No Tips After Promised: A Rideshare Driver’s Frustration

The Pain of Promised Tips That Never Arrive

As a rideshare driver, I don’t expect a tip on every single ride—let’s be honest, that’s unrealistic. However, there are two key situations where I do anticipate a tip:

1️⃣ When I go above and beyond to satisfy a customer.

2️⃣ When a customer explicitly promises a tip for an extra favor, such as making an additional stop.

The frustrating part? You’re not guaranteed to receive that tip unless it’s in cash. If someone tells you, “I’ll tip you in the app,” it’s like a red flag waving in the breeze. More often than not, that promised tip never materializes.

Maybe they forget?

Sure, life is busy. But in most cases, it feels like an empty promise.

Did Uber steal the tip?

That’s unlikely too.

Here are two standout rides from this past year that really highlight this tipping dilemma.

“She tries to control me”

It was an early Saturday morning, and I was out Ubering on a beautiful spring day, just after the sun peeked over the horizon. My first pick-up came from an apartment complex, where a solo passenger—a fit guy in his early thirties—climbed into the backseat. He let out a big, noticeable sigh as he settled in, setting the tone for our ride.

“How you doing this morning?” I asked, trying to break the ice and gauge what was on his mind.

“Not doing too good, man, to be honest,” he replied, his voice a mix of relief and sadness.

“Oh yeah? I’m sorry to hear that. I hope your day gets better,” I said with genuine concern. Over the years, I’ve learned that passengers often open up during rides, and I’ve had plenty of practice responding to sensitive situations.

This led him to share that he had broken up with his girlfriend the night before. He was heading home for the weekend, which was unusual for him since he typically spent his Saturdays at her place. It was clear that the night had taken a toll on him, and he was looking for a bit of comfort on his ride.

As my passenger opened up about his night, I listened intently. He shared everything that happened, and while his confession was unsolicited, I was genuinely interested. After all, part of my role as a rideshare driver is to be a sort of “rideshare therapist”—someone who can provide a listening ear.

In these brief encounters, we often find ourselves sharing deep personal issues with strangers, and who better to do that with than an Uber driver? We may never see each other again, making it easier to confide in someone who’s just passing through our lives.

The trip was about 20 minutes long, giving him plenty of time to dive deep into his troubles. He revealed that his girlfriend had been increasingly controlling, disapproving of his drinking and making him spend weekends at her place. “She never likes going over to my house,” he said, explaining how it felt like she was trying to control him even more.

At one point, he asked if I could make a quick stop for some hangover medicine. After a night of drinking and arguing, a quick run for aspirin and Gatorade was definitely in order. “I’ll make sure I tip you in the app,” he promised as I agreed to the detour.

He even offered to grab me a coffee or water, but I politely declined. Looking back, I wish I had taken him up on it, especially since I never received the promised tip.

When he returned from the convenience store, he thanked me and got back into the car. We resumed our conversation about his relationship. He asked if I’d ever experienced anything similar, and I shared my own past relationship struggles, hoping to provide some helpful advice.

As we pulled up to his house, he lingered in the car for a few extra minutes, continuing the conversation. Eventually, he thanked me for the chat, gathered his things, and exited the vehicle. Just like that, our little therapy session came to an abrupt end, and I was left wondering how things would turn out for him.

That’s the beauty of rideshare driving—the anonymity allows both drivers and passengers to share whatever’s on their minds without fear of judgment. We may not know each other’s identities, but we can connect in those fleeting moments. Just a shame I didn’t get the tip! 😔

“I’ll Tip You in the App”

Another day, another ride, and once again, a promised tip never materialized. This time, I picked up a family who had just enjoyed a fancy dinner at an upscale seafood restaurant in Bethany Beach.

As the husband, wife, and their two pre-teen daughters climbed into my vehicle, the mother, sitting up front, asked if we could make a quick stop at a liquor store on the way to their destination.

“We’re heading to a 4th of July beach party tonight, and we need to bring something!” she shared enthusiastically. “I’ll be in and out real quick!”

I’ve heard that line before, but I still obliged, hoping it might lead to a decent tip. “Not a problem at all! I know a place just up the road on the right,” I reassured her, making it clear I was happy to help.

It turned out to be an easy detour, and she really was quick! But unfortunately, that would be the only promise kept during this ride.

“Thanks so much!” she said, returning to the car with a couple of bags full of wine and liquor.

“No worries at all! You weren’t kidding about being quick; much appreciated!” I replied lightheartedly, still trying to earn that tip.

To my surprise, she immediately turned to her husband in the back seat and told him to leave me a nice tip. “Of course!” he replied, before going back to jamming out to a classic rock song playing on the radio.

“What station is this?” he asked, clearly enjoying the vibe.

“Road Trip Radio on SiriusXM! It’s one of the most underrated stations on the air,” I said with a smile.

“Yeah, this station freaking rocks!” he said, turning to his daughters and giving them a cringeworthy air guitar performance. Classic dad move, but it was heartwarming nonetheless.

“I sealed this tip,” I thought to myself, feeling pretty confident. But little did I know, disappointment was right around the corner.

When we arrived at their destination, the wife thanked me again for stopping and reminded her husband about the tip. “Yup,” he replied, distracted as he continued rocking out to the music.

“He’ll take care of you in the app. Have a great night!” was the last thing she said as she shut the door behind her.

And guess what?

No tip ever came through.

Was the husband being cheap?

Maybe.

Did he just simply forget?

Most likely.

But it stings every time a passenger fails to tip after promising. It’s one of those little frustrations that comes with the job, but we keep driving, hoping for the next ride to be a better experience.