Live data from Hacker News

Uber rolls out in-app tipping

washingtonpost.com

281–290 of 376 posts

Re: Uber rolls out in-app tipping

#281
post #238

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure how to feel about it too. While I will be tipping (when actually using Uber), after I initially wondered why Uber didn't allow tips I concluded that the drivers could become unfriendly about it. They are not yet aggressive about ratings here (South Africa), but I've heard horror stories from the US. I agree completely. Not only woulld this all go away if they are paid better, but they would likely be mor…

My rule of thumb with Lyft is that if the driver mentions giving them a good rating or tip, they get no tip. Directly asking for a tip (and thereby creating a guilt-ridden obligation) violates the implied social contract around tipping. (Think about other services where a tip is expected: it is rare for anyone to verbally mention a tip.) When I used to use Uber, my policy was that if a driver asked for a tip, I would…

Lol what are you a robot?

Re: Uber rolls out in-app tipping

#283
post #238

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure how to feel about it too. While I will be tipping (when actually using Uber), after I initially wondered why Uber didn't allow tips I concluded that the drivers could become unfriendly about it. They are not yet aggressive about ratings here (South Africa), but I've heard horror stories from the US. I agree completely. Not only woulld this all go away if they are paid better, but they would likely be mor…

My rule of thumb with Lyft is that if the driver mentions giving them a good rating or tip, they get no tip. Directly asking for a tip (and thereby creating a guilt-ridden obligation) violates the implied social contract around tipping. (Think about other services where a tip is expected: it is rare for anyone to verbally mention a tip.) When I used to use Uber, my policy was that if a driver asked for a tip, I would…

Tip jars are never tasteful, putting a tip jar out is equivalent to panhandling, IMO. A business is a place for business transactions, not begging.

Re: Uber rolls out in-app tipping

#284
post #195

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 a…

I don't think raising the fares would have any impact in the drivers' desire to have a tip option. Tips are free money and widely acceptable in the US, so who wouldn't want that. Since Uber lost a recent lawsuit wrt tipping, I've been on multiple rides where the driver has a tip jar. So I much prefer the in-app tipping compared to having a physical tip jar in the car.

>Tips are free money and widely acceptable in the US, so who wouldn't want that.

Tips are not "free money," they drive down salary thus they move compensation from the employer's responsibility to the responsibility of the customer. The more tips you get the less you get paid.

Re: Uber rolls out in-app tipping

#285
Cute little narrative you got going there but I don't see any evidence from the article to support it.

Since tipping is not actually "politically correct," it's racist, sexist, and classist (1), it's a big lose for the advocates you blame.

It seemed they were under pressure from regulators, not social justice activates. I think this is the money quote

>Conigliaro said the guild forced the introduction of tipping by putting pressure on regulators. New York’s Taxi and Limousine Commission is weighing a proposal that would require in-app tipping, and is expected to hear reaction from riders and drivers at a public hearing on July 13.

They also introduced some sort of surcharge for teens as part of this change, so you believe thats also the fault of "social justice" too?

(1) https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/02/18/i-dar...

http://scholarship.sha.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?artic...

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/minimum-wage-activists-cal...

Re: Uber rolls out in-app tipping

#287

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 a…

+1

And Uber is... gone (from my phone). I hate tipping with a passion and despite Uber's questionable practices I was prepared to use it instead of Lyft based solely on tipping.

So now I, as a user, have to concern myself with issues like: is the driver actually getting the tip? Or is Uber taking a cut? Does this mean Uber is paying the driver less because they can now get a tip?

I don't want to have to concern myself with issues like this. I really don't.

Re: Uber rolls out in-app tipping

#288

Is there a non-washingtongpost link? The fact they block their entire site if you use an ad-blocker is ridiculous and makes me want to have an alternate source every time.

I don't think they do? I use ABP and the only time I can't view their site is when I've used up my 10 free articles for the month.

Re: Uber rolls out in-app tipping

#289
post #287

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 a…

+1 And Uber is... gone (from my phone). I hate tipping with a passion and despite Uber's questionable practices I was prepared to use it instead of Lyft based solely on tipping. So now I, as a user, have to concern myself with issues like: is the driver actually getting the tip? Or is Uber taking a cut? Does this mean Uber is paying the driver less because they can now get a tip? I don't want to have to concern mysel…

Yeah this is stupid. I'm not sure what I'm tipppng for anyway,"good driving" a "clean car"? These are the comments I can see being assigned to tips. Can I just, please, have a fixed priced service without frills to get me to and from places. It's not an experience I care enough about to optimize the time with my service operator, by bribing them to treat me better than others.

I'm glad it's summer, less taxis and more biking!

Re: Uber rolls out in-app tipping

#290
post #2

Why not just raise the prices a bit again? Now I'm worried I'll get down-starred for not tipping on Uber, which is just kind of annoying. I feel like not requiring a tip is Uber's biggest differentiator

What makes you think your lack of tip doesn't impact your rating now? The few Uber drivers I know expect a tip.

I have never left a tip with an Uber driver, I've taken around 30 rides, 5 star rating.
Post reply on HN