Lyft has a good solution for this, in that they prompt you to give a tip through the app at the end of the ride. More and more they're seeming like the (at least marginally) more ethical and sane ride-sharing app.
Then some assholes sued and now Uber drivers are allowed to ask for tips. Nice job breaking it, hero.
Removing the on-the-spot pressure of tipping and the immediate human response makes it feel like a very different experience. It makes me feel truly generous when I do tip, but I also know that my personal rating does not depend on that decision in any way.
I used to rarely use Uber (more outside bay area) though I did have Uber installed on my phone. But I uninstalled Uber a few weeks ago as I was feeling more and more uncomfortable with Uber's corporate behavior and their CEO's personal and political reputation. This was even before the latest spate of allegations of sexual harassment and other bad publicity. I don't think I'll ever install Uber app again... the tipping policy being just one of the many reasons for that decision.
http://jayporter.com/dispatches/observations-from-a-tipless-...
Don't pay much mind, it's the HN hive mind trying to rationalize sympathy for underpaid drivers against the libertarian-ish notion that everyone is in a job like a full stack software engineer who can just walk off the job at will.
Would you be OK to have a shitty salary but the possibility to get a tip, for which you don't know the criteria and cannot participate in the negotiation?
the only country i've visited that has tipping is the us. outside the us, people get paid fair salaries and tipping is done when the service is outstanding.
err, tipping isn't mandatory. "The assholes" you are talking about are not employed by Uber therefore should be allowed to ask for tips if they want. Remember, Uber "is just an app", or so they say... "The assholes" want to make hands meet, just like you. You might not care about their point of view or their interests but nobody's going to be driving you at loss or with ridiculous margins for much longer. So there is no need to insult people who fight for their rights.
Rich and powerful people use the law to their advantage all the time when they don't blatantly violate it like Uber. I didn't see you complain about that, nor call them "assholes".
And why was Uber's practice unlawful? The "free market" of contractors Uber relies on to drive down costs also allows drivers freedom of speech to ask for tips. Uber can either have an open driver market or they can limit their drivers' speech — they can't do both.
At my local farmer's market vendors are neither contractors nor employees. Vendors rent space and enter into a normal commercial contract, the rules for which are very different.
"it's a bit silly to hold the position that Uber can't regulate the service in any way"
I'm sorry I'm having trouble seeing your argument here through the huge straw man.