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pizza tip reddit photo
One Reddit user uploaded the photo of a receipt, complaining that a friend was tipped just .0683 percent for a large, expensive pizza delivery. (Photo from Reddit)

Watch what you tip - your receipt could end up online

BY Jillian Raftery  on March 6, 2013 @ 2:39 pm (Updated: 4:38 pm - 3/6/13 )

If you don't tip well, your receipt could end up on the internet for all to see. That's what happened to someone who one worker says tipped only $10 on a nearly $1500 bill.

Reddit user Jfastman uploaded the receipt Tuesday, complaining that his friend had delivered 85 pizzas to one address, a $1463.93 total, and was only tipped $10 - .0683 percent of the total.

We don't know much about the situation: the location, name of the pizza parlor, how many trips the delivery took, and other details were left out. But one thing was clear: Reddit users thought the tip was absurdly low.

Dori doesn't tip lavishly, but for such a big job, he agreed that the $10 tip probably didn't reflect the service given by the delivery driver. But what's fair to tip someone who delivers your pizza? The etiquette just isn't clear.

"Emily Post says pizza delivery tips should be based on the size of the order and difficulty of delivery, with a max of five dollars," said Dori. "So they doubled the max here!"

That seemed low to Dori for this big order, but he thought it would be extreme to tip his usual 15 or 20 percent for great service, which would come out to almost $300.

News anchor Ursula Reutin thought a flat tip of $50 - just over three percent - would have been a healthy tip since the delivery may have taken multiple trips.

"They need to make some extra arrangements to bring all those pizzas," said Ursula, "and it keeps them from delivering other pizzas, so $10 is too little."

Posting receipts online to complain about customers and waitstaff has become increasingly common. One Applebee's waitress was fired in January when she posted a stingy customer's receipt online. The customer didn't want to pay 18 percent gratuity mandatory for big groups. She wrote "I give God 10%, why do you get 18?"

The customer, a pastor, had her name printed on the receipt and said she was embarrassed and felt her privacy had been violated.

In another case, three women eating at a California casino lounge took the internet when their waiter had dubbed them "fat girls" on their receipt.

Dori wants you to weigh in: how much should the customer have tipped their pizza delivery driver?

What you're saying on Facebook:

Nikki Caldwell: I agree that this tip was too cheap. If someone can afford to buy $1400 worth of pizza they should tip accordingly. I don't think my family has ever not tipped. Standard for us is 15%, then we tip extra if the server/pizza delivery person goes above and beyond and provides exceptional service. Think of this: Some people are working their pizza delivery or restaurant service job as a second or third job to make ends meet. They rely on that tip since the wage by itself isn't always the best.

Joshua Michael Lathrop: The business of tipping, much like our government, has long lost its way. T.I.P.- To Insure Promptness, was originally used for people in a hurry. A little extra for speedy service. I think the practice should be abolished, and businesses offer a fair wage to workers for service to customers paying a fair cost for a desired product. You don't tip the guy at Home Depot, although he is VERY helpful. His courtesy is part of his employment agreement.

Verna Lee Curry: It's wrong to "expect" a tip and it's wrong to not be generous and considerate for work well done. $10 bucks on $1400 is wrong. Based on the way that I typically tip my servers, they would have received about $280 in tip money.

Corey Kleinman: I actually deliver pizzas. Drivers get 1.05 per delivery for gas and out delivery area is larger than most cities as Gig Harbor has a relatively low population density. The average mileage per order is a hair over 8 miles. The total pay is minimum wage plus that and tips. The total automobile cost of delivering with current gas prices is roughly 1.50-1.60, so if someone doesn't tip, we are losing a portion of our minimum wage for that particular segment of time. It's unreasonable to just say well the wage should be higher when pizza is cheaper than it has been in years because of the economy. Franchisees profit margins are very slim with the low prices.

Steven Roberts: it's a Pizza delivery not a restaurant! but they could have tipped 20 bucks

Marlana M Studebaker: I normally tip 15%. For excellent service, I go 20% or higher. The pizza man gets about five bucks no matter what we order. @jeff - I'm with you - I doubt the receipt is real....

James Barr: Expecting 15% or 20% for delivering pizza is kind of absurd. The "service" is nothing compared to what a waiter or waitress does for you at a restaurant like The Olive Garden. That being said, $10 on a $1464 order is ridiculously cheap, and more than $10 should have been tipped.

