For a pizza delivery? We just ordered one and it came to $20 and some change. I gave the driver two twenties and asked for $16 in change. He gave me $15 and walked away with a sarcastic "Thanks". I didn't realize I'd been given a different amount until after I'd gone back in the house and he'd driven away. My mom always tipped a dollar and I usually give about $3. Besides the fact that the delivery man had no right to give me back the change that HE wanted to, am I being too cheap?

By Pamt on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 10:19 pm:

I usually tip about 20% which would have been $4. He had no right to give you back a different amount. THAT would tick me off and I would probably call the pizza company.

By Missmudd on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 10:20 pm:

NO, when i was a pizza chauffer I was happy if I got $3. Your pizza driver had some nerve deciding how much he deserved. I would call the restaurant and complain. Truth be told you probably wont use that restaurant for pizza unless you dont have a choice. The restaurant should be happy to hear that you arent happy and that they are given the opportunity to make it right. You could have decided not to tip at all, that is your right. Tips are appreciated not mandatory. Even though some nights the tips were what paid for the gas going home I never *expected* to be tipped. I was just happy when I did, and really happy when I got $3, extatic when I got $5. Now this was 10 yrs ago and times may have changed some but that doesnt mean that much. You would have tipped 15% that is totally acceptable.

By Paulas on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 10:47 pm:

I would definitely call the restaurant and complain. I think your tip was more than fair.

By Cat on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 11:23 pm:

We got a pizza tonight and it was somewhere around $12.50 and I gave the guy $16. I'd definately call and complain that he didn't give you back what you asked for. Can you imagine if you'd picked up your pizza and they decided not to give you the correct change because they *thought* they deserved more??? Unacceptable.

By Truestori on Thursday, January 6, 2005 - 12:56 am:

My pizza man must hate us..LOL
I tip 1 or 2 bucks at most! Restaurants are different though. We always double the tax and then add some to that if the service is good.

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, January 6, 2005 - 06:16 am:

Definitely complain. No matter what the "rules" are about tipping, he had no right to decide how much change to give you, and in essence he scammed you.

Now, one of my sons having done this, usually pizza drivers are paid minimum wage or just above minimum wage and, like live waitstaff in restaurants, count on tips so that they can make a living. So I would tip 10% to 20%, depending on service, speed, courtesy, etc.

By Karen~moderator on Thursday, January 6, 2005 - 07:46 am:

Ditto Ginny. Jeff delivered pizza for a while in high school and they *do* depend on tip money to make their living.

HOWEVER - it is NOT up to the driver to decide how much you tip him. On the chance that he didn't have a $1 bill to give you correct change, he should have TOLD you that, in which case you could have had the option of writing a check (yes, tips can be included in checks, the pizza place gives them the tip money out of the check), or look for exact change yourself, or at the very least, KNOW you were tipping him $1 more than you intended.

I'd have a conversation with the pizza place manager, however, be aware that in MANY of these places, the managers and Asst. managers are barely 21 and you probably won't get any satisfaction. But it's worth the call, because on the chance that you DO get a manager who is a mature adult, and actually cares about the reputation of the establishment, your complaint will be taken seriously.

By Colette on Thursday, January 6, 2005 - 09:01 am:

I always tip 20-25%. We are "regulars" at a couple of local restaurants, and the better you tip, the better service you get.

By Happynerdmom on Thursday, January 6, 2005 - 09:12 am:

Sounds like you were plenty generous. I found this link helpful. How much to tip

By Mrsheidi on Thursday, January 6, 2005 - 09:31 am:

I would be spitting nails!!!! I can't believe this guy!!!

I used to deliver pizzas as well and was perfectly happy with a 1$ or 2$ tip every time. I was in college and probably made $70 every night total. That's more than enough for a student...as most of them are.

They pay the drivers for gas, mileage, and then they get their tips every day. Most of them don't report their tips AND they are probably getting a tax break for being a student.

