Stop Unecessary Tipping!

[Doomsday]

I've never paid a tip to a pizza delivery guy if there was a delivery charge. I might tell them to keep the change, but that's it. Most times I'll go and pick it up though so I don't even have to pay the delivery charge.

They don't rollerskate at the sonics around here anymore, and I certainly would never tip them for walking 15 feet. Thankfully a lot of them have drive-thrus now.

I also refused to tip valet parking guys on a recent trip since it was the hotel's valet service, and they did not provide any other alternative for parking and charged $22 a night to your room for the service. I was kind of pissed about that.

Sorry to say it but that is pretty cheap. You know there is a delivery charge when you order the pizza in the first place. You really think $1 or $1.50 is a good tip on a $20 pizza order?

 

[mr.jameswoods]

Just give the poor girl a dollar. What's it gonna do.....break the bank?

EDITED: sorry I edited because my response crossed the line and it was crude

In a nutshell, I disagree with your take. Anything can be interpreted as service oriented field if you allow it. Do you tip your doctor, lawyer, librarian, mailman or the girl working behind the counter at McDonalds? It's arguable the employee at McDonalds who takes your order does more work than the Sonic girl. I don't recall the Sonic girl taking my order, making my sundae and bagging my food at once. Why does the Sonic girl deserve a tip and not the McDonalds employee? This is why you have to set limits as to what constitutes a tip based on common sense. Does the guy in the bathroom deserve a dollar because he handed you a paper towel? Does the Starbucks girl deserve a tip because she poured you a cup of coffee? Does the hotel valet deserve a tip because he opened a car door for you even though he lifted no luggage? Seriously, where does it end. And money has nothing to do with this rant. It's about principle. I can afford to tip but I don't feel I should have to if the service is unwarranted. I do feel it's important to tip waitstaff at restaurants because they rely on tips and the restaurant industry simply couldn't survive because their overhead costs far more than what we pay to dine there with some exceptions of course. Also, it's important to send a message to corporate industry that they can't place the burden or expense of running a company on the consumers. If everyone starts overtipping at Starbucks then they will start paying below minimum wage thinking they can since their servers make so much on tips. What's next, will physicians start paying their medical assistants minimum wage with the expectation that patients will compensate the remainder through tips? The attitudes are evolving as well. In the past, employees felt they needed to prove themselves through good service, now they feel entitled to a tip if they simply provide what they define to be basic service. Do you want to reinforce that attitude by unconditional tipping?

 

[jem88]

Well, as a current driver for Dominos, I feel the need to chime in here on the delivery charge. Personally, I hate it. I hate it because people assume that the delivery charge is a tip. This is not the case though and I'll explain more down below. I do agree with you though on the price of doing business. The owners I work for are very cheap. We charge a check charge because the bank charges Dominos for each check. That is just an example of how they pass on every little bit of charge they can on to the customers.



I personally apologize for the guy who gave you an attitude. I try to treat everybody the same no matter what they tip me. The fact that he gave you an attitude over the tip shows that he doesn't understand what a tip is. A tip is a monetary show of appreciation for a service provided to you. Its not something to make up for wages nor is it something anybody is "entitled" to. Its the customers perogative.



Actually, you are not 100% correct about that. At least thats not the way it is with Dominos. They might want you to see it that way, but the fact is, drivers were recieving "mileage" before the delivery charge was created. Pizza places didn't create the delivery charge to give the drivers mileage. The two are not related. The $1.50 that Dominos charges goes to Dominos. Then at the end of the night, when I check out, Dominos pays me mileage. You could say part of that delivery charge went to pay mileage, but you'd have equal claim to saying that part of what you paid for your pizza also went to pay my mileage. And if the delivery charges went straight to the drivers, I'm not sure if they'd be able to charge tax on the delivery charge. See it is actually $1.62 not $1.50 that you are paying extra because of the $0.12 in tax on top.

As far as what mileage is, I personally recieve $1.00 for every delivery I take. Some of the newer drivers get $0.90. In the case of tonight, I took 25 deliveries. This means I was given $25 mileage to cover gas and wear and tear on my car. Fortunately for me, I drive a car with decent gas mileage, so I only spent about $18 dollars on gas giving me a net of $7. Other drivers aren't so lucky.

