Come on! Tip your Pizza Delivery Guys or Gals--They don't make as much as you may think!
81Did you know?
I was talking with someone who delivers pizzas the other day, and was just shocked to hear his story. He has been delivering pizzas for a year or so, as that is the only job he was able to find around this area. He works for $5.50 an hour, plus tips, and mentioned that many, many times, he's left a delivery without so much as a nickel tip. In fact, there have been many times when he actually has lost money--I'll explain that in a moment.
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Facts about Pizza Delivery Drivers
If you've never known someone who delivers pizza, or any other type of food, you many be surprised at how little most of them earn...this is what I found out from this person:
*When he was hired on, he was told that he would work around 30-35 hours a week--he says that it's been months since he worked much over 20 hours a week.
*He has to claim a specific amount of money for tips at end of the night even if he does not actually make that amount, so many nights, he ends up paying the company for the honor of delivering THEIR pizzas.
*The driver gets $1.00 per delivery to cover gas, which may seem like a fair amount, but when you think about how they often will deliver more than two to five miles away, it really isn't--they actually lose money on many trips, especially if the customer doesn't tip--which happens quite often.
* If a worker at the restaurant messes up a customer's order, and the driver doesn't know about it, he has to go back to the restaurant, and then run the correct order back out to the customer...but the company won't pay for the gas on the second trip, even though it was not the driver's fault.
*Drivers get paid $2 to $3 less on the hour than people that work in the store and are expected to do more than them, such as passing out fliers to businesses, running to the grocery if the restaurant needs more supplies, etc. The company does NOT reimburse the drivers, either, for the gas they use on those trips.
*It is quite often that the drivers pay taxes on tips that they don't make, due to the fact that a lot of people do not tip. Sometimes the people in the fanciest neighborhood wont tip at all. Once this driver delivered $400 worth of pizza to a business, and he wasn't given a cent in tips, after hauling in around 40 pizzas, all by himself, while everyone who worked there looked on...
*If a driver delivers a pizza, and the customer wants their exact change back--oftentimes the driver has to use their own money to do it--if its a first delivery(they do not carry extra cash), and they do not get reimbursed for it.
*The company can search the driver's car, and fire you if you refuse to let them...even though the car is the driver's own vehicle.(I have to admit--this one really bothered me)
So next time you order a pizza...
Most people don't realize how little these drivers make, and what they have to put up with from the companies they work for. The company this driver works for is actually considered the best-paying place around for this type of work, believe it or not.
My main goal in writing this is to inform people, just as I was informed. I had had no idea how little these folks earned, and I feel badly for them. Times are so hard for many, many people right now, and these drivers are no different!
So, please, next time you order food and have it delivered, remember that your delivery driver is just trying to make a living the best way he or she can. If you can afford to order a pizza, then can't you afford to tip the person who just made your day a little easier?
Do you tip your delivery person?
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Comments
This was a sad story. I always tip but had no idea of the all the goings on for the poor drivers. I tip because if I were the delivery person I would want a tip also. But i will let my family and friends know so that they always tip also. thank you for sharing
I always tip all service personnel, unless they are consistently rude. I usually give them 15 to 20 % of the bill as a tip. Great hub and great advice.
Wealth--This hit a nerve of mine, too, that's why I had to write it...I used to be a waitress many years ago, and I remember the low wages, and having to depend on tips to pay my bills...And the car search-that's so over the top, that it's hard to believe! Thanks for already being a thoughtful tipper!!!
Tracy--Thank you--that's wonderful that you will let your family and friends know about this, and that you already tip the drivers!:)
wesley--Thanks for the compliment! I agree about the rudeness, although I have to admit, I very seldom ever run across that when we have pizza delivered--usually they are always very nice people! :)
I always tip. I have a lot of respect for people who do this kind of work, same with wait persons. If someone gives you this kind of service ( coming to your door) , they deserve a tip. I was wondering if all pizza companies are like this...with the same stringent rules.
Good hub. I thought minimum wage went up from $5.50. If so, this guy was getting paid lower than minimum wage. The "400 pizzas" story was abomitable! So glad you put this out there.
alekhouse--Thank you for your comments!
From what this guy said, some of the other places in our town had even more stringent rules--I couldn't get over it.
