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Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

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Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#301

Post by [deleted] »

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…

[deleted]

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#302

Post by xyzzy_plugh »

iopq wrote: post #93
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.

> 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

In cities where Lyft operates, which is not many, in my experience.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#303

Post by kelnos »

mirkules wrote: post #297
URSpider94 wrote: post #258

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's completely logical. If you value a silent car ride, or more significantly, if you value not being asked for money by someone who has you trapped in the back seat of their car and whom you are trusting to get you to your destination, then you would pay more up front for a ride free of hustle for a tip.

Is the back seat the de facto protocol? I always sat in the front. It somehow feels more friendly and personal. But in a taxi, I'll usually sit in the back.

Lyft started out with sitting in the front as the standard protocol (which is no longer the case), but AFAIK UberX has always been back-seat & taxi-like.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#304

Post by r00fus »

kbenson wrote: post #95
Thriptic wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Perhaps a "likes" system +1 or +0 would be better? It's a simpler question, and if you apply some basic curving to the likes, you get a more decent score.

Then again, everyone wants that "I ordered 4.9 star out of 5 item on Amazon" reassurance...

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#306

Post by ukd1 »

blahedo wrote: post #283
iLoch wrote: post #207

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There is universal agreement about tipping at restaurants. Tips of 15% (or 20%?) are definitely customary, expected, priced-in. People who don't leave tips after experiencing decent service are definitely not paying their fair share. Is this a joke? Not only is it not universal, it's not even customary. The agreement you have with the restaurant is this: you sit down, are served, eat food, and pay. Baseline service…

> it's not even customary This is thoroughly false. It is so customary in the US that it has been baked into the minimum wage laws: in general, the federal minimum wage is $7.25, but for waitstaff and some other "tipped" jobs, the minimum wage is less than a third of that, at $2.13. The whole system is completely appalling, but that doesn't change the fact that in a lot of places the waitstaff is effectively subcontr…

you're only right in the US centric view of things; it's totally abnormal else where.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#307

Post by ukd1 »

bitwize wrote: post #230
tlrobinson wrote: post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where are you located? 15% for average service is definitely customary at sit-down restaurants in the United States.

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.

25% is crazy.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#309

Post by monksy »

vmarsy wrote: post #215
madeofpalk wrote: post #209

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, this is the problem when an establishment bucks the local trend and becomes a "no-tip restaurant" exception. Go to a country where hospitality staff are paid a 'fair' amount and customers aren't expected to tip and this problem goes away.

Indeed this problem goes away. A new one pops up though: mediocre service, such as having to ask many times for refilling the tap water bottle or get condiments, and struggling to get the waiter's attention in general.

I have not seen this in most of Europe. I've seen more than enough times in the US. When I get service where the person just disappears for a long time and never pays attention to the table. I will refuse to tip and write the issue on the check.
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