This popped up in a Dominos thread and I was quite interested to see the conflicting views.
So is it the right thing to do?
Do You Tip The Pizza Delivery Driver?
blighst on 01/08/2015 - 12:26
Last edited 01/08/2015 - 12:37 by 1 other user
Last edited 01/08/2015 - 12:37 by 1 other user
Poll Options
- 60Yes
- 462No
- 17Only if good service
- 2Only if independent
Comments
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Yes it's a joke… It's from a TV show called the OFfice…
oh good lol I was really concerned that was being upvoted… I thought what's wrong with these people :)
No i already pay to deliver the pizza not getting another cent from me.
It's one of the few jobs in Australia where you should tip.
My nephew works as a driver, so I now know they get a pittance per delivery, and have to pay for their own petrol.
So if they have to drive a fair way, and they don't do many deliveries, they can actually make a loss.On the plus side, I saw in a movie once, where drunken hot girls asked the pizza guy in for a personal tip. Deliver enough, and this will happen.
Or you could get murdered. Thems the risk.My delivery fee is the tip.
Give me free delivery and i will tip the driver.
I live 3 minutes from my nearest Dominos store, yet it takes 45 minutes to get my pizza. I don't tip.
Yes, because I know from doing this job myself, the only way you make a wage is from the people who tip. It is not worth it otherwise.
Tips are part of the equation, the vendor expects the driver to get tips when they set the pay. The driver expects to make some tips when they accept the job. You are usually using your own car and fuel and making an extra $5 tax free an hour makes all the difference.
I especially tip if it is raining.
@ I especially tip if it is raining. - Same
the vendor expects the driver to get tips when they set the pay
OK but isn't that illegal?
Also why are you expecting tips in a country where people don't tip?
I'm just telling you how it is.
I'm not expecting tips, I'm expecting to make enough to make it worthwhile, whatever way I get it. I gave it up years ago when people stopped tipping.
So did a heap of people and for a while it was harder to get delivery, then the prices went up.
Tips are part of the equation, the vendor expects the driver to get tips when they set the pay.
This is simply not true in Australia. Yes, the owners of pizza shops (read: most big chains etc) will probably assume the delivery drivers will get tips, but they do not rely on tips whatsoever.
A delivery driver for all the big chains (dominos, pizza hut, etc) pay their drivers something like $18-20/hour + $2 per delivery (for petrol, basically). That's pretty standard for a low skilled job, and is in line with retail, etc. Do you tip your woolies cashier? No, and they are on the same (or very close) hourly rate as your pizza delivery driver. The guy out back making the pizza earns the same as the driver delivering it (driver earns a $2 per delivery for petrol if it's their own car).
It is illegal for employers in Australia to expect tips to cover the minimum wage for employees. They MUST pay them minimum wage, at the very least, and usually they will pay more than the bare minimum. If they make tips, so be it, but it is in addition to their wage, not in place of it.
I have worked in pizza stores and at when i was there they did not get $18-20 an hour plus $2 delivery that would be luxury to what they really get paid. working in store we got more pay. a lot of them are exploited
most people only accept the job in the first place because they are desperate and don't know their rights or can't fight for themselves
If you were under 20 years old, your hourly rate will go down accordingly. Only once you are 20+ will you get the minimum $18/hour.
Small pizza places might pay their staff differently, I'm sure it varies a lot, but you'll find a 16 year old working in dominos can be paid 50% of the adult hourly wage, so they will only be on something like $9-10/hour, which is legal and most retail places will pay a similar rate.
If a 20+ year old was not making $18 then that's a different story. Also the time in which you worked in pizza stores would determine the pay. If you worked 10 years ago the hourly rate would of course be lower :)
@brezzo: true, but the 16 year old will not be delivering pizzas because he/she would not have the licence.
The $2 per delivery you are quoting may cover petrol on a low cycle but not wear and tear on your car, tyres, rego etc.
A night time delivery driver is in a much more dangerous role than a supermarket cashier. We had several drivers robbed, assaulted and even kidnapped.
I was never paid an hourly rate working at Pizza Hut, was a delivery rate only.
'but they do not rely on tips whatsoever.', how do you know this? I've already stated I did this job and relied on the few dollars tips to make it worthwhile, as in cover my costs.
Tipping for food delivery has been around in Australia for a very long time. No it is no compulsory but it has been around long enough that it is not a foreign concept. Of course it is part of the equation, in exactly the same way a waiter or waitress may make a few bucks in tips and their employer knows this when employing them.
