Pizza Delivery Charge

[JustMeUC]

My friend was here visiting at lunch today and I ordered a $9.99 pizza online for us. It has a $2.50 delivery charge already so when the driver got here, I gave him an extra dollar thinking that a $3.50 tip was sufficient. My friend then said, "don't be so cheap" and handed the guy a couple more dollars.

I was thinking $2.50 was actually fine, and adding another dollar on was just extra. I figured most people don't even do that. He then told me that he had read the box once as he was eating, and noticed it said the driver does NOT GET THE DELIVERY CHARGE! I then called the "major pizza chain store" to find out the real deal and they told me that no, the driver gets NONE of the delivery charge and only gets mileage, plus tips. So, even worse, I am assuming like a waitress they would still have to be paying taxes on assumed tips?

I went back to the website and it does say, among all the coupons and codes and would you like to add this or that that the delivery fee does not go to the driver. But in all the time I have ordered I had never noticed it as the website is so cluttered and I would just be trying to order my pizza and check out.

I felt really bad for the drivers, I have ordered pizza at least a dozen times in the past 6 months and only given them a dollar each time since I assumed they were already getting the delivery fee.


Has anyone else ordered a pizza and not been aware that the drivers don't get the delivery fee? I am betting that I am NOT the only one to assume the delivery fee goes to the drivers and that lots of drivers are getting shorted.

 

[nvestysly]

If the driver doesn't receive the fee who does? Is the $2.50 considered a processing charge, i.e. for the person on the phone to jot down the order and turn it in to the kitchen? What gives?

It's been ages since I've ordered a pizza for delivery. A year or so ago I ordered a pizza online for pickup in the store - no fees were added. Is this delivery charge something new?

So those of you who order take-out please elaborate. Is this an industry trend?

 

[mickeyd]

I seem to recall that many years ago (maybe '60s) when pizza delivery was newish, that they charged for delivery (maybe $1). As competition was created, the newer places advertised "free delivery", which meant that there was no delivery charge. This had nothing to do with tipping the delivery guy.

Looks like it has come full circle now. Don't always expect free anything, but always tip the guy that deserves it.

 

[gauss]

Maybe the fee goes to the entity that runs the web site that processes the delivery orders. This seems similar to the various ticketing outfits for events that are out there.

-gauss

 

[growing_older]

I believe the delivery fee just goes to the store. It is a way to add a fee that consumers don't usually consider when making a purchasing decision, so it's a creative way to raise prices. The side effect that most people assume it's paid to the delivery guy who then reduce the tip doesn't affect the store revenue, so that's a side effect they don't care about.

 

[Powor]

I think the charges go toward paying the mileage fees, but delivery guys usually don't make a whole lot of money which is unfortunate. I think they make the sites so complicated in order to detour people from things like this. It'd be nice to know if I needed to give a tip or if it is already factored in, ya know?

 

[Arifriekinel]

I've got a friend working at PJ's a family members working at PH, and a sibling working at D, all delivery drivers. They get minimum wage + $0.10 per miles driven + tips.

The delivery charge they said was rationalized to them at work as the fee for having the employee out of the store for so long instead of around to help make pizzas, because they could help more customers in store in the time it takes them to get to your place and back.

 

[jollystomper]

The charge allows them to keep advertising pizzas as $9.99, which will entice more buyers than advertising the pizza as $12.49.

As a separate charge you are less likely to associate it to the cost of the pizza. What you are paying for is the "process" of scheduling your order and the "service" of seeing that a driver gets it to you in a timely fashion. Then you tip him for making it more convenient for you than picking up the pizza itself or making the pizza yourself.

It is just another example of fees added to the product that makes the product seem cheaper, for competitive purposes.

 

[utrecht]

I cant wait until tipping is a way of the past. Why do we tip a baggage handler but not a ticket agent? Why tip a taxi driver but not a bus driver. Pay your employees a fair wage and stop the tipping madness!!

 

[comicbookgujy]

The drivers don't get the $2.50 fee.

I usually tip about 10% for my order.

I feel getting ripped off though. On top of the $2.50 delivery charge, they guilt you into paying the driver a tip ...I'm just afraid the driver might spit into my pizza

 

[comicbookgujy]

I cant wait until tipping is a way of the past. Why do we tip a baggage handler but not a ticket agent? Why tip a taxi driver but not a bus driver. Pay your employees a fair wage and stop the tipping madness!!

