Tip the pizza delivery driver!

[Rik Meleet]

What many of you foreigners aren't getting is that it's NOT a "hidden cost". Here in America, it is expected. Everyone knows this, even if they do not approve of it, so it is by no means "hidden". It is by no means cheating the customer. It is an omnipresent fact that these people are supposed to pay tips.

So there are information sheets or signs on the walls (or on the pizza-deliverer's cap) saying either: "when we say $10 we actually mean $13" or in a different way informing me what I am supposed to pay extra to avoid the danger of being embarrassed, eat pissed-over food or swallow the insult that others are served quicker than I am ??
And if there isn't and I do get treated that way I can sue ?

If not - than the cost is hidden.

Everyone knows this,

I don't, so not everyone knows this.

 

[psweetman1590]

So there are information sheets or signs on the walls (or on the pizza-deliverer's cap) what I am supposed to pay extra to avoid the danger of being embarrassed, eat pissed-over food or swallow the insult that others are served quicker than I am ??
And if there isn't and I do get treated that way I can sue ?

No, it's not posted. 15% is standard, this is societal truth. Do you sue the government when they arrest you for murder, because the fact that murder is illegal was not posted somewhere obvious? Of course not, it is obvious to everyone that murder is illegal. Similarly, it is obvious here that a 15% tip is expected for decent service. Like I said EVERY KNOWS THIS, EVEN IF THEY DISAPPROVE, THEY KNOW THAT IT'S EXPECTED REGARDLESS. It doesn't need to be posted, and it's not a "hidden"cost as you claimed it was.

 

[warpus]

I always thought it was common sense not to insult people who frequently handle your food. Its the unspoken law. :shrug: I can't honestly say I feel sorry for those people who get a thick rubbery loogey in their marinara sauce for being a dick head.

Remember; it's a gratuity. They have every right to refuse to tip, even if they're being jackasses about it. You, however, have no right to spit in the food.

Not to justify someone not tipping and being a jackass about it.. but that just doesn't justify spitting in the food. I'd hope you'd get fired for something like that.

And people rarely ask for coins. I mean its an albino crocodile kind of deal. I think I had one person in my entire time as a driver ask me for coins back and I told him that I don't carry them and he left it at that.

That's strange.

My experience (and I do order out a couple times a month, although not as frequently as I used to anymore) is that the driver will have change - and will begin to count out change after I pay him. I usually tip after I get all the change back.. sometimes I just say "keep the change", and I might throw something in, but they always have change. I'd consider it bad form if you arrived at the door unable to make change. It's a part of your job. What if somebody doesn't want to tip? You need to come prepared.

What many of you foreigners aren't getting is that it's NOT a "hidden cost". Here in America, it is expected. Everyone knows this, even if they do not approve of it, so it is by no means "hidden". It is by no means cheating the customer. It is an omnipresent fact that these people are supposed to pay tips.

Some do, some don't. As long as it's a tip/gratuity, some people won't tip - even the name of it implies that it is optional.

I wonder how successful a restaurant would be if they put up "We've raised prices by 15% so that you don't have to tip! Don't tip our waiters - we are paying them well" signs.

Somebody should try this.

 

[psweetman1590]

What if somebody doesn't want to tip?

Then it's the customer's responsibility to pay the precise amount.

I wonder how successful a restaurant would be if they put up "We've raised prices by 15% so that you don't have to tip! Don't tip our waiters - we are paying them well" signs.

I'd be willing to bet that they would lose a lot of business, especially as the quality of service declined (no tips? Why should the waiters work all that hard then?).

 

[warpus]

Then it's the customer's responsibility to pay the precise amount.

That is the norm.... ... .. nowhere.

I'd be willing to bet that they would lose a lot of business, especially as the quality of service declined (no tips? Why should the waiters work all that hard then?).

Because they get paid well = no need to rely on tips.

 

[brainpan]

About this, I'd like to say that, in Brazil at least, the consumer's defense code makes it a duty of the businessmen to have the necessary change in whatever situation. The penalty for not having exact change is to withstanding the cost of the closer change available.

It doesn't necessarily work that way in The States. The consumer is sometimes expected to burden this responsibility here. If you want to ride a bus in Vegas, for instance--I can't imagine why anyone would want to do this--you better have exact change.

