Delivery drivers have a long and often arduous job––and we have the power to make things a little easier for them.
When Redditor hannahclipse asked the online community "What do delivery drivers want everyone to know?" the responses proved invaluable.
"It's the one by the street."
Delivered for Grubhub during summers.
There are people who live in massive apartment complexes that just don't know how to articulate WHERE THE F**K THEIR BUILDING IS.
"It's the one by the street". All of them are by the street.
'Go in the parking lot and you'll see it". There are 3 different parking lots, each with their own unnumbered buildings.
"It's the lot with the black Camry".
"In most cases we deliver..."
In most cases we deliver to whoever calls first. Yes I know you only ordered desserts and yes I know you're only about 5-7 mins away but there is still 4 other people I have to deliver to before you.
Also people who are consistently mean/rude to me are my lowest priority deliveries especially when it's busy.
"I understand that..."
- Shovel your driveway
- If the shipper required the signature, signing the note won't work. You gotta be there in person, or go pick it up.
- I understand that you're supposed to be getting two items, but I only have one box. Maybe it was delayed, or maybe it's coming from a different delivery company, or maybe they put both items in a single box.
- USPS is not the same thing as UPS.
...which is ridiculous IMO."
Answer your phone even if it's a strange number. Delivery drivers aren't always going to have a number with the same area code as you. Also, we work for tips and delivery charges are not a replacement for that (they go to the store, not the driver). We pay for our own gas and car repairs and aren't required to be paid minimum wage (which is ridiculous IMO).
"If you are going to tip..."
If you are going to tip the delivery person, do it direct, NOT thru the app. Some apps take the tip into account and it's taken out of their pay, so if the delivery is supposed to pay $10 and you tip $5, the company takes $5 off the pay and the driver never sees your tip.
Not all work this way, DoorDash does.
The jury is still out, but these gig jobs don't seem to pay that well.
"Don't assume you're my only delivery."
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Don't assume you're my only delivery.
When I was a driver in college for a Japanese restaurant I would have people be like, "I don't understand why you took so long, the restaurant is only 5 minutes away." and then get stiffed on a tip. Aside from the time it takes for the food to be made you also have to realize that drivers sometimes go out with more than one order, some that were put in before yours, which can cause it to take longer than you expect.
I also had one lady that forgot to add extra sauce to the order and was like, "Can't you just go and pick it up really quick?" No, I can't, I have two other deliveries and it's not my fault you forgot to ask for extra sauce and in this case I knew for a fact she forgot because I was the one on the other end of the phone that took her order.
If we're going outside of the delivery area for you, tip accordingly.
If there's only one point of entry and your apartment is on the other side of the complex (that's only accessible by foot), tip accordingly.
If it's five minutes before we close, tip accordingly.
I'm fine with less than 10% for a tip, but in these special cases, I really really appreciate more than 10%.
Also, I appreciate everyone who understands the fact that some places, by paying their drivers more, end up cutting staff to keep wages competitive. Thus, sometimes a store is only staffed with a single driver.
"Please be generous with your tips."
If you decide to order a pizza just before closing time, the driver gets to go home late. Please be generous with your tips.
"Do not ask me to come inside..."
Do not ask me to come inside unless you are literally disabled and need help. Even then it makes me uncomfortable because I don't know you or who is here. I don't care if it's raining/cold, I'm fine. I don't want to go in your house and we are not supposed to anyway.
"...please don't leave me standing outside..."
When its rainy or cold, please don't leave me standing outside while you look for your money when I arrive. And no. I don't wanna step inside your house. Please just have your money ready so I can be on my way. I Have other deliveries. Also, I know it's fun for you to leave delivery instructions like "Hop on one foot while giving me my pizza" but I'm 42 yrs old. I don't feel like entertaining you for a tip. I'm not a dog.
"...just chuck on some clothes and all will be good."
I was a delivery driver for dominos during high school and I don't care if it's a hot night please wear clothes when you answer the door. The amount of times I've seen men answer the door in just a pair undies is unbelievable, just chuck on some clothes and all will be good.
"If you come to the door with fistfuls of coins..."
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If your payment involves two cupped hands worth of coins, chances are, it's not financially responsible for you to be ordering pizza.
I can't help but feel like a bit of an ass doing it, but after getting shorted a few times in the past because of it, if you come to the door with fistfuls of coins I'm going to take my pizza back to the car and count every single penny until I make sure it's all there.
"Cue the homeowner going outside..."
If you're having furniture or anything heavy delivered, move your vehicles out of your driveway before the delivery guys get there. It killed me every time I would call a customer to let them know I was X minutes away with their stuff and when I got there they had three cars in their driveway so I would sigh and park in the street in front of their house, mentally preparing myself to lug a 300 lb sofa up and across their front yard. Cue the homeowner coming outside and going "Uhhhh duhhh...do you want me to move the cars?" WELL NOT ANYMORE I DON'T.
"...don't not tip..."
This is for Domino's customers; if drivers got paid even minimum wage, tips, and the delivery fee some people think goes to us; people would be lining up out of the door begging for our jobs.
The delivery fee goes to the franchise to cover their insurance of drivers. It doesn't go to us, so don't not tip thinking the drivers are pocketing $3+ per order.
"Please update your address..."
Please update your address when you move. Nothing more irritating and intrusive than showing up at 9:30pm unannounced at someones doorstep and they have no idea who you are or why you're there. Me: "Is this (address)?" Them: "Yeeaaaa..." Me: "Are you (name)?" Them: "Nooooo...." And if you do forget, at least apologize for it. Many people are so inconsiderate. Not to mention some people do not respond to strangers very well; especially at night (not surprisingly).