'Confusing' Uber app feature catching Aussies out

“I can't see anywhere in the app to turn it off or change it,” the poster said. But, there might be a way.

In Australia, it’s pretty widely accepted that tipping isn’t a necessity.

Minimum wage is much higher here than it is in countries like the US, so unless service is particularly exceptional, people don’t feel pressured to do so.

But, Aussies have recently seen an influx of restaurants and businesses asking for tips - with one in particular under fire for allegedly leading users to tip even if they didn’t intend to.

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Image: iStock.

RELATED: Entitled habit Uber drivers want you to stop doing

“I got caught by it this morning”

An Aussie Reddit user has taken to the platform after an odd experience using the Uber app.

The poster said that they tried to give their driver a 5-star rating, but accidentally managed to give a tip as well, thanks to, what they thought to be, a change to the system.

“I'm against tipping culture coming here to Australia. But today I was finally got by it after years of actively doing my best to avoid tipping on services run by large fortune companies like Uber,” the poster shared.

“For anyone who isn't aware, Uber have updated their app. Specifically the part where you rate a driver post-trip, what used to be the Black ‘Submit’ button after choosing a star rating is now (for me at least) a ‘Tip $1’ button. I got caught by it this morning after tapping reflexively.”

The user expressed how angry the 'change' made them, saying it was representative of a push towards tipping overall.

“I can't see anywhere in the app to turn it off or change it,” they said.

“They finally got me, but I'm pissed, not because I gave $1 to my driver (it was a genuinely good trip, I'd given him 5 stars) but because it's just a continuation of American culture and enshittification coming to our shores.”

“Dishonest design should not get them your money”

Commenters agreed that this kind of change would be unacceptable, calling the use of ‘dark patterns’ - tactics used by websites or apps to nudge or trick users into spending more money - manipulative and misleading.

“Misleading UI & manipulative prompts are a growing problem,” one commenter pointed out.

“That's some dark UX right there. Take advantage of people's muscle memory and promote it as the default option,” a third agreed.

Others encouraged everyone to push against these measures by instead advocating for adequate pay.

“We have to stay vigilant against it, particularly so the responsibility stays on employers and the government to ensure that people are paid adequately without tips,” said one commenter.

“I refuse to bow down to tipping culture, we’ve never needed it before and having it subversively and progressively be injected into our society that pays workers fairly is not cool,” another agreed.

It might not be what it seems

While the user reported a change, Uber confirmed to Kidspot that there has been no change to the app at all, with user experience remaining exactly the same.

They also assured that there is no reason the app could cause the experience featured as part of the Reddit thread.

Some commenters on the post suggested that the poster may have at some point turned on automatic tipping - a feature which users must opt into in their settings, and can also opt out of at any time (so, if you're seeing any unfamiliar charges, maybe check here first).

However, Uber confirmed that tips on Uber and Uber Eats are always entirely optional. If an Uber Eats customer feels their delivery deserves a tip, they can choose to leave one - it is never required.

When they do, 100% of the tip goes directly to the delivery person.

Originally published as 'Confusing' Uber app feature catching Aussies out