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Or wear and tear on their brakes, with city driving it's stop & go. Some drivers use their own cars and even if compensated for their gas I doubt there is a maintenance clause in thier contract.

I responded to this subject in the Marco and Pepe thread, but my response seems more appropriate to this thread, so I'm re-posting it here.


When did 20% become a "Standard" tip? Tips of 15% reflects the current food prices which go up and down with everything else in the cost of living index. I do happen to tip 20% most of the time, but for that I expect service, including a smile, a never empty water glass, the correct food delivered at appropriate times (or a reasonable explanation of why it wasn't) and an overall demeanor that shows you want to serve me properly for the meal I'm paying for.


If I feel any of that is lacking, the tip goes down accordingly, and if it does get down to the point where I feel that a small or no tip is appropriate, I find the host, maitre' d, or manager and explain to them why the lower tip.


And having grown up in the food business, I do have some understanding of the issues regarding "back of the house" versus "front of the house," and would not shortchange a server because of a kitchen issue. I'm not going to punish a server because a steak comes out cooked wrong, or a dish is delayed (assuming a genuine explanation is given).


Just remember, a tip is a customer's way of showing gratitude for service provided. Good servers make great tips, servers who strive for mediocrity get mediocre or worse. The customer is spending their hard earned money for a meal, the server can either make or break that meal, do a good job and you will be rewarded.

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I'd be interested in the take home pay (considering all the non reported income) on average per week. Then I will begin to feel sorry.

I tip based on service. I don't care if its a law. A tip is a tip.

I think a standard 15% tip should be included in the price. makes life easier for all -

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I nearly fell of my chair laughing with this post. Still laughing!

WTF!!! Do you live in Shangri-La?

BTW- Cops leave their cars running too.

Having read some of the previous posts that touched on this topic I think it deserves its own thread.

Some things to understand about tipping and dealing with your waitstaff in general:

1) we often get paid $2.13/hour so tipping is how we make money- you don't tip we don't eat- please remember that

2) if you don't like the tipping system- too bad, this is the way it is and you are not hurting anyone but the server when you don't tip

3) if you can't afford to leave a tip you can't afford to eat out

4) 18%-20% is now customary- we don't get cost of living increases

5) don't treat us like servants; please be respectful

6) never ever snap your fingers or whistle- you will be lucky if ignoring you is all that happens

7) we have bad days too except we have no choice but to deal with you-you have a bad day you can not come into our restaurant so please don't take it out on us

Anyone else want to add to this please feel free I am sure this list can go on for days.



**And servers-your job is to "serve" if you don't like it do something else-there are always other ways to make money**

I typically tip $5, but if the weather's bad I may tip as much as $10.

$2 doesn't even cover the cost of their gas...I will happily give $4 or $5 tip so my lazy butt doesn't have to leave the house...especially when the weather sucks.

Giving a delivery guy $5 is insane. Most of the places around downtown JC charge a delivery fee. It is only a dollar or two but so what. I give $2 no matter what. Plus they are destroying the environment by leaving the car running. they should be delivering food on a bike like the Chinese restaurants do.

We are a pretty easy delivery downtown - we are in a safe area - we meet them at the front door - there are no stairs.

We always tip between $4 - $5 ($5 if it is really bad weather) - our food orders are most often between $12-25.

According to this article found on CNN Money,

Food delivery person:* 10% of the bill (excl. tax), at least $1 for bills up to $10. Should tip 15%-20% for a difficult delivery.

* Mike Lynn, associate professor of consumer behavior at the Cornell Hotel School suggests tipping pizza delivery folk a minimum of $2 per pizza. His reasoning: Food delivery can be dangerous if delivering to crime-ridden neighborhoods or driving in bad weather, etc. The Web site www.tipthepizzaguy.com suggests the following: 15% for normal service, with a $2 minimum; 20% for excellent service; 10% or less for poor service; at least 10% for orders of $50 or more. Don't assume a delivery charge, if there is one, goes to the pizza deliverer. Ask the person who takes your order.