 

[The Yankee]

It doesn't necessarily work that way in The States. The consumer is sometimes expected to burden this responsibility here. If you want to ride a bus in Vegas, for instance--I can't imagine why anyone would want to do this--you better have exact change.

That's only because bus drivers are no longer carrying around pockets full of change to make transactions. You either dip in the transit card or pay the money into the farebox (which in the MTA here don't take dollar bills).

I don't think there's any hard and fast rules unless there are technical obstacles, such as the above.

 

[brainpan]

So there are information sheets or signs on the walls (or on the pizza-deliverer's cap) saying either: "when we say $10 we actually mean $13" or in a different way informing me what I am supposed to pay extra to avoid the danger of being embarrassed, eat pissed-over food or swallow the insult that others are served quicker than I am ?

You're overstating your case here. Taxes aren't always advertized in a price either, but that too is amazingly simple to deal with.

If not - than the cost is hidden. I don't, so not everyone knows this.

But you know what? Now you do! It seems like we have a peculiar reversal of the stereotypical norm. Why is it that we suddenly have a throng of Europeans wanting to act like the most cloddish "Ugly American?"

I'm sorry you don't approve of the way things are done here, Rik. But if you're going to travel to a foreign country, you should learn at least the most rudimentary basic customs that exist there.

 

[The Yankee]

You're overstating your case here. Taxes aren't always advertized in a price either, but that too is amazingly simple to deal with.

Not to go too far on a tangent, but I do wish that I knew if taxes would be applied ahead of time, or if it were just included in the price (I know it'd destroy many $XX.99 prices, but so be it). Though I do like when I enter a store and I don't have the taxes tacked onto the price, whatever it may be.

I can only approximate what the NYC sales tax hit would be. At least I know how much I'm going to toss into the tip, since I figure that out before I call or order.

 

[psweetman1590]

Rik, you added those last two lines on your post after I read it, so I couldn't respond to it before. When I said everyone, I meant everyone in America. You don't tip in the Netherlands, so it's understandable that you don't know, but it also doesn't pertain to this conversation. Everyone who lives in a culture where tipping is expected knows to tip, and they know that tipping should be around 15%. There are those too cheap to do this, and there are those who object for other reasons, but that doesn't change the fact that in the US and other tipping countries, everyone knows, and thus it is not a hidden cost.

Referring to the exact change thing:

That is the norm.... ... .. nowhere

I don't care where the norm is, no where does it state that a delivery boy is required to carry exact change with him. The store might do it out of policy (customer satisfaction) but no where in the US is it a law, no where can you call the police and complain that you were robbed of twenty cents because you couldn't get exact change. If it's that important to you THEN FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, GO TO YOUR CHANGE BOX AND MAKE THE EXACT CHANGE YOURSELF. YOU ARE IN YOUR OWN HOUSE AFTER ALL.

If you're too lazy to do that, then as Bug said, if you don't want to be short changed, then the delivery boy will just take the pizza back. He has no obligation to sell if you don't pay up first.

Because they get paid well = no need to rely on tips.

But they would get paid well even if they didn't do a good job, so where is the incentive to work hard? On the other hand, if you have to scramble to earn those tips, you WILL scramble, and do your damnest to make the customers happy.

 

[Ansar]

15% is the normal tip?!

Geez, even my parents are cheapskates!

 

[cubsfan6506]

I just got a burn cold pizza. Yuck. I told him to take his tip out of the payment for the pie.

 

[Irish Caesar]

I wonder how successful a restaurant would be if they put up "We've raised prices by 15% so that you don't have to tip! Don't tip our waiters - we are paying them well" signs.

Somebody should try this.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I wouldn't go there.

Part of it is a psychological thing for me, I like to eat good food, but tacking on another dollar and a half in the menu does make a difference when I order something. I have no problem paying $11.99 for a good meal and a nice atmosphere to enjoy it. $13.79 seems a bit excessive to me for the same thing. I realize that I'd be paying the same amount in the end, but the breakdown just doesn't feel good to me.

And you know what? In this country, I'd probably tip anyway. I know not to in Europe now, thank you all for letting me know before I show up in a few years and do that, but that's just the way people do things here. I don't have a problem with that.

And besides, I like to be able to decide for myself how much to tip. Adding it to the bill automatically really pisses me off, and it's quite presumptuous. I will tip you, and I'll probably tip more than 15% on my own, but if you act as though it's expected, that's a .

