Why is tipping Las Vegas cab drivers different than tipping cab drivers elsewhere?

From jimjim: Why is tipping Las Vegas cab drivers different than tipping cab drivers elsewhere?

Because many, if not most, people who take cabs in Las Vegas are coming from cities where cabs are not a major mode of transportation (virtually all of Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, etc) and they don't know typical cab tipping protocol.
All cabbies deserve decent tips. But cabbies in LV are no worse off than cabbies in San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, etc. In fact, a quick search confirms that factoring in cost of living, LV cabbies have higher relative income than cabbies in most cities (including NYC prior to recent fare increase). Typical mid-range incomes are $30K-35K per year.

"Typical mid-range incomes are $30K-35K per year."

Your information is flawed. Whatever the reported median "salary" (there is no such thing for a driver) you are finding, there are no benefits, bonuses, or time off. Additionally, that number is probably pre-tax. So knock about 28% off for taxes and at least 25% off for health insurance and so forth.

And that might answer why so many cab drivers live in their cars.

Wasn't it only a year or two ago that they found that more Vegas cab drivers overcharged (or took tourists on the long route) than in any other city?

I still find ones that offer to go via "the fast way on the freeway" from the airport to the strip!

It's not "my" information, cher-cher.
I checked cabbie incomes for several large cities on a salary profile website (they lump all incomes under the term 'salary').
I suspect all the incomes for all professions were listed pre-tax, since every state and city has unique tax codes.
While I think all service people should be tipped appropriately, there are a number of reasons why cab drivers, maids and other workers without special skills are at the lower end of the pay scale. Much of it has to do with supply and demand. When there is a large pool of people who can do your job, it's hard for workers to force higher wages. Special skills/training/education usually (not always) lead to positions with higher pay. I am not of the position that all people in all jobs "deserve" good salaries and benefits. That's not how a free market economy works.

OK, the information that YOU provided was incorrect.

And I don't need a lesson on capitalism. There is a difference between "free market" and "exploitation." Cab companies exploit cab drivers. How do I know this? Personal experience. What do you have to contribute? Some meaningless statistic from the internet. Go figure. My original intent in this thread was to offer insight in opposition to the notion that cabbies have any use for a $.35 tip. I mean, now we've got blanket accusations of drivers being crooks! So what do you do? Let's see what you do for a living and how much you make and whether you really deserve whatever you're making.

travleis, go on the thread for SF Hotel Information. Cher_Cher is just looking for an argument with anyone and everyone.

Yeah, go do that. *rolls eyes*

I suggest you tip Las Vegas cab drivers 15% more than you tip other cab drivers.