Why You Should Tip Your Pizza Delivery Person (And How Much You Should Tip)

Opinions on tipping can vary widely among people. No matter how you feel about it, you should definitely tip the person who brings you your food. There's a lot involved with getting that delicious pizza from the restaurant to your door. Here's why and how you should reward that process.

Why You Should Tip the Pizza Person

There are obvious reasons to tip for your pizza delivery.

  • You want to give a little extra for the speedy service
  • The delivery person was a delight
  • The delivery person anticipated your needs as far as bringing utensils or extra paper plates
  • You understand pizza delivery represents a convenience and deserves extra recognition

However, there are more reasons to tip as well. Many of these reasons you may never have previously considered.

Tips are a necessity for most pizza delivery drivers

Much like waitstaff, pizza delivery drivers often make below minimum wage. Occasionally, they may make nothing at all and tips are their only compensation. You may never know how much your delivery person makes, but you should assume your tip represents a necessary help to them.

Most pizza delivery drivers use their own vehicles

Most restaurants don't provide vehicles for delivery people. That means the person who brought you your pizza used their own car. Consider everything that comes with that. They must provide gas, maintenance, and other things to keep their vehicles working.

There's also insurance, which may cost them extra strictly because they're using the car for business purposes. You may think the restaurant reimburses them in some way or another, but that's not always the case. Your tip can help your delivery person to continue delivering you your pizza.

There are many other reasons to tip. In fact, tipping can even make you feel better about yourself and your pizza. Even if you don't agree with all the reasons for tipping, any one of them should spur you to give your pizza person something extra for the convenience.

How Much You Should Tip the Pizza Person

Tipping isn't mandatory, but it's generally expected. It's also the right thing to do. You don't have to give a specific percentage, but it's a good idea to tip about $3 at the least, no matter what.

If you want to show your courteousness, then tipping 10% to 15% can go a long way. If the weather is bad, or it's obvious the driver had to travel through adverse conditions to reach you, then you should tip extra. The same applies to holiday deliveries.

For truly excellent service, you should tip more. For exceptionally poor service, you should still consider a small tip, with a follow-up call to the establishment. Once again, tipping isn't a requirement, but it helps to consider it as one. Creating goodwill with your delivery person will only help you in the future.

For more information about pizza delivery, contact a local service or professional.


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