Uber continues promoting Lyft
I fully support the ability to tip drivers using ride sharing/faring services. Up until recently I have been a big fan of Uber, more-so than Lyft. This isn’t particularly because I felt it was overall “better”. Really, it was just my “first” into these types of apps and I didn’t feel like Lyft was better enough to warrant moving over. I was comfortable.
Recently, however, Uber has been under fire for tipping/wage practices. And, after losing two recent lawsuits, they now have to make it clear to riders (via drivers posting it in their own cars) as such. So, being 2016 and all you’d think that Uber would, as a “modern” service, add an in-app button to allow tipping digitally and call it a day. Lyft has had this built-in feature for awhile. This is after all, a service that started as a means of convenience, allowing riders to get rid of physical money. “Hassle free”, they say.
Nope!
While there are a lot of reasons Uber could give to justify, they chose perhaps the most asinine reason — racism. Really?! In a blog post Uber tries to hide behind the guise of stability, saying in-app tipping causes unfair scenarios (such as riders spending all their time in higher wage, higher tipping areas). While this is certainly something that can happen, it still flies in the face of the whole ethos of what Uber is — a ride sharing service of the modern era. Forcing riders to fall back to paper money for something that should be entirely digital is pretty ridiculous.
So because “their research” shows minorities often get tipped less, they’re not adding an in-app button to continue the ease of use factor? I’m sorry. That’s fucking absurd.
To be clear, I’m not arguing racism doesn’t exist or that it is a poor reason to make a business decision. I’m saying that not adding a simple button to make the whole process more streamlined and keeping physical transactions out of it is a stupid decision.
I’m going to go out on a limb here, but I don’t think Lyft has had a single issue with racism fueled, in-app tipping hampering the service.
Uber, add a fucking button already.
