Do you tip in restaurant and food delivery people at the same rate?

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Sat, 06 Jul 2024 11:45:28 -0400

Got into an interesting discussion with house guests on tipping yesterday. We were out all day and, although we had a planned meal, no one felt like cooking so we ordered in. They insisted on paying and as we were discussing the order asked what percentage we tip food delivery down here. They're from New England and apparently up there its common not tip as much for food delivery as you would if eating in at the same restaurant. Wife an I had never heard of that, but then we live in Florida which is hardly a hot spot for current dining etiquette. So, that got me wondering, should you tip more for in restaurant service and less if it's delivery from the same restaurant?

Response by Maj John Bell made Jul 7 at 2024 4:31 PM

Maj John Bell — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 16:31:04 -0400

I've literally never had food delivered to me.

But I tip based on the quality of the service;
Excellent service - 30%
Good service - 20%
Adequate service - 10%
Bad service - an explanation of my failure to leave a tip. (I've left no tip about 5-6 times in my life.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Jul 8 at 2024 9:55 AM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 09:55:38 -0400

As a former delivery guy, I look at things a bit different.

When I tip delivery, I tip based on effort required. A $75 pizza takes the same effort to deliver as a $15 pizza. You get $5 and change. Now, if it is raining, or on the edge of your delivery area (or maybe even a little outside it) that goes up. If it is snowing, that goes up some more. If there is a tornado warning, I call the store and tell them to hold my order until the warning is over, I don't care if it is cold. Then the tip goes up a LOT when it finally gets to me.

If I order 7 pizzas, the tip goes up, even if they were free with points.

And so on.

When I was delivering, a run was a run was a run. I never compared total to tip, and, honestly, never really worried too much about how high the tip was. I never *expected* a tip on any normal orders, but if you had a BIG order, regardless of cost, and you didn't tip, it was upsetting. Likewise if we were bending the rules to deliver to you outside of our area. Or if you asked for special effort and I put that effort in - I had requests for songs at delivery, draw pictures on the box, "knock like the Po Po", even stop and pick up some smokes. If I put in that effort for you, I don't expect a *lot* but SOMETHING to show you appreciate the effort was expected.

When I am dining, it is a bit different. I still believe that the wait staff should not be penalized for my light order. If I just have a coffee and I occupy your booth for an hour sipping my coffee because I am waiting for someone who never shows up, you don't get tipped 20% of $2. You are still getting $5. Especially if you kept me topped off.

$5 is pretty much the floor for actual fine in service. Baristas and others may get less. From there it goes up, and, yes, is *generally* percentage based.

Standard service is 20% and change (I always round to even dollars, usually even $5). Slightly substandard service with a reasonable excuse (they were packed, she also had a table of 16, 15 of which were named Karen, etc.) is the same.

Good service gets AROUND 25%, and exceptional service can go as high as 50%, depending on how rich I am that day and how good the service was.

Even poor service that *tried* will get around 15%.

Anything less than 15% is a discussion with the manager. But so is anything over 25%. And I have a lot more of the positive discussions than the negative ones.

But I think a lot of that comes from my time delivering which gives me a lot more empathy for the plight of the server / delivery guy - both financial plight and workspace plight. I can *see* when that server is having a rough night of it through no (or very little) fault of their own or when they are just hanging out at the bar, flirting with the bartender, rather than asking my wife if she wants another.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Jul 9 at 2024 11:14 AM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 11:14:33 -0400

I tip based on level of service. I've left a $10 tip on a $10 meal because the server was absolutely outstanding. I've also left a penny in the bottom of a water glass on a $40 meal. If I have to order and receive my food while standing at a counter, you probably are not getting a tip at all.

Response by SGT Aaron Atwood made Jul 9 at 2024 11:37 AM

SGT Aaron Atwood — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 11:37:50 -0400

Depends on the circumstances. My best tip ever was for an unplanned Christmas meal. I forget why we weren't able to conjure something up ourselves, but it resulted in me placing an order with a local place. I felt really really bad for the driver so I tipped accordingly. What do I mean by that? I tipped him the final retail price of what was delivered. I don't recall how much it was, but it was quite the tip. I signed the receipt and handed it back to him. He started walking away and then read the receipt. He stopped, turned around, and asked, "Wait a minute; are you sure?!" My reply, "Merry Christmas!"

Anywho, so while wait staff at an eatery of some sort are localized to the facility's confines a delivery driver has to take the food from the eatery to the delivery place and back again, and many places can't afford to cover much for the driver. Vehicle fuel is usually on the driver. Ditto for auto insurance and vehicle maintenance. It all adds up.

On the other hand: while I don't mind tipping delivery drivers and wait staff I do believe that tipping has gotten way out of control with many other workers (including those in visibly volunteer positions) more or less demanding tips, and then acting like you're the Scrooge from a Christmas Carol if you don't pay them to breathe for the rest of the day.

