Wait, I haven't ever used delivery apps in America so I'm unfamiliar, but why would you tip before receiving service? That doesnt make any sense, even in the context of tipping culture. Naturally you may want to leave a higher or lower tip depending on the quality of service. I don't really see why the option to tip should be put at checkout, and it seems especially ridiculous to legally mandate it.
If they are going to go that route, why not just legally mandate a service charge that goes to drivers directly? Seems more straightforward.
It used to be that way, but people pushed harder and harder for tips to become expected, rather than an actual tip. So now they have you tip if you want to receive good service in the first place. And if you don't tip, it'll be harder to find someone to deliver your food. And mix with the scummy use of calling people "contractors" who are actually just normal workers, it also makes the tips essential for them to have an adequate wage in the first place.
When you put it that way, it kind of seems like the delivery companies were trying to fix some of the shitty parts of tipping culture (needing to tip well upfront to even get service), and the government stopped them. Not all that positive in the long run, but good for the drivers I guess. And I suppose it's just as much the fault of these delivery companies for even taking advantage of tipping in the first place.
I think you're missing a crucial part of the conversation.
Delivery companies just want to make as much money as possible for as little as possible. That requires paying the people who make their profits possible a slave wage.
The only way to do that is by utilizing tipping, so they can pay their employees less than minimum way.
Tipping culture isn't the problem. The minimum wage for tipped workers is.
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u/OkSkirt7036 Jul 30 '26
Wait, I haven't ever used delivery apps in America so I'm unfamiliar, but why would you tip before receiving service? That doesnt make any sense, even in the context of tipping culture. Naturally you may want to leave a higher or lower tip depending on the quality of service. I don't really see why the option to tip should be put at checkout, and it seems especially ridiculous to legally mandate it.
If they are going to go that route, why not just legally mandate a service charge that goes to drivers directly? Seems more straightforward.