You Make The Call #1

[Suicane75]

Part of our new weekly series here at FOFC. I'll give you a scenario, you tell me how you would handle it.

So I had a bunch of friends over today and we decided to order food. Went to the local pizzerias website and placed a fairly big order. Total came to $46. This included a $1.50 delivery charge.

I collected all the monies and took my $46 to the door. Upon giving the delivery guy the money, he counted it and told me that the delivery charge was not included. He was lying.

I took $2 dollars off of the kitchen table and handed it to him, wishing him a nice day.

What would you have done?

[CrescentMoonie]

If the website or email receipt shows the delivery fee is included, I show it to him, take his name down, and give his boss a call/email.

[jbergey22]

Id have given him a 50 and told him to keep the change. Possibly more depending on the weather and time of day. Drivers are paid to do that job but not real well because the business are banking on them getting tip money unfortunately.

[Brian Swartz]

As a former delivery driver and supervisor of them, I can tell you that I'd be ticked at anyone who did what this driver did. Rule #1 is service, an obvious part of which is don't lie to the customer. What he did is grounds for termination.

They do make their living largely off tips, but that doesn't justify lying. I'd feel like a jerk for not tipping in the first place, but frankly that's beside the point. I ask to see the receipt, point that out to him, and possibly call the store about it depending on his attitude and reaction.

[larrymcg421]

What would I have done? If I'm...

1) You - I would've tipped him in the first place.
2) One of your friends - I would've asked why we're not including the tip in the amount that we're splitting. If everyone else was being a cheapskate, I would've covered the tip myself and made a mental note to never order pizza with you again.
3) The driver - I wouldn't have made up a lie, but I'd be pretty pissed that a group of people couldn't pony up like an extra $1 each for a decent tip on a $46 order.

[MizzouRah]

That's cheap! Our local Imo's charges a $4 delivery fee.. and we still give them an extra $2-$3.

[CrescentMoonie]

Hold on, there wasn't a tip already calculated in?

[Suicane75]

Originally Posted by CrescentMoonie

Hold on, there wasn't a tip already calculated in?

Yes, there was. Well, there was a "delivery charge", which I guess you could argue is different than a tip. But his exactly quote to me was "delivery charge isn't included". I never looked at the physical receipt, but the online receipt had the $1.50 included in the $46 charge.

Now, here's a caveat to the story that I didn't include in the original post. I never tip this guy. He's the owners son and he drives up in a souped out trans am. Maybe I'm being classist, but I feel like the included delivery charge is fine enough in this situation. There are other places around here that deliver, and I'll gladly tip them $3-5 every time because I know they're just doing it to make ends meet/get extra cash.

[Suicane75]

And despite being pissed in the moment, I never looked at the physical receipt as I just tossed it in the garbage after I paid and went back to watching UM/OSU.

[Chief Rum]

I would have handed him the pizzas and told him to hand me back the exact money I gave him, which would have been either in his hand or at the very top of wherever he keeps it. Then I would have counted it out in front of him. And assuming it turns out he lied, I would pay for the pizzas only, no tip and inform the little shit that by the time he gets back to the pizzeria, I will have already spoekn with his supervisor.

[CU Tiger]

I couldn't imagine not tipping a delivery guy $5 minimum..... no matter who his dad is.

It cost more than that for him to drive there.

Now if he lied to you, I'd also document it to his employer. In SC there was a case several years ago where a driver was charged with theft by deception for this very thing. Now he was habitual and did it dozens of times on camera but the premise remains.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by Suicane75

He's the owners son and he drives up in a souped out trans am.

Then I definitely tip him because he's gonna need to get gas at least 2-3 times before he gets back to the restaurant.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by Suicane75

Now, here's a caveat to the story that I didn't include in the original post. I never tip this guy. He's the owners son and he drives up in a souped out trans am. Maybe I'm being classist, but I feel like the included delivery charge is fine enough in this situation. There are other places around here that deliver, and I'll gladly tip them $3-5 every time because I know they're just doing it to make ends meet/get extra cash.

Meh, work is work.

I'd tip anyone the same way for the same amount of service. I don't know anyone's full background.

Although I should let it be known I hate tipping in general and I try to avoid transactions where I'm expected to tip.

[digamma]

$50 or $55, keep the change.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by digamma

$50 or $55, keep the change.

Even if the guy lied to you?

[Landshark44]

Yeah- if i'm looking at this story and trying to decide who the "bad guy" is....

it's you guys.....

for not tipping on a $46 dollar order.. if you don't feel like giving a tip, go pick it up yourself...

[Warhammer]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Even if the guy lied to you?

If you tipped, the guy probably does not lie about the delivery charge.

[NobodyHere]

That's really no excuse

[NobodyHere]

I'll also add that I used to deliver pizzas myself

[digamma]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Even if the guy lied to you?

It never gets to that point.

[TroyF]

1 - I would have tipped no matter who the dad is or what the car is. He's delivering pizzas, that right there should tell you he isn't a spoiled idiot who doesn't have to work because daddy is rich.