Response by Sgt Ronald Limuti made Jul 9 at 2024 1:34 PM

Sgt Ronald Limuti — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 13:34:50 -0400

Having been a resident of Florida for past 9 years, our experience has been tipping in a restaurant is at a higher percentage because servers are actually performing duties of serving drinks and food. Recently determined waiters/waitresses are now receiving higher hourly wages which should affect tip amounts. Delivery tips are still recommended because of time and gas, but usually not as high as in restaurant tipping.

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made Jul 9 at 2024 6:35 PM

A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 18:35:18 -0400

I Do Just The Opposite.
Since The Delivery Person Must Take Your Meals
To Their Vehicle, Place The Order In A Safe Place.
Drives To Your Location , Reverse The Procedure,
Then Drives Back To His Original Locating..
He Receives The Bigger Bucks.
Inside The Restaurant, The Server Comes From The Kitchen,
Places You Order On The Table, ~ He's Done~

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Aug 29 at 2024 2:25 PM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 14:25:20 -0400

I tip actual restaurant workers 18-20% depending on the service...maybe less if it is really atrocious or they are rude, but it has to be really bad cause everyone has a bad or off day.

For deliveries I usually tip 10% or $4 whichever is greater because they didn't wait on me, take my order, refill my glass, take away the dirties etc. they just delivered the food.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2024 2:36 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 14:36:05 -0400

If tips become tax-free does that mean we (people paying tips) can write off tips at the end of the year? Asking for a friend.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2024 12:14 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 31 Aug 2024 00:14:17 -0400

I don't do the delivery food bit but I've been know to tip up to 50% for really exceptional service. These places that charge a minimum 18% on the check are simply cheating their people out of money. I can't remember when I left a tip less than 20%-30%.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Aug 31 at 2024 8:22 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 31 Aug 2024 08:22:01 -0400

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Been a While since I Ate in a Restaurant but I Live across the Street from Lots, Usually walk acroos the Street to get Food to Go. Love that I can get a Margaritta to Go from Salty Iguana.

Response by Shilo Har made Sep 5 at 2024 7:51 AM

Shilo Har — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 07:51:40 -0400

For me, I usually go with a 10% tip, whether it’s in a restaurant or for delivery. If the service is really good or something special, I might throw in a bit more as a thank you. Speaking of dining out, if you're ever in Auckland and looking for a great spot, you should try out some Asian fusion Auckland on https://boda.restaurant/ restaurants like BODA. It’s a cool place to check out if you’re in the mood for something different.

Modern Korean Restaurant Auckland | Asian Fusion Cuisine Downtown

Enjoy top-floor dining with Auckland harbour and city views. BODA offers an exquisite selection of Asian Fusion cuisine and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Response by SMSgt Charles Olson made Nov 10 at 2024 6:53 AM

SMSgt Charles Olson — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 06:53:29 -0500

My wife and I go out several times a week and we have our favorite places. At these eateries the waitresses or waiters know my name and my preference for drinks. I don't even have to tell them what I want, so usually I tip anywhere from 20 to 30 percent. I have given as much as 40% when the service is really exceptional. I don't have food brought to my home so I don't know the amount I should consider. When I was teaching at a local college I would order pizza for the students on the last day, and I would always give somewhere between 20% and 25%. As far as poor service I agree with Major John Bell and would let someone know why I was either leaving a very small tip or none at all. I do know food service people work really hard and sometimes it's not there fault when the service is poor. For example, the restaurant may be short staffed and the wait staff are just swamped. In those cases, I always try to talk with the manager to let them know I am displeased.

Response by PO2 Mike Vignapiano made Nov 17 at 2024 1:41 PM

PO2 Mike Vignapiano — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 13:41:20 -0500

I don't think it has to due with the area you live in. When I visited friends this past summer who are originally from Florida and living in different areas from their births, (Gainesville, Orlando, and Daytona) thiey tipped as I do. I live in NJ and I MIGHT tip a delivery person. Reaon is they're most
likely paid much better than a waiter/waitress. They are getting paid to deliver. So, tipping will depend on what and how much I have ordered. In restaurants you're tipping for a service that isn't just bringing you your order as a delivery driver. They greet you and then get your drink order. Then they take your order, and deliver it. Then they come back to check if everything is as you hoped. They refill your drinks. When done and there were no issues, they take your payment and return with your change/receipts. So you can see why many people tip the delivery person less.
Now food for thought: Do you tip drivers from UPS & FedEx? There bringing you your order just like Ubereats and so on.

Response by PO2 Mike Vignapiano made Nov 17 at 2024 1:41 PM

PO2 Mike Vignapiano — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 13:41:42 -0500

Response by LCDR Jerry Maurer made Nov 20 at 2024 11:08 AM

LCDR Jerry Maurer — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 11:08:25 -0500

I tip 15% at restaurants if the service is good. Tipping was established to make up for poor salaries, but in Washington state, minimum wage is over $15 an hour. So tipping is not there for the original purpose. Frustrating to me that we are expected to continue to tip people who have a decent hourly wage. I don't tip unless I'm sitting at a table being served.

Response by Amn Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2024 9:11 AM

Amn Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 09:11:56 -0500

I usually stick to tipping around 10% for delivery, but if the waiter is on time and super friendly, I don’t mind throwing in a bit more.