Christina, an Uber and Lyft driver in Las Vegas, mentioned about half of her passengers tip on an excellent day. However she feels tipping is inconsistent and that typically her efforts to please prospects go unnoticed.
She retains a clear automobile, has a bubbly persona, and tries to attach with passengers by asking questions, she informed Enterprise Insider. However she’s not at all times tremendous talkative. When she seems to be within the mirror and sees a passenger on their cellphone, she takes that as a cue to remain quiet.
“I feel when a buyer feels nearer to you as an individual — that they might see themselves within the place of the driving force — then they’re extra prone to tip,” mentioned Christina, who requested to make use of her first title for worry {of professional} repercussions. “Nonetheless that also would not assure a tip as a result of I’ve had improbable rides and conversations, they usually give me a praise however no cash.”
When her mom was dying just a few years in the past, Christina typically talked about it in dialog, which drove up suggestions. Nonetheless, she typically sees herself having to battle for suggestions. Some riders have informed her they do not know find out how to tip, forcing her to indicate them on the app. Some worldwide passengers do not tip, she mentioned, as a result of they do not perceive tipping tradition. And others do not view driving as a authentic job in comparison with different service roles.
Christina is not alone. Drivers, riders, and gig financial system specialists informed BI that historic tipping norms, rising fares, inconsistent driver service and the truth that Uber initially launched with no tipping function could possibly be contributing to decrease suggestions. Nonetheless, whereas many drivers are testing new methods to extend the frequency of receiving suggestions, others are giving up. Some informed BI they’ve stopped going the additional mile as a result of their prior efforts hardly ever paid off.
“Whereas tipping tradition in eating places is pretty well-established in the US at this level, it is nonetheless evolving in relation to rideshares, and lots of riders could not perceive the monetary realities of rideshare driving,” Nick Leighton, an etiquette professional and co-host of the podcast Had been You Raised By Wolves, informed Enterprise Insider by way of e mail.”This may increasingly clarify why there’s a lot inconsistency at the moment in when or how a lot riders select to tip.”
Journey-hailing drivers informed Enterprise Insider that buyer suggestions are onerous to come back by. An evaluation of over 500,000 US gig drivers offered to BI by Gridwise, a data-analytics firm that helps drivers monitor their earnings, discovered that 28% of Uber and Lyft journeys received suggestions within the first half of this yr, in comparison with over 70% of food-delivery and grocery journeys.
To make certain, some drivers have fared higher in relation to securing buyer suggestions. Within the second half of 2023, Lyft mentioned the median US driver earned about $31 per hour of engaged time — en route to choose up a passenger or had one of their automobile. The corporate mentioned these earnings included a median tip of $2.41 per engaged hour.
In the meantime, an Uber spokesperson informed BI in Could that throughout the US, drivers are “incomes greater than $30 an hour whereas engaged on the app.” Uber mentioned that over the past 4 years, ride-hailing tipping frequency and the common tip dimension have roughly doubled — including that the common ride-hailing tip quantity rose almost 10% over the previous six months.
9 ride-hailing drivers shared what methods have helped them land suggestions and why typically offering good service just isn’t well worth the effort. Some drivers requested partial anonymity on account of worry {of professional} repercussions.
How drivers attempt to maximize suggestions
Stuart R., 55, not too long ago stopped driving for Uber and Lyft. He reluctantly returned to work in IT, as he struggled to make ends meet driving full-time. Nonetheless, he mentioned suggestions helped him keep afloat after burning out from his earlier job.
He maintained a 4.99 driver score in Austin and mentioned he ceaselessly received suggestions for easy issues reminiscent of greeting passengers, aiding with baggage, and protecting his automobile “immaculately” clear. He discovered he received higher suggestions when he practiced “protected humor,” or joking with passengers with out mentioning politics.
Moreover, he had signage hanging from headrests noting that suggestions have been tremendously appreciated. Nonetheless, he mentioned, even protecting cool water on scorching days or participating in deep conversations with passengers was by no means a assure of a tip.