They also can deliver 1-3 pizzas at a time since a lot of people are in the same neighborhood...so, it does pan out to more than minimum wage per hour.
Call them...call them...call them...

By Breann on Thursday, January 6, 2005 - 10:09 am:

That was wrong. I would call the company today and tell them what happened.

He did scam you. He stole money from you. He was dishonest. He could be fired for that.

Your tip was fair. The way he acted he shouldn't have gotten anything.

True the pizza delivery people do depend on tips, but they need to earn those tips. They aren't free! That's why it's called a "job"

By Mrse on Thursday, January 6, 2005 - 10:23 am:

I have a thing about tips, and I do not follow the tip rules. It is a stretch at the best to get " out food " for us, so if I can I give about 2 or maybe 3 dollars , most likely the two. I get very upset when paying with the debt card, the machine says tip?. Or if it is expected I just think it is rude for people to expect a tip. I give excellent service , at my cleaning job, work really hard at keeping the building I work in very clean, and I do not get any tips. Thier are so many people who work for min wage that do not get tips. I just feel it is rude if it is requested.

By Kay on Thursday, January 6, 2005 - 11:29 am:

Do your pizza places are charge a separate 'delivery charge' and 'check fee'? Ours does - I've started going myself to a cheaper place that's about a block away ... you can get a wonderful large two-topping pizza for 6.99.

By Jelygu on Thursday, January 6, 2005 - 11:38 am:

I wait tables, and about a year ago I worked in an italian rest. that also delivered pizzas. I think your tip was plenty. I agree that the delivery guys need the tips, but they should work for it. Your pizza should be delivered on time (although if late it isn't always the drivers fault) and the delivery person should be friendly and polite. He absolutely should NOT have given you less change than you asked for. Although it would probably feel good to call, I agree with Karen that it will probably do you no good. May not even be worth the hassle for $1.

By Debbie on Thursday, January 6, 2005 - 11:45 am:

We always order our pizza from the same place. It is usually around $16.00 and I give the delivery guy $20.00. We almost always have the same guy. I did give him a little bigger tip the week before Christmas. He was so excited and appreciative!!

Now, I would be really upset by what happened to you. That is just wrong. We used to order pizza from this one place. But, on more then one occassion the delivery guy supposedly didn't have enough change. Both times I ended up tipping him more then I wanted too. After the 2nd time it happened, we quit using them.

By Palmbchprincess on Thursday, January 6, 2005 - 01:13 pm:

A lot of pizza places put a $1 surcharge on delivery, which goes to the driver. For a 20 pizza delivery I would have tipped $3 and some change, just like you did. I really think you should call the manager at that place, I've worked off tips MANY times, and I'd NEVER give a customer less change than he or she asked for. That's stealing, even if it is only 1 dollar.

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, January 6, 2005 - 01:35 pm:

Yes, often the "managers" of pizza shops are just kids themselves, but if it is part of a chain there is probably a regional office that provides oversight, and that is who I'd complain to if the the on-site manager is not responsive.

By Mara on Thursday, January 6, 2005 - 02:02 pm:

We usually only tip a dollar. The pizza place we order from is only 1-2 minutes away so they really don't have to go far. If the weather is nasty I have given a little more, or if the service was awful I will not tip at all.

Mara

By Breann on Thursday, January 6, 2005 - 02:15 pm:

I still think you should call. Even if it was only $1. It's not the amount that bugs me, it's what was done that bugs me

By Truestori on Friday, January 7, 2005 - 01:47 pm:

Geesh,
I may have to become a pizza delivery girl! LOL

By Pixie on Friday, January 7, 2005 - 02:15 pm:

I must be cheap we always tip 15% or more depending on service in house. Unless the service was horrid at the fault of the waitress then I only tip 11.5% which is what percent of what we bought that she will have to pay taxes on. As for pizza we usually on tip a buck or two. I really had no idea people followed the standard 15% with delivery because they make more than a waitress (2.15 around here).