 

[Bamspeedy]

Because they get paid well = no need to rely on tips.

They may have less stress and perhaps happier (they don't have to work so hard), but there isn't an incentive to give exceptional service if they don't have to earn their tips. 'Most' people who are in a position where their output isn't going to make much of a difference in their pay tend to do mediocre work at best, and often do only the minimum so they don't get fired.

The high-tip earners work hard to provide great service so they can earn even more money. The low-tip earners just aren't meant to be working in that kind of job (clumsy, slow, not good in dealing with people, forgetful, etc.) and will eventually get sick of the low pay and find another job that better suits them.

Disclaimer: Of course there are exceptions to every rule.

 

[warpus]

But they would get paid well even if they didn't do a good job, so where is the incentive to work hard?

Waiters who didn't work hard enough would get fired and replaced with those who would.

I'm a web developer - I don't get tipped, but I work hard anyway.

 

[Bugfatty300]

Remember; it's a gratuity. They have every right to refuse to tip, even if they're being jackasses about it. You, however, have no right to spit in the food.

Not to justify someone not tipping and being a jackass about it.. but that just doesn't justify spitting in the food. I'd hope you'd get fired for something like that.

Why are you telling me this as if I do it or condone it?

What if somebody doesn't want to tip? You need to come prepared.

If they insist on getting back their few cents back then they can come into store and get their dimes and nickels from a register. Or they can just ask for their money back and forget the whole thing. Now if the manager told me I had to carry coins then I would. Reasonable people don't care about coins especially when it comes to things like deliveries. Drivers don't care about them either.

The reality is that delivery guy is in one of the most hazardous jobs in this country with cab drivers and policemen. Giving him $.02 is a freaking embarrassment.

Thank you! I nearly got mauled today by a customer's dog. Dogs seem to be the biggest threats around here (other than road raging rednecks).

I pulled into the driveway, got out with the order and this monster of a mut who comes out snarling at me and barking at me. I had to jump back in the car to avoid being bitten. I waited in the car for a few minutes (with the rabbid dog circling the car) with no help from no one so I decided to leave (and run this damn dog over in the process). Just as I was pulling into the street to leave the customer finally comes out and gets the dog inside and we did the transaction in the middle of the street (with me still in the car) I really wanted to cuss these people out for luring me here to be their dogs chew toy. Don't they know their dog is super aggressive and possibly dangerous?

I had a good mind to report them to animal control or to the manager who would note their file as "non delivery; Carry out only." (We don't have to deliver to places that we consider "unsafe.")

But they tipped and apologized so I let it go. Just hope they keep that animal chained up next time.

 

[Nobody]

Don't you tip to say thank you for the service, and encourage them to give it to you next time. So if tips go away expect worse service.

But if 15% is almost a unwritten law and people pay it often when service isnt great, wont the pizza boys/restaurant workers just start giving lax service because they know 15% is coming anyway. And then they will expect 30% for good service and it will become the norm......

 

[brainpan]

I think in cases like this, the laws of economics dictate how much you will pay for goods and services, Nobody. They won't get more pay for their work unless it's currently undervalued.

We aren't currently paying an extra 15% for services, we pay what they're actually worth. Maybe this is what has subconsciously got a few people hung up, a false perception that they are being forced to pay more for a service than it's actual value.

 

[Mise]

I'd be willing to bet that they would lose a lot of business, especially as the quality of service declined (no tips? Why should the waiters work all that hard then?).

I don't get tipped at my job -- I suppose I have no reason to work hard. Woohoo! I can slack off and spit on people's spreadsheets!

 

[warpus]

If they insist on getting back their few cents back then they can come into store and get their dimes and nickels from a register. Or they can just ask for their money back and forget the whole thing. Now if the manager told me I had to carry coins then I would. Reasonable people don't care about coins especially when it comes to things like deliveries. Drivers don't care about them either.

Could be a regional thing, *shrug*.

Whenever I get food delivered, the driver starts counting out change right after I pay.

I then can either stop him and say "keep the change", or wait until he's done, and then tip him.

I've seriously never come across a driver who didn't bring change with him. I would find that rude; he is assuming that he's going to get a tip. By assuming this, he is far less likely to get a good tip, at least from me.

If you don't come prepared, why should you get a good tip?