A Delivery of Suck

[Moosenogger]

I used to work in an office building where we'd order-in Chinese food at least once a week. The delivery people were usually decent, although they constantly brought the food up to our door (a big no-no, we told them multiple times to call us from the lobby so we could come down and get the food). However, the ONE time I was in charge of giving the money to the delivery person, it all went to poo.

The first annoyance was that the woman hadn't brought enough small bills. You're delivering food and all you have are 20s? Seriously? She only had a few ones and fives (which I assumed from her broken-English ranting consisted of her tips from her previous deliveries) so we were struggling to figure out a way to make correct change with what she had available.

In the end, she either figured the total incorrectly or just didn't give a shit, because she ended up with $1 more than she should have (I had already made a list of what I should have ended up with so I could give my coworkers their correct change). I didn't really mind too much, except she left with this lovely parting quote:

While walking out of the building and throwing me a dirty look, she said, "I leave with nothing!"

Um, actually you're leaving with $1 more than you should be. We left you a tip, and I didn't take your tips from your previous deliveries - they're included in that stack of 20s you stupidly brought with you.

Seriously, if you're going to deliver food, bring small bills with you so you can make the proper change. x(

[Sapphire Silk]

When I did pizza delivery, I always kept my tip money separate from my bank. Usually I'd make change out of the bank, but if I used tip money to do so, I'd hang on to the bank until I got enough small bills to separate them out again.

And really . . . if you don't keep enough small bills on you to easily make change, you shouldn't be surprised when a customer can't tip you.

[bainsidhe]

Sometimes having adequate change isn't that easy, especially if you're doing multiple runs in one go and have already given away your change. I used to keep more than 20 bucks on my person (big company no no) so I rarely had a problem, but I can see it happening. Still, this woman just sounds like a jerk and I wonder if she realized she received a tip.

I remember my roomies & I used to order from a specific restaurant every couple weeks. One day the driver arrived and told us we'd "better tip". That was the last time we ordered from there.

[Moosenogger]

Sometimes having adequate change isn't that easy, especially if you're doing multiple runs in one go and have already given away your change. I used to keep more than 20 bucks on my person (big company no no) so I rarely had a problem, but I can see it happening.

She had a huge wad of $20s in a fanny pack on her waist, so unless she had made 100 trips and was paid with a $20 at every delivery, then she hadn't planned to make change. The sad part was we told the restaurant over the phone that we were paying partly in cash (and told them how much cash we had) and asked them to make sure that their delivery driver had enough money to make change. Either no one bothered to tell the delivery driver, or she didn't understand what we were saying.

[Teskeria]

Oh she understood. She just figured if she didnt have change you would let it go and she'd get a bigger tip.

My office used to order at least once a week from a chinese place. I would collect and place the weekly order, and when I told people their total, I included the tax and their portioon of a tip (usually 50 cents from each person ordering was the breakdown - order usually totalled around $75-80 and the tip was always around 10%). People would also order during the week. Mind you it was about a 10 minute drive for them to get to us and they didn't add on a delivery fee.
One week I ordered from them and one of my co-workers told me she had been told they don't deliver to our office anymore. my big delivery came and I asked the driver. He told me, we were the furthest they had delivered and the only one that ever tipped was me. The driver had to pay for his gas. The only reason they accepted my order, was they knew I wouldn't stiff the driver. 'You good lady, understand driver works hard to bring hot food'. Funnily enough, they would also throw in one thing each week as a freebie, usually a large General Tso's.

[Sapphire Silk]

Oh she understood. She just figured if she didnt have change you would let it go and she'd get a bigger tip.

Quoted for truth. I've had a delivery driver try and pull that one on me before. My response was to ask for my $20 bill back, and pay in quarters. I still tipped though.

