How much to tip the pizza delivery guy?

[Olaf the Stout]

Depending on where you are, who you're ordering from, and what you're ordering, it's not out of line.

Some of the big chains (Domino's, Pizza Hut, etc.) will run specials on medium-sized, single-topping pizzas for $5 each or so, but that's probably the exception. And, as you note, quality may be a bit lacking.

When we order pizzas for our Friday night D&D group, we're usually ordering 3 large pizzas, each with 2-3 toppings on it. They'll usually run around $10-13 each, depending on exactly whom we're ording from (one of several local places), and whether or not we've got a coupon. (They know us, they know we regularly order from them, they know I tip fairly well, and so the "it'll be there in an hour" is almost always more like a half-hour.)

(Admittedly, we're in the Chicago area, with no shortage of pizza places, but also with higher cost-of-living than many other areas.)

I also remember my Dad telling me that pizza is very different in America in that you have much fewer different toppings on your pizzas and that adding extra toppings will cost you a couple of dollars (or more) per topping. I imagine that this could up the price of a pizza quite easily.

Here in Australia we still have our Hawaiian and Pepperoni pizzas which have very few different toppings but we also have others like Surpreme which have heaps of different toppings on it but only cost a few dollars more. Of course, the larger the pizza, the bigger the price difference. And this is all anecdotal of course.

Olaf the Stout

 

[atom crash]

Olaf, tonight we picked up a large specialty pizza from Papa John's -- one of the larger chains -- for $14. It had many toppings on it and a special crust.

The cheaper pizzas usually have one or two topping on them, plus sauce and cheese. If you get the works, it costs extra.

Of course, we could get cheaper pizza elsewhere. But I view cheap pizza like I view cheap beer or wine (or anything else for that matter) -- you definitely get what you pay for, and conversely you don't get what you don't pay for.

I can't recall ever ordering pizza when I was in Oz, but I know in Italy it's much different than what we get in the States.

BTW this is a very interesting thread.

 

[kenobi65]

I also remember my Dad telling me that pizza is very different in America in that you have much fewer different toppings on your pizzas and that adding extra toppings will cost you a couple of dollars (or more) per topping. I imagine that this could up the price of a pizza quite easily.

Yup.

Most pizza places start their pricing structure out with the price for a single topping (or, sometimes, cheese only), and then every additional topping is an additional charge (around here, a dollar or so per additional topping is pretty common). The $5 deals that Domino's does is on a single-topping pizza.

Some places have a special "package" of toppings that they offer at a reduced price, versus adding all those toppings a la carte (Pizza Hut does this with their "Supreme" and "Meat Lover's" topping types).

But, as a general rule, if you want 4 toppings on your pizza in the U.S., you pay for it.

 

[kenobi65]

I can't recall ever ordering pizza when I was in Oz, but I know in Italy it's much different than what we get in the States.

And, even in the U.S., you get some significant regional variations in pizzas.

New York and Chicago are the areas that seem to be best-known for their variations, but I'm sure there are many other noteworthy ones.

 

[Pielorinho]

What's the point of having a law if you aren't going to enforce it?

-Hyp.

It's the lawmaker's equivalent of jumping jacks: it keeps them in shape . Besides, that way if Al Capone ever delivers pizza, they can nab him for not paying taxes on his tips.

Daniel

 

[Ranger REG]

To those who don't tip ever...

It's one thing to stand by one's principles. It's another to stand by poorly supported principles where your stance just happens to benefit yourself while harming others.
Yes, waitstaff and delivery people expect a tip. Especially those who did their job well.
It's a major source of their income and when you're paid little every little bit helps.

It's not protection money to kick a couple of bucks to the extremely poorly paid guy who just rushed to bring you your food. It is, however, reprehensible to not provide that poorly paid guy money for a job done well.

May your next pizza be dumped on your doorstep.

As a son of a school custodian, may your hedge be underneath a pile of droppings.

Tip your gardeners, be it a private or a public employee.

 

[Pielorinho]

As a son of a school custodian, may your hedge be underneath a pile of droppings.

Tip your gardeners, be it a private or a public employee.

Tip your gardeners if you're entering into a situation in which they are working for you under the expectation that you'll tip, and you know that they have such an expectation. Alternatively, in such a situation, you may tell the gardener that you do not plan to tip, and you will act ethically.

Daniel

 

[Waldorf]

I have to get in on this topic
I deliver for pizza hut here, there's a $1.50 delivery charge and we get 75 cents of that at the end of the night, which does not make up for a tip.

If your going to tip, 2 bucks is fine, 4 is a good tip and your address will be remembered as priority. Giving me 15 bucks for a 14.62 order with a cheerfull keep the change is insulting. It makes me want to give them their .38 cents back and tell them if they don't want to tip me, that's fine, but I do'nt need to keep the change for their convenience.

I used to give back their pennies, too. They ALWAYS noticed that...

and tipped better as a result.

 

[hewligan]

I lived in New York for a couple of years after college, and as a Brit it was a difficult lesson for me about tipping. In the UK there is a minimum wage, but it is quite high (compared to US). I was told by my friends at the company I worked with in New York to top 2 times tax. I did that religiously and never got in to trouble, except once I tipped only about 5-10% because the service was terrible, food was late, waiter was rude, etc. I wanted to give nothing, but a colleague with me would not let me. When I left the restaurant the waiter actually followed me out and told me I needed to pay more. I then proceeded to ask him why. He told me 2 x tip. I asked if that was not what is known as a discretionary service charge, and since his service had been horrendous I was not going to give it to him. He started shouting and swearing at me. I walked off, but I wish I hadn't left him anything. Anyway, most times I over tip, and now in the UK I am considered a very good tipper.

Case in point: Today when picking up my kid from his nursery, his carer, who had baby sat him the Saturday night before, gave me an envelope. When I got home and opened it there was a letter with a 5 pound note (about $10) saying I had over-paid her for babysitting. She just did not understand that I had given her a tip for arriving early and doing an excellent job. I need to go to the nursery tomorrow and explain that to her. Britain - you have to love it!

 

[drothgery]

Indeed. If I'm gonna scold folks for not following etiquette regarding tipping, I can hardly encourage folks to help the tippees violate the law regarding taxing.

Yup. That tipping encourages systematic tax evasion is one reason why I dislike the practice, though as per above, it does seem like you get better service where tipping is expected.