Tired of Cheapskates!!

[jee70611]

Hi everyone,<br /><br />I deliver pizzas in Knoxville, TN while going to school and I'm just wondering how many of you tip your delivery driver. I've been wanting to say something on here about this for a while now, but I never got around to it. I'm getting sick and tired of people thinking that we do this for our health. We have to pay for all our own gas, car payment, insurance, and maintenance. We only get minimum wage on our paychecks and rely primarily on TIPS! Nothing makes us madder than to deliver a pizza all the way out to BFE to get stiffed. Or even worse, for you to order $11.96 worth of pizza then write a CHECK for $12.00 and then to have the nerve to say "Keep the change." Thanks but no thanks. Looks like you need it more than me. Not only did it cost us money to bring it to you, but it cost us our time. We could have taken someone elses to them and made something. It gets even worse when the people who just stiffed you lives in a fancy three story house with all sorts of money. Don't get me wrong, I know that I have it better than a lot of people, and for that I am very thankful. It's getting old though. Frankly, it's about to drive us all out of the business or we'll have to start charging for delivery. No matter how much you order, you should at least tip $2.00 otherwise it's not worth our time. A good tip for orders up to $35.00 tip $5.00. Anything above that, tip a percentage of like 10-15% or just double the tax. Just remember that we remember the people who tip well and those who don't tip at all. I would NEVER do anything to anyones food, but I can take it LAST if I know for sure that I won't get anything out of it. Also, treat us like the PEOPLE we are!! I refuse to be treated like a dog without putting you in your place. I WILL NOT take it no matter what. You treat us decent and we will treat you decent. Remember the saying you get more bees with honey than with vinegar. <br /><br />James<br /><br />PS: Sorry for all the ranting, but I'm just getting tired of this and had to vent

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Tired of Cheapskates!!

Normally when I order a pizza for delivery it's just that, one pizza. I always tip one buck. considering the thing cost eight bucks I think a buck tip is fair. If the pizza place adds on a charge for delivery,,well lets just say whatever loose change I may have is what they get.<br /><br />Most times I just go pick it up. I like my food hot and a lot of these delivery guys have no way to keep the stuff hot, you know like the trucks they used to have with the big insulated deal on the back. Some times by the time they get around to making all the stops the food is ice cold.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Tired of Cheapskates!!

jim, i feel for you. i always tip big- 20% at restaurants and bars. anything under $10 (pizza, haircut, etc), i usually throw $3 to the tip. i have many friends that were/are waiterers and waitresses. i know they depend on the tips. many states don't even have to pay minimum wage, the resturant pays $2.15/hr and expects the person to make up the rest in tips. almost free labor for them. so hang in there, those of us who know you depend on your tips will take care of you.

 

[rwise]

Re: Tired of Cheapskates!!

We live on the edge of dilivery service and know that it takes a little more time to get to us. One of the drivers would call for directions as sone as he left (dosen't need to that anymore) he got a little extra for his efort. But never less than $2.00 even for bad service (sorry I couldn't find.....) and never less the 15% the better the service the better the tip! Most get $5.00 or more. My wife waited tables for many years, so I understand! Have you thought of a nice steak house with mixed drinks? Friday night she would make $200 - $300 in about 5 hours, pay was $2.15 per hour. She would come home tired and stressed out.<br />Richard

 

[gaugeguy]

Re: Tired of Cheapskates!!

Don't have delivery, too far away from civilization, so I get my own. Make the kids mouths water all the way home from the smell of the pies. Two pizzas cost me $21, so if we did have delivery, the driver would get a $4 tip.

 

[BrianFD]

Re: Tired of Cheapskates!!

I ALWAYS tip the driver at least a couple of bucks, usually more, regardless if they charge a delivery fee or not. Heck, I'm not out in MY car in the cold or snow or rain burnin' MY gas, puttin' up with road construction & lousy drivers, so I figure that's the least I can do.<br />One night, my wife tipped the driver $4 in the check she wrote, I didn't catch it and tipped him $5 cash... $9 tip for a $15 pizza! Man, was he a happy camper!<br />I was gonna say something nasty about all the lousy pizzas I've gotten, but I'll leave that for another thread. Besides, that's rarely the driver's fault.<br />Drive careful out there, jee70611!

