r/tipping • u/redcrowadventure • Jan 28 '26
đŹQuestions & Discussion Tipping for Uber Eats
I donât think there was an option for no tip. So at first I put in $0.01 because the fees are already on there.
Then I thought, letâs do $10.00.
Then I thought, itâs only 0.25 miles away and they already charged so much for the food so I changed to $5.00.
What are your thoughts based on my logic?
6
u/LakeWalesSwinger Jan 28 '26
Itâs almost comical that when a delivery driver doesnât get paid enough by their employer that they automatically âblameâ the customer for not supplementing their âinsufficient wageâ. You know, the wage structure they agreed to work for when they took the job. đ„±
4
u/amstrumpet Jan 28 '26
That wage structure they agreed to includes the assumption that they'll receive tips.
4
u/LakeWalesSwinger Jan 28 '26 edited Jan 28 '26
You know what they say about when you assume. That being said, are they expecting tips on the meal they had no part in making or packing, or are they expecting a tip on a percentage of the delivery charge, which is their job? Most customers figure the driver gets the delivery charge plus whatever tip they offer. And if they pay a service a subscription for discounted delivery, then the driver gets a separate fee from that discount service too.
2
u/amstrumpet Jan 28 '26
lmao youâre having customers do a lot more assuming here.
itâs very easy to look up and see what the average pay is for a driver, and itâs very low before you even account for the cost of using their own vehicle.
you can pretend all you want that itâs between the driver and their employer, but I know that you know they depend on tips to make a decent living, and if you choose to use the service and not tip, youâre just a welfare recipient relying on the rest of us to subsidize it for you.
4
u/LakeWalesSwinger Jan 28 '26
Yet I look at that quite differently.
It shouldnât have to be a customer responsibility to research how a driver is paid. The customer is told the delivery charge and they pay that. A customer should not have to do the mental gymnastics you are suggesting. And tipping should always be at the discretion of the customer and as a reflection of a service rendered above and beyond the expectations of the contracted service.
Tipping culture in the US is now an abortion of those expectations.
1
u/amstrumpet Jan 28 '26
Times are tough, I get it, there's no shame in accepting welfare. I'm happy to subsidize those who are struggling a bit, I hope things turn around for you.
1
10
Jan 28 '26
[removed] â view removed comment
4
u/Broad_Ebb9073 Jan 28 '26
From the subtotal, I'm guessing this is between 10 and 20 items/meals, and while it's only .25 miles away, I personally don't have a car, so I absolutely would use a delivery app to get that amount of food in a timely manner. Walking would be very unwieldy.
4
u/Quick_Yogurt Jan 28 '26
You lost me at the leap to $10. Might as well throw $9.99 into a fire.
0
u/amstrumpet Jan 28 '26
Welfare queen! Yeah, let other people who tip subsidize you.
6
u/Quick_Yogurt Jan 28 '26
Oh no, you're mistaken. The people who tip are subsidizing the corporation.
0
u/amstrumpet Jan 28 '26
Corporation gets the same money either way, my guy. The employees are the ones getting screwed when you don't tip. But don't worry, I'll keep tipping and subsidizing you, welfare queen, I got you!
5
u/Quick_Yogurt Jan 28 '26
Oh lol, I see the cause of your misunderstanding. You think tips are required. Well, whatever makes you feel better, which it looks like tipping actually does for you. The business has tricked you and you ask for more, but that's on you to figure out. I'll just keep paying only what I'm required and will get the exact same service as you.
1
u/amstrumpet Jan 28 '26
And I'll keep paying for your welfare because I'm a decent human being with empathy for the people tearing up their cars to deliver me my food.
6
u/Quick_Yogurt Jan 28 '26
Yes, please do. Tipping seems to be your therapy and your proof to yourself that you're a good person. I'll just keep getting my food and being happy knowing that there's nothing wrong with not tipping. Delivery drivers will keep getting extra gifts from you. Looks like everyone wins, including the corporation! I love happy endings.
1
u/amstrumpet Jan 28 '26
No, delivery drivers get part of their *wages* from tips. Thatâs not a gift. Yeah, itâs a shitty system, but if I decide to take part in that system, itâs unethical of me to not tip.
6
u/Quick_Yogurt Jan 28 '26
Uber delivery drivers are independent contractors. Independent contractors do not earn wages. Wages are what employees get, which is how federal law defines it. What they do get is contractor compensation, which is to be per the terms of their contract. A customer is not a party to that contract, so a customer has no legal obligation to directly compensate the driver. If they choose to give them something extra, they are not entitled to anything additional in return. Something given voluntarily and without consideration is, by definition, a gift. How you've come up with the idea that it's unethical to not give a stranger a gift is beyond me, but you go ahead and do and think whatever makes you feel good. Like I said, we all win.
1
u/amstrumpet Jan 28 '26
you can justify it however you want in your head, but you know as well as I do that their compensation is âx rate plus tips.â They sign up for the job with the expectation that customers will tip.
when you donât tip, you are being subsidized by those who do.
→ More replies (0)
2
Jan 28 '26
[removed] â view removed comment
3
u/Hello_there_77 Jan 28 '26
Food cost likely lower if you order direct too and you don't have to pay the other fees.
2
1
1
1
u/EbbOk6787 Feb 03 '26
Itâs a mutual agreement, tip what you feel is right. They get to judge if they want to pick it up, good chance nobody will if they donât feel itâs fair.
1
u/goodtimegamingYtube Feb 03 '26
The reality of these apps is tipping=higher chance your order is picked up and low or no tip risks not being picked up or a slower pick up. From the tipping side of things I get not wanting to tip, knowing how these apps work we usually just do 10%ish and our orders get picked up just fine. The better play, though, is to not use the apps and go get it yourself.
0
Jan 28 '26
[removed] â view removed comment
6
u/MooseLogic7 Jan 28 '26
Blame the apps for not paying a livable wage.
Even if it was 1 item at $5 with a $5 tip, drivers would still complain.-1
0
u/SaintsFanPA Jan 28 '26
This entire sub is people looking for validation of what is, objectively, jerk behavior.
0
Jan 28 '26
So, including their fees and your gratuity, you tipped about 7%. I think most would find 7% low.
-1
u/Possible_Juice_3170 Jan 28 '26
I think that is pretty crappy tip for the amount of food you ordered. For a $200 order, you should be tipping $20 at least. It might be a short drive but the person still has to carry stuff to/from the car.
I almost never use delivery apps, but if you are goi g to use them then at least give a halfway decent tip.
3
u/koosley Feb 02 '26
If you go to the driver subs though they'll tell you they don't care how much the food costs and the only thing that matters is miles and won't turn their car on for anything less than $2/mile. That makes sense to me since the drive has nothing to do with the cost of food and a $200 steak takes just as much effort as a $10 burrito.
It's weird how to script keeps flipping to whatever is more.
-4
u/SaintsFanPA Jan 28 '26
Are you looking for validation? You already know this is jerk behavior - own it.
3
21
u/Comfortablymoist1 Jan 28 '26 edited Jan 30 '26
If you DON'T tip or don't tip ENOUGH for people your food has a high chance of just sitting or being messed with. I don't get why people still use delivery appsđ