One week I ordered from them and one of my co-workers told me she had been told they don't deliver to our office anymore. my big delivery came and I asked the driver. He told me, we were the furthest they had delivered and the only one that ever tipped was me. The driver had to pay for his gas. The only reason they accepted my order, was they knew I wouldn't stiff the driver. 'You good lady, understand driver works hard to bring hot food'. Funnily enough, they would also throw in one thing each week as a freebie, usually a large General Tso's.

If you're a frequent customer, the drivers know if you're a good tipper or not. And they learn quick, too. I knew certain addresses by heart, and knew whether or not I'd get a tip or not.

I've ordered takeout several times while here at my Mom's. First time order came in a reasonable time frame, nothing special. Next two orders came lickety split. Last one came so fast, it was like I'd bought it at the store (emm!) I must have made a good impression or the tipping here must be really bad. Of course, I did still tip the driver even though he had to go back to the store to get my 2 liter of soda he'd forgotten, and I didn't go all SC on him either.

[Moosenogger]

Oh she understood. She just figured if she didnt have change you would let it go and she'd get a bigger tip.

If it had been my own money, I probably would have. However, when I'm dealing with other people's money, I don't screw around. Even leaving the negotiations with $1 less than I should have had me feeling guilty since I had basically short-changed a coworker.

[PepperElf]

Quoted for truth. I've had a delivery driver try and pull that one on me before. My response was to ask for my $20 bill back, and pay in quarters. I still tipped though.

Since they were trying to scam you into a bigger tip.... I say that's about right.

[Arcus]

I learned long ago to tip a little better at the places I got then most often. I once went to a place that was closing 5 min after I got there (I didn't know that till after I ordered.) I felt bad that I made them wait on me so I left a $40 tip (on a $10 meal) and a note asking them to share it with everyone that had to wait on me. The next time I went there they greeted me with warm smiles and welcomed me back.

[fma_fanatic]

Many years ago when I was still temping, I landed a long term temp job. The people would order from the Chinese place around the corner quite frequently, so I would go in every once in a while with an order.

One day, I just ordered for myself and all I had was a 20. When the guy showed up, he started yelling at me about how dare I only have a 20 and that I was trying to stiff him on a tip, etc. Actually, if he'd thought about it, he was going to take the 20 and make a pretty decent tip. I'd be the one stiffed of my change. He stomped off to go get change from the gas station around the corner. However, he never told me this, so I assumed he'd just left with my food.

I called the restaurant and told them that the driver left with my food, I didn't pay him and that I wanted to cancel my order because, as far as I knew, he'd left. The owner got on the phone and apologized and said not to worry about it, he'd have a talk with the guy when he got back.

10 minutes later he comes back, drops the food (literally dropped, and I heard the soup sloshing) on my desk and demanded payment. By that time, a couple of ladies had left and returned with a sandwich for me from a local deli and I was eating that. I told him I'd cancelled my order because he left and didn't say he was going to be back. The guy got so mad that a manager had to come up and escort him out of the office.

Needless to say, no one ever ordered from them again.

[Racket_Man]

Sometimes having adequate change isn't that easy, especially if you're doing multiple runs in one go and have already given away your change. I used to keep more than 20 bucks on my person (big company no no) so I rarely had a problem, but I can see it happening. Still, this woman just sounds like a jerk and I wonder if she realized she received a tip.

I remember my roomies & I used to order from a specific restaurant every couple weeks. One day the driver arrived and told us we'd "better tip". That was the last time we ordered from there.

speaking as a delivery driver that is a BIG no-no. when the driver starts DEMANDING a tip, sorry even as a driver myself, that means NO tip for you, as in EXACT change and an immediate call to the store manager. we delivery drivers suffer enough of the negative stereotype as it is.

Quoted for truth. I've had a delivery driver try and pull that one on me before. My response was to ask for my $20 bill back, and pay in quarters. I still tipped though.

I myself would have NOT tipped the driver.

again a BIG NO-NO for the driver. sorry again speaking as a driver, I will never TRY AND INTENTIONALLY SCAM OR CHEAT A CUSTOMER with this method for a bigger tip. I usually carry a "secret" stash of bills on my person for that rare occasion.

