Tipping the Pizza Delivery Person Etiquette:
The proper amount
The common courtesy is 15% for normal service
If 15% is less than $2, please follow the $2 minimum. Remember, it should be a $2 minimum to have someone come to your house.
20% or more if the service is excellent.
10% or less for poor service. Nothing for very bad service.
If the order is $50 or more, at least 10%.
It's considerate to tip slightly more during bad weather
In rain, snow, extreme cold, or extreme heat, at least $1 more. It's thoughtful. The service is greater.
It's also considerate to tip slightly more for long distance
If your location is more than three miles from the store, it's considerate to tip $1 more.
If more than five miles, increase by another $1.
Remember that a five-mile drive in a residential area can take 30 minutes for the ten-mile round-trip.
How to tip
There are three ways
1. Put the tip on the check
The store can tell the difference. The driver receives the tip portion.
This is the best and the easiest way to tip.
Some stores don't take checks. Please ask in advance.
2. Credit card
Write the tip on the receipt. There's a line that says "tip." Then write the grand total on the line under that.
3.Use cash
What the tip is not
The tip is not any of the following
1. One dollar
This is a popular mistake. It has caused some customers to tip $1 no matter how much work was involved. It might be a bigger order, the weather could be bad, or it could be a longer drive.
The tip is really 15%. The $2 minimum is polite.
A $1 "tip" is perceived as an insult if the order is $20 or more. For example, on a $21.19 order, one dollar is less than 5%.
2. Leftover coins
Suppose the total was $14.83. The customer gave the driver $15 and said, "Keep the change." That's only 17 cents for the tip.
Anything under $1 is considered leftover coins.
This is considered an insult to the driver. It's a small fraction of the standard amount for the tip.
Now, if you want to tip a few bucks and add the leftover coins to it, that's no problem at all.
3. Saying how much you appreciate the driver, the pizza, and not tip
This is called a verbal "tip."
It's the same as no tip, except the customer notices you should be tipped and does not.
This is perceived as hypocritical and cruel treatment. Please don't ever do this.
4. Included in the bill
Some customers don't tip because they assume it was included in the bill.
The tip is not included -- even on large orders. Even if the order is $500, the store did not include the tip.
The store can't put the tip in the bill. You can, however, add the tip to a credit card payment in advance when you place the order.
Please exceed the bill or tip separately.
5. Included in free delivery
With free delivery, drivers still depend on tips.
"Free delivery" is an oxymoron.
Pizza companies should not mislead the public like this. It only means the store does not charge a mandatory fee for delivery.
"Free" refers to what the store charges. This has nothing to do with the drivers. They are tipped employees.
6. Included in a delivery charge, if there is one
Very often, it does not go to the driver's tip. It usually goes to the store. The driver doesn't get one cent of the delivery charge.
It could go to the driver in other ways, as mileage compensation or hourly wage. This is not the tip.
If some of it actually goes to the tip, you may reduce your tip by that amount.
The idea is to have a partial gratuity and let customers tip over it.
Please ask the store about how they use the delivery charge because it varies from store to store.
Reasons for tipping (if you don't already know)
I. The tip is your expression of gratitude for the driver's service
II. Tipping empowers the customer
III. Tips are necessary for the job
I. The tip is your expression of gratitude for the driver's service
It shows you appreciate the service.
Delivery is a CONVENIENCE. It feels so good to have it delivered for you.
You don't have to get it yourself.
Or waste your time, energy, and gas.
The driver endured weather and traffic for you.
You can watch TV or do things around the house instead.
How much is that worth? because your time is valuable.
The tip shows that you value the driver's work.
It just feels good to tip.
It shows that you're a good person. It's a good thing to do.
It shows you have class.
Tipping is common courtesy. It's customary.
Not tipping is considered
rude and unheard of
inconsiderate
ungrateful for the service
as if delivery meant nothing to you
If one does not tip, they
take advantage of the driver
steal the services of the driver
insult and waste the driver's valuable time
This is assuming the service was okay. If something was seriously wrong, please see When not to tip or if something else seemed wrong, please see the Objections page for more information.
Even in New York City, it is considered the height of rudeness not to tip your delivery person. (This was submitted and echoed by several NYC residents.)
Pizza delivery drivers are motivated by money as much as anyone. Those who repeatedly tip usually get their pizzas first.
II. Tipping empowers the customer
It lets you reward excellent and poor service accordingly.
Otherwise, you would pay the same regardless of the quality of service.
It motivates the driver in a job that tests one's patience.
III. Tips are necessary for the job
Tips mean everything to the driver. That's why they deliver. Without it, there's no point keeping the job.
Without it, drivers only receive minimum wage. They use their own car. They pay for their own gas and repairs.
They end up making less than minimum wage, without tips, when you include the cost of operating a car.
It's assumed that tips will cover those expenses. Their employers assume they will receive tips.
If delivery was minimum wage, everyone would quit. There are plenty of minimum wage jobs that don't wear down your car.
Drivers do not use a company car. For more information, please see Facts about cars
Pizza drivers
risk their cars and lives in traffic
risk robbery, assault, and murder on the job
are targets for criminals because they carry food and money
In addition to driving, they do a lot of in-store work. For more information, please see Other duties of a delivery driver.
They search for houses, which isn't easy. It's not like finding your own house. Many addresses don't have noticeable numbers.
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