Tipping in the Gig Economy: How to Tip for Modern Services

The gig economy has quickly grown and taken over many traditional service industries. With the rise of rideshare, delivery, and personal assistant services such as Task Rabbit, it can be hard to know what the best tipping practices are. Understanding the social expectations and in-app tipping settings is a great move in avoiding any confusion or uncomfortable interactions. This article will be teaching you how to tip like a pro in all services of the gig economy. We will be going over all the Pro tips and best practices to help you navigate through this new economy.

Ridesharing

Ridesharing apps such as Uber and Lyft have revolutionized the way people get around town. Knowing how to tip correctly when using these services is important. For rides like Uber Pool, tipping is not expected since the driver is dealing with numerous riders and making less money overall. However, if you had a great ride, it is still acceptable to tip a few dollars. For regular Uber and Lyft trips, the general rule is to tip your driver 10-20%. This is generally done within the app and your driver should be able to see it before picking up their next passenger. It is also important to always check the “rate your driver” feature at the end of the ride.

Delivery Services

Delivery services such as Instacart, Postmates, and DoorDash rely on people with a personal vehicle to deliver items within a short timeframe. These drivers often receive little to no base pay and rely solely on customer tips. For this reason, it is recommended to tip 10-20% of the cost of the order for delivery drivers. If you happen to be ordering a large amount, some apps let you tip your driver before the order is placed. This is especially beneficial for the driver since it guarantees a minimum tip, regardless of the length of the order or delivery distance.

Task Rabbit

Task Rabbit is a platform that connects skilled laborers with companies or private individuals that require their services. Since this is essentially a freelancing job, it is up to the client to determine how much to tip their Task Rabbit. It is generally recommended to tip 15-20% on top of the cost of the job, although how much you tip ultimately comes down to the quality of service. If you are pleased with the contractor’s work and have the funds to spare, it is always polite to show your appreciation.

Pet Sitting and Dog Walking

Pet sitting and dog walking services are typically provided by independent contractors who have a strong relationship with their clients. It is customary to tip around 5-10% of the total cost of the service, although many pet owners are known to give their sitter/walker more than this. It is also common to include a small gift or personalized thank you card in addition to the tip. This will make your pet sitter/walker feel extra special and appreciated for their hard work.

In conclusion, it is important to know how to tip correctly for the different types of services you use. For ridesharing apps such as Uber and Lyft, a 10-20% tip is generally recommended. Delivery services such as Instacart, Postmates, and DoorDash tend to require higher age due to the small base pay many drivers receive and tip s should be around 10-20% of the cost of the order. For Task Rabbit services it is usually 15-20% of the total cost of the job and pet sitting and dog walking is typically 5-10%. It is also recommended to express your appreciation with a small gift or thank you note apart from the tip, as this will make the person feel extra special.