Oh, don't you people even get me started... I know that I'm going to sound like a misanthrope, but I am sick and tired of explaining myself to everyone. I work as a pizza delivery driver in Australia. And from what I've been reading from various sites, it seems that in Australia we get the worst of it. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but I don't get that many tips, even when I am in a good mood. Even when it's pouring rain, with lighting hitting nearby trees, people down here as so friggin cheap. A typical order will end with either $xx.90 or $xx.95. And I can tell you that approximately 60 to 70 percent of customers will expect that five or ten cents back. So when I hear people going on about percentages and getting at least a dollar for a tip, I laugh. At the store that I work at, drivers would be lucky to have a dollar - TOTAL - at the end of a shift, from tips. And just so you know, the store that I work at was rated as the best franchise store in the country for our brand. It takes a lot of hard work and good service to get that.
Now let's look at fuel. With the current fuel prices regularly between $1.16 and $1.30 (AU) per litre, and having to travel up to 18km round-trip per single delivery, it just doesn't pan out without decent tips.
If you want to find out what I really think about what customers should expect, check out my blog. I assure you that I wrote that when I was being reasonable, so I think that many might find it interesting. It's at http://upsizethis.spaces.live.com
And in case anyone thinks of suggesting that I should consider another job, forget it. I genuinely like my job. For me the good outweighs the bad, and I am passionate about our product, service and quality. It's just that as a delivery driver, tips are something that gets me fired up. ...five cents?!... I use more than five cents worth of fuel starting my car and getting it out of the carpark at work. Keep your five cents, it's an insult!
UpsizeThis.
