[toomuchtodo]

We use Uber Eats for discovery. We'll use it to find new establishments, and on the first order, I'll tip cash to make up for what Uber Eats takes from the restaurant. If we decide to patron the same restaurant again, we order directly from them to avoid the Uber tax for them (edit: as many are aware, margins are slim [3-5% typically] for restaurants and the delivery service tax is onerous on them). Has worked pretty well. Be the change y'all.

[gambiting]

Yes, be the change and stop tiping. That's the change that everyone needs to be doing, then the prices would increase to match what the market should actually be, rather than rely on charity of customers.

>>I'll tip cash to make up for what Uber Eats takes from the restaurant

So you've just allowed Uber Eats to operate another day, because the restaurant can now justify using them and their shitty rates.

[toomuchtodo]

> So you've just allowed Uber Eats to operate another day

My understanding is that Uber Eats loses money on each order. Has that changed? If so, I'll stop using them immediately and perform discovery in another way ("Restaurant Roulette"). I want my money going to the folks doing the hard work, not scalpers ("the platform").

Going to keep tipping though, not tipping doesn't fix bigger issues causing the need for it that are out of scope here. Sorry if my economic empathy bothers you (no snark intended).

[pettazz]

Pretty sure all that'll really happen if you stop tipping is that some poor delivery driver gets screwed. Just stop using the apps, order from the restaurant directly, tip your delivery people.

[gambiting]

I do realize that this is a pipe dream, but if literally everyone stopped tipping at once, the conditions would have to improve.

Also, I'm from the UK - while tipping in restaurants is semi-common(not expected), tipping delivery drivers is literally unheard of. Doesn't exist, no one does it. And yet.....somehow, delivery drivers still exist as a profession.

My point is - every time you tip, you allow shitty employment practices to continue. It's the same as giving money to beggars on the street - they continue begging because they know it works, it's a self sustaining circle.

[smogcutter]

You’re right, broadly, but please don’t do this when you’re visiting the US. You’re screwing over a real life, individual person because it pleases you to make a point.

[gmanley]

So you're from a country where tipping isn't so engrained or important. Here in the US tipping is the main way service workers make money. Most base wages are simply untenable.

Now, I'm not saying I like that, in fact I hate it. We are in essence subsidizing their employees. It definitely needs to change but please don't encourage people not to tip. There are realistic ways to get rid of tipping. Just stopping tipping isn't one of them. All your doing is hurting the little man/women. Also comparing them to beggars is pretty out of touch.

[stepbeek]

I live in the UK and know plenty of people who tip delivery drivers. Not to the extent of the US admittedly.

Do you have a source?

[gambiting]

A source for what? For people not tipping delivery drivers? I live in the UK and I have never heard about anyone tipping delivery drivers - you are literally the very first person I've read about that tips delivery drivers in the UK. So no, no source, personal experience.

[memonkey]

The assumption that the apps would raise wages if people suddenly stopped tipping seems misguided. It's possible that people would just work longer and harder for the cash because they're desperate.

[BurningFrog]

If they're that desperate, the company could already lower the wages.

[ivalm]

There is always hysteresis. People don’t just operate on some smooth indifference curve. You cant lower wages (due to past wage history), but total comp can go down (due to less tipping and companies not increasing wages). Furthermore, lots of gig/restaurant workers operate close to minimal wage, which further drives wage inelasticity (eg companies cannot drive down their wage).

[freeone3000]

Wages are at the legal minimum.