Tip amounts have always been about how much the customer enjoyed the service, hence the 10-25% tip ranges.
Customers have opaque expectations for service and pay their server based on the server’s gender, race, and age as well as quality of service that the server doesn’t even have control over (like if the kitchen was backed up).
A system counting smiles is basically what we currently have: instead of signaling with a smile, they signal with a tip amount.
I feel like these articles are just "tech company = bad" without recognizing that there are thousands of really smart people trying to create an equitable system that supports the needs of the drivers, passengers, and company.
1. Good wages for drivers means more drivers.
2. More drivers means better quality of service at lower cost for passengers.
3. Low cost and high quality service for passengers means more passengers.
4. More passengers means more rides and more money spent on platform.
More drivers and more passengers means more money for company. The argument that Uber/DD whatever is not incentivized to have high wages for drivers is ridiculous.
Now there is pre-tipping, tipping for no discernible service, fake tip jars in places that aren't licensed for it, etc.
More people are becoming aware that, in the US anyway, the wage is reduced commensurate with expected tips, and so customers are more or less obligated to supplement wages, and avoid offending servers, unless we don't want to be served at all.
Customers have opaque expectations for service and pay their server based on the server’s gender, race, and age as well as quality of service that the server doesn’t even have control over (like if the kitchen was backed up).
A system counting smiles is basically what we currently have: instead of signaling with a smile, they signal with a tip amount.