Now I will switch over to my current 25years expertise in Rem & Benefits. An employer will take in all the factors that make a role attractive when deciding what rate will be sufficient to attract and retain employees, basically finding the correct market point.
I reckon if I was with Domino's I'd be wanting a payrise to have GPS tracking me alone of a night time with cash.Just curious, when did you work as a delivery driver? In recent years with Enterprise Bargaining Agreements (EBA), a LOT of employees in the retail sector (including pizza joints) are included in one big agreement for that company. A list of some of the SDA awards are here. They are a good reference for what conditions and pay rates etc that employees are entitled to. That is where I am getting the data for the Dominos employees (I assume it is similar for other companies too).
I'm just saying, it is illegal for employers to rely on tips to cover minimum wage. They must pay minimum wage no matter what, and tips are on top of that. It is up to the employer if they want to get tips from the driver and use that to cover their wages, but they still must pay them a minimum.
@brezzo: Several years ago, yes I was under an EBA.
From memory I think I worked stats out something like,
3-4 hour shifts of an evening
Average around 4-6 deliveries an hour, around 5km a delivery.I am surprised at the $2 a delivery, wouldn't think that would even cover the fuel these days let alone wear and tear.
Sounds like the wage you quoted is around the national minimum $17.30, give or take casual or shift loading.
So essentially the drivers are working for the absolute minimum and providing a registered and insured car for free which used to be worth around $15K PA for FBT etc.
@tonka: The wage I quoted was from the 2009 Dominos Pizza Agreement, it's likely gone up in the 6 years since then (I haven't read all the increases for CPI and stuff).
Yes, costs of your own car would be pretty expensive if you needed it for the job :( Depending on the size of your car's engine, fuel is ROUGHLY between $0.10-$0.20 per kilometre, which isn't too bad, however as you said there are rego/insurance costs, depreciation, etc.
I think honestly the pay is fair, though, and shouldn't be relying on tips. It's just a job like any other and $18-20/hour (whatever it is now), however reading up on it I believe they were lower than similar businesses in recent reports.
It's not really a comfortable wage to buy a house on or anything like that, but honestly, I would have to say 9/10 delivery drivers I've experienced have been younger guys, probably students (if I'm 100% judgemental), probably without a mortgage or anything. I know it doesn't matter and we're getting sidetracked here, but I'm just trying to say I think the pay is fair for the skills required (and I am currently a student working in retail on ~$20/hour too).
As someone who has worked as a driver I can assure you that while what you have said above is the law, it is not common practice.
Out of curiosity how much do you tip ?
Just a couple bucks, more if raining or I forgot to turn the light on. I was stoked if i could average $1 per delivery.
The postie, couriers, mowerman all get a lottery ticket at Christmas, which I would consider a tip and I was taught was traditional by my 4th gen aussie family (old days used to be the milkman and Garbo too).
Back when I used to eat pizzas, I did always round up the cost, to a round dollar, as a tip. That was before the days of online payments.
I must add, though, customers don't owe anything more than the advertised price. This isn't the U.S.A.
An employer is legally required to pay employees extra for fuel and normal wear of their vehicle. Employees are legally required to keep a log book of the kilometres they drive, stating the date, time and the odometer reading from before they leave and after they arrive back.
If those things are not being done, then both the employer and employee are in breach of the law.
Sir u desire a Vote up
Please don't turn OzB into 9gag.
you should add the poll options of -
* I'm too cheap to pay for delivery and pick up myself.
* I never order pizzas as I buy Dr Oetkers from NQR for $1.75That's exactly right. I wouldn't consider picking pizza as a choice for dinner unless I happen to be passing a store on the drive home. If there are no current vouchers I am even less likely.
All Domino's drivers receive casual/part time wage. They also receive 'fuel money' (was about $2 per deliver years ago) for every delivery they take.
Tipping for me is a nice gesture to show appreciation of service and a nice feeling for the driver to be rewarded when they put on a smile and provide a friendly greet. It was never expected, maybe only if it was a big order, bad weather or require a long walk, say apartment complex.Ex domino's driver for 2 years here. Almost 80% of my customer tipped or asked to keep the change. The other 20% were upper class customers living in $2 million plus mansions. 99% chance they never give out a tip.