Being useful to vacationers has been an efficient technique for Marilyn Cassady, a five-star Uber and Lyft driver in Myrtle Seashore, South Carolina, who drives just a few days per week to complement her Social Safety revenue. She mentioned she will get suggestions for almost 50% of her rides. Cassady mentioned feminine passengers are sometimes relieved to have a feminine driver and tip extra. Nonetheless, she acknowledges there’s solely a lot she will do. Typically, the app’s navigation falters, she mentioned, which might delay some rides and end in decrease suggestions.
“There are some days once I do not see any suggestions in any respect,” Cassady mentioned.
Some drivers like Jillian, 67, who drives in Santa Clarita, California, have a easy resolution for getting extra suggestions — asking riders immediately. Earlier than riders get out, she asks them properly if they might depart a tip.
Nonetheless, it isn’t an ideal technique. She’s not too long ago gotten numerous $1 suggestions and, regardless of protecting her automobile in mint situation, she will work for six to eight hours with no tip.
The inconsistency is working in opposition to some drivers
Alex Santiago, a 48-year-old Uber driver in northern Virginia, used to decorate enterprise informal and catered music to passengers. However after years of inconsistent suggestions, he stopped making an attempt so onerous.
Some days, he drives with slippers on. Different days, he listens to podcasts he needs to listen to. He shows indicators stating what passengers cannot do, reminiscent of consuming or speaking on speaker. After making these adjustments, he mentioned he hasn’t seen suggestions decline.
“I am not offering facilities reminiscent of water and video games — I do not run a day care, I drive a automobile,” Santiago mentioned.
He is realized tipping patterns are sometimes inconsistent, despite the fact that he nonetheless goals to offer good service — he retains his automobile clear with a $35 month-to-month subscription to a carwash, and he at all times helps riders with baggage.
“There are days the place I am going to get zero recommendations on 20 rides, then there are days I get tipped eight out of 20 rides,” Santiago mentioned.
Jason S., 50, mentioned the frequency and amount of suggestions he is acquired fell through the pandemic. He estimates between a 3rd to half of riders tipped pre-pandemic, however now he is fortunate if it is one in six. He suspects rising charges for riders has decreased suggestions, as he hasn’t modified his driving habits. Those that tip possible at all times tip no matter service, he mentioned.
“I used to have a look at suggestions as additional, now I desperately want these tricks to preserve my hourly up,” Jason mentioned. “I used to have the ability to earn wherever from $32 an hour as much as as a lot as $55 an hour with good bonuses. Now if I hit $25 an hour, it is a miracle.”
He thinks there’s nothing he can do in another way to maximise suggestions. Individuals hardly ever request music and he mentioned most riders will flip down sweet or drinks.
“One additional good-quality experience with me might be not going to make the distinction to an individual who would not need to tip anyway to abruptly deciding, ‘I higher tip this man,'” Jason mentioned.
For some drivers, making an attempt to get suggestions can backfire.
Andre Kingston, 50, mentioned passengers typically reprimand her for making an attempt too onerous to get suggestions. The Detroit-based driver mentioned she’d gotten one-star critiques for “speaking an excessive amount of” or not being well mannered, despite the fact that she says she at all times greets folks and asks them for his or her music choice.
“It’s the speaking accusations that damage the worst,” Kingston mentioned. “They make me not need to speak to others. They make me afraid to open my mouth.”
Low tipping ranges have led Jason, a 49-year-old ride-hailing driver in Phoenix, to now not present the identical stage of service.
“I used to open doorways for everybody and regulate the seats for everybody and provide no matter music request any passenger needed and engaged in no matter dialog the passengers needed to have interaction in,” he informed BI. “However I do not get tipped for it anymore, and I am over it.”
He mentioned his new technique is to not settle for rides that pay him beneath $20, despite the fact that this has lowered his acceptance price and made him ineligible for Uber’s driver rewards program.
“I can now not settle for cheaper rides and hope for a tip to get me there,” he mentioned.
Are you a gig driver who’s struggling to make ends meet? Are you driving into your retirement years? Attain out to those reporters at nsheidlower@businessinsider.com or jzinkula@businessinsider.com.
