An Uber Eats driver in Texas couldn't hold back her anger after a customer decreased his tip after placing a $143 order which included five cases of water.
Dawn Garza was filmed arguing with the man called Eric in a TikTok video after she accused him of 'tip baiting.'
The phenomenon sees customers place big tips on the app to encourage riders to prioritize their order but then reduce it before it arrives.
Garza films herself arriving at Eric's workplace in the clip to discuss why the $21 up-front tip was reduced to 'nothing' upon delivery.
'They do this all the time. They tip bait so that way people will take their orders so they can be cheap,' Dawn said.
![Dawn Garza, and Uber Eats driver, argued with a shopper named Eric in a TikTok video, as she accused him of 'tip baiting'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/20/20/88736983-13761901-Dawn_Garza_and_Uber_Eats_driver_argued_with_a_shopper_named_Eric-m-4_1724183530152.jpg)
![The phenomenon sees customers place big tips on the app to encourage riders to prioritize their order but then reduce it before it arrives.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/20/20/88737003-13761901-image-a-5_1724183535188.jpg)
Dawn Garza, and Uber Eats driver, argued with a shopper named Eric in a TikTok video, and insisted nothing was changed after he put in his order
Garza claimed customers have tip-baited her 'all the time,' as she called for the company create a better system for tip reduction.
She dropped the $143 Target order at a DART operating facility in Dallas but returned to the building once she received the tip reduction notification.
She walked up to an unidentified female employee and told her that she was only paid $5.59 for a trip that should've been around $21.
The employee immediately went back into the building to look for Eric.
'This is a business... Why are you taking away money from hardworking,' Garza said before she spoke with 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 had not received notifications from Uber Eats since the order drop-off.
But Garza alleged Uber Eats sent a message to her with its 'sincere apologies,' confirming that Eric did reduce the tip. She showed screengrabs appearing to be from Uber Eats confirming this.
'He says he didn't know what I'm talking about, but Uber says otherwise,' Garza wrote.
Tip baiting is when someone places an order on apps like Uber Eats or DoorDash with a large tip, only to reduce or get rid of it after the deliverer brings them their items.
One common reason delivery app users tip bait is to have a driver prioritize their order.
The unfortunate method for food delivery is becoming more common, and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi was even a victim while working undercover in California.
Apps have begun implementing new systems to lower tip baiting, and drivers who run errands for customers at Walmart keep 100 percent of their tips.
'We understand tipping is an important part of the driver experience and are proud that most customers leave tips, with the majority of tip changes resulting in a higher tip for drivers,' a Walmart spokesperson told Business Insider earlier this year.
'Driver feedback has been influential in the development of current tipping features on the platform, and we're continuously exploring new features and enhancements to give drivers the best possible experience.'
TikTok users have advised Garza to try and use other apps like DoorDash or Instacart.
At least five TikTokers also praised the delivery driver for her calmness when speaking with Eric and the other female employee.
'You're better than me because I couldn’t do this because my anger gets a hold of me,' one wrote.
Others revealed they've tip-baited in the past but explained the reason behind their decision to do so.
'I only reduced my tip once. I was staying at a hotel, and they refused to communicate with me,' wrote a TikToker.
![Garza dropped off the $143 Target order at a DART operating facility in Dallas but returned to the building once she received the tip reduction notification](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/20/20/88736995-13761901-image-a-46_1724182165563.jpg)
Garza dropped off the $143 Target order at a DART operating facility in Dallas but returned to the building once she received the tip reduction notification
![She walked up to an unidentified female employee and told her that she was only paid $5.59 for a trip that should've been around $21](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/20/20/88736999-13761901-image-a-35_1724182109795.jpg)
She walked up to an unidentified female employee and told her that she was only paid $5.59 for a trip that should've been around $21
'They left my food outside with the bag open when no one was around, and it looked like somebody ate it.'
DailyMail.com reached out to Uber Eats for comment.