When you work for tips, you don't have to be paid full minimum wage rates. It's really ridiculous, what these guys are paid--and what all they have to go through to earn any kind of living...
Tam, it is such your good nature to make us all aware of those whom we take for granted. When I could afford pizza delivery (at the beginning of my student loan periods) I would tip $5.00 each time no matter what! I know what it is like to be strict on funds, I am sure we all do in these hard times. Bravo, Tam. Perfect.
I've never had like a gangster roll in my pocket, yet I've never stiffed anyone--cab drivers, food delivery guys, waitresses (ugly or beautiful) and so on. I worked a lot of jobs since I was a kid and half my jobs were inside the confines of a restaurant. I've worked in a couple of "failed restaurants" in which I would come to work at 4:30 and get sent home by 7 because there was just no business. In those times, I broke even between tips and cost of gas for the round trip from home. There's nothing more I hate than people who stiff others. It's a shame.
Thank you for pointing this out. I hope others will wake up to their senses, especially in this horrible economy.
Who knew. Although I always tip. I will tip even more now. Thanks for sharing that info with us.
I always tip.. more if the service is incredible.. using the "double the tax" rule here in Washington (which is 8.6%). Thanks Tammy, I'm sure all people who work in the service industries (like me) appreciate this!
AIDY--Thank you for your sweet words...:) It doesn't surprise me in the least that you would tip so well--it speaks volumes about you!
Dohn--We've been the same way--we've never not tipped, even before we knew how rough these guys/gals have it. I used to be a waitress-waaay back in the early 80's, so I know what you're talking about, as far as restaurant work, or lack of it at times. Thanks for commenting!
fastfreta--You're welcome! I'm so glad to hear your thoughts on this, and that you want to help them even more! :)
Candie--WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?lol Sorry, had to say that--we've missed you! Somehow, I knew that you would tip well--you're just that kinda gal!:) I didn't realize you work in a service industry--what do you do?
We always tip especially when we are in America, but we are aware that the Brits are not known to be good tippers. We have a small bar/cafe in Spain and our customers if they leave a tip at all mostly leave us between 10c to .50c though we do get the very occasional 4 or 5 euro tips but it is surprising how those regular little 10, 20, 50 centimos (1 euro = 1.46$) mount up and in these days when every cent counts we are grateful for every cent.
I never tip delivery guys-- but only because no one delivers pizza to people who live out in the woods. The pizza would be cold by the time they got here if they were willing to come 20 miles one way.
Good hub, though, who knew?
Hi maggs--Great to see you! You're right--the little amounts do add up, if you get enough of them, don't they? :)
Rochelle--Thanks for your comment! I used to live in a small town for many years, way too far from any pizza delivery area, so I know what you mean--I do enjoy the luxury of being able to do it now, though, lol...:)
Horrible facts!!! Those poor guys!! I always made sure to tip but this time i think i will give them a raise :) Thanks for the info.
shamel--You're welcome--and I'm positive that they will truly appreciate the raise-thank you! :)
This is one I will pass on. Thank you for this story and the reminder to remember to tip.
You're welcome, Duchess--and thank YOU for passing it on to others! :)
Deff opened my eyes and must say I will tip in future !
BadCo--That's great--your drivers will love you for it! :)
I rarely have had anything delivered, but have always tipped, even when the person was late and had a bad attitude... I have been seriously considering NOT tipping at restaurants, for bad service... but that's another topic.
Ivorwen--I understand about not wanting to tip for bad service, including delivery drivers!
But, you have to look at the real reason for the bad service, and note if it's the fault of the driver/waitress/waiter, or the people behind the scenes.
Bad attitude is bad attitude--pretty clearcut!
But slow service would be a number of reasons...slow prep in the kitchen, or the plain fact that the server is just swamped with way too many orders.
I used to work as a waitress, many years ago. I would get put in an enormous room, and be expected to cover half of the tables, during a rush! I'm talking ten to 15 tables some days...so yes, there were delays at times, as much as I tried to keep up.
The problem is the since the driver/waitress/waiter is the person the customers see, then they are the ones most likely to "pay" for anything that goes wrong--and ironically, they are the ones who draw the lowest hourly salary!
