Worth more than money

[Pizzacommando]

Occasionally my boss will have me take deliveries, and tonight was one of those nights. Got a delivery that turned out to be to the town about 20 miles north of us. The lady there said she was sorry she couldn't tip, but here, this is worth more than any money, and hands me some religious literature. This isn't the first time someone's done this. Why do some people think it's ok to push their religion during a business transaction?

[csquared]

To some people, their religion is the most important thing. Everything else is secondary.

Unfortunately, there are far too many charlatans and frauds, that it gives the true believers a bad name.

If the honestly believe what they said, then they were not being rude. In their heart, they are helping you.

If they are hiding behind a mask of religion, then they are the lowest of low.

I can sympathize with you, as I disagree with their religion (their priorities are obviously wrong). Anything else I say will take this to fracting.

[MoonCat]

I still think it's because the people who do that are cheapskates. And they would be cheap no matter what their religion is. They just use that as an excuse to not tip. After all, they didn't pay for those brochures. Their church probably hands them out by the boxful to the members.

[raudf]

It was the same when I worked at Walmart as a cashier. Some of the kindly meant people would push their religious pamphlets on me, even when I told them "No thank you. I don't mix religion and work." I usually waited until they left the area to throw it away.

Here is what they really don't realize: Having stuff of that nature can potentially get you fired, if someone with issues sees it and reports it. It doesn't even matter what religion it is, someone will be offended!

Most are well meaning, but I wish they'd actually think about the people's work situation before pushing their literature.

[Racket_Man]

WOW a 40 mile round trip for a pamphlet but she still have just barely enough for the order. WHAT a crock but sadly not that rare.


Talk to most any server, delivery driver, hair salon worker, etc. ie. those whose liverhood or pay depends heavily depends on tip, will tell you stories about the "pamphlet as a tip".

The anecdoitol stories of the "Sunday Morning/After Church" crowd are legendary.

I read on another message board about a Minister, who after ordering like $300 worth of pizza, had the stones to tell the delivery driver "OH your 'tip' has been donated to the church."

Sorry that does not help me pay the bills keep a roof over my head or repair my car.


I'll stop here as I could go on and rant for pages.

[bainsidhe]

Well meaning or not, it was a dick move. She was basically saying, "Ooooh, sorry I'm too cheap to tip and by the way, would you mind throwing this away for me?" *hands pamphlet*

Fortunately, most of the pamphlet folks I've encountered have been very polite and don't get upset if I politely refuse. Most aren't pushy either. However, you'll always get a few that give others a bad name.

[pltkcelestial18]

When I delivered pizza, if someone from several miles outside of town/delivering area ordered pizza, we basically required them to tip the driver really well. I think if they were calling for the first time, we'd tell them that and if they didn't tip, we'd not deliver there again. The few regulars we had outside of town/delivery area were usually good about giving $10+ to the drivers.

As far as getting the religious literature, I'd throw it away first chance I got. I consider myself lucky I only got money as a tip when I delivered pizza. I did on occasion get religious pamphlets but it was very rare.

[Polenicus]

If the honestly believe what they said, then they were not being rude. In their heart, they are helping you.

On that note, I disagree. A core tenet of most religions is paying what you owe. This person knew she owed a certain amount, knew that a tip was expected, and yet went into the transaction knowing she didn't have enough money for both.

Using your religion as a form of payment cheapens it. God is not there to pay your tab for you.

If she had tipped AND provided the materials? That's different. Even if 99% of people don't appreciate it, the gesture is honest and genuine. And that would go for anything you intend to give the person, be it religion, environmental literature, whatever.

But, I'm edging into fratching territory here, so I'll shut up.

[Merriweather]

Occasionally my boss will have me take deliveries, and tonight was one of those nights. Got a delivery that turned out to be to the town about 20 miles north of us. The lady there said she was sorry she couldn't tip, but here, this is worth more than any money, and hands me some religious literature. This isn't the first time someone's done this. Why do some people think it's ok to push their religion during a business transaction?

While a tip isn't legally an amount owed, if you live in a place where it is the expected norm and you know that workers depend on it to make a living wage (as opposed to it being an "extra" on top of a decent paycheck), then you have an ethical obligation to consider it as part of the cost of a meal (or other service).

If I don't have enough for the meal including tip, I simply don't order delivery or go to a restaurant - I go somewhere cheaper where I do have enough, or somewhere a tip is not the norm, such as fast food.

Saying sorry, you don't have money for a tip (whether you offer a religious tract or not) is, IMO, ethically no different than saying sorry, you don't have the money to pay for what you ordered.

[Cosmart Security]

Hold on to the literature, next time you deliver pizza make sure you make them wait long, or arrive late, when they mention your being tardy, hand her the literature, and tell her it's more valuble than time.

[Mr Hero]

Next time bring literature from your own religion. "Here's something better than pizza. "

[Rainman]

Next time bring literature from your own religion. "Here's something better than pizza. "

Thats a good one.

For me it really does depend on the context. If I am walking down the street and I'm handed some literature, I would treat it the same as if I had been handed a coupon flyer to a store or something. I'd be polite about accepting it, glance at it, toss it if I don't see anything I like.

In place of a tip? Not cool. As other posters have said, that doesn't pay the bills. I doubt very much those pamphlet folks are so lacking in social awareness that they HONESTLY think that literature is worth more to the delivery driver/server/whatever then a tip made of $. ASSCLOWNS I SAY!

[PhiSigGirl1988]

As a server, I've heard horror stories from my coworkers. Thankfully, the one time I was given a religious pamphlet, it wasn't in place of a tip. I got money, too. However, a couple of my coworkers told me that some people would come in, rack up a $100some bill, and then only leave the religious pamphlet.

[reimero]

I read on another message board about a Minister, who after ordering like $300 worth of pizza, had the stones to tell the delivery driver "OH your 'tip' has been donated to the church."

The response to that is to smile and say, "that's great! When is your food pantry open? It appears I may have trouble affording groceries this month, and could really use the help!"

[telecom_goddess]

The whole tipping culture doesn't really exist in Europe like it does in America. Here it's normally reserved for people who do an exceptional job and only them. If I knew someone had gone out of their way I probably would throw them something extra for the trouble, but plenty of people wouldn't and it wouldn't be a big deal because it's not expected.

I'm curious, is that true also for hotel people like bell boys and such? And bartenders? If so I like it.

Course I want to live in Europe anyway.