Pre-tipping feels wrong to a lot of people — I get it. We’re taught that tips should come after good service, not before. But once you understand how modern service apps actually work, pre-tipping starts to look less like generosity and more like communication.

In this episode of the Tip You in the App Daily Drive Podcast, I explain why pre-tipping isn’t really a tip at all — it’s a bid for priority. I walk through a real delivery where the entire payout depended on a pre-tip, show how much risk service workers carry, and explain why customers often misunderstand who’s getting paid what.

This isn’t about guilt, pressure, or defending billion-dollar platforms. It’s about understanding the system we’re all participating in — and how small choices change outcomes on both sides.

Whether you use Uber, Uber Eats, DoorDash, or any service-based app, this episode will change how you think about tipping.