How much do you tip the driver for pizza delivery?

[Sean779]

Yeah, it does suck for the delivery guy. They should urge their restaurants to lower or eliminate their delivery fee.

What they do is confuse the issue (who gets the $1.99 delivery charge) to their advantage.

[*El Ocho 1*]

We eat Pizza very rarely and order home delivery even more rarely. But when I do, the tip is INR 20 for a small order and INR 50 for a large one. Never more than that. That too only because I have a feeling their wages are fixed after taking tips in to account.

Domino's and some others have a "Pizza delivered within a specified time, or you pay nothing" offer. I have seen the delivery kids dodging madly through traffic to meet this deadline. So I pointedly tell at the time of placing the order that I will not invoke this option even if they are late. I would feel really bad if some harm befalls them on account of my silly Pizza.

Dominos had the same policy here in the US many years ago, up until one of their drivers ran a red light & got in to a massive accident.

[del996]

Tipping originally started out as a way of getting preferential service. Two travelers walk into an inn. They take a coin (back then made from real precious metal and actually itself worth something) and put it into an empty, metal, beer mug. Then, one of them shakes it. The serving wench hears it; and immediately goes to their table to take their order. Everyone else who showed up earlier can wait. Once the order is taken, she gets the coin (the tip).

Nowadays it has evolved to certain professions being recognized as those where tipping is common. Recognized so much so that even the government has gotten involved. If tipping in your job is common, the minimum wage doesn't apply to you. You get a much lower pay rate, in that regard. Knowing that, I tip. As for a cab ride, I tip. However, I tip more if the back of the cab is clean, the driver is friendly, gets me to where I need to be quickly and safely. If the guy is rude or tries to run up the meter, that's going to effect his tip.

However, I refuse to tip at the counter of coffee houses or Pizza places. As I said, tipping started out as a way to get special treatment. If you're on a long line at Star-schmucks Coffee, it's not as though you can walk up front, put $1 into the tip jar at the counter and then get your coffee next. Doesn't work that way.

I take your point Monocrom and thanks for the info but i think over here the tips aren't taken into account by the government. Certain professions get tips regardless of income. Taxi drivers, for example, charge a lot more over here than over your way, even taking exchange rate into account. A cab ride when i was in NYC last year was never more than $15 I think the longest we did was from Century 21, downtown to our hotel just north of Times Square, through rush hour traffic, where as over here, to go from town to where i live, about 4.5 miles, costs about £15, then we have to tip on top of that, i don't understand why? I'm already paying him a fortune to drive me a poxy four and a half miles so what's he done to deserve me paying more?

In 1999 i started as a bus driver (worst job i ever had and i've been in the Army!) and for that i got paid £3.50 an hour, taking home about £120 a week. My rent was £70 per week leaving me £50 per week to live on (i was in a hostel so didn't have other bills) and i never got tips, yet at the same time, taxi drivers, who were earning a lot more than i was earning, got tipped!

Anyway, i'm rambling! I don't mind paying for service in a restaurant if they go out of their way to keep my glass full but i hate having to tip anybody else (does that shine through? lol) I don't see why i should if you're already getting paid.

That said, like i say above, i do tip but do it with hate in my heart!

[stevend101]

Here in the UK tipping is generally reserved for restaurants and then only if the service is good. However, I have tipped when the experience has been good, or even when I'm just feeling good.

A couple of weeks ago, ordered a pizza from a chain, came quick and hot and offered a tip. Delivery guy says no need, pizza company pays him for delivery!!

[billiybop]

Here in Thailand tipping is not a common practice. At a high scale restaurant where customers are required to wear shoes and a shirt, the tip is usually factored into the bill, 10%. If I like the service, which I most always do, I hand the food server a tip directly so he or she knows it's for her and not the establishment.
Not long ago I had a Pizza Co. pizza delivered and I tipped the driver about $1. Five minutes later he came back and told us that we made a mistake and gave him too much. When I explained no mistake but a tip, he was very appreciative.
I like to be a 'valued customer' and have a friendly rapport at some of my favorite eating places so I actually enjoy tipping. Seeing the pretty waitress give me a big smile is worth it all.

[Bronte]

At sit-down restaurants, I tip 20 to 30 percent. At take out restaurants and for delivery, I tip $1 to 3. I tip because it's customary, and I want good service next time. For that reason, I don't vary my tips based on quality of service or service charges. My tips vary more on whether I patronize frequently enough to be remembered.

[Kraig]

Usually $5. I live a decent trek away from our pizza place, so it's only fair. With the cost of gas, it's gotta be tough on delivery drivers these days.

[Tourbillonare]

I'm with HaydenM here, I've been lucky enough to visit the states and Canada quite a few times and I'm never sure exact where, when or how much to tip. There's almost no jobs here that get tips because the minimum wage is quite high (eg most bar staff make ~$20 an hour - thus nobody tips them).

Wouldn't quite be so sure about that , I think tipping has been making its way onto our shores in recent times even though there should be no need due to our wage levels...

Tip plates/jars at cafes now seem commonplace as well as in bars and resturants.

[Shaunie_007]

$2-3 a dollar per pizza :)

[Outlawyer]

As a youngster I delivered pizzas. There was a guy who always ordered the same pizza, which with tax cost 9.95 at the time. He invariably gave me a 10, and waited silently but firmly until I dug around and found his nickel change.

What kind of freak does that?