how much should you tip the pizza delivery guy?

[robby]

I always hate trying to figure this out. How much are you supposed to tip the pizza delivery guy? Is it a standard 15% - 20% like a restaurant or do you round up to the nearest $5? Is there an etiquette with this?

[mjrube94]

I usually do both. I make sure it's at least 15%, then round up. So for example, a $17 delivery would be $19.55 with a 15% tip, so I round up to 20. Depending on the exact amount, it can end up being much more than 15-20%, but still only a few dollars. I always remind myself what it was like being 17-18 years old, trying to save money for gas, movies, etc., and so don't feel bad about giving them a bit more...

[akaivyleaf]

I do what mjrube94 does

[Razzy]

I always try to tip them a dollar or two. Now if it is raining I tend to tip them more.

Razzy

[kashi]

I normally give them $2-$3 for one pizza & breadsticks. If I ordered a ton of pizzas, though, I'd probably tip more.

[Fern]

My local pizza place ALREADY factors in a 15% tip for the delivery guy. They trick you, cus when he comes to the door and you ask how much, they'll give you the total with the tip factored in. Most people don't know that, so they'll add ANOTHER tip on top of that!!!

Best defense: have a takeout menu at home so you know exactly what the price should be, pre-tip!

[Russell]

We typically tip $3 for pizza deliveries (1 or 2 pizzas).

[karie]

I usually tip $3 per pizza. ~K

[robex]

We tip $3.00-$5.00 depending on how big the order is...same with Chinese food when we order.

[Tree0164]

Originally Posted by mjrube94

I usually do both. I make sure it's at least 15%, then round up. So for example, a $17 delivery would be $19.55 with a 15% tip, so I round up to 20. Depending on the exact amount, it can end up being much more than 15-20%, but still only a few dollars. I always remind myself what it was like being 17-18 years old, trying to save money for gas, movies, etc., and so don't feel bad about giving them a bit more...

We do this as well. Maybe a few more if the weather is bad.

[Bruce Wayne]

I've never understood tipping. You pay for your pizza, it's then up to the pizza company to pay their staff properly. If they don't do that this is there problem, why should you pay extra?

(apologies if this will now start a Reservoir Dogs style debate )

[gakline]

I usually do $2-$3 for 1-2 pizzas. One of my friends was a delivery guy and said he made great money on tips. He was pretty much making fun of people for giving so much money to those "poor college students delivering pizza". Granted other times he had people give him nothing extra, but he still did really well. Because of him, I tip less. I'm in a typically all white, middle class neighborhood, so I know he does well.

[jeffrey]

One of the things I love about living in Japan is there is no tipping. Absolutely none. Everything is included. This includes restaurants, hotels - everything. It makes life so much easier and there is never having to wonder if you left enough (or too much)

[akaivyleaf]

Originally Posted by Bruce Wayne

I've never understood tipping. You pay for your pizza, it's then up to the pizza company to pay their staff properly. If they don't do that this is there problem, why should you pay extra?

(apologies if this will now start a Reservoir Dogs style debate )

I agree with you to a certain extent, except for a delivery to my house, because I was too lazy to go and retrieve my food in the first place, I believe this deserves some consideration. Especially when you can go to a pizza place and pay the exact same price- which tells me that a delivery charge isn't already factored in.

In terms of resturant where you tip your server, I go to resturants because I don't want to cook and clean for myself, so I have no problem giving someone a little extra for service I wouldn't want or can't provide for myself at their establishment.

What gets on my nerves most about tipping is when it is automatically added to my bill... let me determine the level of my thanks or gratuity. Don't automatically assume I'm holding to 15% with the level of service rendered on this particular occasion. It might have been exceptional so I might want to give 20%. Likewise it could have been lousy and 5% and a piece of my mind might suffice just as well.

[Bruce Wayne]

Originally Posted by akaivyleaf

I agree with you to a certain extent, except for a delivery to my house, because I was too lazy to go and retrieve my food in the first place, I believe this deserves some consideration. Especially when you can go to a pizza place and pay the exact same price- which tells me that a delivery charge isn't already factored in.

In terms of resturant where you tip your server, I go to resturants because I don't want to cook and clean for myself, so I have no problem giving someone a little extra for service I wouldn't want or can't provide for myself at their establishment.

