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Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

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Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#181

Post by dnautics »

diminoten wrote: post #150
brandonbloom wrote: post #133

I'm only a little surprised that nobody has suggested this, but: If the driver does something shady, just get out of the car. Immediately. Don't even give them the opportunity to apologize for it. I've had drivers call ahead to ask where I'm going. I just hang up on them, cancel the ride, then order another ride. While I'm in the car with a new driver, I report the incident using the in-app system and, on many occasi…

The problem here is your cancel reflects poorly on you in Uber's rating system. But otherwise you're absolutely right. I have taken rides from two people who've called, asking for my destination, and I refuse to tell them. It hasn't caused me any problems in those two instances.

If you have a really shady experience. You report it directly to Uber. Let them know that you think the driver may have adversely rated you, and I feel like customer service will roll it back if it's that important to you. but to be honest, an single experience will get averaged out in the wash.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#182

Post by Cofike »

I usually use Lyft and so the option to tip is there so this doesn't seem to be affecting that service yet. I honestly haven't used Uber in a while since the app never seems to work but if I got propositioned for tips with Lyft/Uber I'd definitely be hesitant to keep using that service going forward.

I really, really hope they nip this in the bud.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#183

Post by brandonbloom »

diminoten wrote: post #150
brandonbloom wrote: post #133

I'm only a little surprised that nobody has suggested this, but: If the driver does something shady, just get out of the car. Immediately. Don't even give them the opportunity to apologize for it. I've had drivers call ahead to ask where I'm going. I just hang up on them, cancel the ride, then order another ride. While I'm in the car with a new driver, I report the incident using the in-app system and, on many occasi…

The problem here is your cancel reflects poorly on you in Uber's rating system. But otherwise you're absolutely right. I have taken rides from two people who've called, asking for my destination, and I refuse to tell them. It hasn't caused me any problems in those two instances.

> your cancel reflects poorly on you in Uber's rating system

This is simply not true. I just checked: My rating is 4.73. I've probably taken a few hundred rides with Uber. I assume they adjust ratings for bad experiences, especially if you're a regular rider.

By the way: It's not that hard to get consistent 5 stars as a passenger. Be respectful of the driver and follow these steps: 1) Say something like "Hi, are you looking for Brandon? That's me. Good evening. How's it going?" 2) Suffer less than 20 seconds of smalltalk 3) Go about playing with your phone or talking with your co-passengers quietly. 4) Say "This is my stop right there by the red car on the right. Thanks a lot, you have a good night!" - If you're an extrovert, you'd do this anyway (assuming you're not an asshole) and if you're an introvert, it's a good opportunity to exercise your smalltalk with low stakes.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#184

Post by whathappenedto »

blhack wrote: post #165
SilasX wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't forget that you're implicitly paying a premium to compensate for the unpredictability/lumpiness/[1] of the tips! [1] as well as "the presence of people who deliberately flout the expectations" and whose non-payment must be made up, in expectation, by more honest customers.

So essentially subsidizing the profit of the employer and subsidizing the cost of the goods that people who aren't adhering to the implied price structure are paying (non-tippers)! I wonder how this came about? Like was this something a clever businessperson invented at some point? It sounds like the US is the only place with a tipping culture like ours.

One other side effect which is generally not discussed because it's contentious, is that a number of people who receive tips will underreport their tips. Especially those who receive cash tips. So the state and federal governments are partially subsidizing their wages too.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#185

Post by miguelmejia »

dnautics wrote: post #174
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.

If you're tipping the drivers off-app, then uber sees 0% of it as a cut, versus 30% or whatever crazy percentage it's become. So it's exactly anti-welfare for Uber. Are you complaining that other passengers are changing the expectation of what the drivers should be paid (and doing so out of their own wallet?)

> So it's exactly anti-welfare for Uber.

Not quite. By "welfare for Uber", they meant the burden of compensating the driver shifts from Uber to the passenger themselves, rather than on Uber to the driver a "fair cut" (whatever that may be).

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#186

Post by prostoalex »

dnautics wrote: post #174
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.

If you're tipping the drivers off-app, then uber sees 0% of it as a cut, versus 30% or whatever crazy percentage it's become. So it's exactly anti-welfare for Uber. Are you complaining that other passengers are changing the expectation of what the drivers should be paid (and doing so out of their own wallet?)

Lyft is the only major ridesharing app allowing in-app tipping, so they get to set the industry standard here, and in-app tipping is cut-free according to Lyft

https://help.lyft.com/hc/en-us/articles/213815618-Lyft-Commi...

"Lyft takes no commission from tips, which passengers can add easily through the app. That's right — drivers always keep 100% of tips, whether it's a buck or a Benjamin."

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#187

Post by ClassyJacket »

walru wrote: post #96
ryandvm wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 p…

Do you believe that in Australia and Europe, restaurants and taxis are non functional because they don't have tipping?

I've eaten out hundreds of times in my life, never left a tip, and never thought I needed an incentive system directly between me and the waiter. Same with taxis.

There are only so many ways to screw up bringing food to a table. I've never once though "wow that waiter really brought my plate to me badly".

Why not apply your logic to everything? Why not change hairdressing to a tip system? Why not surgery? Why not painting and building? You'll get better service, right?

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#189

Post by fletchowns »

mikepurvis wrote: post #101
djsumdog wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I really hate tipping culture in America. In Germany, servers are surprised if you give them anything more thana euro. I have friends who visit from non tipping cultures who ask "Why isn't it just included in the price!" I agree with the author. Tipping is out of hand. Charge more for food, clearly state it on the menu/check, remove the tip black on the receipt and pay people a decent wage!

I don't mind tipping in principle, but I really hate the payment terminals that are preconfigured with outrageous options, so it prompts you to pick 20%, 25%, 30%, "other", so you feel like a total sleaze giving a normal 10-15% tip. It's the worst when I'm picking up takeout from a restaurant that also has tables. Like, am I supposed to tip in this scenario? Do I have to go into "other" to tip less than 20% for being…

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

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#190

Post by ClassyJacket »

zedadex wrote: post #172
techsupporter wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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. I don't mean to sound flippant but, have you ever been to Europe? I've traveled to Germany, Ireland, Finland, and Iceland multiple times. None of those countries has a tipping culture and the service I receive, even at your basic fast fo…

Possibly a cultural affect though? His statement could be true for the american context. In a capitalism steeped melting pot, it does seem like things that might be more commonly 'seen'/appreciated in other cultures - pride in one's work, common standards of politeness, sense of serving/interacting with 'your community' rather than just 'anonymous strangers from other communities' - that could be non-financial motiva…

I don't buy this old "It works everywhere else but magically won't work in America" excuse.

I've seen you guys use this one for healthcare, too.

I assure you that Australia and Europe are also capitalism-steeped melting ppls.

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