Sorry, got long-winded...but thank you for your comment! :)
I always try and tip my pizza delivery guy though I sometimes wonder if I am tipping the right amount.
Also your server at Sonic should get tipped too. Since it is a fast food joint many people do not tip. But the server there makes a lot less than the other employees.
bengriston--THANK YOU for mentioning Sonic--you're absolutely right, and I should've put that in the hub as well!
As far as how much to tip--I'm not really sure of what the percentage of the total price is for tipping now, I'll have to check on that!
Oh wow, I wonder if it's the same here. My husband and I often leave tips in restaurants and when we have food delivered to our home. Other people will say why we need to tip when that's part of their job and we don't have much money anyway but we still do it. I don't know, I guess it's because we kind of value the services given to us.
By the way, when I went to California, they said the "normal" tip is like 15% of the price of the food. Is this true? Some of my friends who did not leave that 15% tip were even chased by the waiters from the restaurant because they said tipping is "required". Er, hope not.
emievil--I'm pretty sure that 15% is an accurate amount for tipping--at least, that's what we've went by for awhile...never had anyone chase us down, though, to collect it, lol...
You'll find that most, if not all, food service employees rely on tips as part of their income--most are paid well below minimum wage BECAUSE of that. The bad thing is that if they don't get tipped, they still have to claim it for taxes at the end of the day.
Oftentimes, the worker pays the tax on something he didn't even earn, and that's just not right!
LOL, when I heard they were chased I had to laugh. I just couldn't imagine being chased for something as forgetting to tip =).
Taxing for tips not actually received is really tough. I don't know, is their a legal or tax basis for this? Haven't heard that here and it's really unfair. I mean you didn't receive a tip in the first place and you still pay taxes for the non-existent tip? Jeeezzzz, that's really really bad.
Yes, they have to pay a certain amount whether they get tipped or not, and you're right, that's so unfair, isn't it?
My 19 year old son is a pizza delivery dude. He likes the job, does well. Makes approx $6/hour + tips. He gets $1.50 per delivery...and puts a gazillon miles on his car, pays for his own gas...and how the bleep does this make any sense?! Does UPS make their drivers drive their own vehicles to make deliveries?! Granted, not the same business, but at the end of the day, with car expenses to foot, pizza drivers net squat! And, he's not going to make enough to file income tax to write off car mileage. AND, with all the extra time on the road, chances of a traffic accident go up exponetially. I know; my son pulled out of an apt complex, did not see a motorcycle on his left, and the motorcycle t-boned his car. Thanks to archangels, both survived the accident, even tho' motorcycle driver was not wearing a helmet. I will never know if the motorcycle did not have it's lights on, if it was speeding, if my son was truly not paying attn - but I do know his car was totaled and the body shop owner said he was surprised with the extent of damage, that my son survived with just a cut on his hand. Suffice it to say, I'm very angry that pizza franchises can get away with paying minimally low wages and have no vehicle expenses--those are paid by young kids (or their parents). I'm rambling here, angry at the situation...
Pizza delivery dude's mom--I'm so sorry to hear what happened to your son--I'm glad that both of them are okay, though.
I don't blame you for being angry--it's so unfair, the way these guys are treated...I wish someone could do something about it.
Thank you for commenting, and feel free to ramble here anytime you want!
We always tip our delivery folks well. I'm glad you wrote this to remind people!
Thank you habee! It was just something that was really bothering me, and I wondered how many people were aware of the situation...:)
Wealthmadehealthy says:
3 months ago
The only thing that amazes me in this hub is that the "pizza dudes car" can be searched...If the company trusts them with their money to deliver, what the H do they need to search their car for??? Yeppers, this bugs me too.
I always use Pizza Hut for my deliveries, never go out to eat at the store, but my pizza dude gets tipped as he were in a restaurant serving me at a table...probably more, cause I know he has to pay for gas...This is a good hub, I hope people read it and remember even if they have a good paying job, some jobs are jobs, but they just aren't great jobs...The minimum wage is terrible and this is all pizza guys or gals get....and waitresses in restaurants get even less....I know I worked as one for a while....Tip your guys and gals and don't forget...But try to forget those tip calculators....wait people are worth their weight in the food they bring you!!!
Great Hub TamCor...bet you can tell you hit a nerve of mine!!