What gets on my nerves most about tipping is when it is automatically added to my bill... let me determine the level of my thanks or gratuity. Don't automatically assume I'm holding to 15% with the level of service rendered on this particular occasion. It might have been exceptional so I might want to give 20%. Likewise it could have been lousy and 5% and a piece of my mind might suffice just as well.

In my business the value of the product is all factored into the price and I think that the cost of delivery/cooking/waiting should be factored into the price of the service provided. I give my thanks by buying the service, this is the basics of trade. I deal with the business, the business deals with its employees. I don't think you should tip extra for exceptional service, I expect exceptional service as standard or I go elsewhere with my custom. I expect my customers to think likewise.

[Miz Pat]

I never send out for pizza or at least I haven't in the last 19 years, so its a moot point.

Pat

[mehmeh]

Originally Posted by Fern

Best defense: have a takeout menu at home so you know exactly what the price should be, pre-tip!

This is something I adhrere to. Let's be honest; not everyone's honest. I like to do the math and then, if it wasn't fair, next time they can get zero tip!!!.. or a very meager one.

[akaivyleaf]

Originally Posted by Bruce Wayne

I don't think you should tip extra for exceptional service, I expect exceptional service as standard or I go elsewhere with my custom. I expect my customers to think likewise.

I can agree with this statement, except Exceptional Service isn't the standard and a little grease in the form of cash money, sometimes oils the wheel.

Back in my younger, more frivolous days, my household had a reputation for tipping well, my husband had a reputation for being a "big spender" so we received our deliveries first, our food was warmer. At restuants we frequented we had more generous portions than other, the "better" tables etc...

My mother in law's favorite past time used to be to go to the waffle house - don't know if you have them in your area for those of you who live in the states- but anyway, she used to go and have a cup of coffee and bless her waitress with a 50.00 tip. She got a kick out of it, and if any of you have seen some old time waffle house waitresses, they could really use the blessing.

[BCompDude]

Originally Posted by Bruce Wayne

In my business the value of the product is all factored into the price and I think that the cost of delivery/cooking/waiting should be factored into the price of the service provided. I give my thanks by buying the service, this is the basics of trade. I deal with the business, the business deals with its employees. I don't think you should tip extra for exceptional service, I expect exceptional service as standard or I go elsewhere with my custom. I expect my customers to think likewise.

I agree that the cost should be included--it would make it much more simple. However; this is an imperfect world and thusly we have the tipping process. And 15% is the standard for decent service, 20% for over the top service. I used to be a waiter to get myself through college and still think that if people don't want to leave a tip (the people who leave nothing even if there was great service) they should either eat at home or go to a place where tipping isn't expected; aka where there isn't someone WAITING on you.

If you can't afford a few bucks extra for the lad or lady servicing you then you probably shouldn't be eating out in the first place. By the way, that wasn't directed at anyone in particular. Just my thoughts on the subject.

To the OP: 2-3 bucks for a single pizza--I only live 2 blocks away. Heh, which is why I don't order "in" usually.

[Bruce Wayne]

Originally Posted by BCompDude

I agree that the cost should be included--it would make it much more simple. However; this is an imperfect world and thusly we have the tipping process. And 15% is the standard for decent service, 20% for over the top service. I used to be a waiter to get myself through college and still think that if people don't want to leave a tip (the people who leave nothing even if there was great service) they should either eat at home or go to a place where tipping isn't expected; aka where there isn't someone WAITING on you.

If you can't afford a few bucks extra for the lad or lady servicing you then you probably shouldn't be eating out in the first place. By the way, that wasn't directed at anyone in particular. Just my thoughts on the subject.

To the OP: 2-3 bucks for a single pizza--I only live 2 blocks away. Heh, which is why I don't order "in" usually.

You get a wage though don't you? If one of my staff asked a customer for a tip for doing their job I'd rightly expect the customer to tell them where to get off. The customer has paid my company for the job, I then pay my staff to do that job.

Sure you're waiting on me at a restaurant but that's your job, the thing the restaurant pays you to do. Should I tip the kitchen staff for washing my dishes? How about I don't pay for my meal but instead just give a tip if I think it's worth it? Do you think the chef would go for that?