A recurring conundrum that affects every person who has ever ordered pizza or had food delivered is “How much should I tip?” You would not believe some of the crazy things your delivery person has gone through before arriving with your items. Even if the pizza delivery driver is not in the same status as a restaurant worker, they are nonetheless the ones who carry your food right to your doorstep. Although they are not required, tips are a token of appreciation for the person’s service. Therefore, how much should you tip the person delivering your pizza? When determining the amount of gratuity to give, there are a few considerations to make.
The Real Cost of Delivery
You may have observed that the restaurant assessed a delivery fee if you requested a pizza for delivery. The cost of these fees can vary, but they often range from $3 to $10. You might be surprised to learn that drivers hardly ever receive a portion of delivery costs. Therefore, it should not be misinterpreted as a gratuity.
Low Delivery Costs
You may have also observed that in certain locations, a minimum order amount must be placed in order for food to be brought. We refer to this as a minimum delivery charge. In no way, shape, or form can it be assumed that this is directed towards the delivery person. With a minimal delivery charge, the restaurant will receive the cash up front and is not obligated by law to set aside any money for the delivery driver, with a few restrictions connected to the federal minimum wage. You can begin figuring out how much you should tip the person delivery service operator once you have considered those two factors.
How Much Should You Tip the Delivery Person?
Typically, a minimal tip of $3 is left for home deliveries that are somewhat less than $20. It is typical to figure out a gratuity that is 10%–15% of the purchase, but never fewer than $5 if the purchase is more than $20. Several factors can affect how much you tip, but you should always adhere to those minimum guidelines. :
When to Leave a Larger Tipping Amount than Usual?
You must tip extra, at least 20% more—if your order meets the criteria listed below. We do not believe you should place an order in the event of inclement weather like sleet or snow, though.
- Deliveries carried out in inclement weather. Each of these conditions—heavy rain, snow, severe winds, etc.—poses a risk to drivers. As a general rule, if you order pizza to prevent having to travel in bad weather, you should pay the person bringing it handsomely.
- When the distance between the delivery address and the store is greater than five miles.
- If the driver was exceptionally kind, provided excellent service, or arrived early.
- Orders for a large group (such as 10 pizzas, or a large number of appetizers with lots of sides)
- When delivering anything outside the typical delivery window
- When a driver went above and above by calling with updates or in another way
Do You Ever Have to Tip Below the Required Amount?
What happens if the food is ice cold or arrives late? Unfortunately, deliveries go wrong quite often. However, you ought to at the absolute least leave the delivery person a tip before contacting the shop, requesting a meeting with the restaurant’s management and describing your issues to them. You will find that the store is usually at fault, not the delivery person, in most cases. Although, you may leave a smaller gratuity if the delivery person is blatantly impolite, damages your prized flower pots, spills food, or engages in some other terrible misconduct.
Why Tipping Delivery Persons is Important?
The majority of delivery drivers only receive the minimum salary or less, plus gratuities. However, when you take into account costs like fuel, insurance, and repairs (caused by the wear and tear on the vehicle from regular driving), any profit is quickly eliminated. Additionally, delivery drivers frequently have to purchase additional insurance and pay higher rates.
How Much Should You Tip if You Pay by Phone?
These days, you have the option of paying by cell phone whenever you order your food, paying using an application when you purchase food or paying the driver when the meal is delivered. It’s a wise decision to just have the $3 to $5 tip on hand in dollar notes if you are paying over the phone. Working with coins and stray change is one activity you should aim to avoid. Try to avoid using actual coins because they can be difficult to use unless you had to search throughout your house and that is all you found.
How Do I Use a Credit Card to Tip the Delivery Person?
In the event that you pay by credit card, the driver delivering the pizza will present a receipt that you will need to sign. As with regular eateries, this receipt will have a tip line. Once you have included the tip and totaled the payment, sign the receipt. Please be aware that you must usually call and give your credit card details or pay online if you wish to make a credit card payment. The ability for the driver to scan your card through a card reader does exist in some circumstances, although it is not typical.
Conclusion
Everyone has experienced it. Everyone is ravenous and the fridge is empty at dinnertime. It is a good thing that ordering delivery meals is now simpler than ever. Your favorite restaurant meal is probably available for delivery, whether it be traditional food delivery or one of the numerous food delivery apps. The catch? Knowing exactly what amount to tip remains incredibly awkward. To help you tip the person for delivering your pizza, we have put together this helpful guide about how much you should be tipping. The bottom line is that it might be difficult to make a living as a delivery driver. Hence, the significance of tips you give can either make or break their job.
