The issue of tipping and Uber is still a difficult one for me.
One of the most popular posts I’ve ever written on Live and Let’s Fly is 5 Tips for Using Uber at LAX. I wrote it in August 2015 and what made it controversial was this paragraph–
What I love about Uber (and dislike about Lyft) is that you don’t tip drivers — everything is included in the fare and your credit card is charged directly. You see, I hate carrying cash and generally don’t carry anything more than a $20 bill. Feel free to tip, but I think it is bad idea because it undermines the very concept of Uber and perpetuates a culture of tipping in America.
I was “taken to task” for not tipping and a bitter debate played out in the comments section concerning tipping and living wages.
It’s now 1.5 years later. Has anything changed?
First, Uber’s language on tipping has changed. From this in 2015:
To this today:
Uber still explicitly states that tips are not “expected or required”. Still, the language has softened.
Second, I now tip. I figured that if my anti-tipping stance evoked such vehement negative reactions, a few extra dollars would make someone’s day brighter and show that I do care. I still am against tipping by principle, but have given into the culture of tipping.
But stories like this make me second guess my new more liberal tipping policy–
During a recent trip to Colorado Springs, I hailed an Uber to the airport. Colorado Springs is a military city and an off-duty Air Force airman trying to make some money on the side picked me up. We struck up a conversation about life in the Air Force and I reminisced about my brief military service. The trip to the airport flew by and I genuinely enjoyed the conversation (usually I am buried in my laptop or phone).
He shook my hand and said it was a pleasure to drive me. I thanked him and as I exited the vehicle, reached into my pocket, pulled out my wallet, and handed him $5.
You should have seen the look on his face…
It was like a I had betrayed him. His smile turned to a frown and he said, “No,no. Not necessary.” I insisted, stating that he deserved it and I tip all great Uber drives. But he refused to accept it. His friendliness disappeared and he drove away with a glum look on his face.
I was just trying to be nice!
Another time I was in LA and my female driver refused to accept the tip. We were only talking about a couple bucks and we played a game of “hot potato” with the money. I finally left it on the passenger seat. My goodness…
CONCLUSION
Since those recent incidents, I am hesitant to tip again, though for a totally different reason than by principle. I still do, but at least for me it seems like a case of “damned if you do, damned if you don’t”.
What about you? Have you ever had to fight with an Uber driver to get them to accept a tip?
#ThatHappened
I tip if I’m doing UberX/Select. I don’t tip if it’s Uber Black.
I don’t know if tips are expected with the Black cars, to be honest, and I’m not sure what the protocol really is there.
My brother-in-law recently went from doing Uber to gain extra cash to Uber as the only income after a layoff. When asked, he said he always appreciates tips, but doesn’t expect it. Me personally, I agree with your original position that tipping shouldn’t be required and the lack of tipping requirement is one of the things that makes Uber special (I also don’t like carrying cash, and have met too many cab drivers that have tried to force a high tip when using square machines or similar device). However, how hard would it be to add a gratuity link after your trip just like they do for reviews? I could see myself using this feature in order to avoid the pressure of tipping in front of the driver. I’d be likely to tip more often and in higher amounts.
Uber is one of the last bastions of acceptability for non-tipping in the service industry. It would be foolish to permit the bleeding heart crowd to persuade us to destroy this gift. If the drivers don’t feel the pay is good enough, they’ll stop driving. Leave it at that and let the market handle the rest.
I’ve said it once, and I’ll keep saying it until I’m blue in the face. If Uber is going to allow its drivers to solicit tips, they need to allow tipping through the app. If I have to keep cash around, what’s the point of using Uber vs. a taxi or Super Shuttle? Frankly, I’ve gotten tired of trying to figure out which drivers might expect tips and which ones won’t, so I’ve pretty much given up on Uber and switched to Lyft. At least the expectations are clear up front, and it’s still cashless.
I’ve had the same experience– drivers who are offended by the offer of a tip! Then there are some Uber drivers who try to threaten people on the internet into paying something that’s explicitly neither “expected [n]or required.”
I don’t think Uber drivers expect tips, but if I happen to have a couple of singles on me I will usually tip. When I use a NYC ride-sharing service like Via, which on weekdays has a low flat rate in Manhattan even if the trip takes an hour in rush-hour traffic, I always tip. But most passengers don’t tip, which is OK – my only objection is that too many of these passengers don’t even bother to say ‘thank you’ to the driver.
These incidents read like a few Larry David stories.
I think if the driver was / is a licensed cab / limo driver outside Uber, they’ll expect a tip for an airport ride. It’s ingrained in them, and you’ll find those profiles most often on NYC airport rides.
In other cities probably not so much, where drivers are less likely to be former licensed professionals.
Seems as though you’ve gone to the opposite extreme, from no tipping at all to forcing a tip on drivers who don’t want one. If you feel like offering a tip, great! If the driver declines, take no for an answer. If the driver is offended by the very idea, it’s not your fault, but don’t push it!
Better solution: dump Uber. I only use Lyft. They have really expanded in the oast couple of years. They have a screen on the app that asks if you’d like to tip. If not, you don’t. They are usually cheaper for the same trip, and dont do “surge pricing” as much. It’s still cashless…and if you’re traveling for work only the total amount spent comes up on your credit card, so you can expense the whole amount.
The vast majority of drivers will gladly accept your tip.
The vast majority of drivers need the money from Uber driving and have seen compensation fall over and over through the years.
Uber should long ago have added >optional< tipping to the app.
BTW, I hate tipping and wish it went away.
But Uber fares are not "all inclusive" from the perspective of the service provider. Like restaurant staff, they are typically struggling to get by.
What caused you to give in and start tipping? I have not seen a case well laid-out. Perhaps I should read the old post.
Well when last in an UBER car, the “tips welcome” sign on the dash tipped me off so to speak. So I did tip, but UBER needs to make the policy clear and to add a gratuity capability to the app so business users have a clear receipt of expenses.