Uber in June announced plans for a "180 Days of Change" initiative that added a new long-desired tipping feature for drivers.
Tipping was initially limited to Seattle, Minneapolis, and Houston, but Uber said tips would be available to all U.S. drivers by the end of July, and the company is making good on that promise.
Starting today, tipping is rolling out in 121 cities across North America, including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and several cities in Canada. TechCrunch has a full list of all of the areas where tipping is now available.
The tipping feature will continue to expand to additional cities throughout the month of July, and Uber says it is still planning to have the feature available to all U.S. drivers by the end of the month.
Tips are optional for Uber riders, and the tipping screen will show up after a driver has been rated following the conclusion of a ride. Passengers have up to 30 days after a ride to provide a tip, and there are three custom preset tipping amounts ($1, $2, and $5) along with an option for a custom tip total.
Uber long resisted tipping even as competitors like Lyft implemented tips for drivers, with the excuse that it kept the service hassle-free. Uber is now aiming to bolster its public image and improve working conditions for drivers through the addition of tipping and other "180 Days of Change" features, such as a per minute waiting fee for riders, a shorter cancellation window, and a new Driver Injury Protection insurance option.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)I pay Uber for a service, and they pay the drivers... there is NO WAY I'm gonna give out extra shekels to the driver. The only tip ill give the driver is to get a better job.
Possibly the cheapest, most pompous low-ball comment I've ever read here. A few bucks to a driver who signed up to provide you a service as a second income or side job who may appreciate a tip? The stark nerve. Really? Karma.
Do you tip your grocery store cashier, mechanic, mail carrier, pilot and doctor too? Because they are all performing services for you.I have no issue tipping someone who performs a service for me.
I tip where it is expected, such as at a restaurant or when having food delivered because I'm not a prick. But the point is, I shouldn't have to. All that should go away and be replaced by their employers paying a decent wage. Instead, now we are expanding tipping to services that didn't used to have them.
Do you tip your grocery store cashier, mechanic, mail carrier, pilot and doctor too? Because they are all performing services for you.
You're using UBER which means you're opting for the cheapest service option. If you believe employers should pay a decent wage, you shouldn't be using UBER. You can't have both.I tip where it is expected, such as at a restaurant or when having food delivered because I'm not a prick. But the point is, I shouldn't have to. All that should go away and be replaced by their employers paying a decent wage. Instead, now we are expanding tipping to services that didn't used to have them.
I pay Uber for a service, and they pay the drivers... there is NO WAY I'm gonna give out extra shekels to the driver. The only tip ill give the driver is to get a better job.
I have an idea.. how about you drive for uber for one weekend and see how you feel about being tipped? And what shame is there is working as a driver? For some people it is called "paying your bills", not everyone is as privileged as I can only assume you are.