xp: tipping on food delivery

MrsNJSwimmer

like pizza, sandwiches, etc?

How much do you normally tip?  Is it a flat amount?  A percentage?

Does it matter if there is already a "delivery charge"?

DH and I agree if they are just driving a couple of blocks that we give them $2, but my dad was thinking ggggghe had to tip them 20% - my argument is that they aren't servers where they are tending to us through an entire meal (taking order, bring/refill drinks, delivering food to table, etc) like in a restaurant. 

kinibruin

if there is already a delivery charge, then i skip the tip. because presumably, the tip is for the delivery charge (paper goods, making it to the delivery location within the time promised, gas, etc.)

i generally tip 20% for mostly everything across the board (restaurant, delivery, salon services, etc.). but that's because i used to work food services in college and feel a personal connection to those industries.

i don't tip walk up order places, like starbucks, coldstone, chipotle for the same reason you state above.

mrspresley

I usually tip $1-2 depending on how far away they are from us. I've googled it many times and everything I've read says that you tip a certain amount and not a % for delivery people

kinibruin:

if there is already a delivery charge, then i skip the tip. because presumably, the tip is for the delivery charge (paper goods, making it to the delivery location within the time promised, gas, etc.)

I've asked multiple places and they have all told me that the delivery charge does not go to the delivery guy at all, so you should still tip on top of the delivery charge

MrsNJSwimmer

thanks!  I figured the delivery charge went to the driver.  Appreciate the info!

kinibruin

jaime: wow! i hadn't realized! thanks for the tip! (no pun intended heheh)

MauiWedding08

I usually tip on top of the delivery fee, because like Jaime, I thought that charge doesn't usually go to the driver.  At best they get mileage if they drive their own car.  This might not be universal, for example I knew a person that delivered sandwiches via a bike and he did get a wage + fee for each delivery, but I think that is few and far between.

I sometimes tip when I pick up carry out, depending on the service I get.  DH doesn't, and I have no problem with it.  My SIL worked at Outback in college and a little after at the carry out counter and made a lot in tips so I think lots of people tip.  But in that case she did a lot, the cooks would pack the food, but she was responsible for adding dressings, bread, utensils if needed, taking the call in orders, and running the food out to the car.  Still not AS MUCH as someone that tends to a whole table for the duration of the meal, but work a couple bucks IMO.  But read on, I also had a similar job, so maybe I just feel bad.

A long, long time ago (high school) I worked at a place that had eat in (including a bar), carry out, and delivery.  I was hostess.  I don't remember if there was a delivery charge.

Delivery drivers drove their own cars and had to record mileage - they got a salary, tips if given, and were reimbursed for actual mileage.

Servers got tipped by the diners and also had to give a portion of their tips to the hostess, buser, and bartender(s) based on their overall sales (for host and bus) and bar drink sales (for bartender).

Bartender got tips for those that sat at the bar and didn't have to tip anyone else out and then got the tipped out portion for pouring drinks for the servers' diners.

Hostess got tipped out by servers and got to keep any tips from people that happened to tip on carry out. There was minimal work for managing carry out, but like at Outback, I was tasked with making sure the order was correct, bagging the food, putting in the extras (napkins, utensils, crackers, chips, etc.) and ultimately ringing up the purchase and sending the customer on their way.  I didn't feel like I automatically deserved a tip, but it was much appreciated!

cooks must have felt bad because they started putting out a jar for everyone else to tip them out!!