'maybe only if it was a big order, bad weather or require a long walk'. I always found the higher maint deliveries never tipped.
Really annoyed me sometimes when people have no lights and bikes, car parts etc in you path to trip in the dark and if you live on the 4th floor, either tip or meet the poor dude halfway down the stairs.
Jeez, annoys me that you would think carrying 4 pizzas, 2 drinks and 2 garlic breads while waving a torch around in dark is easy.
It also annoys me that you would think a night time delivery driver wouldn't have a torch.@tonka:
it annoys me that you dont know how to deliver bro, you should get out of the car then find out where to go first with your torch in hand and clear out any debris in the way. After you make a clear path to the front door then go back to the car and grab all the stuff. maybe set up some witches hats or some flares… too far? ok im done@Hirolol:
You left out,
Subdue any killer dogs
Defeat any would be robbers
Install traction on slippery tiles
Rescue persons with lost keys locked in premises
Remove monster Spiderweb and Spider from face
Ensure dude has finished humping dudette
Wait forever cause the doorbell doesn't work or they are 'out the back'
and most important run to door pronto so angry dude doesn't think you're deliberately letting his pizza get cold.
Former Domino's driver and can confirm that rainy nights were the best. $5 tips from everyone and the usual "I'm sorry for making you walk in the rain".
Big orders are the worst. Had a 15 order delivery and the guy went out of his way to find the exact change. Had to wait 10 minutes with terrible DJ music blasting right next to me just so he wouldn't have to give a $4 tip.
Personally I don't tip because I rarely get delivery but I don't bother with change that's under a $1. Hated the customers that wanted their 15c change. They all give the same look when you ask.
Agreed. I personally never get a delivery from Domino's just because I know how much profit margin they are getting from it, especially those garlic bread and coke, even in a combo.
IMHO, it is still is the best tasting pizza franchise in the country though.Serious - how much do you think they make by personally delivering a 2 for $6 coke and garlic bread after paying wages, rent, power, franchise fees etc…I'm sure its closer to zero than $1
Yeah, My experience to.
The rich never tip, Usually the bogans and drunks will give you a good $20 + Alcohol/Weed.
HOMER
(to Gates) I reluctantly accept your proposal!GATES
Well everyone always does. Buy 'em out, boys!Bill Gates companions begin to trash the "office".
HOMER
Hey, what the hell's going on!GATES
Oh, I didn't get rich by writing a lot of checks!80% tipped? That's crazy. I don't think I have ever tipped dominos. For situations like this, I would normally give closest amount and let you "keep change", but that's only if paying cash. Can't remember last time I did that for home delivered food.
Don't people pay with credit card when ordering these days, or do you count those people as part of the 20% "upper class"?
Edit: even if it's pouring down, what can I do? I rarely have cash. I could probably find some odd silver coins, but that would just be insulting imo.
You don't get rich by giving away money.
Thats how the rich roll!
We tip for takeaway deliveries usuall only $2 though.
I think it comes down to a "keep the change" system usually. I might kick in a bit extra if the Pizzas are still hot and the delivery guy is polite.
No I'm from New Zealand, and we don't tip. So no.
We nose.
No.
The tip i give them is to get a higher paying job if they need to rely upon the generosity of strangers
How about students, people working 2 jobs, etc.?
i stand by my previous tip.
Do you tip anyone who brings things to your door?
How about the postie?
What about the hard working folk who read your utility meters?
While you are giving away pity money, why not include the foxtel salesman and the mormons too?
The question is where do you draw the line - personally, it is drawn above the pizza guy - the day that tipping is expected in Australia is the day that i look into moving to tasmania, new zealand or maybe even norfolk island!
Joe Hockey - is that you?
No, Joe Hockey believes that pizza boys dont drive and that they dont need to worry about low wages now coz they will have plenty of time to get a better job during their 150 year lifespan.
I only tip if it's horrible weather outside because I feel sorry for them then.
I have no idea why this conversation about tipping comes up so often.
It usually has phrases like "right thing to do" as though it's a huge moral question when it isn't and then people start complaining that the usually low wage worker is getting something undeserved and so they feel personally affronted by it for some reason as though it's a threat to their own (usually higher paid) position.
Guilt.
Only if he takes the jones at shortcut.
I'm against tipping in every circumstance because it leads to the situation they have in the US where it's no longer the employer's responsibility to pay their staff, but the customer's. This is wrong on many levels, the most basic of which is that employees have a contract with their employers and customers have nothing to do with that.
