Originally Posted by
pinniped
How exactly is anyone "exploiting" the driver?
No, Uber
never made it appear that a tip was included. Their intent all along was that the model exist entirely without the side-bribes. It was pretty clear to me all along: tip is not included, and supply and demand is regulated by the surge pricing.
So log out. Drive for Lyft or do something else with your time. If enough drivers log out, then Uber will find itself at surge pricing all the time. So much so that they might find it in their interest from a marketing perspective to simply raise the base rates in your market (since apparently a lot of riders don't understand or like surge pricing).
Just not true, Pinniped. Uber, until about two years ago, stated clearly on their website that Tip is Included. Many riders - myself included - assumed that when signing up on the rider app and it asks you to set the tip threshold (for UberTAXI) that it was for all UBER models.
In my market, Uber trashed the drivers rates by 45% in one fell swoop while increasing their commission and booking fee. They have stated that their goal is to maximize
their value: Pay the drivers as little as they are willing to take and charge the rider as much as they are willing to pay.
As a driver, I don't solicit tips. But I must say that posting a sign is hardly "aggressive". Aggressive solicitation is like threatening to keep the doors locked until they cough up a couple bills. Because of the rate cuts and because of the lack of tipping (and because there is no competitor in my market, including Lyft), I drive much less than ever before. I used to leave my app on at home and take that $8 ride to get a guy home from work. But now it's less than $5. Never tipped, but I don't take him home any more. Not worth it. Yeah - $3 aint a big deal in and of itself, but x5 per week, x4 per month, and it's real money.
There is nothing more frustrating than to pick up a nice couple from the airport, open the door for the Mrs., load their bags into my trunk, provide them a safe, courteous, comfortable ride in my smoke free, odor free, mechanically sound car for half the price of a taxi, drop them off at a fancy Marriott, open the car door back up for them, unload their bags, set them on the Bell cart, knowing that the hop will probably get a $5 or $10 bill while they're yelling "Awesome ride! Thanks! 5 Stars for sure!"
It won't be reciprocated.