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Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

angelinatravels.boardingarea.com

71–80 of 670 posts

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#71
post #34

Serious question for those who are pro-tipping...where do you draw the line? How do you choose which products/services are tip-worthy and which aren't?

[US centric viewpoint]

Some people who are pro-tipping are that way because they think the people are worth it. Maybe they have worked in a position that relied on tips. Maybe someone close to them did or does. Maybe they know that a dollar or two actually makes a difference for many people.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#72
post #44
post #34

Serious question for those who are pro-tipping...where do you draw the line? How do you choose which products/services are tip-worthy and which aren't?

I treat tips the same way that sales managers treat commissions. (I wouldn't be surprised if that's the model it came from, actually.) If you pretend to care about me and my company while we eat at your restaurant (or whatever) and do all that you can to make the experience a good one for us, then we will tip you well and we will more than likely come back. 20% is usually my minimum, but I've tipped 50-100% sometimes…

So even when someone treats you like shit (your words) you still give them more than you owe? Why?

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#73

> Then I’ve discovered first-hand that more and more Uber riders are calling ahead to ask for your destination to see if it’s “worth it” to pick you up. When I use Uber the first question it asks is the destination. I assume this is seen by the driver, no? Why would they have to call?

Uber asks for the destination but doesn't share it with the driver until they pick you up.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#74
post #23

Born and raised in northern Europe I find the US tipping culture weird. To me, tips are a bonus for service that goes above and beyond the expected.

Unfortunately it's the nature of the beast when wages are so low. Bartenders are typically paid next to nothing and depend on tips, whereas in Europe they are paid a decent amount and don't need tips to get by. Unfortunately US politics means this won't change any time soon. Evidently it's simpler for every American to carry around spare dollar bills every day than it is to pass meaningful legislation.

If Americans would stop tipping then the current wages would become untenable and the restaurants and bars would lose staff. They would need to increase wages (and prices) accordingly. This is something the American people have the power to change without legislation.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#75
post #53

I drive Uber from time to time. I've only gotten a tip once over ~50 rides. A lot of the time the traffic conditions mean that after costs (I assume $0.40 per mile costs for mileage, gas, maintenance, etc.) my hourly is closer to $8 an hour (because after I drive for a while sometimes I need to drive a long way back as well on my own dime), which is below minimum wage. That's not including having to pick up plastic b…

It sounds like the current rates aren't sustainable and uber needs to charge more.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#76
post #53

I drive Uber from time to time. I've only gotten a tip once over ~50 rides. A lot of the time the traffic conditions mean that after costs (I assume $0.40 per mile costs for mileage, gas, maintenance, etc.) my hourly is closer to $8 an hour (because after I drive for a while sometimes I need to drive a long way back as well on my own dime), which is below minimum wage. That's not including having to pick up plastic b…

Then Uber should be charging more. Sorry about that.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#78
post #53

I drive Uber from time to time. I've only gotten a tip once over ~50 rides. A lot of the time the traffic conditions mean that after costs (I assume $0.40 per mile costs for mileage, gas, maintenance, etc.) my hourly is closer to $8 an hour (because after I drive for a while sometimes I need to drive a long way back as well on my own dime), which is below minimum wage. That's not including having to pick up plastic b…

Maybe you can explain something that I've never understood. I see drivers saying "driving for Uber is terrible and a waste of money". I see them saying "after expenses I'm basically working for free." But they keep doing it. They keep driving for Uber even though they know that they're basically just working for free, in order to make money for Uber. If you take vehicle depreciation into account, you're probably not even breaking even.

Why? Why do that? My guess is that it's easy work to get and it gives you some immediate cash, and so it's more appealing than spending the time hunting for a 'real' job, but I've never heard an Uber driver actually admit that.

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#79

Born and raised in northern Europe I find the US tipping culture weird. To me, tips are a bonus for service that goes above and beyond the expected.

It is indeed weird if not uncomfortable. There's been an interesting move by Danny Meyer and Tom Colochio two well-known and very successful restaurateurs in New York City to abolish tips in favor of a flat service charge to be shared amongst everyone in the restaurant. Danny Meyer talks about the history of tipping in the US in which he claims is rooted in post-Civil War racism and the old Pullman cars. http://www.b…

Why even keep it as a service charge.. just put it into the price

Re: Uber Driver Tip-Hustling Schemes

#80
post #53

I drive Uber from time to time. I've only gotten a tip once over ~50 rides. A lot of the time the traffic conditions mean that after costs (I assume $0.40 per mile costs for mileage, gas, maintenance, etc.) my hourly is closer to $8 an hour (because after I drive for a while sometimes I need to drive a long way back as well on my own dime), which is below minimum wage. That's not including having to pick up plastic b…

> because after I drive for a while sometimes I need to drive a long way back as well on my own dime

It seems like this is something they could help with. Can't they mark your home territory and try to schedule you rides that take you the right direction? If not immediately, maybe after a few rides in that area that don't take you too much farther away? It seems like this should be one of the main points of using Uber or Lyft, smart driver scheduling in areas where there's enough demand..

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