3 Things You Need To Realize When You Order Pizza
If you are ordering pizza, you need to realize how the delivery process really works. This will help you correctly tip your driver and treat them well.
#1 Your Delivery Fee Is Meant To Cover Vehicle Costs
Many people wrongly assume that the couple-dollar delivery fee that they pay goes directly to their delivery driver and that they then don't need to tip their delivery driver. However, the delivery fee is not a substitute for a tip. The delivery fee is used to cover the cost of gas, wear and tear, and insurance for the driver. This fee sometimes goes to the delivery driver but is often split by the driver and by the company they work for. The delivery fee covers the physical cost of bring the pizza to your home; it is not a tip.
#2 Your Delivery Driver Depends On Tips
When you walk up to a pizza place, you may not have to tip the works when you do pick-up instead of delivery. However, that doesn't mean you should skip over tipping your delivery driver. Often time, pizza companies pay delivery drivers less than they pay their in-house workers because they "know" that delivery drivers get tips, so they reduce their salary to reflect that fact.
If you live in a state that follows federal minimum for tipped employees, your driver actually makes a lot less than minimum wage and will depend upon getting tipped to make at least minimum wage.
#3 You Should Tip Even If Your Order Isn't On Time
You should tip your delivery driver even if your order isn't exactly on time. Take into consideration that the pizza place has to create and make your pizza, box it up and then the driver has to find your house. If you are ordering pizza during rush hour on a Friday, you should expect it to take a little longer for your pizza to get to your house as the delivery driver has to deal with rush hour as well. Or if you order a pizza when a special event is happening in your hand that affects traffic, such as a parade or big game, take that into account.
Ultimately, it is up to your delivery driver to get the pizza to you in a timely manner while still being a safe driver on the road. Don't punish your delivery driver by withholding or stiffing their tip because of normal driving conditions.