Student. Electronic music producer. Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai practitioner. Pizza guy. Raver. Mechanic. I am a Renaissance kid, and these are the thoughts I have that I'm be embarrassed to put into words...except on the internet.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

American culture and tipping.

Six months ago, I was hired as a delivery driver for Pizza Hut. Before I had this job, I rarely tipped. Mind you, a big part of it was that I rarely had more money than the money I had just spent on food; but I didn't realize how insulting it was to not be tipped.

Let me go on a tiny tangent before I make my point about tipping. When you're talking to a waiter, cashier, maybe even your electrician or something; you only see them as the service they are providing you. You don't realize that your waiter may not have slept in three days because he's had finals all week; or that he's trying his absolute hardest to smile at you even though he's dreading going home to his cheating girlfriend that he wishes he had the gall to leave. It's weird how we depersonalize people that we are paying to do something.

Now, I had a bad day yesterday. I woke up feeling sick for a still unknown reason, took a shower with no hot water, found out the cat had slept on my last clean pair of pants, my car didn't start so I missed my first class, was late to my second, got a midterm back (finally) and got a C, then after all that, I had to go to work. As I mentioned previously, I deliver pizzas, and that's really all I do in the store. I'm given a bag and the order receipt and I drive to the place, get the money, and come back.

This woman, who had placed her order on the internet, gave us an address that didn't exist. When I realized this before leaving the store, I called her, and she told me she was at a park off a road near the store. Luckily, my best friend lives near there and I knew the park by name, Shadowridge park. So I drove there...and noone seemed to be expecting me. I called her again, and it turns out she was at "a park off Shadowridge Drive" not "Shadowridge park." Whatever, one mistake. She gave me directions and I got back in the car. She waved at me as I drove up near the baseball field. I got out, greeted her, she paid me, I gave her her pizzas. She gave me a disgusted look and asked where the paper plates were. I told her I didn't have plates, and that for things like that we have to be notified when the order is placed. She turned around and left.

This time it was a little bit different because the women was just an idiot and messed up her own order placing it on the internet. However, if she had spoken to someone at my store on the phone, it still wouldn't be my fault.

If the cook takes a long time to make your food, It's not the waiter's fault. Tip him anyway.

If the pizza guy is legitimately sorry that it took him too long, it was probably not his fault. A thousand things could have made him late. Tip him anyway.

If there's a tip jar or bowl at any restaurant you go to, put a tip in there. Hosts only get tips in there, not a share of the tips left at tables.

We're people too.

5 comments:

  1. I agree with nearly everything you've said here.

    Sad that people don't take tipping as seriously as they should.

    Very interesting post. Great detail and concise too!

    Thank you for sharing! Definitely following :)

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  2. I hear you. I worked as a Chinese food delivery guy for a year (almost the only English speaking person there). The shit you have to put up with in that job :( abuse, wanting it cheaper and trying to bargain with you at the door. I'm sure you won't have to do it forever.

    After my experience working a delivery guy I always tip even if they are late cause it's not their fault.

    Good read!

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  3. I worked as a delivery guy myself. I would get so pissed at how extravagant customers would act to try and avoid a measly few dollar tip. I definitely tip more now having experienced what it was like not to.

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  4. Don't shoo the messenger, eh?
    Very nice perspective. I'm always interested in hearing others' experiences like this.

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  5. Pretty good read man keep it up

    ReplyDelete