 

[Skiuseme]

Re: Tired of Cheapskates!!

As an Insurance agents we get a chuckle when we here that some one is a pizza guy. Because of one simple fact. If you are useing your car as a mode of transportation when bringing people their pizzas it is a national law that you must have a commercial policy that covers your car. Your regular car insurance will not cover your butt when you get in an accident because you are using your car as a Business use. I was just wondering if you have a commercial policy. ( Im Not Trying to Solict Im Just Trying to Inform You) Just my two Cents.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Tired of Cheapskates!!

I'm like gaugeguy.<br />When I call for delivery and tell them who I am, they say, "Sorry, the 4 wheel drive is broke down"<br /><br />Oh well, that's life in the sticks.

 

[gaugeguy]

Re: Tired of Cheapskates!!

ouch skiuseme, that's gonna leave a mark.

 

[gaugeguy]

Re: Tired of Cheapskates!!

Beats city livin all to hell, doesn't it SBN?

 

[KennyKenCan]

Re: Tired of Cheapskates!!

Would you leave a tip if your pizza arrives cold and 1 hr. 15 mins. after the order was placed?<br /><br />I don't, but that is why I don't have it delivered, better off picking it up yourself!

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Tired of Cheapskates!!

You betcha gaugeguy.<br />They don't have enough money for me to live in the city.

 

[neumanns]

Re: Tired of Cheapskates!!

We do not have a pizza parlor with delivery, but being in a small town if you call down and they are not busy someone will run one out. That gets a tip because it is above and beyond. But there is no pizza on friday night.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Tired of Cheapskates!!

I used to make deliveries and still remember the night, snowstorm, delivery to a $250,000 house-which by the way was a mansion in 1980's Wisconsin, 2 onion and cheese pizzas!!!!!??<br />Got it there within 30 minutes of the ordertime.<br /><br />They waited while I counted out 11 cents change!!<br /><br />Then I drove thru their flowerbed with my GMC. <br /><br />It was really bad around the college campus. Either they didn't have the money to pay, or they paid by CCard over the phone and you got no tip.

 

[jee70611]

Re: Tired of Cheapskates!!

Yes Kenny I would still tip if it was that old and even cold. It's not the drivers fault. Just call the store and in our case, we would put you a credit for a free one next time or send out another one so long as you weren't an A-hole to us. We do this a few times a night usually if we're really busy. Often times, that is when we are busting are arse's out there and getting less because people tend to think it's our fault. We can only drive so fast and when it's so busy that your deliveries aren't getting out of the oven before they are 45 minutes old on an extremely busy night. It's kinda hard to deliver them out to the sticks any sooner. A lot of times, I'll call them and let them know it's going to take longer than expected. Maybe even bring them a free drink for the delay. Regardless, the driver still had to spend money just to get it to you. Wouldn't it make sense that the more deliveries in a night one can take the more money they'll make? Then why would we take our merry little time getting it to you. We wouldn't and don't. I'm always as polite as I can be and do my best to help the customer out. Since I've been working here for so long I even manage a little if necessary. If someone complains about it taking too long and I know they were told different I'll do a little something for the price or even sometimes give it to them for free as long as they don't come running out there cussing me and yelling at me. They do that and I tell them that we don't need customers like that and take the pizza back to the store. Heck, since my boss don't require us to turn in coupons, a lot of times, if I get tipped and they're nice enough I'll even let them keep the coupon and tell them to use it again. Even if it's for a free side or something. I go a long way to give good customer service. If they're cocky, well lets just say that if they don't have the coupon it's full price time. Flahthead, we still appreciate the buck, but regardless of how much the pizza costs, it still costs us the same amount to deliver it. I sat down and figured it up one time that it costs right at $2.00 for me to deliver one all the way out to the edge of our delivery area. That's including gas, tires, oil changes, and other regular maintenance costs. That's why I mentioned the $2.00 minimum. Also, we have insulated bags with electric heat "stones" to keep them hot. Matt, you're right about them not having to pay minimum wage. The minimum wage here for a tipped employee is $2.13/hr. There would be no drivers that would work for that. Roscoe, I know what you mean. I've had people like that too, just makes you wanna get a bunch of fertilizer and write TIP in their fancy well-manicured grass or fill their yard with oatmeal HAHAHAHA!!! I've not done that, but for some people I would've liked to. Skiuseme, our company has an insurance policy that will cover in the event that ours doesn't. I do have the proper insurance though. Just one more HIGH expense. Thanks for the concern. Not having the money is no excuse either. If they can order $30.00 worth of pizza then they can tip. They could leave off a side item or something. There's no excuse for not tipping. If you don't have a couple of bucks to give the driver, then you don't need to have pizza. You can buy plenty of bread and bologna at the grocery store instead. The only time I'll not get aggrivated is if it's to a house with some little kids and no way to get to the store. Even then, if they order a bunch of pizza or write a check there's no excuse. Brian, I'm always very careful when I'm delivering. I'm a pretty well built guy so they'd have to think twice before messing with me LOL. Also, we don't deliver to any bad areas. I work for a pretty good company that refuses to put us in any more danger by delivering to the ghetto. Now I know there are a lot of good people in the ghetto, but NOT worth the risk. Since I've been working there, I've only heard of someone getting robbed two times in the last 3 years. That's not a very high rate in my book. I'd say we have a better chance at getting robbed in the mall parking lot than on a delivery. Then again, that's why we don't go to "da hood." <br /><br />James

