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IMHO as a part-time Uber driver, Uber could fix a lot of their current problems by putting tipping into the app. The self-driving car is not here yet, and Uber

IMHO as a part-time Uber driver, Uber could fix a lot of their current problems by putting tipping into the app. The self-driving car is not here yet, and Uber does not do enough for its drivers. If they would just add tipping I think that better drivers in better cars would start driving again. Without the tips, it's just not worth it.

twblalock 10y ago
I don't think a lack of drivers is really a problem for Uber, at least not in major cities. Plenty of people are willing to drive for Uber currently, despite the bad publicity.
rconti 10y ago
Or they could just raise the driver's share slightly, which would have the same impact on drivers, riders, and the company alike... without adding the unnecessary friction/confusion of tipping amounts and customs.
vaishaksuresh 10y ago
No thanks! If drivers need to be compensated better, I would suggest increasing the fare or Uber taking a smaller cut. A lot of people prefer Uber just so they don't have to deal with tipping like in traditional cabs.
- sillysaurus3 10y ago
  Tipping is often the only way for people to make end's meet. It lets people with excess money help out someone who really needs the help. I think most people's view would change if they were in a situation where tipping makes the difference between being able to pay your heating bill.
  - Taylor_OD 10y ago
    If I wanted to help someone out I would give them money. However I'm not getting into a car hoping to hear the story of why this person needs money beyond what I'm already paying for their service.
  - sbov 10y ago
    The entire point is that tipping shouldn't make the difference between being able to pay your heating bill. Tipping, as it exists in the US, is pretty much a dark pattern.
    - Bahamut 10y ago
      Then Uber should raise their rates - as it is, they take a greater cut of the fare than Lyft, charge less than Lyft, and don't offer tipping (which is always optional). This is a worse deal for the drivers overall from what drivers on both Uber and Lyft tell me, which is why I don't understand the tipping argument for when it comes to specifically using Uber or Lyft.
      - deleted 10y ago
        [deleted]
      - mahyarm 10y ago
        From what I've heard from drivers, lyft pays a bit more but pays less in incentives, uber pays less base but pays a bunch through incentives, and they tend to get pings more.
    - sillysaurus3 10y ago
      "Shouldn't" and "doesn't" are worlds apart. I think most people hate tipping because they hate when people ask for tips. But a formal tipping system might reduce the number of Uber drivers who already ask for tips.
      - mikeash 10y ago
        People almost never ask for tips. I think people hate tipling because it severely complicates what should be a simple situation, and makes honest people feel like they're being taken advantage of since assholes can tip less or not at all with no repercussions.
      - sbov 10y ago
        I hate tipping because the rules are arbitrary, random, and unspoken. I have a few friends who work as servers in restaurants: anecdote, but they view anything under 20% of the bill total (including tax) as a "bad tip". This is partially because credit card receipts only include the total, not the tax separated out. So really, anything under around 22% is a bad tip. I tip 22% for full service, 10% for partial. If I go to the bar, I tip 10%, or a dollar/drink if I'm paying cash. If I'm ordering takeaway somewhere, I tip around 5%. I have no idea which of these are reasonable or not, because there is no "tipping class". I have no idea if places I regularly go like to spit in my food because I tip like shit.
- sp332 10y ago
  Uber isn't taking a cut. They're subsidizing fares. https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/uber-true-cost-uh-oh https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/uber-true-cost-uh...
  - valuearb 10y ago
    The 41% number is certainly not true, the real number is likely far higher. The analysis is based on incomplete data.
  - vaishaksuresh 10y ago
    They are subsidizing the passenger's trip, but taking a cut from the driver's fare. There is a difference.
    - sp332 10y ago
      Taking a cut from where? I don't think Uber's costs are 60% and the drivers' are 40%.
      - vaishaksuresh 10y ago
        The article is talking about a different thing. If the trip costs me $10, the driver keeps ~$7 and Uber gets $3. If the driver thinks he needs $9 for this to be viable, then Uber should either take $1 or charge the customer $12 and pay the driver $9 is my point. I don't want the additional $2 to be covered by tips, which is determined by an unspoken rule.
        sp332 10y ago
        But right now Uber is actually subsidizing your ride, so you pay $10, the driver gets $20 and Uber's "cut" is -$10. On top of that Uber does have expenses of their own so Uber loses $15 total. The only way this works over the long term is to force out competition so that they can massively jack up prices, and/or replace drivers with self-driving cars that have lower costs.
- hackuser 10y ago
  > A lot of people prefer Uber just so they don't have to deal with tipping like in traditional cabs. Is their any data to back this up? Outside of Hacker News, I don't think I've ever heard someone complain about tipping. I have no problem with it.
  - Kiro 10y ago
    Ask anyone outside the US. Tipping belongs in the stone age.
Kiro 10y ago
Tipping should be outlawed.
mikeash 10y ago
Why would you want tipping specifically, rather than just a rate and pay increase?
valuearb 10y ago
Tipping is why I won't drive Lyft. Uber is st least honest in that regard, tell me how much the ride costs, don't underquote and expect me to give the driver a bonus for providing the service you agreed to provide.

