Uber - Taxi Gratuity - What to Set It to?

Firstly sorry if this topic has come up before but I searched and only seemed to get deals or nothing if I switched to the forum node in search results.

Just signed up for Uber today to get the $20 first ride deal (rendering me ineligible for the $40 off deal that was poster later on in the day) and I noticed under Payment there is a section labelled Uber Taxi Gratuity. Googling for that tells me

"A default 20% of the metered fare will be automatically added and paid to the driver as a gratuity. You can select the percentage amount of the gratuity by signing into your account at uber.com then clicking the 'Payment' link at the top"

There are various options you can change it to 0% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%.

My questions are

  1. Is this a carry over feature from the United States? It sounds a lot like tipping to me.
  2. What do you have yours set to?
  3. Have you had an Uber driver comment positively or negatively or at all regarding your gratuity setting?
  4. Are you able to set gratuity after the ride so that you can adjust it based on your experience with the driver?

My guess is 10% is probably fair given the rule of thumb for tipping but I imagine some OzBargainers have theirs set to 0%, possibly giving the driver a cash tip if they felt it was necessary.

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Comments

  • "Gratuity for TAXI"

    "Your preferred gratuity will be applied to any future TAXI trips that you request through Uber. This will apply to TAXI fares only (not Black, SUV, or uberX) and be paid to your driver."

    It is not for UBER.

    In the US you can order a normal taxi though the app (maybe if there are no ubers available)

    • ..weird?! I wouldn't have thought that was the case given the extreme rivalry within the industry? I'll take your word for it though

      • sydney has ubertaxi :)

      • Er, you can order taxi's through Uber here… Uber Taxi. Always been there far as I know.

        • +1

          Not in Melbourne we are still in the dark ages…

    • +2

      wait I'm still confused - why the hell would anyone want to tip a taxi driver?

      • On those rare occasions I catch a taxi (usually to and from the airport) and on those even rarer occasions the service is exceptionally good, I ask for their card and try to give them my airport runs next time. My old man does that too.

  • -1

    I hate tipping, one of those things that make you feel cheap!

    • ?????

      I would of thought not tipping would make you feel cheap.

      I always tip the pizza driver, most are trying to get thru uni.

      • If you tip low, people are judgmental ***, you may as well not tip.

        • +1

          Yeah! It's like I'm trying to do something nice yet I'm getting judged by it?
          Better off not tipping…

  • -1

    Alright can everyone calm down a little.

    Tipping taxis is a thing in the USA. That's why it is enabled by default. I wouldn't normally tip taxi drivers in Australia. The other day I got a taxi home it was $18 I had a $20 note I told him to keep the change.

    You should definitely tip the pizza guy they are usually poor uni students

    • I find that pretty odd that after being in the market here in Australia for this long now they thought they would leave a 20% gratuity in as the default. I'll be changing mine to 0% then if it isn't going towards the Uber drivers

  • +1

    I wish you could choose a gratuity after the ride so you can adjust it depending on how your driver was. Most of the time uber drivers have been exceptional. One in particular went above and beyond and helped my wife and I with a shit ton of luggage when we were moving interstate. I would have happily have given him a 50% tip if I had the option to afterwards.

    Once or twice I have had drivers that have run red lights and driven erratically. Funnily enough, they were former taxi drivers. I would give them a 0% gratuity.

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