An open letter to anyone getting food delivered

[Nemesis44UK]

So, in addition to my main job, I also hold down a second job as a chinese food delivery guy.

Dear Customers:

My shift is from 6pm to 10pm. There is no point in ringing the shop too early at 5.30, getting your food delivered at 6.10 and yelling at me that you have had to wait 40 minutes. I have only just picked up your food.

At 6pm, I have been working for 10 hours already. Even so, I am polite and well-mannered and say "Hello, how are you doing, please and thank you." You may be surprised to know that an appropriate response to this is NOT simply staring and foisting upon me a handful of notes that look like used toilet paper.

Even though I deliver Chinese food, I am not actually Chinese, so you can keep your well-worn joke as shown below:

SC1 "Chinese Man is here"
SC2 "He doesn't look Chinese"

Usually accompanied by guffaws of laughter.

If I am standing in the rain, bringing you food that you are too lazy to collect, the least you can do is acknowledge my existence with a "hello" or a smile. If we're thinking big stuff, hey, why not give me a tip, since I use my own car and my own petrol (£1.36 per litre), it all helps!

If you order, please have your method of payment ready for me. If I am not speedy with the deliveries, the other driver picks up "my" next delivery, so then I have to wait, losing money. Do not stand there for ten minutes, trying to find your cheque book and card.

If you order at 9.58 pm, thereby making me late home by around 30-40 minutes
(and no, I don't get overtime) I am going to hate you forever.

[skeptic53]

I use my own car and my own petrol (£1.36 per litre)

For those whiners in the USA, that is $8.40 per US gallon. More than double what we gripe and howl about paying here.

[HotelMinion]

For those whiners in the USA, that is $8.40 per US gallon. More than double what we gripe and howl about paying here.

Wow that's a fricking lot of $$$. I have two jobs too, and I know how mindnumbingly exhausting it is. You have my sympathies. The other day I wanted someone to hit me with a plank board so I could get some sleep. LOL

[Gaki]

For those whiners in the USA, that is $8.40 per US gallon. More than double what we gripe and howl about paying here.

Whenever someone starts to bitch about gas prices I whip that out. Since I work in a gas station I have to do it pretty often and people are like, "Well I don't live there." I give them a nice stare-down and they feel pretty dumb by the time they leave.

It's just stupid to short a driver their tips and money (by being slow, etc) when gas is that expensive. I always tip some ridiculous amount, ESPECIALLY drivers.

[tropicsgoddess]

I always make sure the delivery guys get good tips. It sucks that so many SC's stiff them for unjustifiable reasons.

[Teskeria]

My daughter's (the older one) Bf is a pizza delivery driver. He was shocked to find that I tip delivery drivers decently. He was even more shocked when I tipped him, tried to refuse but I am more stubborn. On the job, he isn't DBF, he is the guy bringing me food I didn't have to cook! For some weird reason, I usually get my food reasonably quick and still hot. wonder why, lol

[taxguykarl]

He was shocked to find that I tip delivery drivers decently...For some weird reason, I usually get my food reasonably quick and still hot. wonder why, lol

As we were effectively under house arrest the past couple of Halloweens (they were on weekends), our pizza guy was amused when his tip included some of the chocolate bars we were passing out (along with cash, of course).
As for the OP, if you want the delivery at a specific time, place the order well ahead with those instructions. Plan ahead, for heaven's sake.

[Food Lady]

I tip ridiculously well. If the service is bad they get 10% to 15%. I have a friend who tips $5 minimum, even if she ordered a $2 cup of coffee. I love her.

[dragon_wings]

I tip ridiculously well. If the service is bad they get 10% to 15%. I have a friend who tips $5 minimum, even if she ordered a $2 cup of coffee. I love her.

This I me. My friend and I ordered pizza over the weekend at 12:30 am. Our total was like $15 and I made sure the driver got a $5 tip.

[Megg]

I have to agree with Teskeria, I get confused by people who get cold food that takes forever. Then I discover they do not tip, and it all makes sense! My ridiculous tips (at least 20% for delivery people, and we can't even order pizza without spending $50 lol) must mean they come to my house first. Go figure.

[Nemesis44UK]

I would love to deliver to all you nice posters

In the UK, where I live, I get the whole "we don't tip" thing. Some people do, some people don't. I might do 30 deliveries per night and get around £10 in tips.

I don't take very long to deliver it, but getting a tip is dependent on that person ordering rather than performance related.

I tip people in pubs, restaurants and delivery people of all persuasions.

My issue is with rudeness. It isn't too much to ask for a little politeness is it? To be met with a stony glare as they hold out the money is a bit rude, I think, yet you would be surprised at how many people think you are below them in the social standings and won't even bother to talk to you.

Ho hum

[PepperElf]

If we're thinking big stuff, hey, why not give me a tip, since I use my own car and my own petrol (£1.36 per litre), it all helps!

Personally... screw "big stuff" ... if I'm ordering ANY delivery food the person bringing me hot tasty food gets a tip.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Oh, I always knew I was getting a good deal on gas compared to our European friends. After all, we are more of an automotive society.

I always tip well when having food delivered. At least $5. It always gets my food to me fast and piping hot.

[Krandor]

I have to agree with Teskeria, I get confused by people who get cold food that takes forever. Then I discover they do not tip, and it all makes sense! My ridiculous tips (at least 20% for delivery people, and we can't even order pizza without spending $50 lol) must mean they come to my house first. Go figure.

I try to tip well in general especially if it is a place I go to often. The bar I often go to after work I always tip 20-25% (actually what i will do is if the bill is something like $38.12 I'll just round it up to $40 and calculate 20% of that). As a result I get treated very well when I go and the bartenders are always checking to make sure I don't need anything. Funny how that works.

[cinema guy]

In the UK, where I live, I get the whole "we don't tip" thing. Some people do, some people don't. I might do 30 deliveries per night and get around £10 in tips.

I always tip in restaurants. But I am never sure whether (or how much) I should tip delivery drivers. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't.