twblalock 10y ago

I don't think a lack of drivers is really a problem for Uber, at least not in major cities. Plenty of people are willing to drive for Uber currently, despite the bad publicity.

rconti 10y ago

Or they could just raise the driver's share slightly, which would have the same impact on drivers, riders, and the company alike... without adding the unnecessary friction/confusion of tipping amounts and customs.

vaishaksuresh 10y ago

No thanks! If drivers need to be compensated better, I would suggest increasing the fare or Uber taking a smaller cut. A lot of people prefer Uber just so they don't have to deal with tipping like in traditional cabs.

sillysaurus3 10y ago
Tipping is often the only way for people to make end's meet. It lets people with excess money help out someone who really needs the help. I think most people's view would change if they were in a situation where tipping makes the difference between being able to pay your heating bill.
- Taylor_OD 10y ago
  If I wanted to help someone out I would give them money. However I'm not getting into a car hoping to hear the story of why this person needs money beyond what I'm already paying for their service.
- sbov 10y ago
  The entire point is that tipping shouldn't make the difference between being able to pay your heating bill. Tipping, as it exists in the US, is pretty much a dark pattern.
  - Bahamut 10y ago
    Then Uber should raise their rates - as it is, they take a greater cut of the fare than Lyft, charge less than Lyft, and don't offer tipping (which is always optional). This is a worse deal for the drivers overall from what drivers on both Uber and Lyft tell me, which is why I don't understand the tipping argument for when it comes to specifically using Uber or Lyft.
    - deleted 10y ago
      [deleted]
    - mahyarm 10y ago
      From what I've heard from drivers, lyft pays a bit more but pays less in incentives, uber pays less base but pays a bunch through incentives, and they tend to get pings more.
  - sillysaurus3 10y ago
    "Shouldn't" and "doesn't" are worlds apart. I think most people hate tipping because they hate when people ask for tips. But a formal tipping system might reduce the number of Uber drivers who already ask for tips.
    - mikeash 10y ago
      People almost never ask for tips. I think people hate tipling because it severely complicates what should be a simple situation, and makes honest people feel like they're being taken advantage of since assholes can tip less or not at all with no repercussions.
    - sbov 10y ago
      I hate tipping because the rules are arbitrary, random, and unspoken. I have a few friends who work as servers in restaurants: anecdote, but they view anything under 20% of the bill total (including tax) as a "bad tip". This is partially because credit card receipts only include the total, not the tax separated out. So really, anything under around 22% is a bad tip. I tip 22% for full service, 10% for partial. If I go to the bar, I tip 10%, or a dollar/drink if I'm paying cash. If I'm ordering takeaway somewhere, I tip around 5%. I have no idea which of these are reasonable or not, because there is no "tipping class". I have no idea if places I regularly go like to spit in my food because I tip like shit.
sp332 10y ago
Uber isn't taking a cut. They're subsidizing fares. https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/uber-true-cost-uh-oh https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/uber-true-cost-uh...
- valuearb 10y ago
  The 41% number is certainly not true, the real number is likely far higher. The analysis is based on incomplete data.
- vaishaksuresh 10y ago
  They are subsidizing the passenger's trip, but taking a cut from the driver's fare. There is a difference.
  - sp332 10y ago
    Taking a cut from where? I don't think Uber's costs are 60% and the drivers' are 40%.
    - vaishaksuresh 10y ago
      The article is talking about a different thing. If the trip costs me $10, the driver keeps ~$7 and Uber gets $3. If the driver thinks he needs $9 for this to be viable, then Uber should either take $1 or charge the customer $12 and pay the driver $9 is my point. I don't want the additional $2 to be covered by tips, which is determined by an unspoken rule.
      - sp332 10y ago
        But right now Uber is actually subsidizing your ride, so you pay $10, the driver gets $20 and Uber's "cut" is -$10. On top of that Uber does have expenses of their own so Uber loses $15 total. The only way this works over the long term is to force out competition so that they can massively jack up prices, and/or replace drivers with self-driving cars that have lower costs.
hackuser 10y ago
> A lot of people prefer Uber just so they don't have to deal with tipping like in traditional cabs. Is their any data to back this up? Outside of Hacker News, I don't think I've ever heard someone complain about tipping. I have no problem with it.
- Kiro 10y ago
  Ask anyone outside the US. Tipping belongs in the stone age.

Kiro 10y ago

Tipping should be outlawed.

mikeash 10y ago

Why would you want tipping specifically, rather than just a rate and pay increase?

valuearb 10y ago

Tipping is why I won't drive Lyft. Uber is st least honest in that regard, tell me how much the ride costs, don't underquote and expect me to give the driver a bonus for providing the service you agreed to provide.