From wikipedia: "Bribery is the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official, or other person, in charge of a public or legal duty"
How is tipping upfront any way related to the above definition? Or are you just using "bribery" to mean "exchange of money I don't like"?
It’s not. Then again, few people would disagree with the usage above. Why is this so important to you that it’s worth being pedantic? Do you find the wording of the comment confusing?
Because words have meanings, and playing fast and loose with words for dramatic effect cheapens it. Next time a someone is accused of taking a "bribe", do we know it's actual corruption, or someone expressing displeasure about the transaction?
> persuade (someone) to act in one’s favour, typically illegally or dishonestly, by a gift of money or other inducement
This is a fee for service.
Not my comment.
And maybe not “most” people. I understood perfectly well what OP was saying.
And I don't personally know anyone who wouldn't consider it a bribe, except for one or two pedants.
The fact that is it nebulous, and if you don't put a number that's considered big enough (by someone elses judgement) then you won't get your food delivered puts it beyond a "fee".
Or gambling? It's the lootbox of food...
With usps you are paying more for a guaranteed service. There are standards they'll hold that delivery to. You are paying for something specific and real.
A higher pre-tip on the other hand is paying for a hope and a prayer that you get what you paid for on time and in good working order. It's not the same thing at all.
If you paid a fee for priority Uber that let you jump the queue it'd be closer to not a bribe.
Do you feel the same way about how offering a better price on craigslist gets you counterparties faster? eg. if the going price for a phone is $300, and you list at $250, you're going to get people messaging you sooner because you essentially "jumped the queue" for everyone who's looking to buy a phone.
With Uber you are making a one-sided negotiation in which the other party doesn't know what terms you'd like. You can pay more to potentially get better terms, but you don't know how much more to pay or how much better it will make those terms.