On another level, we clearly don't tip everyone, e.g. we don't tip our doctors or lawyers or accountants for example. In some cases, it would be dubious to tip, e.g. tipping a police officer.
Whilst you might help someone out in the short run by tipping, I think in the long run, it just makes it worse because it blurs the line between who should be paying wages. If I particularly approve of someone's service, I'd offer my gratitude and come back again to support the business. If someone is exceptional, I'd ask if the manager is around and I'd let them know the person who served me was great, so maybe they might get a payrise if they get lots of praise.
This is how it works in basically any other profession.
We really don't want to go down the route of paying tips to supplement a wage. We don't tip doctors in Australia, but it's still practiced in some other countries.
'According to data from the Internal Affairs Service of the Greek Police, based on arrests of doctors being bribed from 2011 until now, the bribery rates range from 300 to 2,000 euros. In Greek lay terms, this is the infamous “fakelaki” (small envelope), a word coming from the envelope containing the bribe money that the patient gives to the doctor."
A friend lived in a Soviet Bloc country where medical treatment was free. But if you actually wanted GOOD care you had to provide a 'tip'. A kilo of coffee, a bottle of cognac, etc. These were imported luxuries and used as 'tips' for medical staff.
I tipped the dominos driver $2 today because he delivered real quick and pizzas were steaming hot. Slow delivery = no tip. Even though it was only a $2 tip driver seemed grateful anyway, it's the thought that counts :P
You big tit ass
I pay online so have no reason to tip, as the vendor charges me extra for delivery they should be using that to compensate the driver.
Yes, they should be
Should we tip the coles/woolies drivers when they deliver our grocery/liquor order then also?
What about a courier driver in their own van who bought a urgent parcel from one side of the city metro to the other for a measly $7 - 9 ?
A Taxi driver in self owned cab?
A Postie ?
The catalogue delivery guy/gal?
The lawn mowing dude for doing a great cut n blow?
No…. never tip…. tipping only the change when its under$ $1
Pizza chains cheat as well.
I worked at melbourne cbd dominos for 10.50 an hour same for sat or sun or up to 2 or 3 am any night with an Australian owner, mr. Collins. He didnt pay super either. After few complaints and months of work he was pushed to pay 13.20 any day any time but still way below award rate. When we call fairwork ombudsman, they also have a specialist for each pizza chain handling their creepy nasty cheating their worker ways. This is mostly for private independent franchise owners. If a store is owned by headquarters it different and you will be treated better.
Pizza bars even now all over Australia mostly pay 10-12 cash any day any time plus a buck or two for delivery which yo could hardly do more than 2 or so per hour. Plus all the hard late nights dishwashing, moping, bleaching. And getting home midnight or later on sat or sun night for 10-12 bucks an hour. Plus you could be treated quite badly by some shop owners. If you willing to do this it means you are in real need and have dignity not to choose an illegal way to make easier money. I see heaps of people getting centerlink and doing hydro n selling drugs just because….
Most people doing this delivery job is temporarily anyway.
Plus if they were to pay properly, people had to pay double for their "favourite great deal" which is not attractive and no one will order anyway.All im saying is lets be more open minded and more considerate and observant and look into things more in depth than the "I know it all, all eyes on me"
Next time ask your delivery driver some questions in a friendly way to know more.
Well said.
is that $10.50 an hour cash or after tax?
10.50 before tax. Even sat or sun the same even 2 am is the same pay. To be honest we rode motor bikes under rain in cold and every now and then we got staff making accidents including myself and we had to pay for damages to the bikes so they don't use insurance.
wow, i was thinking that was cash.
shoulda took his ass to the ombudsman, get some pretty sweet backpay.Remember to claim tax deductions under D1 (Work-related car expenses) If you are using a car. For a small 1.6L, you can claim 66cents per km, do make a record of all your deliveries. Something is better than nothing and claim every cents you are entitled to, or who knows the money might goes to funding someone's Heli ride or Europe trip.
No, because I never get pizza delivered.
If I'm already at home, there are much more nutritious food options available.
I order from menulog, usually with a discount code and pay on card. I never have cash on hand to give a tip even if unwanted to.
I am also in the mindset that if you are paying for delivery then I'm not going to tip.The lawn mowing dude for doing a great cut n blow?
Sounds like he's already gunna get a tip.;-)
if the pay is dismal they should refuse the work and force the employer to pay decent wages.
No, I don't tip. I paid my pizza online by Cc and picked them up.
Perhaps one would change their mind about tipping if the pizza's actually contained a generous amount of topping as they did a couple years ago.
If I'm paying cash, I round 'up' and thats about it. So if its $18, then give a $20. But if ordering online and paying, then no tip! Sorry!
I tipped $3 last night, change from a $50. About the only time i do as i know what a crap job it is.
You tell yourself …"This is Australia not FARKING AMERICA !"…it will make you feel a little better about not tipping anyone..
Why? Do Australians have tails and horns? ;)
Last time tip pizza boy he was shirtless and blond heir blue eye and hot. it was joke in order comments.
Yes, always; "Work hard and be good to your mother!"
yep, I'll tip them 1 or 2 bucks at least. Why? Because it's the right thing to do.
I get deals on Ozbargain and I know that the Pizza place are making sweet eff all and the driver is getting paid terribly, so it's only right that I show some thanks.
In my opinion, if you're too tight to tip the delivery guy $1 or $2 then you've got bigger issues to worry about.
Well said my friend, you are absolutely right!
I think you're over estimating how much it costs to make a pizza oh and especially the garlic bread.
Funny thing, the dudes that negged you, you are subsidising their delivery, cause if no-one tipped, guarantee cost of delivery would go up.
And those that want debate that, market forces and supply point are basic universal concepts.
I agree it would be better if everyone paid the same through the delivery cost.
The reality is one dude doesn't tip , the next dude tips $2 and the "real cost" of the product is $1 more.
If nobody tips then is likely less drivers = less service.
If everyone tips likely more drivers = improved service.This could manifest in different ways, maybe simply less/more drivers available.
Maybe driver insists on taking multiple orders on a trip to improve viability.
i have been known to tip when ever i feel like it.
i have tipped and made sure the tip is separate to the bill so the driver or delivery guy/girl pocket the tip themselves if they earn it.
Never tipped anyone in my whole life
Thats what there wages forI always tip the driver.. Poor guy slogs out a low paying job. He might be a bit embarrassed or trying to scrape through Uni.
I always like to help out when I can.
If the bill comes to $19.95 I give him a twenty and say keep the change.. Makes me feel so much better within myself..The problem is if we start to pay tips to pizza delivery drivers because they're being woefully underpaid we're failing Economics 101. The market will correct itself automatically by either delivery drivers refusing to work for the pittance they're paid, or demanding more money from the pizza company.
I doubt the money paid in tips is recorded as taxable income by the recipient, so there's the unfairness of tax fraud too in the picture. If tipping become really popular and expected then it would skew RBA inflation statistics. The RBA could claim the cost of living is falling while people are handing over cash in secret just to get basic services.
Nice idea but don't know if it really works that way.. Not exactly many delivery driver unions out there. I used to work as a delivery driver and was on around $10 an hour plus a bit extra for deliveries. Wasnt worth it if it wasn't for tips..
Must say tips seemed a bit over the top to me (was doing blue mountains area from springwood). My very first delivery i got a $30 tip from someone who probably wasn't sober. Seemed to average a few dollars per delivery ,so i always tip a little bit now knowing the massive difference it makes at the end of their night (as long as they are actually nice and try. If they are idiots, no smile etc then no tip)
20-19.95=Profit
Dougie the Pizza boy was never shown receiving a tip on the Pizza Hut ads so I was led to believe this is not the case…
Asking here obvious the answer is no.
If its other takeaway then maybe.
Nobody understands being a takeaway driver is like unless you have been one.Iv been one for a chinese takeaway, all i would do is sit all day watching tv while waiting for delivery orders was getting 15 hour, left cause it was so boring
No tip to any delivery driver as delivery fees already included in the products been delivered. It's the vendor's responsibility to fairly remunerate its employees, not the customer. If I tip the pizza delivery driver only, it's unfair for posties, Woolies drivers…
If the pay is too low, the driver can skill up and go to another higher pay industry.
If the employers pays less than the minimum wage, it faces potential audits/investigations from authorities if the employee whistleblows.
I was a driver, where people from far away from the shop seems to tip me, which I'm happy for. I got bashed one month into the job though, and thought my life is worth more than whatever they are paying me (which wasn't much)
I got bashed one month into the job though
That's scary. What happened if I may ask?
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