6 ms·

Allowing tipping is why I don't use Lyft.

buu700 10y ago
Exactly this, to be honest. I use Lyft whenever Uber is too far away, but always prefer Uber given the choice primarily for this reason. (That, and Uber has a superior airport pickup UI, last I checked.) It's not about money; it's just a UX thing. I don't like having to remember to go back into the app after the fact to pay more to not look like a jerk. I'd rather Lyft just raise their rates by 15% and kill the option to tip, or at least give me an opt-in setting to auto-tip (and factor the auto-tip into fare estimates).
- st3v3r 10y ago
  "I don't like having to remember to go back into the app after the fact to pay more to not look like a jerk" But you don't. The driver doesn't see that you tipped or not.
ethanbond 10y ago
As opposed to saying drivers are already getting tipped despite the fact that there's no percentage of the fare that's set aside and preserved from Uber's cut ie they're not being tipped?
- neeleshs 10y ago
  I am against tipping as a practice in general. Tipping or not tipping results in preferential treatment, subtle attitude changes, depending on the amount tipped and so on. It's more about the social discomfort I have around tipping, rather than the money itself.
  - ethanbond 10y ago
    That's why you tip at the end?
    - neeleshs 10y ago
      Does not work with repeat visits. May not be a big issue for Lyft, but it is for frequently visited restaurants and other places.
      - ethanbond 10y ago
        Okay well obviously that's the case. That's the bargaining chip that you have available. The expectation is that you get good service and pay for it in the amount of roughly 15-20% of your actual bill of sale. If you do not get good service, the bargaining chip available to you is to tip less and stop coming in. If you do get good service and you choose to tip less then you're the one not holding up your side of the bargain. The bargaining chip available to them is to give you worse service so you stop coming in. Tipping is not a good solution, but you honestly just sound like a cheapskate. Obviously there are repercussions for not abiding by standard transaction practice.
        eru 10y ago
        Customer service in restaurants seems pretty good in Australia, and there's universally no tipping here.
        ethanbond 10y ago
        Which is obviously not at all relevant to the topic at hand. I don't think tipping should exist as a whole. However, it does exist in the US. Therefore, if you attempt to opt out, i.e. be a cheapskate, then expect there to be repercussions.
        eru 10y ago
        And that's why you should frequent business who forbid tipping in the first place, so you don't have to opt out after the transaction.
        10y ago
morgante 10y ago
Exactly. Of course drivers like Lyft. Lyft extorts tips from users and hence drivers get more money. It's also precisely why Lyft will never win: tipping is customer hostile. I don't want to tip and will never use Lyft if Uber is an option.
- toomuchtodo 10y ago
  Will you be fine with higher Uber costs when drivers defect to the platform where they can earn more through base + tips?
  - morgante 10y ago
    Yes. It's not about the money. If supply & demand intersect at a price which is even 20% higher than it currently is, that would be fine by me. What I hate is the mental gymnastics of tipping, the lengths which Lyft drivers go to to extort tips from you, and the clear potential for discrimination which a tipping culture creates.
    - tamana 10y ago
      What lengths do they go to?
      - morgante 10y ago
        I haven't used Lyft much, but the times I have drivers have pointedly recommended how much of a tip to give and even handed me a card with suggested tip percentages on it. A lot of them parrot the Lyft line that "tipping is always optional and always appreciated."

Exactly this, to be honest. I use Lyft whenever Uber is too far away, but always prefer Uber given the choice primarily for this reason. (That, and Uber has a superior airport pickup UI, last I checked.) It's not about money; it's just a UX thing. I don't like having to remember to go back into the app after the fact to pay more to not look like a jerk. I'd rather Lyft just raise their rates by 15% and kill the option to tip, or at least give me an opt-in setting to auto-tip (and factor the auto-tip into fare estimates).

st3v3r 10y ago
"I don't like having to remember to go back into the app after the fact to pay more to not look like a jerk" But you don't. The driver doesn't see that you tipped or not.

ethanbond 10y ago

As opposed to saying drivers are already getting tipped despite the fact that there's no percentage of the fare that's set aside and preserved from Uber's cut ie they're not being tipped?

neeleshs 10y ago
I am against tipping as a practice in general. Tipping or not tipping results in preferential treatment, subtle attitude changes, depending on the amount tipped and so on. It's more about the social discomfort I have around tipping, rather than the money itself.
- ethanbond 10y ago
  That's why you tip at the end?
  - neeleshs 10y ago
    Does not work with repeat visits. May not be a big issue for Lyft, but it is for frequently visited restaurants and other places.
    - ethanbond 10y ago
      Okay well obviously that's the case. That's the bargaining chip that you have available. The expectation is that you get good service and pay for it in the amount of roughly 15-20% of your actual bill of sale. If you do not get good service, the bargaining chip available to you is to tip less and stop coming in. If you do get good service and you choose to tip less then you're the one not holding up your side of the bargain. The bargaining chip available to them is to give you worse service so you stop coming in. Tipping is not a good solution, but you honestly just sound like a cheapskate. Obviously there are repercussions for not abiding by standard transaction practice.
      - eru 10y ago
        Customer service in restaurants seems pretty good in Australia, and there's universally no tipping here.
        ethanbond 10y ago
        Which is obviously not at all relevant to the topic at hand. I don't think tipping should exist as a whole. However, it does exist in the US. Therefore, if you attempt to opt out, i.e. be a cheapskate, then expect there to be repercussions.
        eru 10y ago
        And that's why you should frequent business who forbid tipping in the first place, so you don't have to opt out after the transaction.
        10y ago

morgante 10y ago

Exactly. Of course drivers like Lyft. Lyft extorts tips from users and hence drivers get more money. It's also precisely why Lyft will never win: tipping is customer hostile. I don't want to tip and will never use Lyft if Uber is an option.

toomuchtodo 10y ago
Will you be fine with higher Uber costs when drivers defect to the platform where they can earn more through base + tips?
- morgante 10y ago
  Yes. It's not about the money. If supply & demand intersect at a price which is even 20% higher than it currently is, that would be fine by me. What I hate is the mental gymnastics of tipping, the lengths which Lyft drivers go to to extort tips from you, and the clear potential for discrimination which a tipping culture creates.
  - tamana 10y ago
    What lengths do they go to?
    - morgante 10y ago
      I haven't used Lyft much, but the times I have drivers have pointedly recommended how much of a tip to give and even handed me a card with suggested tip percentages on it. A lot of them parrot the Lyft line that "tipping is always optional and always appreciated."