I've prided myself on being a good pick up for Uber. After I use the app and request a cab, I'm vigilant to track the car movement on line so I'll be ready when they arrive. I stand in a well lit place and watch as they pull in, raising my hand so they know it's me.
I'm always respectful in their car. I realize it is their own personally owned vehicle and I treat it as if it is my own. Even better than my own, before I put in any luggage. I always ask where they would like me to put it in their car. I don't want them to be upset by bringing it into the backseat if there's any dirt on my luggage or anything.
I don't engage in conversation unless they initiate as I'm unsure what kind of day they had. I don't want to be loquacious if they want quiet. But I am always willing to engage if they initiate.
Even for Uber deliveries I'm courteous. I'm outside the building to pick up the food from their vehicles so they don't even need to exit. Time is money for them, I know. I also tip an appropriate amount, giving extra if they have to wait at the food establishment.
I'm a pretty good customer for Uber drivers and my Uber rating of 4.97 proved it. The rating matters because of its too low, drivers will not accept your app call.
Well, I noticed a significant drop in my rating, for me anyway. In a couple weeks time it dropped to a 4.91. Still a very good rating, and I'm not complaining, but why? I hadn't even taken an Uber ride in those two weeks. Had a former driver just gotten around to rate me and ding me because he confused me with another?
It bothered me for a few moments. Then I remembered I did use the Uber app twice those two weeks. But it was for pick up of food with no driver involved. Because two of my credit cards give me $25 total in credits for Uber each month, I sometimes use for food. But rather than pay the Uber fees for delivery. I just pick it up myself.
Both these occasions I ordered pizza that I picked up myself. Now when I pick up pizza and there is no waiter or waitress involved in the transaction, I do not tip. Now I know that tip jars are ubiquitous in every eating establishment now even for pick up orders. It never used to be that way. But now everybody is demanding a tip for whatever they do.
I wrote about this to some extent on this post
This tipping thing has simply gotten out of hand and I will not comply! But apparently there is a price to pay for it with Uber. Uber began as a no tip alternative to taxis. After all they are owner/operator businesses. Now drivers in the USA expect it and I do comply to keep my rating.
But I had no idea if an Uber driver was not involved in the transaction that I could still get dinged in my Uber reputation. It would appear as though the person making my pizza is dinging me in Uber if I don't tip. Who knew?
Now, I'm not certain that this is the case but these were the only two data points that occurred in those two weeks. Now it is possible it was an old Uber driver, as I stated earlier, but I think that's very unlikely.
Oh well, I'm not going to change my behavior and conform to this tipping madness anymore. I will simply accept my lower Uber ratings from now on. If it gets too low, I'll simply switch to a different service and ditch Uber all together.
I don’t blame you one bit for not changing the way you use Uber or the way you tip. Tipping has really gotten out of control. During Covid I found myself tipping 20 percent for take out. It became the norm during Covid but I have changed back to just a couple bucks for takeout. 🙏
I think this tip thing may have gotten worse during Covid. It seems every establishment that you go to has a tip jar. If it's not the jar when you use the credit card machine it ask you with someone standing in front of you. I always feel obligated to comply.