Uber Driver Sob Stories

I don’t know but I’d like to see one that just facilitated the transaction. Let drivers set their rates. That would allow competition between drivers and would be more of an actual service instead of a pseudo employee contractor relationship.
They do something like this in Austin. Don't remember all the details but the city wouldn't allow uber/lyft to operate without fingerprinting the drivers like they do everywhere else so the companies stopped service. There was some sort of facebook page created that was basically working as a ride facilitator between riders and drivers that eventually got turned into an app called Ride Austin. It's a nonprofit so I believe they pay the drivers more since they're not paying CEOs / shareholders etc.
 
Agreed. I also don’t expect tips every ride. But once I drove a couple 40 miles in a blizzard and they didn’t give one cent of a tip. That kind of stuff pisses me off.

I took a lot of three/four mile rides to and from gamewatches this fall and winter. Didn't want to drive if I drank much and parking is a bear in the Warehouse District west of the tracks. I aways tipped well since it was such a short ride. At least it was to/from dwtn so they were in a good zone for another ride, my digs are halfway between dwtn and the West End complex. The West End probably generates short rides though, just a guess.

Did have a driver text me asking where I was going when he was assigned me from the airport in March. Than he cancelled when I didn't answer. I wasn't interested in him cherry picking rides. The driver who took the ride got a nice tip. He even helped with my bag.
 
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Actually tips do go 100% to driver which is nice. But tips are a bit rare here. If I had to guess on average how many people tip it’s 2-3 out of 10.

Wow. :(

Would not have guessed that low. I don't think I have ever ridden without tipping. To be far, if I was having to ride more maybe I'd tip less but for me it's airport and social nights out on the town rides so to me it's part of the entertainment/travel costs, not a daily have to ride to get to work or the grocery store or something.
 
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I usually like talking to Uber drivers. A lot of times they're immigrants so you can get some good advice on where to eat. My rating is only 4.72, but that is my friends' fault ;)

It's a rare ride when my driver is not an East African or Mideast dude. Do get to hear some interesting music at times. Only bad ride was one to the airport earlier this year, guy was listening (loud) to some East African podcast thingie
 
Wow. :(

Would not have guessed that low. I don't think I have ever ridden without tipping. To be far, if I was having to ride more maybe I'd tip less but for me it's airport and social nights out on the town rides so to me it's part of the entertainment/travel costs, not a daily have to ride to get to work or the grocery store or something.

I mean, it shouldn't be a 'wow' when one of the original selling points made by Uber to riders was the lack of a need to tip
 
My only gripe with uber drivers is really smelly cars.

Also, if I'm paying a premium for peak, like when its raining, the driver should get peak rate cut.

The whole idea is to get extra drivers to the area to handle the extra people. I guess if they find they are getting enough drivers at the low prices they will keep it low but I don't see that happening.
 
I have only used Uber a few times when in Chicago and my rides were all under $10. Didn't tip because I didn't think of it. Also maybe it's just me being a dumb uncultured midwestener but I didn't know that tipping cabbies was a thing until recently.
 
I got a $215 Uber on New Year's 2018 because my... Um... Friend lived in West Des Moines. Can't say I remember much of the ride outside of seeing it on my bank account the next day. To her credit, she gave me $150 after I told her how much it cost.

If this hasn't already been posted, it should've...

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I got a $215 Uber on New Year's 2018 because my... Um... Friend lived in West Des Moines. Can't say I remember much of the ride outside of seeing it on my bank account the next day. To her credit, she gave me $150 after I told her how much it cost.

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If being super passive aggressive was tipping, then people of the Twin Cities would be world class.

I was off my full time job today so I decided to drive Lyft for a few hours. 15 rides. 2 tips. And I am a good driver at least compared to others I've been a rider with. I let riders dictate conversation. Clean car. Bottled water and snacks if they want them. Ask what sort of music they want, if any. This is the norm here.
 
I was off my full time job today so I decided to drive Lyft for a few hours. 15 rides. 2 tips. And I am a good driver at least compared to others I've been a rider with. I let riders dictate conversation. Clean car. Bottled water and snacks if they want them. Ask what sort of music they want, if any. This is the norm here.

So do you rate the non-tippers lower? Is there an easy way to track the repeat customers who do tip? I currently have a 5 star on Uber probably because I always tip at least $5 or more depending on the ride but I’ve never had a bad driver in the Des Moines area. Most of the time I’m going from Ankeny to downtown DM for events or drinks and the drivers are pretty good about only talking if you initiate the conversation. One driver had to stop for gas after picking us up but we weren’t in a huge rush so it wasn’t a big deal.
 

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