2 - Maybe this is just me being naive. Actually I know this is me being naive, but it's a way I try to live my life. I would not assume the driver was lying. Maybe he didn't understand the website added it in. Maybe it's a new thing they just started doing. You said you don't tip this guy and why, so my question is this: Has he ever given incorrect information before?

3 - If I was concerned about the lying, I wouldn't ever get into a confrontation with him about it. Don't tell him anything. Simply call up the supervisor after he leaves, explain what happened and move on.

4 - I'll agree 100% with Larry on the being a friend part. I would have covered the tip and tried like hell to make sure I was never with that person when a tip was needed again.

[CrescentMoonie]

Yeah, I can't fathom not tipping. In a case with the worst delivery/service I tip 20%. Better and it goes up.

[Dutch]

I have always given at least $5...sometimes more. No need for the delivery driver to ever lie if you are respectful in the first place.

[EagleFan]

Did you get a receipt? What does it say about the delivery charge?

[EagleFan]

dola: But it really shouldn't have come up to begin with. Would have thrown $55 to the driver to start with and the story would have ended there.

Only if I had that driver before and he was a total dick would be the only reason for a change in that.

[Abe Sargent]

The service industry is a lousy place to work in. Point of service people get yelled when it often is not their fault. There have been a couple of times when the people taking the order or making it ssreweed up, o the delivery person. They were prompt, and I send the food back, but still tossed them a bunk or two for their speed. Like working customer service. People are angry at the things not working or whjatever, but you are the one they take it out on, you know?

[Drake]

On a $46 order, I would have tipped $14. I always tip to round numbers and aim for something in the vicinity of 20%, erring on the generous side.

I was never a waiter but did my time in food service. I always figure I'm making up for the people who don't tip -- of whom there seemed to be plenty, from what I heard from the wait staff.

The benefit to me is that I tend to get great service at the places where I dine regularly.

[dubb93]

I'm almost positive that the driver doesn't see any of the delivery charge. That's the premium you pay to the business to cover the $2 an hour or whatever the pizza place is paying the driver so you can have delivery.

[CU Tiger]

Originally Posted by dubb93

I'm almost positive that the driver doesn't see any of the delivery charge. That's the premium you pay to the business to cover the crazy insurance rates they have to carry to cover employees driving on the clock.

FIFY

[Marc Vaughan]

First things first - are you absolutely certain the tip was on the receipt, I've thought I've tipped pizza drivers when I've purchased before but not clicked the right 'update' button or something when ordering so its gone through as $0 instead ...

Second is I generally tip $5 at least, seems tight to tip less than that considering chances are he's had to drive a reasonable distance/time to deliver the pizza and as a proportion of the order cost its fairly small, heck its not like he's paid a lot ...

[Eaglesfan27]

I have an owner who delivers to us. I'm always impressed by his work ethic and always tip him well even though he drives a very nice vehicle. He always treats us well in return.

[TLK]

Always heard that the delivery charge went to cover the insurance for the driver/business.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by Landshark44

if you don't feel like giving a tip, go pick it up yourself...

I probably would have picked it up myself.

Of course, I still probably would have tipped some on the order.

[Suicane75]

I guess it's pretty clear that I was in the wrong here. I'll accept that.

[cuervo72]

Please don't let that dissuade you from continuing with future installments.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by Suicane75

I guess it's pretty clear that I was in the wrong here. I'll accept that.

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Please don't let that dissuade you from continuing with future installments.

Unless you were just looking for sympathy. But it was nice if you to share.

[Suicane75]

Not at all. It's just interesting to get perspectives. To me, the guy is a douche and this further cemented it. But to outside eyes, I was being an asshole to begin with. I always tip very well, but this guy has just rubbed me the wrong way since he took over. But I completely understand where everyone else is coming from.

[General Mike]

In general I don't get food I order delivered, but if I did I would have a set amount in mind that I was gonna hand the delivery person, and tell them to keep the change, it wouldn't matter who delivered the food, whether it was the owner, the owner's son or my own brother.

[stevew]

Delivery fee is just a tax that the business uses to cover expenses. Our drivers get something like 25 cents a mile for delivery. Some places probably get a flat rate for a delivery. You should always tip the driver, something like 5$ minimum. I wouldn't necessarily make it percentage based. From experience, you get must better service from the drivers if you aren't a known "stiffer". For example, your food will get much more of a priority.

[Karlifornia]

Originally Posted by Suicane75

Part of our new weekly series here at FOFC. I'll give you a scenario, you tell me how you would handle it.

So I had a bunch of friends over today and we decided to order food. Went to the local pizzerias website and placed a fairly big order. Total came to $46. This included a $1.50 delivery charge.

I collected all the monies and took my $46 to the door. Upon giving the delivery guy the money, he counted it and told me that the delivery charge was not included. He was lying.

I took $2 dollars off of the kitchen table and handed it to him, wishing him a nice day.

What would you have done?

If he was lying.....then gets nothing....I almost always tip, even with mediocre service....but lying to me is a dealbreaker

[panerd]

I would worry if you have stiffed him multiple times about the condition/extra toppings added to the pizzas. Worth a store pickup on that alone.