Uber adds another way to compliment drivers without actually tipping them

Uber is rolling out a new feature today that allows riders to send compliments to drivers beyond leaving them a 5-star rating, according to Wired. Of course, most people would reward excellent service by tipping a few extra bucks. But Uber is known for being vehemently anti-tipping, so we’re getting a new in-app feature instead.

After completing their trip, riders will be asked whether they want to send their driver a compliment from a list of canned responses: “Neat and Tidy,” “Excellent Service,” “Above and Beyond,” and so on. Riders can praise their driver’s car, choice in music, or conversation skills. And each compliment comes with a sticker, because who doesn’t love stickers?

Last week, I inadvertently sent my Uber driver one of these compliments (no sticker, just a canned phrase), not knowing this was a new feature in the app. My driver Martin told me an amazing story about Mike Tyson giving a $180,000 Bentley he just crashed to a couple of NYPD cops — I fact-checked it, this really happened — so I made sure to note that Martin was an excellent conversationalist after I gave him 5 stars.

But you know what else I did? Tipped him $5, because that’s what you do when you receive above-average service — or even just average service, for that matter, because this is America and Americans tip, damnit.