Jillian Raftery, Social Media Captain
Jillian Raftery is a social media captain for the Dori Monson Show. She loves the neighborly vibe of the Pacific Northwest and spends as much time as possible outdoors.
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Comments (18)


  • Add A Comment

  • cigarfan wrote...
    I tip good !
    March 6, 2013 3:37 pm
    20 percent standard, more if the service is excellent !
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zoeller wrote...
    Just a question:
    March 6, 2013 4:51 pm
    I frequently order pizza for takeout and usually I will still tip a few dollars on a $20.00 pizza but occasionally do not tip at all. Should I be tipping on takeout orders or should I feel guilty when I do not tip?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Jraftery wrote...
    Good question!
    March 6, 2013 5:44 pm
    Zoeller, I think it varies... I usually try to tip a dollar every time just for good karma, but I tip bigger if I have a complex or large order. I don't know that there's a set rule for take-out or for delivery. Complicated, isn't it? - Jillian
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Could be
    March 6, 2013 6:23 pm
    The pizza joint charges a delivery fee,they do in my rural area.So the customer thought that giving an extra $10 was being nice.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • John E wrote...
    At least $100 would be a starter.
    March 6, 2013 6:40 pm
    I used to deliver pizza. When busy I was able to deliver about 6 pizzas deliveries in an hour. The amount of sheer time spent helping box and loading the pizza in and out of the vehicle would take most of an hour. In the mid 1990's I would average $2 to $3 per delivery. If this was in my shop, I would have made at least twice the tips on the single pizza deliveries with just a small portion of the work. But fortunately, the large orders I got were tipped at 15% and made the extra work worth it. And yes, we also would tip out our cooks. Like the comment by Corey Kleinman, the cost of using your own auto and it's wear and tear that happens above and beyond the gas cost make this tip an insult.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • clevesside wrote...
    Who and why.....
    March 6, 2013 7:31 pm
    ...would anyone order 85 pizzas? Thats the story; the non-tip is a sidebar.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    I tend to agree with Ursela - $50. Although $100 would be generous, but not out of line.
    March 6, 2013 7:36 pm
    Despite being 85 pizzas, it was ONE delivery guy to ONE address. Far less tome involved that 85 individual deliveries - for which I would normally tip $2.00 (plus any coin change) per single pizza delivery.

    At the $2 standard, that would add up to $170 IF all single deliveries. ... But, again, one trip only.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • tlmbrt wrote...
    It's unfortunate
    March 6, 2013 9:52 pm
    and absurd that the concept of "tipping" has been so corrupted. It was originally meant as a way to show appreciation for good service and ensure the same in the future. Because of the tax laws, it has become part of their normal pay. That allows the employer to pay them less and puts the onus on the customer. Especially galling are the restaurants that automatically add a "gratuity" to the bill. It is basically a TAX, forcing the customer to pay regardless. It removes all incentives for the employees to excel at their jobs! When this happens, I do not leave ANYTHING extra, since they have taken away my choice and discretion in the matter. Wouldn't it be much easier to simply raise the menu prices to reflect the true costs of doing business? That way we could still feel good about leaving a tip.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RichardCheese wrote...
    .
    March 6, 2013 10:10 pm
    how about the poor schleps who had to make the 85 pizzas? what was their tip?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • John wrote...
    I recently ordered a to-go Pizza from a pizza place on top of Queen Anne
    March 6, 2013 11:58 pm
    I always get it to go. I don't have delivery, I go and pick it up myself. No tip should be expected, since I go pick it up myself. The pizza was just about $14.00. I gave the guy a $20 and he acted like the rest should be a tip. I made sure he gave me every last penny, and will not be back. EVER. If you want to tip. Fine. But I will NOT be told when to tip.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    Good thinking, John. Condemn the shop forever.
    March 7, 2013 5:21 am
    for the ONE time actions of ONE employee. ....... And people wonder why small business is so tough ???
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • crafty_lexi wrote...
    Agreed.
    March 7, 2013 6:25 am
    Perhaps a better reaction would be to give feedback to the manager and/or owner, who can then discuss how that was bad customer service.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bremerton Voice wrote...
    Expecting a Tip?
    March 7, 2013 7:33 am
    I think expecting a tip is wrong. If you didn't get a tip buck up. I was a mover for 10 years and I worked my tail off moving peoples lives and I didn't get tipped all the time. I certainly worked harder than this pizza guy did and I know I used to deliver pizzas and didn't expect a tip doing that either, of course I didn't do it for very long because it doesn't pay enough. Should I tip the McDonalds guy for making my burger? I pretty much only tip waitresses and waiters who provide me a good service, as for the rest of the people expecting a tip, I only tip for above and beyond service, if I'm in Oregon and a guy pumps my gas why should he get a tip? He didn't clean my windows he just did what he normally does. Sorry but they could have chosen not to tip and as far as I'm concerned complaining about getting a tip is in line with this self entitlement mentality that people have suddenly gotten. No you are not entitled to a tip keep walking. As for the gal who wouldn't tip 18% and decided to write a note about her self entitled self should feel ashamed for writing something like that on a receipt and kudos to the waitress for sharing with the public. I bet she has a great case for wrongful termination.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Saltchucker wrote...
    Rounding it up to $1500 would be fine.
    March 7, 2013 8:39 am
    I've delivered pizzas and I've managed pizza resturants, back in my misspent youth. Delivery fees barely cover the gas to run the car. If you tell your insurance agent you're delivering in your own vehicle you'd have to make almost double what a delivery driver grosses to just pay the isurance. NEVER get hit by a teenage pizza driver! I handed out tip reporting book every year to our drivers, as per law and policy......NEVER got one back. Perhaps if drivers paid tax on thier tips, folks would be more generous?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }