Advice for a Delivery Driver (cellphone, buy, clothes, shirt)

[Subie]

Branching off from the "Do you tip the delivery driver?" thread.

I am a pizza delivery driver while I'm in school. The economy problems are definitely affecting my money. I know that I give better customer service than some of my coworkers and am a good DD, but there's always room for improvement right? If I'm good i could always be better.

So aside from things i can't change (cook issues, management issues), what can I do as a DD to encourage better tips? What makes YOU tip well? What makes you tip less? What kinds of things do you consider when you tip the driver?


Thanks in advance!

[IonRedline08]

One thing that Pizza Delivery Guys do that drives me crazy is when they pull up with their stereo blasting. That is obnoxious, and has happened all the time. Also, some seem really shifty, like they are in a huge hurry to leave, huffing and puffing while someone is getting their wallet out

Honestly, if I get pizza, I usually go pick it up

[MIKEETC]

I don't consider anything when tipping a driver. He always gets $2 or $3. I figure he saves me time and minimizes stress that I would have to endure if I get the pizza myself. When I say time, it is because I only get my pizza delivered when I am at work. I'd rather call the order and have it delivered than call the order and get it myself because the nearest Round Table Pizza (that's my normal pizza joint) is at least 15-20 minutes roundtrip from the office. While I am waiting, I could be working and getting a report done sooner - which alleviates the stress (which isn't much anyway, just saying...).

[pcity]

I tend to give a little more (maybe 5% more, so another dollar or so for a $20 order) if the delivery is quick. That's really the only thing I base my tip on.

[M3 Mitch]

Ditto what IonRedline said - If I hear your stereo, particularly basshead or swearing rap, before I see you, or in fact if I hear it at all,

"NO TIP FOR YOU!"

[Subie]

LOL, I always politely turn down my stereo when I enter the neighborhood.

[sailordave]

Keep the entire car clean and don't smoke in the car especially when delivering. Cigarette smoke smell can be transferred onto the boxes. A dirty vehicle may make the person think their food is also dirty. Clean yourself up as well. Get a professional looking haircut at least once a month and keep the hair clean and brushed. If you're a man, shave daily and use deodorant and mild smelling aftershave. Don't go overboard on the aftershave. If you don't wear a uniform then wear your better clothes. Example, don't buy and wear faded and or ripped jeans and a T-shirt. Wear dark jeans or dockers pants and a pullover or button down shirt. Make sure when you wash your clothes that you put them on a hanger right out of the drier or fold them neatly right away to avoid the crumpled ball look. One thing I'd like to see delivery drivers start doing is to get the phone number of the customer along with the address. They could call the customer via cellphone to let them know you're on the way. A GPS unit could help you to arrive faster. I live in a trailer park so to help out the delivery drivers I installed a reflective sign at my driveway to show my trailer number. I'm the only one in the entire park with this sign.

[desert sun]

since your a delivery driver my advice to you is carry a gun and get a permit if your old enough, they get robbed all the time, it aint even worth the little money you make in tips, I would find a different job if I were you.

[ScranBarre]

I hate to admit this, but if I get the sense that a delivery driver may be flirting with me I'll always tip $10! It's not easy being lonely! LOL!

[zman0]

I don't know if others feel the same way, but don't break a five for me. If the tab is $15, you're going to get a $3 tip if you hand me 5 ones. If you hand me a five, you're more likely to get a "keep the change" response.

Had a driver hand me 10 ones (<$30 tab) once. He got three bucks for his trouble. He could at least have given me a five and five ones.