An Uber Eats delivery driver in Texas couldn’t contain her anger after a customer reduced his tip after placing a $143 order that included five cases of water.
Dawn Garza was filmed arguing with the man referred to as Eric in a TikTok video after she accused him of “tipbaiting.”
In this phenomenon, customers leave large tips through the app to encourage the customer to prioritize their order, but then reduce the tips before the order arrives.
In the clip, Garza films herself arriving at Eric’s workplace and explaining why the $21 delivery tip was reduced to “nothing.”
“They do this all the time. They tip bait so people will take their orders and they can be cheap,” Dawn said.
Dawn Garza and the Uber Eats driver got into an argument with a customer named Eric in a TikTok video, insisting nothing had changed after he placed his order
Garza claimed that customers were tipping her “all the time” and called on the company to develop a better tip reduction system.
She placed the $143 order for Target at a DART location in Dallas, but returned to the building when she received the tip reduction notification.
She walked up to an unknown female employee and told her she had only been charged $5.59 for a ride that should have cost around $21.
The employee immediately went back inside to look for Eric.
“This is a business… Why are you taking money from hardworking people,” Garza said before speaking to Eric.
Eric claimed he hadn’t touched the app since she dropped off his order.
He added that he didn’t know what to do and that he hadn’t received any notifications from Uber Eats since the order.
But Garza claimed that Uber Eats sent her a message with their “sincere apologies,” confirming that Eric had indeed lowered the tip. She provided screenshots that appeared to be from Uber Eats confirming this.
“He says he doesn’t know what I’m talking about, but Uber claims otherwise,” Garza wrote.
Tip baiting is when someone places an order on apps like Uber Eats or DoorDash with a high tip, but then lowers it or loses it altogether after the delivery person delivers the order.
A common reason delivery app users tip is that they want the delivery person to prioritize their order.
This unfortunate way of delivering food is becoming more common. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi was even a victim while working undercover in California.
Apps have begun implementing new systems to reduce tipping, and drivers who run errands for customers at Walmart keep 100 percent of their tips.
“We understand that tipping is an important part of the driver experience and are proud that most customers tip, with most tip changes resulting in increased tips for drivers,” a Walmart spokesperson said. Company Insider earlier this year.
‘Driver feedback has influenced the development of the current tipping features on the platform. We are continually exploring new features and improvements to provide drivers with the best possible experience.’
TikTok users have advised Garza to try other apps, like DoorDash or Instacart.
At least five TikTokers praised the delivery driver for her calmness during the conversation with Eric and the other female worker.
“You are better than me because I couldn’t do this because my anger gets the better of me,” one person wrote.
Others indicated that they had tipped in the past, but explained why they did so.
“I’ve only had my tip reduced once. I was staying at a hotel and they refused to communicate with me,” one TikToker wrote.
Garza dropped off the $143 Target order at a DART location in Dallas, but returned to the building when she received the tip reduction notification
She walked up to an unknown female employee and told her she was only paid $5.59 for a trip that should have cost about $21.
“They left my food outside with the bag open, while no one was around. It looked like someone had eaten it.”
DailyMail.com has reached out to Uber Eats for comment.