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Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

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Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#91

Post by snuxoll »

amgin3 wrote: post #54
gcr wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

> You are subsidizing their wages and making it seem ok for their employer to pay them peanuts.

You're going to end up paying for it either way. But yes, I agree - I'd rather get rid of the culture of tipping and just pay a reasonable price for a service.

The thing that really sucks though, is per federal law an employer paying the 'tipping minimum wage' is required to make up the difference if an employee makes below the normal minimum wage - they almost never do from what I can tell. By choosing to not tip not only am I just being an asshole, but the employer won't change anything either because the chance of them being caught being a douchebag is slim.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#92

Post by iopq »

taneq wrote: post #78
iopq wrote: post #53

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 b…

Maybe you can explain something that I've never understood. I see drivers saying "driving for Uber is terrible and a waste of money". I see them saying "after expenses I'm basically working for free." But they keep doing it . They keep driving for Uber even though they know that they're basically just working for free, in order to make money for Uber. If you take vehicle depreciation into account, you're probably not…

It's because I can drive for like an hour at 9 PM when the traffic isn't bad anymore and I can make $10 an hour and I can decide when to clock out.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#93

Post by iopq »

ryandvm wrote: post #68
iopq wrote: post #53

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 b…

I don't know. Maybe Uber should just pay you more and we can not encourage the antiquated custom of tipping.

> Maybe Uber should just pay you more and we can not encourage the antiquated custom of tipping.

they can't advertise higher rates than Lyft or they'll lose the price war

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#94

Post by aianus »

taneq wrote: post #78
iopq wrote: post #53

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 b…

Maybe you can explain something that I've never understood. I see drivers saying "driving for Uber is terrible and a waste of money". I see them saying "after expenses I'm basically working for free." But they keep doing it . They keep driving for Uber even though they know that they're basically just working for free, in order to make money for Uber. If you take vehicle depreciation into account, you're probably not…

I drive for Uber part time even though it pays literally 8x less than my day job. It's relaxing and gives me an excuse to drive my car while someone else pays for the gas and mileage.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#95

Post by kbenson »

Thriptic wrote: post #59
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 frien…

> I'm consistently amazed at how many people I end up giving sub-five star ratings

That in itself is possibly a contributing problem. Incentives go all wonky when four-star ratings essentially don't exist. Five-star ratings should be reserved for exceptional service, and three-star ratings should be for average service, not "I'm unhappy with this but not enough that I won't feel bad giving a negative review, so I'll give it three stars." People don't know how to rate, and it makes all our rating systems much less accurate.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#96

Post by walru »

ryandvm wrote: post #68
iopq wrote: post #53

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 b…

I don't know. Maybe Uber should just pay you more and we can not encourage the antiquated custom of tipping.

Is good service and hospitably an antiquated notion?

I'll happily give a bartender, server or a driver an extra buck or two when they make the experience pleasant/informative/friendly because, far too many people treat their jobs not as a privileged but a chore.

Without tipping far too many would take your money for granted and the quality of service would decline across the board because there is zero incentive to provide anything better.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#97

Post by iopq »

kbenson wrote: post #80
iopq wrote: post #53

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 b…

> because after I drive for a while sometimes I need to drive a long way back as well on my own dime It seems like this is something they could help with. Can't they mark your home territory and try to schedule you rides that take you the right direction? If not immediately, maybe after a few rides in that area that don't take you too much farther away? It seems like this should be one of the main points of using Ube…

> Can't they mark your home territory and try to schedule you rides that take you the right direction?

they had this feature

unfortunately, NOBODY LEAVES SAN FRANCISCO so it's pointless, you'll be waiting for someone to want a ride south for a very long time

they've since removed that feature because it hurts your bottom line to use it

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#98

Post by iopq »

paulddraper wrote: post #76
iopq wrote: post #53

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 b…

Then Uber should be charging more. Sorry about that.

I'm not really going to keep driving until they do that. I drive during football games in Santa Clara, though, since the rates are much higher.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#99

Post by username223 »

Thriptic wrote: post #59
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 frien…

> Many drivers seem to act as if they are driving their friends around as opposed to driving their clients around.

Maybe they're just confused by everyone calling it "ride sharing."

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