The thing is, that mileage doesn't really have anything to do with tips. If the fact that I use gas is the reason you choose to tip drivers, then you might as well stop tipping waiters and waitresses. Unless of course you tip them because of how much money they are paid an hour as opposed to the service they provide. And if you want to go down that avenue, there are only 4 drivers at my store who make the current minimum wage. The rest of them get paid less than minimum wage because they are tipped employees. The law doesn't require them to. See, employers pay less because of tips, not the other way around. Your choice to tip shouldn't have anything to do with how little the other person makes, but on the service they provide.

In summary, I would hope you don't choose to tip based on how much gas I may have used, but on the level of service I provided. And just because there is a delivery charge doesn't mean you are being charged a tip, after all, that would defeat the idea of what a tip is.

If more delivery people had your attitude, we probably wouldn't even be having this discussion (at least I wouldn't have chimed in.) Do you deliver to Toronto?

 

[jem88]

"You know what this is? It's the world's smallest violin playing just for the waitresses."

Mr. Pink kicks arse.

Great character and even better actor.

 

[mr.jameswoods]

If more delivery people had your attitude, we probably wouldn't even be having this discussion (at least I wouldn't have chimed in.) Do you deliver to Toronto?

Great reply, I hear ya! It just seems like service has just fallen by the wayside as people in the service industry could care less about trying to make you happy yet feel entitled to a tip. Sorry but this Mr. Pink is not going to mindlessly shell out cash because someone decided to put tip jar in front of me. It's called principle. If you want a tip, then at the very least smile, be polite, be on-time and do the best job you can. It's sad that some people feel that is asking for too much these days.

 

[mr.jameswoods]

I've never paid a tip to a pizza delivery guy if there was a delivery charge. I might tell them to keep the change, but that's it. Most times I'll go and pick it up though so I don't even have to pay the delivery charge.

They don't rollerskate at the sonics around here anymore, and I certainly would never tip them for walking 15 feet. Thankfully a lot of them have drive-thrus now.

I also refused to tip valet parking guys on a recent trip since it was the hotel's valet service, and they did not provide any other alternative for parking and charged $22 a night to your room for the service. I was kind of pissed about that.

Sonic still expects tips at the Drive Thru, at least that's the case in Phoenix. You order your food and they have a drive-thru window but it's never used. There is a sign that asks you to pull up and brake at a point 5 feet in front of the Drive thru-window. Someone then comes to your car and collects your money. Yes, they expect a tip for this.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

BATWING!!!

 

[mr.jameswoods]

BATWING!!!

I wanted to see it. Do you recommend it?

 

[cowboyfan4life_mark]

I agree with alot of the conversation in most of these posts.

I am a good tipper, but I have also been known not to tip. I really don't care for the "%" aspect of it. If I feel like it is warrented, I will tip very nicely. But, as I said, I have been known to leave a penny due to bad service. The penny shows that I did not forget, just didn't think much of the service.

I really dislike the thought that you must tip because their wages per hour is very low and the tips are very important to their total wages. I say, if you suck at customer service, don't be in customer service. If you think that you aren't doing well, find another job.

I do not hold the waiter/waitress liable for the food either. They didn't cook it. But I will not send it back. I will speak to them, or the manager, and simply have it removed from the bill.

I will not eat at a restaurant that automatically puts the tip in. I feel that they are simply saying that bad service is OK.

We eat at a certain place once every month or two. We like a particular waiter because of the excellent service on our first visit. When we visit, we always ask for one of his tables. Since he has gotten to know us, and the tips, he now doesn't charge for our drinks or desserts.

Tips can get you known in a good way, but also in a bad way.

Just my 2 cents...can I get change?

 

[mr.jameswoods]

Also, you are not supposed to tip on the alcohol or the tax when determining your amount. That's a bit anal but I do remove the tax when determining a tip.

 

[TheEnigma]

If more delivery people had your attitude, we probably wouldn't even be having this discussion (at least I wouldn't have chimed in.) Do you deliver to Toronto?

Well, I could, but considering I am in Texas, you should expect your pizza to be pretty cold, and I'd be expecting a pretty big tip :

 

[Wimbo]

Tipping was originally a bribe given prior to receiving service. The idea being that the server would give better service to someone who lined their pockets. I don't know how it transitioned to an expected 15-20%, regardless of service. That said - I always give 20%. If I get bad service (very rarely) I give 10%. Bad service with a bad attitude (it's happened 2-3 times), then I give something insulting... like $0.07... just so they know I didn't forget.

 

[Kevinicus]

Sorry to say it but that is pretty cheap. You know there is a delivery charge when you order the pizza in the first place. You really think $1 or $1.50 is a good tip on a $20 pizza order?

