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Uber rolls out in-app tipping

washingtonpost.com

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Re: Uber rolls out in-app tipping

#181

Post by withdavidli »

mtanski wrote: post #163
lojack wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They need to raise the minimum fare for that then. Making teens pay more seems ridiculous to me.

I don't know if that is the cause of it; it's just one data point I heard (last year). I'm actually curious what drove the increase. Since they are still in cost undercutting and competing mode I doubt it's just "because they can". I wonder if it has anything to do with economics (higher insurance rate) or what. According to this article: https://www.geekwire.com/2017/uber-drivers-sound-alarm-teen-... "Uber says teen…

Drivers have to retain a 4.5 star rating to remain drivers I thought. I think that's a good enough bar. But I guess understandable if they're limiting to 4.9s+

It would be a good business model, like women can request women only would be a premium.

Re: Uber rolls out in-app tipping

#182

Post by HappyTypist »

eridius wrote: post #173
throwaway055 wrote: post #162

Posting on a throwaway because of tipping stigma. I take close to 1,000 Uber trips per year. The biggest disappointment about this change to me is that I won't be having conversations with Uber drivers anymore. Uber drivers will now be obligated to make pleasant conversation with me. I have no interest in speaking to somebody who's obligated to make pleasant conversation with me. When you add tipping, you're essentia…

If Uber drivers' pay ends up at exactly what it was before this, I think Uber's going to have a big problem as all their drivers ditch the platform. Uber already pays their drivers shit, there's no way they can justify taking even more of the money from each ride away from the driver. As for whether they should tip in the first place, this wouldn't be a problem if Uber charged enough to begin with. But they got into…

Uber's margin on a ride is already 35-40% in US cities (source: UberPeople), thanks to their 'upfront fares' pricing (rider fare is not used for calculation of driver fares at all, drivers are paid per mile/km and min), their Booking fees, UberPool pricing disparities, and Surge disparities (a rider paying a 1.5x surge does not necessarily mean a driver is receiving 1.5x).

Re: Uber rolls out in-app tipping

#183

Post by cocktailpeanuts »

It is sad that companies like Uber are being pressured into making these stupid decisions because of "social justice".

For me the main benefit of using Uber (as well as all other on-demand services like Doordash, Caviar, etc.) was that everything is included and I don't have to think.

Companies like Uber should be focused on building a product that consumers want and nothing else. These decisions are nothing more than the company being bullied (by the media and activists) into making politically correct decisions that brings NO benefit to any parties involved, including the drivers.

If anyone thinks this will eventually be beneficial for the drivers they're short-sighted. It's just turning Uber into a Taxi experience.

Re: Uber rolls out in-app tipping

#184

Post by whiddershins »

I am so unhappy about this change. I tip well everywhere it is expected, restaurants, bars, cabs etc. I hate the system but it is factored in to the price and there's nothing I can do about it.

What I loved about Uber when it started was there was no ambiguity. Prices were predictable, as were wait times.

Zero cognitive overhead. No guilt or internal debate.

Over time every little thing I loved about Uber was taken away in the name of lowering prices. Agitation about driver wait times. Wildly fluctuating cost of rides. Wildly varying rider wait times. Drivers canceling undesirable trips.

And now tips.

It's just one little thing, but it's the death of what I valued in their service.

What if instead of all these nitpicking changes, they kept the fares a bit higher and simply paid the drivers a bit more? I guess in their calculus that was unsustainable.

So basically the people who were penny pinching trying to get the cheapest rides drove lower prices so now I will tip (probably too well) and underwrite those same people who will likely also not tip because they will decide it is optional.

Re: Uber rolls out in-app tipping

#186

Post by cooper12 »

awakeasleep wrote: post #164
awqrre wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Won't Uber reduce payments to drivers if most people tip?

Yes, but they were going to reduce those payments anyway.

The difference is, when those cuts happen, they'll just focus their blame and discontent on "those cheapos" who aren't tipping instead of Uber itself. The service industry has already perfected this tactic.

Re: Uber rolls out in-app tipping

#187

Post by oconnore »

losteverything wrote: post #175

Tipping helps people who need it. It is simple. Voluntary. Binary. A $1 or $2 tip may not seem like much, but if it gets saved (which often tip receivers do) it adds up. Like found money. Do uber drivers make a lot? Could $1 $2 $3 help them? It is not about guilt. It's not about service quality. It is not about greater things. It is about helping someone who most likely needs it. You could get on a high horse and mak…

Tipping exists because employers (in this case Uber) don't pay enough. Not tipping once you are already stuck with that system doesn't solve anything, but expanding that system makes things worse.

Re: Uber rolls out in-app tipping

#188

Post by kimsk112 »

always_good wrote: post #150

I used Uber to move across the city recently. Since I don't have much, I just needed a few SUV trips. Each time the Uber driver got out and helped me load up his car, and then he helped me unload. I tipped them with cash except in one case where I just didn't have bills small enough (wasn't thinking). This is nice.

I agree that this is nice. I travel often with big luggages and always appreciate when drivers got out and helped loading in and out of the car. Tipping via the app makes my life easier as I don't need to worry about carrying small bills anymore. But if I have small bills, I will give them cash instead.

Re: Uber rolls out in-app tipping

#189

Post by mercutio2 »

baddox wrote: post #169
mrslave wrote: post #165

I have gleaned - from such authoritative sources as TV - that tipping appears to be a large part of customer service culture in the USA. (Though I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it varies by region. Because the USA is just New York and California, right?) I think this will have a negative effect on the experience of both driver & rider in countries where tipping is unusual, due to the increasing ambiguity of the…

My impression and experience is that it's pretty widespread in the US, although I've heard that the specific per-service expectations vary. I've never been anywhere in the US where tips weren't expected for sit-down restaurant waiters.

Extremely fancy restaurants are moving away from tipping. Everywhere else in the US, tips are expected and depended on by restaurant staff.

In California workers are at least paid minimum wage, ignoring tips, but in most states, restaurant workers are almost entirely dependent on tips to earn a living wage.

It’s a terrible system for a variety of reasons.

Re: Uber rolls out in-app tipping

#190

Post by jffry »

johnnyo wrote: post #176
pfarnsworth wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's still no obligation to tip whatsoever. After your ride, when you next open the app (which could be days later) you are presented with a screen asking you to rate your driver (this already occurs). I think if you give a 5 star, then the option to give a "compliment" is given, which is similar to a badge or a Facebook like. As well, now, a tip button is also presented. You don't have to click on it if you don't…

Doesn't Uber allow drivers to rate passengers as well? Couldn't drivers give low ratings to bad tippers?

I should think Uber wouldn't show the driver the tip amount until after they've given their rating.
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