How much to tip came up on my twitter feed. My question is "why tip?" The drivers are supposedly independent contractors.

I don't think it is necessary to tip the business owner. I wouldn't tip the salon owner. If he/she sets the price of the service, it should be set where a profit is made. Same with a small restaurant where the owner is waiting tables.

Any feedback?

Those drivers don't make squat, so if you had a good ride in a clean car, sure, tip 15 - 20%.

Even after tipping my Uber rides have been cheaper than an equivalent taxi. I don't mind throwing an extra 2-5 bucks at them.

My last three Uber rides have been par. I decided to go back to cabs or a driver. The drivers are racking up miles for little money.

I tip but it has to be worthwhile for 20%.

Every rider has an Uber rating from the drivers. Not tipping is the biggest reason for getting a lower rating.

Drivers decide to pick up who they want based on their own availability and rider rating. If things are busy, you may not get picked up or you may only get drivers who also have low ratings.

Throwing an extra buck or three is almost always well worth it to me.

They don't own Uber or set the price. To me, it's definitely an opportunity to tip for good service.

I support tipping the drivers and do so every time I take one but the tipping culture here has gotten absurd.

Thanks for the input. I have only used Uber one time. The price was a few bucks cheaper than a cab ride and was about equivalent. The driver talked incessantly about how terrible the traffic was in NYC and how he couldn't make enough money as a cab driver. So he was creating more traffic by Ubering.

As I now understand it, they are just cabs using their own vehicle instead of independent businesses. I will tip now the I understand it a little better.

BylrFan said:

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I support tipping the drivers and do so every time I take one but the tipping culture here has gotten absurd.

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so agree with this

I think tipping should not be the norm for anything - rare occasions, exemplary service

Edmond Bear said:

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Every rider has an Uber rating from the drivers. Not tipping is the biggest reason for getting a lower rating.

Drivers decide to pick up who they want based on their own availability and rider rating. If things are busy, you may not get picked up or you may only get drivers who also have low ratings.

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This is true but I don't like this concept. Some rides aren't deserving of a tip and if they ding you for it you have to go fight the system. At this point it seems like extortion instead of a tip. I tip because I can and I want to, I shouldn't HAVE to tip to insure I can get a ride next time.

Keyser Soze said:

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BylrFan said:

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I support tipping the drivers and do so every time I take one but the tipping culture here has gotten absurd.

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so agree with this

I think tipping should not be the norm for anything - rare occasions, exemplary service

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Anything? That's just not how it is. You valet your car at the hotel you throw the guy $5, you give the bartender 4-5 per round, waiters get tips. I tip my Chinese delivery guy a few bucks. My wife tips her hair ladies big bucks

Now, I don't tip for counter service unless I'm asking for something special.

A comment on how things should be not how they are.


FWIW - yes tip the Uber driver. Tip even when things are not great, life is not great - they still need to make a living.

You're in for a culture shock once you visit another country doing these things.

Ha! Yeah definitely different in Aus for sure

Keyser Soze said:

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A comment on how things should be not how they are.


FWIW - yes tip the Uber driver. Tip even when things are not great, life is not great - they still need to make a living.

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Yes, I misread your post

I am actually an uber driver. As a college student it's an easy way to make an extra couple of bucks. I get tipped about every %20 percent of my rides because college students and young adults simply do not tip.

How the app works for the uber driver is that the driver must rate the passenger immediately after the ride, you can not wait to see if they tip or not.

Also a side note, uber drivers get paid almost nothing for amount of time that is spent driving, it's all about distance. Additionally, if the rider pays a $6.40 fair then driver would receive 3.15.

Finally I would recommend tipping Uber drivers if they provide service, if the Uber driver doesn't say a word then he is expecting not to be tipped.

When I have used Uber I have had a lot of short rides so feel compelled to tip