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Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

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Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#471

Post by chrisseaton »

snowwrestler wrote: post #212
ClassyJacket wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But the comment you're replying to is saying what's the point in working literally for free or at a loss? Sure, if you're not making much, that's one thing, but actually making zero is what they were talking about.

The post above that one (the actual Uber driver) says that their hourly rate is about $8, not $0. Nobody wakes up in the morning and says "today I'm going to drive for Uber literally for free." Of course not. Let's use a little common sense here. Uber drivers expect, plan, hope to make money. The point is, they don't make much, and sometimes it's very little (like on a long fare). So the question is, then why do they…

> I'm just suggesting that maybe a lot of them don't have a higher-paying alternative

This still doesn't make any sense. If you are losing money working for Uber, then you do have access to a higher paying alternative - which is literally standing in your house and doing nothing. Because zero is greater than a negative amount.

I think there are really three explanations that make sense:

People are not literally losing money working for Uber, or maybe they are sometimes but not overall at the end of the month, and they're just rhetorically exaggerating in frustration.

People are literally losing money working for Uber but only when you include depreciation of their car, and that is a long term cost, so people are effectively taking a loan from their future selves.

People are literally losing money working for Uber but morally feel that they should be working rather than not working, even if there is no economic reason for them to do so, and they just hope their situation will improve in the future.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#472

Post by ice109 »

snowwrestler wrote: post #212
ClassyJacket wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But the comment you're replying to is saying what's the point in working literally for free or at a loss? Sure, if you're not making much, that's one thing, but actually making zero is what they were talking about.

The post above that one (the actual Uber driver) says that their hourly rate is about $8, not $0. Nobody wakes up in the morning and says "today I'm going to drive for Uber literally for free." Of course not. Let's use a little common sense here. Uber drivers expect, plan, hope to make money. The point is, they don't make much, and sometimes it's very little (like on a long fare). So the question is, then why do they…

thank you for being empathetic

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#473

Post by buu700 »

aeontech wrote: post #366
buu700 wrote: post #246

Earlier quoted context omitted.

+1. I use Uber over Lyft right now because I prefer a UX as close to "type destination, arrive, done" as possible, which Lyft's whole tipping deal needlessly impairs. If Uber is going to implicitly make tipping a requirement to not feel like a jerk (as with Lyft), but without copying Lyft's ability to tip from the app, suddenly Lyft looks a lot less unattractive by comparison. Now that I know this is starting to beco…

> I prefer a UX as close to "type destination, arrive, done" as possible, which Lyft's whole tipping deal needlessly impairs. I wonder if you used Lyft a long time ago, because I don't even notice the tip screen until next day sometimes. When I leave the car, my phone is in my pocket, or I'm already doing something else on it, so I do not see the tip screen until I happen to open the app next time. Dismissing the tip…

That sounds like how Lyft was when I last used it, but doesn't contradict what I meant.

I'd rather take care of the tip right away (or as soon as I have a chance) than have to remember to do it well after the fact, but in either case I'd much prefer to not have to remember it at all and just be done with the whole thing the second I step out the car. (There's also the rating thing with both Uber and Lyft, but at least that's faster and I wouldn't really feel bad if I were to forget about it.)

That, and as I sort of implied earlier the honesty/inclusiveness of the fare estimates is a concern, in that whereas a $10 estimate in Uber means exactly what it says with Lyft I have to remember to do some additional math on top of that.

(These probably sound like the epitome of "first world problems"; I'm not saying that Lyft isn't good, or even that it's dramatically worse than Uber for me — just that their competitive landscape is such that even minor usability issues like these are currently costing them my business.)

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#474

Post by lostboys67 »

morgante wrote: post #219
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.

That's honestly why I continue to use Uber despite all the negative press. They continue to hold the line against the excessive tipping culture in America and I want to support them for refusing to give in to pressure to add a tipping option to the app. Any driver who aggressively solicits for tips automatically gets a low rating and a note from me.

"hold the line against the excessive tipping culture " you mean screwing over some poor minimum wage worker and the IRS (which when it comes down to it is you)

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#475

Post by falsedan »

Canada wrote: post #317
bitwize wrote: post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you know anyone who actually works in food service? I do, and they'd be pissed if everyone skimped with a 15% tip. It's 20% for adequate service, 25% for excellent.

Yeah I do, and of course they claim everyone should give them more money. Since I frequently heard that the new standard is 20% I've reduced my tips to 10%, pretax. If a bill helpfully prints calculations and the lowest option is greater than 15% I will leave less than 10%. Taxi drivers get $1 no matter the fare. The gall of that industry to even ask... And even the slightest infraction of protocol and I leave 0. I u…

I got a tip for ya right here: it's your money, do what you want with whatever's left after taxes, fees, fines, and mandatory contributions.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#476

Post by lostboys67 »

dataminded wrote: post #33

I don't agree with the argument that passengers should tip because Uber isn't paying their drivers enough. That sounds like welfare for Uber. If the pay sucks, Uber should have trouble recruiting drivers.

Probaly get a lot of drivers whose immigration status is "questionable"

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#477

Post by nkrisc »

borplk wrote: post #385
grecy wrote: post #352

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a non-American this is how I feel about tipping in general. It's so much easier to just pay people a decent wage, include it in the cost of things and then not have the pressure of tipping. That, and tipping is akin to having paid servants. i.e. " if you do a good job, and if I feel like it, I might give you some of my wad of cash. Or not, sucker.". (Of course, I do tip because the servers rely on it, I just don't…

Exactly. As a non-American tipping seems like such a crappy concept to me. Why should service providers be subject to arbitrary decisions of random customers? A service has a price. Either it is provided adequately and you are happy with it in which case you pay the full damn price for it and move on with your life. Or there's a specific problem in which case you can complain specifically and ask for a discount or re…

A lot of Americans, myself included, think it's a crappy concept too.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#478

Post by lostboys67 »

nilram wrote: post #260
calc_exe wrote: post #201

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is this normal? I never tip for takeout..

A friend is a cook who says that even at decent restaurants, cooks don't get paid much and they get just a minimal share of tips. So when I get takeout, I tip 10-20% and say "Thank-you, here's something for the kitchen." Sometimes I get thanks in return, sometimes just a sour look from a server who expected something more for putting my order in a bag. I have no idea what they'll do with the cash, but hopefully some…

Does the US not have the Tronc system?

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#479

Post by lostboys67 »

peteretep wrote: post #467
imartin2k wrote: post #199

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tipping culture is actually one factor which makes it unattractive for me to travel in the US. Too much mental costs.

That plus the insane practice of not including tax on displayed prices in stores. What the actual fuck.

Its actually illegal not to include VAT on displayed prices in the UK

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#480

Post by noer »

stbtrax wrote: post #285
fletchowns wrote: post #189

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I still tip the normal amount when I get takeout from a restaurant that has tables.

I feel like there's a certain segment of people that would probably tip if there was a tip prompt at the grocery store, or at the gas station.

1. There is a weird regionalism in the outer boroughs of New York City where the grocery stores don't hire someone to bag groceries. Either the cashier does it (which I think is totally normal) or there's someone who isn't paid by the store who bags groceries and collects tips in a little cup in the bagging area. I think it's so weird and it's the one place I've never tipped. I think I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen someone actually drop money into the jar in 10 years and the jars only ever seem to have pennies and other change in them.

2. At gas stations outside of New Jersey and Oregon, I had always thought you were supposed to tip when someone pumps your gas for you.

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