mrthespork asked: To the anon guy who mentioned that Japan doesn't have tipping: It's a part of the culture, it's not expected, and it's a bit insulting to them. But they're not underpaid for their work. Instead of $/hr + tip, it's just a larger sum per hour (or per day or whatever).
Anonymous asked: Many places in my area didn't start charging a delivery fee until the last time gas prices went really high a few years ago. At the time they said it was because of the high cost of gas. Of course most of those delivery fees have never gone away. Are you saying that the delivery driver probably didn't even get that fee despite the fact that they are the ones that have to pay for gas? It seems like it would be a big scam if businesses charged for deliver because of the high price of gas then don't even give the extra money to the driver.
I’ve received a number of messages from delivery people saying they never see that money. So it seems to be a scam. In NYC most places offer it for free, so I cant comment personally.
thewalkaround asked: How many individual deliveries does an average guy make during the course of an 8-10 hour shift?
I do any where from 25-35 where I work.
Anonymous asked: It's not a question so I wish the thing said tell but anyway - I recently ordered from this new sushi place by me and it took over 3 hours to get my food delivered. Because of the weather they said there would be a 45 min delay which was totally understandable plus sushi takes some time to prepare. Needless to say I was pissed when it took over 3 hrs and part of my order was missing while part of it was wrong. However, I still gave the guy a normal tip (doubling the tax in NYC gives you a normal tip so I don't know the exact percentage but either way I always round up just in case) because he came out in the weather and the delay wasn't his fault. I just won't order delivery from there again.
For people that are not getting tipped by businesses, I ran into this problem as an intern. I got yelled at for tipping on the company credit card because "it wasn't my place."
Thanks for tipping him! One thing a lot of people misunderstand is that most mistakes/delays come from the kitchen, not the delivery guy. I’d say this is the case 90% of the time. Foul weather should be all that slows a delivery down.
Anonymous asked: Why do you most want to visit a city, Tokyo, that is located in a country with absolutely no culture for tipping? Is your desire to visit Tokyo not a betrayal of everything for which this blog stands?
Visiting a country, for vacation, has nothing to do with this blog.
Thank You Sir! Now allow me to rant…….
First off, your site is amazing. Thank you. Now, as a full time bartender at 4 bars between Greenpoint and Bushwick, I, like many of us in the service industry could write you novel on the topic of bar and restaurant etiquette. In hopes that people will read what i have to say and think about it, i will try to condense my vast thoughts and views on the subject into “quick” bullet points.
to clear things up for the laymen….
- Us folks who work in this industry rarely pull anything other then a small “shift pay” (low end $20 high end $60) this is of course typically for a 7 - 14hr work day
for the consumer…
- As the author of this site explains. if you cant afford to compensate your delivery
person,bartender,waitress,waiters barista’s etc.EAT IN. DRINK IN.(Bars and coffee shops are not soup kitchens I.E.- if you are gonna sit on your laptop for 4 hours, pay for the space your taking up.)
- I have never delivered food for a living but man do i have respect for these folks. At very least give your 20% but if you could think about the elements involved like weather, distance and time of day when your cashing out I’m sure they would appreciate it. Food Delivery is an incredible convenience. Treat it as such.
- At bars i can tell you first hand if you can only afford a dollar a drink that’s fine, your doing what you can and we appreciate it. If you plan on being at a bar for a while try tipping $2 dollars a drink for a few rounds. I can tell you that If I’m working you will get a free drink or two and in the long run end up saving money.
-Do not leave loose change on a bar unless the bartender gives it back to you as change. It’s insulting. Imagine your paycheck came in dimes and nickels.
-If you feel drinks are too expensive at the time of purchase guess what, its not the bartenders fault. we don’t make the prices we just work there.
-Finally, have a good time. that’s what these places are here for. We are fortunate to have so much fun stuff to do in this city. Just know that we work weird hours, long shifts and rely on people to respect this process. Ultimately we all win.
For people new to the service industry….
- If you would like to do this for a while respect it. Every time you see a tip jar,delivery person, bartender, waitress/waiter barista etc. spend money. Look at it as an investment and think of it in terms of karma. (I tipped a delivery guy $7 on a $15 bill one night, it was the last delivery of his night to a bar i was working at. I then bought him his first beer as an additional thank you. I then served this gentlemen 5 additional beers. He didn’t leave me a dollar. Oh the irony. Respect the process folks.
Thank You,
B
letsblogaboutsmash-deactivated2 asked: Sorry if this already has been asked, but considering a waiter scores 20% for ordering and serving food, along with continual service, why does a delivery person deserve the same for the one job of carrying the food?
Because we bring the food to your door, so you can be lazy and watch movies, and occasionally answer the door in your underwear. And nobody wants to see that…
Anonymous asked: I have worked for places that have a delivery charge, and i never get a penny of it. It always has gone to the house to supposedly cover to go containers, bags, utensils and so forth. I have never gotten any of that. Tip your 15-20% on the total, the driver appreciates it.
Thanks for your insight!
shaolincolourcult-deactivated20 asked: I'm a student living on little (ahem, not to mention we're in a shitty economy at the moment) if I feel like getting a delivery whilst doing a late night essay, and i'd rather not tip so i can have bus money in the morning, am I an asshole?
Yes you are, make ramen like the rest of us. Again, if you can’t afford to tip, don’t order out. (coming from a a broke, soon to be college student)
Eric at Olive St. Not even 10%.
Anonymous asked: To the complete idiot who told you to get an education: I have a friend with an MBA who works at a book store. You need a healthy dose of reality with your morning laxative.
Anonymous asked: I tip the delivery guy a fair amount, regardless of the amount of my order. You don't have to work any harder to bring me an expensive meal than you do a cheap meal.
Expensive meals equal bigger/more bags. They are are heavier and more cumbersome to carry on a bike. Also really slow down deliveries for other people, because they back up the kitchen. Which means other people wait longer. Which means lower tips across the board. This doesn’t happen all the time, but is annoying when it does.
Please tip your baristas as well. I am usually the only person working in my cafe, so I am responsible for everything that goes on and I don’t, I repeat, I DON’T get a break for my 7 hour shift. If you come in and interrupt me while I’m trying to eat and don’t tip, well, let’s just say you’re going to the special hell.
Anonymous asked: If I call in my order to a restaurant and go to pick it up for takeout, is it appropriate to tip or not? What if I go into a buffet and get a box to go of their takeout. Should I tip in either of those situations?
It depends, a lot of places share tips with the kitchen staff, I tend to leave some money on take-out. As for the buffet situation, I would not tip for a serve yourself buffet.
tumblrbot asked: WHERE WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO VISIT ON YOUR PLANET?
TOKYO
(WHY THE ALL CAPS TUMBLRBOT?)
