7 Reasons to Tip Your Delivery Person ...

By Lyndsie

There are lots of great reasons to tip your delivery person when you have food delivered to your house, but unfortunately most people don't consider them. The thing is, drivers don't expect a huge tip; some only expect 10 percent, although 15 percent and up is better, especially if the orders are complicated. Either way, if you add $5 to your bill, it's not that much for having your food delivered straight to your home. So consider some of the best reasons to tip on deliveries; maybe these will change your mind, or help you convince friends who don't tip on deliveries that they really should.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Please subscribe for your personalized newsletter:

1

The Myth of the Delivery Charge

A lot of people assume they don't have to tip delivery people because of the delivery charge they receive on their bill. While it's logical to think that charge goes to the delivery person, it's not true. In most cases, that charge goes to the restaurant; the drivers don't see a dime. One of the best reasons to tip your delivery driver is because they aren't getting paid well for the delivery. Generally, drivers get one wage when they're in the store. When they log out to go on a delivery, their hourly wage drops significantly. They'll receive sub-minimum wage while clocked out on a delivery, a paltry gas reimbursement that ranges on average between $0.80 to $1.19 per delivery, and that's it. The point is, they definitely don't usually see that delivery charge.

2

They're Still Waiting on You

“They're just driving the food over,” we say to ourselves. “They didn't make it, they don't have to keep bringing me food, they don't need a tip.” We say that about delivery people and the servers who run takeout deliveries out to our cars or get them together inside the restaurant. It's not true for either worker. In lots of restaurants, the drivers do actually have a hand in making the food, even if they're only prepping salad, slicing vegetables for pizzas, and things like that. Furthermore, they do their best to get your food to you in a timely manner, making sure that it's still hot and includes all the little extras you need – like ranch cups!

3

Car Maintenance

In most cases, delivery drivers use their own vehicles on the job. Aside of their gas reimbursements per delivery, they don't get anything for that. Their restaurants don't pay for upkeep, it doesn't matter if they run out of gas on a delivery, get rear ended, or slide into a ditch when they're delivering on cold, wet nights. Yes, it's absolutely they're choice to be delivery drivers, but without them, you'd be stuck with carry out.

4

The Danger Factor

Delivering food can be dangerous for a variety of reasons. There are angry pets, disgruntled customers, inclement weather, and crazy people with which to contend. Some strange customer might invite them inside for the wrong reasons, they could get lost in a dodgy part of town, or they might get attacked by a stray. They risk all of that every shift, taking precautions while still trying hard to make sure your food is piping hot when it gets to you. Don't they deserve a few bucks and a smile?

5

They See Your Undies (and Don't Judge)

My local delivery people see me in the most horrible states imaginable. Granted, I never answer the door in my underwear, but many people do. Still, I know I can come to the door with horrible hair, no makeup, and my Care Bear pajamas, and they won't judge me – at least not to my face. They see your stained boxers, the dog poop on your lawn, the smeared makeup, the tear stains; they probably know when you're fighting with your partner or when your kid just had a major tantrum, and they still smile and deliver your dinner.

Famous Quotes

Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.

Niccolò Machiavelli
6

They Work Hard

Delivery people work hard. They generally aren't just lounging around the restaurant, waiting for deliveries to come in. Lots of them have this job because the hours are flexible, allowing them to make extra money while they go to school or support their families. They're cleaning the store, doing dishes, working on the make lines, and hauling ass in rush hour traffic. I couldn't even handle that without losing it!

7

They Depend on Tips Too

Like servers in restaurants, they depend on your tips, too. Lots of people skip tipping their delivery drivers because they judge that they're not the same as servers. They aren't at your side all throughout a meal, bringing you drink refills, extra sides, and dessert. That's true, but the two jobs are apples and oranges; you can't really compare them, except to say that they also don't expect the same kind of tip you give your in-house servers. They won't say a word if you don't tip them, or if you give them $0.50 on a $20 meal – but it hurts, it stings, and it disappoints, because while $2.00 doesn't seem like a lot, it adds up for them.

I'm not trying to sound preachy; I used to think many of these things myself. However, there are lots of flaws in all aspects of the service industry, flaws about which I've only recently become aware. I appreciate everyone who brings me food when it's been a bad or stressful day and I don't have time to cook or don't feel like going out. Where do you fall on the debate? Have any of these reasons to tip changed your mind?

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

I'm a manager at a pizza place and this made me so happy to see a post about this and that someone cares!

My boyfriend is a delivery driver and I am a waitress and I have to agree with this article completely! Fixing your car is extremely expensive especially when you're either getting stiffed or getting loose change as a tip. Loose change doesn't buy new tires. My boyfriend once delivered a pizza to a woman wearing a t shirt... Only a T shirt and not a long one at that! But there are also those out there who don't feel the need to tip a server! After spending at least an hour serving a family a $1.50 tip doesn't cut it. I can't pay my rent off of my $2.13/hr! Both of us have been stiffed from people who got free food! That's not right. So people give your delivery drivers and servers a little love!

I am a delivery person and i have to use my own gas. Gas is not cheap!!

$2.13 an hour? Where do you live? Don't you have minimum wage?

This is great to show my co-worker friend...we always get into this very argument. I say she's not tipping enough for our deliveries - and she's the pickiest customer in the world! She made a delivery person drive back in the biggest snow storm of the year b/c her soda was diet instead of regular & she still didn't tip enough! (Just one of a million incidents.) I can't wait to show her this post, boom.

See bless

*credit CARD

Things must be really different where you live! I'm in eastern canada and minimum wage is 10$ an hour, no matter what. Whether or not you get tips, or whatever the case may be, all waitresses/delivery drivers make at least that, and delivery drivers use company paid cars and a company credit car for gas (usually)! I still tip, though. I used to deliver pizzas in college, so I totally understand.

I completely agree with this! Working in a pizza restaurant has defenatly taught me to tip and help out the fellow servers. I see how the drivers struggle to make ends meet when this is their only job. Some have kids, some have just themselves and are trying to go back to school. I also agree with the frustrations of serving a family and getting less than a 10% tip. Sometimes we don't even get a tip and if we do we have to split it between the other servers. Sometimes it would be nice to have everyone serve a family just to see how much work waitressing is!!

Related Topics

dont kiss and tell cute dresses at forever 21 important in the understanding of past events being geek country songs not about love i love doctor who why are retail workers treated so badly how to meet a country man jr ward black dagger brotherhood travel when you are young

Popular Now