Courage to not Tip Uber and Lyft Rideshare Drivers - Daily Drive 43

I could respect the non-tippers if they told me before I picked them up that they wouldn't tip.

As a professional Uber and Lyft rideshare driver and a kind human, I want to provide the best service possible. I do this hoping to get a tip, and something small too, like $1, would be amazingly appreciated. I'm not asking for much.

However, not every passenger tips. In fact, only about 4 out of 10 of my passengers tip. Of course, I understand that some people can't afford to tip and still need to catch an occasional ride, but most non-tippers often don't have this excuse. Most non-tippers are like freeloaders.

Let me explain.

What do rideshare passengers pay for vs. what is above and beyond and warrants a tip? Passengers pay for the ease of safe, prompt, and reliable transportation, especially if they order the cheapest ride. Anything else, like cleanliness, friendliness, help, courtesy, and basic customer service, is not required.

The thing is, I bust my butt to provide excellent service to every passenger. However, I am blind to who will tip and who won't. I serve all, and all receive. Yet, if you don't tip, I get paid the same as the guy who stinks of cigarettes with a dirty car and refuses to turn down the radio. Tipping is the only way for independent contractor drivers to earn more than their peers for similar trips.

Meanwhile, the Uber and Lyft app will only let us drivers know if we've earned a tip long after the passenger is gone. The driver only knows if we've earned a tip minutes, sometimes even hours, after we've dropped the passenger off and rated them. I'm obligated to rate passengers immediately after they leave the car. Drivers operate blindly, offering the same level of service regardless of whether we will earn a tip, even if the passenger has no intention of tipping.

I have two solutions.

First, the apps should notify the driver immediately when the passenger tips. Currently, the apps only inform us after the passenger leaves, even if the passenger is tipped during the trip. If the passenger asks for a favor and promises a tip, the driver only operates with trust. We need to find a way to know if we got a tip for the favor.

Second, the apps should allow drivers to rate passengers after we know if they are tipped. I would rate passengers less if they didn't tip. It's frustrating to load bags and listen to passengers tell me how much they make, only for them not to tip even $1. My rating of 3 stars or less lets the next driver know. However, I'll give them 5 stars right now because they were nice.

Like it or not, tips are part of our American culture. Uber drivers and other low-income servers depend on tips to increase our income. Passengers should not tip for bad service, but they should alternatively tip if there is good service. A small tip, like $5 on a $50 fare, means little to the passenger. But that $5 means everything to the driver, especially the one trying hard to earn it.