Quote:
Originally Posted by DC2LV
I know that Uber prohibits driver's from soliciting for tips, but I've never heard anything about Uber not condoning or actively discouraging passengers tipping.
In the beginning years, 2012-up to as late as 2014, they had verbiage in their sign-up process and FAQ's stating that "There's no need to tip, it's all included." to imply to passengers that part of the fare was a tip included to the driver. That is not the case in how drivers are paid. Except for in the early months in NYC, the rate for which drivers were paid has always been a set percentage of the Base Fare + Fee for Mileage. Uber adds on their booking fee and other state/county fees that may apply. Uber went back on the "No Need to Tip" verbiage, saying that the point of Uber was to be a "safe, cash-less transaction". They also said that there would be no plans in the future to add a tipping option in app.
Travis Kalanick, CEO, is well known for being "against tipping". He's made claims that "the nature of tipping is prejudice and that people would always tip less to someone that they may have prejudice toward". Basically, he's a tipping nit. That's extremely weird logic to me to think people at scale would think like that, unless he's projecting much.
Most times, when Uber may be surging, check the rates on Lyft. They have less drivers, but the majority of drivers who do both Uber & Lyft are going to only take the pings from the platform that's surging. Three weeks ago I had a ride on Lyft from McCarran to where I live downtown and it was the regular rates, while Uber was on a 1.5-2x surge from the airport.