If the place charges an outright delivery fee, then 15%, if not, 20%

I agree. A delivery guy does as much if not more than a waiter most of the time. They DO often pay for their own gas. I wouldn't pay as much as glitter, but I try to consider all the possible factors: cost, time, distance, weather, traffic, etc. I live downtown, and if i order from some place more than a mile away, I'm probably an inconvenience (by JC standards), so I try to make it "worth their while". I probably pay and average of $2 dollars for 10.00s local, $4 for someone from Journal or the Heights, and an additional $1 per 10.00 after.

So in your issue, I would have tipped $6 dollars for a meal that totaled $40 around Grove and $8 from somewhere else. At the end of the day, you have to compensate well if you want prompt and friendly service for delivery. These people depend on it for their livelihood.

I usually tip between $3 to $5.

You have to be kidding me. you are getting the stink eye because the deliver guy is awe of your doucheness. here is an easy way to figure out the tip. give then $1 for every $5 you spend.

If it is raining, you give them more. If it is snowing, you give them more. If you make them walk up 4 flights in the snow YOU GIVE THEM MORE! Do you enjoy getting your food spit in? If not, you should really tip the delivery guy appropriately.

The delivery guy will remember you for being a douche who doesn't tip properly. They make nothing and depend on tips. You know if they drive, they pay for their own gas, right? woah I am amazed right now.

I haven't had an order delivered to me in since 2001 pre/post 911. I remember giving the blimpie & pizza guys $2 to $3 bucks then, the same for the small time supermarket on the north end of the Heights...within the Heights. And they used a car to deliver the goods. It's not as if they were coming by with an envelope filled with cash.

Consider what the delivery dudes might do to your delivery if you don't or short change them. Make sure all those seals haven't been broken!!!

I always like to consider weather conditions. If your having someone deliver you food because the weather is nasty try to keep in mind this person is spending most of their day in it. throw a couple extra bucks and show appreciation to someone who is just trying to make a living by making your life easier.

$2 to $5 depending on the quantity of the food and amount of the bill.

15%-20% is absurd. YOu're not getting the service of a server nor the ambiance of dining at a restaurant. They are delivering most items within a 5 mile radius (more like 1 mile actually). No need to tip more then $3-4 bucks.
If it's a small order that totals around $15, I would tip $2 at most.

I guess I've been wrong all these years, but I always tip 15-20%. They're not waiters, but they've had to drive in the rain and traffic or whatever to get to you. To give them a few bucks for all that time on the job just seems wrong.

EXACTLY. They are not waiters. No way on the percentage. 3 to 4 dollars and that's it. You came, you saw, you dropped off food, you leave. Nowhere near what a waiter does.

From the friends I have had that have been delivery guys. Its not really based on percentage but the amount of items. A large order(10 pizzas, 10 chinese items, etc) usually garners a 10 dollar tip. Usually for just a pizza, or a small chinese order its a dollar or 2. Though my personal rule is that if they in away way charge for delivery I tend not to tip.

I've never heard of people tipping by percentage for delivery. The guy's not waiting on you hand and foot like a waiter. Unless the order is abnormally large, requiring him to go back and forth to his car over and over, I don't really change my tip for $25 of food or $50.

I think its enough. I don't think I ever tipped over $5. It depends on the total amount, I just round it up and thats what I give.

Given everyone would like a bigger tip, think of it this way. If its a decently busy place, they make a decent amount.

If they delivered just 3 orders per hour (its almost always more), that $9 per hour for which he most likely doesn't report for taxes, plus the small salary he gets from the job, I think not too bad for delivery.

Three or 4 dollars amounts to less than 10% of your order. I'd up it to at least 15% if they have to walk up 4 flights. And I'd tip more if the weather is particularly bad.

I'm wondering what's the running "standard" for tipping food delivery guys? I tip $3 or $4 (food usually total between $40 and $50), but I always get nasty looks from the delivery guys, so I'm wondering if I'm tipping too low?

I should mention that we live on a 4th flr walk-up too.