — they can't do both.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#52

Post by toomuchtodo »

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.

I'm sorry it's harder to take advantage of underpaid service workers now. I'm sure folks will get over it.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#53

Post by iopq »

I drive Uber from time to time. I've only gotten a tip once over ~50 rides.

A lot of the time the traffic conditions mean that after costs (I assume $0.40 per mile costs for mileage, gas, maintenance, etc.) my hourly is closer to $8 an hour (because after I drive for a while sometimes I need to drive a long way back as well on my own dime), which is below minimum wage. That's not including having to pick up plastic bottles after people or cleaning seats so they don't smell like sweat.

It's basically never worth to pick up anyone who is going far away from your house, you end up actually driving for free since you have to drive there and EVENTUALLY drive home. Why do you think Uber drivers don't want to drive 40 minutes away just to get paid less than if they drove for 40 minutes inside their own city? I'll never accept a ride to San Francisco (40 minutes away) ever again, it's never worth the price unless there's surge pricing in effect.

If I make $8-12 an hour, getting a $1 tip is like a 10% increase in my wage. I don't badger people for tips, but if I got like 10% of people to tip me, it would be super worth. The one tip I got was $20, btw. Even if we assume a 12% tip rate up from 2% if I ask for them explicitly, and the average tip size of $5 (median would be more like $2, but if I get a few more $20 tips the average would be higher than the median), I would make $0.50 more per hour which is a 5% increase in my earnings.

Maybe it's something I should actually start doing.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#54

Post by amgin3 »

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.

Then you are just enabling that process to continue. You are subsidizing their wages and making it seem ok for their employer to pay them peanuts.

I don't tip anyone and tipping is not a common practice where I live. In fact, most people would feel insulted if you gave them a tip here.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#56

Post by zaatar »

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.

Here's a brief clip from the 90s movie, Reservoir Dogs, that could shed some light: " rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4sbYy0WdGQ>

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#57

Post by Negative1 »

Curious; are Uber or Lyft drivers penalized at all for canceling? I had a Lyft driver a few weeks back call me and ask where I was, which is odd since the app tells him. Turns out he was on the wrong side of the street. Instead of just turning around, he just says "bye", hangs up and cancels the trip. Was annoying for me since I had been waiting for 10 minutes at this point but it seemed like a real poor choice on his part.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#59

Post by Thriptic »

jayess wrote: post #45

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.

I agree. I'm consistently amazed at how many people I end up giving sub-five star ratings to these days, and I have been a huge proponent and defender of Uber in the past.

If you pick me up promptly, follow your GPS, have a car that is functional, and either engage me in pleasant conversation or say nothing at all besides 'hello', I will give you five stars. Many drivers seem to act as if they are driving their friends around as opposed to driving their clients around.

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