3 ms·

The no tipping thing is one of the best things about Uber. I wish we could get rid of tipping everywhere.

by readams 11y ago

dnautics 11y ago
Why? Tipping in the US is particularly bad because the culture is enshrined by the IRS which creates a category of labor which devolves into an exploitative system. It's also usually a one way street which creates a system of entitlement in the customer class. But for Lyft: 1) because tips are in-app, they are tracked and the driver escapes the category (I had to explain this to service employees who were passengers insisting to tip in cash... I usually tip service industry in cash). 2) the entitlement factor is not there because the passenger driver churn is high and it's hard for drivers to remember who tips. Moreover quality ratings are a two way street because since drivers rate passengers, you're incentivise not to be a total entitled dick.
- xur17 11y ago
  I agree with the op - to me one of the benefits of Uber is being able to get out of the car, and just being done - no worrying about paying, or tipping, or anything. Just charge me a price, and don't make me think about it. When I have to tip, I have to figure out what is customary - did I tip too much? Too little?
  - toomuchtodo 11y ago
    Are you okay with the cost of the ride going up to remove the need for tipping? Or are you only okay with not tipping if the ride cost is artificially low?
    - xur17 11y ago
      I'm okay with the cost going up.
  - rdtsc 11y ago
    > to me one of the benefits of Uber is being able to get out of the car, and just being done You can still do that with Lyft. Tipping doesn't involve pulling out a wallet and you can do it in your phone as you rate the driver. I found it nice at least. And only tipped for good service. One driver didn't get a tip, because they seemed distracted and drove around the same block 4 times saying they were confused about the address -- it seemed like a scam at that point. Eventually I told him to stop and just let me get out.
- natrius 11y ago
  I hate tipping culture because as a minority, my actions are likely to feed common cognitive biases about group behavior. Uber is less stressful for me because I can pay the agreed upon price and we'll both be happy. I hope reputation systems end tipping everywhere. They allow people to choose to pay for better service ahead of time.
- shostack 11y ago
  Some people, myself included, just don't like the inherent pressure around tipping. For services where I almost certainly won't see the person ever again in my life, I just want it to be very transactional where I know what I'm paying up front, and there isn't some implied obligation to leave extra. Even at restaurants, I dislike the pressure. Perhaps I'm overly sensitive to it, but it just seems like a very unnecessary stressor. I was absolutely relieved in the UK when I learned that you don't tip at pubs. I'm also not convinced that riders would not be dinged due to not giving tips. That's the kind of information that seems incredibly valuable for drivers to share, and thus use to discriminate with. Tipping via apps has gotten really obnoxious because some companies use it in a very pushy manner. For instance, I had an issue with a restaurant called Buffalo here in Mountain View that makes you order your food at the counter, and then swings the screen around for you to leave a tip upon ordering. Tips should be for excellent service rendered, and they are asking for it before I even get my food. In this case I left zero tip there and just left some cash on the table after. I know I sound like a stingy bastard, but for many people, tipping is just a source of needless anxiety (albeit minor anxiety) that should really be done away with.
rdtsc 11y ago
I don't know, I kind of like the tipping aspect. I've lived in US too long perhaps. It is part of the app checkout, so don't have to pull out your wallet or do anything like. Still just jump out and say 'thank you'.

The no tipping thing is one of the best things about Uber. I wish we could get rid of tipping everywhere.

by readams 11y ago

The no tipping thing is one of the best things about Uber. I wish we could get rid of tipping everywhere.

Why? Tipping in the US is particularly bad because the culture is enshrined by the IRS which creates a category of labor which devolves into an exploitative system. It's also usually a one way street which creates a system of entitlement in the customer class. But for Lyft: 1) because tips are in-app, they are tracked and the driver escapes the category (I had to explain this to service employees who were passengers insisting to tip in cash... I usually tip service industry in cash). 2) the entitlement factor is not there because the passenger driver churn is high and it's hard for drivers to remember who tips. Moreover quality ratings are a two way street because since drivers rate passengers, you're incentivise not to be a total entitled dick.

xur17 11y ago
I agree with the op - to me one of the benefits of Uber is being able to get out of the car, and just being done - no worrying about paying, or tipping, or anything. Just charge me a price, and don't make me think about it. When I have to tip, I have to figure out what is customary - did I tip too much? Too little?
- toomuchtodo 11y ago
  Are you okay with the cost of the ride going up to remove the need for tipping? Or are you only okay with not tipping if the ride cost is artificially low?
  - xur17 11y ago
    I'm okay with the cost going up.
- rdtsc 11y ago
  > to me one of the benefits of Uber is being able to get out of the car, and just being done You can still do that with Lyft. Tipping doesn't involve pulling out a wallet and you can do it in your phone as you rate the driver. I found it nice at least. And only tipped for good service. One driver didn't get a tip, because they seemed distracted and drove around the same block 4 times saying they were confused about the address -- it seemed like a scam at that point. Eventually I told him to stop and just let me get out.
natrius 11y ago
I hate tipping culture because as a minority, my actions are likely to feed common cognitive biases about group behavior. Uber is less stressful for me because I can pay the agreed upon price and we'll both be happy. I hope reputation systems end tipping everywhere. They allow people to choose to pay for better service ahead of time.
shostack 11y ago
Some people, myself included, just don't like the inherent pressure around tipping. For services where I almost certainly won't see the person ever again in my life, I just want it to be very transactional where I know what I'm paying up front, and there isn't some implied obligation to leave extra. Even at restaurants, I dislike the pressure. Perhaps I'm overly sensitive to it, but it just seems like a very unnecessary stressor. I was absolutely relieved in the UK when I learned that you don't tip at pubs. I'm also not convinced that riders would not be dinged due to not giving tips. That's the kind of information that seems incredibly valuable for drivers to share, and thus use to discriminate with. Tipping via apps has gotten really obnoxious because some companies use it in a very pushy manner. For instance, I had an issue with a restaurant called Buffalo here in Mountain View that makes you order your food at the counter, and then swings the screen around for you to leave a tip upon ordering. Tips should be for excellent service rendered, and they are asking for it before I even get my food. In this case I left zero tip there and just left some cash on the table after. I know I sound like a stingy bastard, but for many people, tipping is just a source of needless anxiety (albeit minor anxiety) that should really be done away with.

rdtsc 11y ago

I don't know, I kind of like the tipping aspect. I've lived in US too long perhaps. It is part of the app checkout, so don't have to pull out your wallet or do anything like. Still just jump out and say 'thank you'.