Yea. I hate tipping and getting a dirty look because I "only" tip 10% or 15% for lousy service. It's like a guilt trip.

Went to Hong Kong for a month and didn't have to tip anyone. It was great. Most resturant or hotel add 10% to your bill so you don't have to worry about the tip now you do here.

 

[Sittingduck]

Went to Hong Kong for a month and didn't have to tip anyone. It was great. Most resturant or hotel add 10% to your bill so you don't have to worry about the tip now you do here.

Bet the workers never saw the 10%. Someone I know works at an exclusive private country club. For added revenue they sell banquets and weddings to the public. They put an added 18% charge on for gratuity. It goes directly to the house and the wait staff is paid close to minimum wage. Not very ethical if you ask me, but a very common practice.

 

[Badger]

I buy my pizza at Costco and tip myself. IMHO PJs does not have "better ingredients - better pizza" but I would pick it up myself since it is only a mile away at 30 cents round trip.

Cheers!

 

[Cessna5354]

The delivery charge is a not so invisible & deceptive profit margin increase.

I have not had the opportunity as we rarely order delivery pizza. With places so close, I rather drive and support the locals. Just me.

 

[braumeister]

I'm very surprised, and agree with the OP that this is both deceptive and wrong.
None of the pizza places I get delivery from have a delivery charge, so you pay whatever it is (and I order either online or by phone, about equally).
I only order pizza as an occasional treat, so I always tip generously, and the delivery driver is always surprised when I do.

 

[Kaufmanrider]

The drivers don't get the $2.50 fee.

I usually tip about 10% for my order.

I feel getting ripped off though. On top of the $2.50 delivery charge, they guilt you into paying the driver a tip ...I'm just afraid the driver might spit into my pizza

Most tip'ed workers make $2.13 an hour. Tips are expected to make up the difference toward the minimum wage. If the base salary and tip's don't equal the full minimum wage the employer makes up the difference.

The $2.50 is just another way the company has figured out how to increase profits, like ATM fees, airline baggage fees, etc, etc. Welcome to capitalism

I always give 20% tip. People gotta live.

 

[H2ODude]

Can't remember last time had p delivered. Drive the 1 mile to the locally owned restaurant and pick one up, usually ~$16. I know it's hot and don't have to deal with the delivery charge/tipping confusion. And, it's better pizza than any of the chains as I have judged when it was delivered to workplace for events. Other option is to make it myself on the charcoal cooker. As good as that is, and if my labor was free, I end up buying expensive ingredients ($8 for fresh mozzarella) and spending more than $16 for home made. It is good though, use imported Italian flour for a thin crust.

 

[grasshopper]

Other option is to make it myself on the charcoal cooker. As good as that is, and if my labor was free, I end up buying expensive ingredients ($8 for fresh mozzarella) and spending more than $16 for home made. It is good though, use imported Italian flour for a thin crust.

I could get a baked nacho weighted about 2 lbs for $5.50 at a little hole in the wall mexican taco shop. I thought I could do better at home, with my store bought ingredients, it was good but it was also $20. Back to Nino's.

 

[human743]

The delivery charge does go to the drivers. Where else would the money come from to pay their wages and mileage? I am glad it is not added to the pickup pizzas that do not have to incur the costs of delivery. I assume people only have a problem with the amount of the fee?

I doubt many delivery drivers get the tipped employee rate. Most of the big chains pay minimum already plus you keep the tips (of which very little to none is reported). Even if they did get the tipped employee rate, employers are requires by federal law to ensure that the employee makes $7.25/hr after tips. If any tipped employee works a pay period and the tips added to his wage do not total $7.25, the employer must make up the difference.

If you know someone making less than $7.25 on average over a pay period, let them know what the law is. But they will have to honestly track and account for all of their tipped income. (And report to IRS)

In my experience (restaurants years ago) many tipped employees have only a rough idea of what they make and it typically is far higher than most want to admit. Its easy come, easy go. It's easy to forget the night you pulled in what would be one weeks pay for the cook when you are looking at a slow night's take.

