Having worked in hospitality I’ve certainly experienced customers with odd questions (“What temperature do you serve your coffee at?”), but with the exception of drunk patrons in bars accusing the floorstaff of stealing their drinks when they put them down (because they were empty), most of it wasn’t as bad as some of the horror stories here.
I’d be interested to see, however, if there are many posters on the boards who are prepared to admit that they either don’t tip at all, or when they do, it is only a couple of bucks at most…
Well, a couple bucks is 15% for a one-person bill at a lot of places…
I’ve stopped getting any kind of delivery pizza. It’s not that great, and the fees they tack on are really obnoxious. I’mn not going to tip on all of that, an the drivers around here get something like 10.00 and hour plus are paid in full for their gas. Presumably, they have to do this just to get enough people to work. Some of them make more than me (yes, I actually know some) so I figure I’ll avoid the whole isue.
My sister, who now manages an entire region of Little Caesar’s restaurants, started out as a delivery person for Domino’s. She did not make min wage, on the expectation that delivery drivers get tips.
Like someone else upthread said, also, if you’re a decent tipper, and the delivery people know it, they will do everything they can to get your food to you, prompt and fresh.
I also tip delivery drivers extra if the weather is horrible; I know they’re super-busy then, plus a lot of drivers call out when the weather’s very bad.
I recently got a half hour lecture on the economics of pizza delivery from a guy I know that makes a decent living doing it.
Bottom line was, where he worked, when all was said and done he was making between 15 and 20 dollars an hour. Now this is the deep south where wages arent particularly high. Then again, neither is the local cost of living.
Around here, there are a fair number of highly experienced, older, educated, and hard workers that don’t make that kind of money or at the very least much more than that…
So what? Do I have to compare income-tax returns with a service worker before deciding whether I should tip him/her?
Stiffing a server in a situation where a tip is customary is bad manners, no matter how much money you make or don’t make. If you don’t want to patronize a certain service business because you feel that the rates charged are too high or the tipping system is unfair or you just can’t afford it, then by all means don’t patronize the business.
Hell yes, if tipping is customary, IMO you either tip somewhere in the social norm range or you just don’t use the service.
I was just pointing out that, at least according to this guy I know in the area I live, pizza delivery guys arent exactly getting the shaft income wise.
That still doesn’t help the “I don’t believe in tipping” people. And I think most people- not SDMB members, mind you- would rather have five meals for the same money as four if they can.
Just eat where the tipping is an automatic XYZ percent added to the bill. The waitstaff still get their money and the cheapskates can take comfort that its not a tip, its an automatic surcharge.
About those added fees to online delivery pizza places:
We asked the Poppa John’s driver about it. He said he definitely doesn’t see a penny out of that $2.50. Furthermore, I believe it is Domino’s who, in addition to the $2.50 delivery fee, also have a $1.00 *online order *fee. Also not to the driver.
So, what? Just because your company has made the investment into technology and bought a recycled laptop so you can take orders online and I’ve got to foot the cost of your business as well as give you patronage? Good luck with that. That’s the cost of doing business.
When I decide how much to tip, all I take into account is how much work waiting on my table was (as in, home many people were there, and how much was ordered), and how good of a job the waiter did.
I’m not concerned with how much the waiter makes, what type of restaurant I’m at, or even the dollar amount of the bill. And I’m definitely not concerned with what’s customary, or “social norms”, because that’s just stupid.
And I would eat at a restaurant with automatic gratuities exactly once. It’s not even a tip at that point. They should just up their prices and pay their waitstaff better. But this way they can charge more, but still have a lower price in the large font. If I’m not satisfied with the service, I don’t want to have go to the management to have my tip lowered. Just because I don’t want to leave a great tip doesn’t mean I want to get my waiter in trouble.
And for the record, I generally leave a good tip compared to “social norms”, and I treat my waiters well. Because they’re people.
I can certainly say pizza-delivery tipping isn’t universal around here. Some people do, some don’t, and I haven’t seen the slightest difference in delivery times or service. Which is the problem: the driver didn’t do anything particularly for me. He came to my house and left me a box. For this service he is paid as much as I am on the better of my two jobs. He offered me no special service, served me in no significant way, and did precisely jack to help with my meal. His entire function in the mix is to drop off a package, and is chiefly distinguished from FedEx by working evenings.
That kind of service simply isn’t worth much, and the idea nthat I should pay extra for the privelege doesn’t amuse me. Moreover, while I might be willing to tip, I am not going to tip AND pay a “delivery fee”.
Very good point. I do as well, especially during major winter storms, since I have great compassion for anyone who has to get out in that kind of shit and bring me my supper when I’m to afraid to go out in that kind of shit. Especially around here (SW Ohio), where snow/ice removal is a crap shoot at best.