Toronto Star reporter Ghada Alsharif spent six weeks working as an Uber Eats food courier and made a shockingly low wage. Uber says this experience was ‘atypical’ — but workers say differently.
I think the problem is: what they call a “Tip” is more like a “Bid”/“Offer”. People see “Tip” and thus believe its optional, I mean it technically is optional, but the base pay is like $2.50 so its customarily required. I think for even the shortest delivery of a place 10 minutes away with a 2 mile distance is supposed to tip at least $5. and if the delivery is done in 30 minutes, that’s an effective wage of $15/hour, that is, if they get orders back-to-back.
Customers don’t understand how this works and puts $0 as the “Tip”, buts its really a “Bid”, effectively making anyone who is willing to accept the order, to work below minimum wage. And also new drivers doesn’t understand how this works and acceepts orders without a good enough “Bid”, effectively working below minimum wage.
I mean, why even call it a “Tip” if its customarily required, just change the base pay to $7.50 (which I’m sure those companies will charge the customer for it, but anyways…). So for an order that takes 30 minutes, its an effective wage of $15/hour, assuming they get orders back-to-back. Much less confusion amongst both customers and drivers.
I think for even the shortest delivery of a place 10 minutes away with a 2 mile distance is supposed to tip at least $5. and if the delivery is done in 30 minutes, that’s an effective wage of $15/hour, that is, if they get orders back-to-back.
Since these shitty companies don’t provide vehicles or gas money most of that $15 is going to vehicle costs.
When I delivered for a pizza place in the late 90s in a midwest college town with my own car I got 15-20 per hour between base pay, gas and car use subsidy, and tips. That business was 90% deliveries, so the delivery was baked into the cost.
Its not blaming customers, its not the customers fault, its the company making things confusing to scam both the customers and drivers.
I’m saying, if the company wants to effectively make customers pay the wages of the drivers, then it should be transparent, like how it is in Europe.
Raise the base pay to match at least the minimum wage. If the company isn’t happy with their greed (they charge restaurants somewhere from 5% to 30% btw), then they can charge the customer more delivery fees to make it up (like they do in Europe).
But the point is, if companies want to be greedy, at least be transparent about it.
I think the problem is: what they call a “Tip” is more like a “Bid”/“Offer”. People see “Tip” and thus believe its optional, I mean it technically is optional, but the base pay is like $2.50 so its customarily required. I think for even the shortest delivery of a place 10 minutes away with a 2 mile distance is supposed to tip at least $5. and if the delivery is done in 30 minutes, that’s an effective wage of $15/hour, that is, if they get orders back-to-back.
Customers don’t understand how this works and puts $0 as the “Tip”, buts its really a “Bid”, effectively making anyone who is willing to accept the order, to work below minimum wage. And also new drivers doesn’t understand how this works and acceepts orders without a good enough “Bid”, effectively working below minimum wage.
I mean, why even call it a “Tip” if its customarily required, just change the base pay to $7.50 (which I’m sure those companies will charge the customer for it, but anyways…). So for an order that takes 30 minutes, its an effective wage of $15/hour, assuming they get orders back-to-back. Much less confusion amongst both customers and drivers.
Since these shitty companies don’t provide vehicles or gas money most of that $15 is going to vehicle costs.
When I delivered for a pizza place in the late 90s in a midwest college town with my own car I got 15-20 per hour between base pay, gas and car use subsidy, and tips. That business was 90% deliveries, so the delivery was baked into the cost.
Americans be crazy. I never tipped in my life and ain’t about to start.
“Let me help subsidise a company paying below minimum wage” totally normal not batshit insane idea.
Nice psyop there tbh… Why fuck over your worker when you can shift that blame on your idiot customers?
It is your fault Joe delivery guy doesn’t get paid!!!
Lol, “everyone except me is a government agent”.
Its not blaming customers, its not the customers fault, its the company making things confusing to scam both the customers and drivers.
I’m saying, if the company wants to effectively make customers pay the wages of the drivers, then it should be transparent, like how it is in Europe.
Raise the base pay to match at least the minimum wage. If the company isn’t happy with their greed (they charge restaurants somewhere from 5% to 30% btw), then they can charge the customer more delivery fees to make it up (like they do in Europe).
But the point is, if companies want to be greedy, at least be transparent about it.
Sir, we are aligned. If I was not clear, the corpo is shifting responsibility of wages to the end user and then makes them tip out of guilt.
If companies gonna be this greedy, deny the parasite profit full stop. Delivery is a luxury, nobody has yet to die from lacking delivery slop.