 

[aaronc879]

I doubt many delivery drivers get the tipped employee rate. Most of the big chains pay minimum already plus you keep the tips (of which very little to none is reported).

That's not true. At least not around here. When I lost my job I took a part time job delivering pizza at Pizza Hut. I chose Pizza Hut because the drivers get $5.25/hr which is more than any other big chain. That's the same wage I got when I delivered 12 years ago but the tips are down because people think the driver gets the delivery charge. We don't. The mileage we get paid doesn't even cover gas let alone wear and tear. The price of a pizza is the same as it was when I worked before 12+ years ago. The "delivery charge" is just their way of keeping the "sticker price" of a pizza as cheap as possible without going broke. Bottom line is if you're not going to tip your driver, then don't order a pizza or pick it up yourself. I quit the job 7 months ago and they're still looking for a driver because they keep quitting(wonder why?).

 

[JustMeUC]

The delivery charge does go to the drivers. Where else would the money come from to pay their wages and mileage? I am glad it is not added to the pickup pizzas that do not have to incur the costs of delivery. I assume people only have a problem with the amount of the fee?

NO!! I have a problem with the fact that I thought that the driver was getting this money and he wasn't . I had been giving the drivers a dollar each time as a tip thinking they were actually getting $3.50. It is very deceptive and after speaking with several other people (neighbors and friends) almost every single one of them who order pizza from Dominoes and Papa Johns assumed that the driver was getting this "delivery charge" and had also been giving only a dollar or even nothing....

I usually get an itch for pizza around midnight so while I actually think that Sam's and Costco has better pizza, due to the time, they are not really an option. I may check out some of the frozen pizzas and see if they are any good and if so keep a pizza or 2 in the freezer.

 

[Lsbcal]

If my friend said "don't be so cheap", especially in front of another, I'd feel really bad. Why didn't the friend just chip in a few dollars and discuss the charges over pizza?

JustMeUC, you made an honest mistake. No need to feel bad anymore. The pizza gods will forgive you.

 

[MichaelB]

If my friend said "don't be so cheap", especially in front of another, I'd feel really bad. Why didn't the friend just chip in a few dollars and discuss the charges over pizza?

JustMeUC, you made an honest mistake. No need to feel bad anymore. The pizza gods will forgive you.

She may need to watch out for the delivery gods, though.

 

[JustMeUC]

If my friend said "don't be so cheap", especially in front of another, I'd feel really bad. Why didn't the friend just chip in a few dollars and discuss the charges over pizza?

JustMeUC, you made an honest mistake. No need to feel bad anymore. The pizza gods will forgive you.

Yes, but I still feel badly for the drivers who are just trying to make a living. It's a dangerous job and one that deserves a decent wage. We had a pizza guy here killed not long ago from the store that I order from and I wondered at the time if it was one of the guys who delivered to me

My friend did hand the guy a couple more dollars. We grew up together, I've known him since we were both in diapers... and we can joke around without getting upset, neither of us are the sensitive sort so we probably say things to each other that most people might find offensive. We are more like brother and sister than friends, sometimes we get irritated with each other, but never stay mad with the other long.

 

[ERD50]

...
Has anyone else ordered a pizza and not been aware that the drivers don't get the delivery fee? I am betting that I am NOT the only one to assume the delivery fee goes to the drivers and that lots of drivers are getting shorted.

I guess I am surprised that anyone would make such a direct connection, and 'compartmentalize' this to the point that the delivery charge money went directly to the driver.

When I order something with a "Shipping and Handling Fee", I expect that amount to be close to the actual USPS, UPS or FedEx fee or whatever, plus some general overhead cost of doing business to handle an order. But I don't expect them to specifically go to the warehouse, find the guy/gal that filled my order, and hand them that $1.50, or whatever. It's all lumped and averaged, and they pay their employees.

Same with a 'Labor' charge on some repair or service - do I expect that to go directly to the guy/gal that did the work? No, that was paid to the company, and they pay the employee. The company is also paying their portion of FICA, Unemployment, etc. It's not so simple as to say $2.50 goes to the driver.

Unless they handed you two bills - One from Pete's Pizza for $9.99, and a second from Dave's Delivery Service for $2.50, I can't see why you would separate them in your mind.

-ERD50