 

[salty87]

Re: Tired of Cheapskates!!

i don't order from places that charge a delivery fee. i figure they aren't giving it to the drivers and they STILL need a tip. you're looking at around an extra $8 in that case....for a $12 pizza, that's crazy (ryhmes with pizza butt).<br /><br />i tip pretty good 'cause i'd hate to deliver pizzas and i'm obviously hungry at that time = pretty good tip<br /><br />question....do you make a point to show up with red pepper and parmesan?...that's my peeve with the local pizza place, tip might be a little smaller especially if they forget the sodas!

 

[Ken G]

Re: Tired of Cheapskates!!

Everyone should get a chance to deliver pizzas at least once. I did it for a couple of months about 10 years ago. If I got stiffed for a tip I tried to not let it bother me, it usually averaged out at the end of the night. I usually got better tips from people living in run down trailers than people living in big new houses.<br /><br />I delivered a $15 order to a young guy one night and gave him a $5 bill for change from a twenty. As the door closed I thought "dummy, you didn't give him any singles to tip you with." The next night he placed the same order and I delivered it. I gave him my last 5 singles for his change and still didn't get a tip. I almost knocked on his door to buy my singles back but I didn't.<br /><br />Another time I pulled in a driveway and realized my bag was empty, I had forgot the pizza, DUH. I knocked on the door and told the customer I had called the store and they were making a new pizza and I'd be back with it in 10 minutes. He said no problem. When I returned the customer had the cash in his hand and said "how much?" I said since I screwed up this one was on me. He took the pizza, said thanks, and closed the door. I could have charged him the $15 and stuck it in my pocket. Oh Well.<br /><br />James, one thing I used to do was keep a couple of old ratty, worn out singles in my pouch. I'd include them in the change and usually the customer would tip you with the nasty bills. A waitress friend told me that trick.

 

[pjc]

Re: Tired of Cheapskates!!

hey jee70611, ya got any stories about stuff like what happens in some of "those" movies?????<br /><br />Ya know, you ring the doorbell, when it opens, a sultry voice says "come on in big guy"---

 

[jee70611]

Re: Tired of Cheapskates!!

Hi salty, I haven't had many people ask me for red pepper and parmesan on deliveries for me to start carrying them, but we do give them out free if they ask. I always check to make sure I have all of their sides and cokes. Of course, occasionally we all make mistakes. We're human after all. KenG, Thanks for the "tip"

 

[jee70611]

Re: Tired of Cheapskates!!

LOL Pat. I've had them come VERY close. Had a few hotties come to the door in their lingerie and been invited to "parties". A guy I work with has been working there for over ten years and he's told me about a few stories. Once, he delivered to a motel room where some cheerleaders were staying and lets just say that he "ran out of gas" on his way back lol. The best part is, the boss wouldn't care if that was the case LOL.