Well like I said, I only have delivery at most 3 times a year, and those are pretty much only when I'm out of town at a hotel and don't really know where anything is. And I never have a $20 order. I use coupons, and usually the most I spend is $9 or so. If I'm going to spend $20 or more for food I'm going to Applebees or something and getting steak. I'll tip there.

 

[Nors]

If you are a cheap tipper, don't frequent the same restauarant. The staff will get you one way or the other. Difficult people get abused out back. I worked a restauarant in high school. I give 15-20%, unless you are talking about Kahoots!

 

[mr.jameswoods]

If you are a cheap tipper, don't frequent the same restauarant. The staff will get you one way or the other. Difficult people get abused out back. I worked a restauarant in high school. I give 15-20%, unless you are talking about Kahoots!

This is true and it's unfortunate. I frequent a particular sports bar and most of the waitresses are great but one or two are terrible. It's hard to request one particular waitress because it's so busy during game days. I felt I had to give 15% even though the waitress was terrible because I may end up getting her again and if we tip poorly, we will develop a reputation despite the fact we tip the other waitresses generously.

The sad thing too is that some waitresses discriminate on race and age. It's sad and pathetic but unfortunate. Some of the things I've heard is awful. They said that they will provide minimum service to Asians, Blacks, the Elderly and Hispanics because they tend to be poor tippers

 

[Aggie87]

In Germany tips are built into the price of everything you order in restaurants (sit down restaurants, not fast food). So you don't have to tip anything to anyone. Typically you just round off to the nearest Euro (or Deutsch Mark in the old days). I don't see why something like that wouldn't work here, and make things easier for everyone. If for some reason you still got poor service, you could complain to the manager and expect resolution.

Waiters and waitresses must make a living wage in Germany, because they typically aren't 18-22 yr old kids, but often older people who take pride in their work. You get better service from people who care about what they're doing.

 

[GTaylor]

The sad thing too is that some waitresses discriminate on race and age. It's sad and pathetic but unfortunate. Some of the things I've heard is awful. They said that they will provide minimum service to Asians, Blacks, the Elderly and Hispanics because they tend to be poor tippers

It's true, they also discriminate against the health nuts. A waiter is thinking about your total bill plus 15% so if you order appetizer and alcohol they're thinking "Cha Ching!" whereas a health nut only wants a salad and water.

Since I go to the same places alot one thing I do is to comment on the receipt if they did well, if they did poorly tell them sorry for the off-night. Once you build the reputation you don't have to work for the service, they'll fight for you.

 

[GTaylor]

Well, as a current driver for Dominos

Man I feel for you, worked for Dominos back in 93 and thought God was punnishing me for past sins. Bad enough I had to have that stupid sign on my car and wear a blue/orange shirt that made me look like a giant popsicle but Dominos came out with that stupid "Gotta be, gotta be, Dominos!" commerical and man did I get ribbed for it...I can still hear the Airmen at the local base chanting that crummy song in my sleep!

Back on topic - I tip the drivers if they're courteous, Dominos is one of the cheapest companies out there (They used to have management meetings in S.Mississippi and would make all the managers drive in one car and then compensate them .05 a mile) and the wear and tear on the driver's cars are horrible, if they have car trouble they're on their own. The least they deserve is some compensation, just my .02

 

[Route 66]

It's sure nice to have read this thread. I always felt the same way about Sonic and never go there due to the tip issue. I usually take the total from a meal and its easy to round it up 10 percent and I just double that. So like some here, I tip 20 percent almost always unless I get the same poor service as others.

What is nice to do occasionally is surprise someone with a larger than normal tip like $20.00 on a 9.00 meal. Some people need something like that to give them a decent shift. I also make sure I tip a little more than normal on pizza deliveries when the weather is bad like snow or ice.

 

[sacowboysfan513]

It's sure nice to have read this thread. I always felt the same way about Sonic and never go there due to the tip issue. I usually take the total from a meal and its easy to round it up 10 percent and I just double that. So like some here, I tip 20 percent almost always unless I get the same poor service as others.

What is nice to do occasionally is surprise someone with a larger than normal tip like $20.00 on a 9.00 meal. Some people need something like that to give them a decent shift. I also make sure I tip a little more than normal on pizza deliveries when the weather is bad like snow or ice.

I have done that a couple of times.

But only when it was outstanding service. With the tip, I also left a note saying how great a job they did and also told the manager that they did a great job.

Great service should be recognized. That way they are encouraged to keep doing it.

And I'm not saying always tip big, but by telling them that they were great will make them feel really good.