If you're a frequent customer, the drivers know if you're a good tipper or not. And they learn quick, too. I knew certain addresses by heart, and knew whether or not I'd get a tip or not.

I've ordered takeout several times while here at my Mom's. First time order came in a reasonable time frame, nothing special. Next two orders came lickety split. Last one came so fast, it was like I'd bought it at the store (emm!) I must have made a good impression or the tipping here must be really bad. Of course, I did still tip the driver even though he had to go back to the store to get my 2 liter of soda he'd forgotten, and I didn't go all SC on him either.

remember drivers who are long term drivers have memories like elephants. we remember EVERYTHING and EVERY interaction (good or bad). this gets added to our mental files esp if you are a frequent customer. be nice and we will run through hell and back. be not so nice and ....... (no I am not talking about adulterating the food or anything) just say we REMEMBER.

[HappyFun Ball]

I use a lot of tricks to get better tips, but I will NEVER say anything to their face about getting stiffed or very little tip.

I did have a customer flat out lie saying that I said I wouldn't have told her she lived out of range because she didn't tip. She called the store after I got back saying that the first thing I said was we don't go there.. Now, I did have a hard time finding the address, and I did call and I did get ambiguous directions while a child screamed in the back ground ( I wonder why the Hell the kid was up at 2 am) this same child screamed and banged on the glass door throughout the whole transaction ( her scream! It seeked out my spinal cord and sent "strangle me" signals to my hands) .

I do balk when asked how much tip I want or told " I suppose you want a tip?"

Working at JJ's I've faced not having enough change (If you take 5-6 deliveries at once and they all order 7-8$ worth of food and they all pay in 20's, you tend to run out of change.. This didn't happen too often though) but I never bitched about it.

[dalesys]

... would order from the Chinese place.
... The owner got on the phone and apologized
... The guy got so mad that a manager had to come up and escort him out of the office.

Needless to say, no one ever ordered from them again.

You missed a great special on next week's menu: Sweet and Sour Long Pork.

[Aethian]

There is a pizza place around here that states they have a five mile radius for delivery. I'm within that radius but apparently I'm outside of it...now.

I tip well and the old crew knew that. But then they got a new crew in and I would try to order and be told they don't go that far, do I would cancel my order. One night I had forgotten the distance limit and tried to order. The girl who took the order didn't say anything and gave me a approx. time. A bit after that time one of the old guys pulls up with my order and was laughing.

He had found himself in need of extra bucks and took his old delivery job back as a side gig. When my order came in he was surprised to hear drivers call out to cancel it. When he asked why he was told that, that park doesn't tip and routinely tries to stiff them. He said that sounded wrong and that he had delivered to me several times before he graduated and that I always tipped well. The others played the whole, trailer park trash, card and refused to make my order.

He did make my order and brought it our to me. Even remembering how I like my crust. When he got back to the resteraunt with a 20 buck tip on a 30 buck order... Let's just say his coworkers were pissed.

Reason why I refuse to enter that place anymore? I went in once for breadsticks and when they took my name it brought up my address and someone mentioned not going out to that trash trailer park. I think he missed on the ticket where it said "IN" not "OUT". But that's okay the cool guy was only seasonal help.

[bainsidhe]

Geez Aethian, I can forgive the comments where you don't hear them, all employees complain about perceived sucky areas and/or customers. But to call your home trailer trash to your face? Lack of class, all around.

Back when I delivered pizza, I worked with some, err, "rough" guys. Some of them looked & acted the part of Joe Redneck, but you better believe they were silky smooth when it came to talking to customers and working for a tip.

And HFB, they actually ask you how much and whether they should tip? Hmmm, the best answer to how much would probably be making a joke like "How 'bout a winning Powerball, I'd be set for life ". To the second, put on a smiley positive face and say "Aw, that'd be great, it's how I pay my bills, after all. " Either way, uncomfortable....