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Comment by linkregister | Hacker News Reader

I used to abhor the in-app tipping option in Lyft. But increasingly I would be asked to tip cash by drivers when I used Uber. My rating started to get lower as the cultural expectation to tip cash took hold.

It turns out the Lyft model, where the driver doesn't know whether or not the rider tipped, is better for the rider. The rider doesn't have to carry cash in order to avoid getting extorted for a 5-star rating.

Tipping culture in restaurants is subsidizing substandard wages for servers. Tipping culture for taxis and the gypsy cab apps (Uber, Didi, Lyft, etc) doesn't have to take hold. Maybe now that the option is in-app, riders will eventually stop using it.

I hope, at least, that the tipping option is confined to U.S. rides. The rest of the world doesn't need to get infected with it.

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I usually avoid making comments like this, but I'm surprised I had to go down so far to find a mention of Uber's existing tip culture. It's far better for passengers for tipping to be app integrated, and thus optional with less pressure from the driver, rather than Uber's prior system which resulted in many drivers effectively begging for cash tips.

Thanks. I didn't realize it until about a week ago. Of course, none of these companies can put this stuff in their press kit: "we do in-app tipping so drivers can finally stop hassling riders about it."

> I usually avoid making comments like this, but I'm surprised I had to go down so far to find a mention of Uber's existing tip culture

This may be because of the markets that HN readers are skewed towards and the fact that they may not have this culture at all. I live in San Francisco, have used Uber for about 5-6 years (since well before UberX), and have probably taken hundreds of rides: I've literally not once ever had a driver ask me for a cash tip, let alone the ridiculous experiences others on this thread are describing of drivers holding your rating hostage until you tip.

It wasn't until 2016 until I was actively asked by drivers for cash tips.

Just wait until you want a ride into Sausalito or Oakland.

Either that or you'll get a text from the driver pretending to be official Uber/Lyft:

    Notice: this driver's area is restricted to [geographical area].
    Cancel this ride and request again or face a $5 cancellation fee.
    --Lyft/Uber dispatch"

This is precisely the reason I switched from Uber to Lyft. I never carry cash, even though I desperately wanted to tip that Uber driver who picked me up at the subway station in the middle of the night and dropped me off at my house 20 miles away. I appreciate this option, even if I don't always use it.

Why never carry any cash? I can see not wanting to carry large amounts but what if your card or cards fails and you are left stranded.

Mainly because it's difficult to obtain. My bank has precious few ATMs. Typically if I really need cash I have to get it out of the old El Banco de CVS/Walgreens/7-Eleven in the form of cash back. All of my pay is directly deposited and so I rarely have the opportunity to interact with cash.

I'm curious, but why didn't you rate your drivers 1 star rating evertime they would break the Uber agreement and try to coherce you into tipping them in cash?

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