Do Pizza Drivers Make Better Tips In Bad Weather?

Today as my lunchtime running group was getting started, we observed a Fed Ex truck get stuck in the street.  Runner Matt commented that he wouldn't want to be any kind of delivery driver on a day like today.  I mentioned that I would be delivering pizzas tonight.  Matt suggested that at least I should be making good tips.  Unfortunately, it seems that isn't always the case.

But tonight was pretty good.  No stiffs, only 1 $1, and 6 $4 or more ).

First run - 3 deliveries ($2, $3, $6)
Second run - 4 deliveries ($5, $3)
Third run - 4 deliveries ($4, $2, $3, $3)
Fourth run - 4 deliveries ($4, $2, $5, $2)
Fifth run - 3 deliveries ($2, $4, $1)

I didn't come close to getting stuck, because I have learned not to try to pull in a snowy driveway.  I just flick my hazard lights on and leave the car in the street for a couple minutes.

Of course, at my next-to-last delivery, this led to an interesting story from a customer at a trailer park.  He said to be careful and I remarked that I was staying out of the snow.  He then said how once he had suffered a heart attack while shoveling snow!  He also has been run over by a car and had a 2nd heart attack.  I joked that he was like a cat and he said yeah, he figured he only had 6 lives left!

Totals for the night:  4.49 hours, 16 deliveries, 40 miles, $51 in tips.

Snowy Monday

Tonight was one of those snowy icy nights where nobody wanted to be out.  I initially expected a slow night due to people being off work for Presidents Day, but once the weather turned nasty I knew there would be some deliveries.

Slow was the name of the game, my first 2 trips I took 4 orders each, and each trip took about 45 minutes or more to complete and get back.  No major trouble, but I don't drive into snowy driveways, I will simply put my flashers on and leave the car on the road.  Driver Joel said he got stuck in a driveway for a few minutes tonight.

Highest tip was $3.76, lowest was $1.01.  I worked 3.97 hours, drove 30 miles, took 11 deliveries, and made $27 in tips.

Freeway Driving

There is one small corner of our delivery area that I use the highway to get to.  I don't go there very often, but tonight I went there 3 times in a row!

Tonight was another night that started slow then got much better.  First 7 deliveries I had 4 stiffs and only made $9.  Next 6 deliveries I made $24.

I had a delivery to Peggy, one of our cooks, and she added a nice $5 tip.

Totals for the night were 4.87 hours, 13 deliveries, 58 miles driven, and $33 in tips.

Valentines Monday

I usually like to work on Valentine's Day but since this year it was a Monday, I have had a feeling it wouldn't be as great a night as usual.  Many people celebrated already on Friday, Saturday, or even Sunday.

We were busier than a normal Monday but not by a whole lot.  And my deliveries seemed to be far-away, I think the other 2 drivers made out way better than me.  I worked 3.02 hours, took 7 deliveries, made $14 in tips, and drove 24 miles.

The only interesting thing was when I told a customer about the survey on the back of the receipt for a chance to win $1000, he remarked, "I could buy alot of pizza with that."  I chuckled.  Usually it's me with the funny lines.

Since I don't have much else to say, here are some interesting pizza-related links I have gotten recently:

• Cavit Wines is searching for the best original gourmet pizza recipe in its 6th Annual Cavit Gourmet Pizza Classic. Finalists receive a trip to NYC to compete for the grand prize—a trip for two to Italy and the title of “America’s Best Gourmet Pizza Chef”. For more information and to see last year’s finalist recipes visit: www.facebook.com/cavitwines
• Get Delivery Driver Jobs, a community for Delivery Driver professionals, included my site as a resource.  I wish them well!

Light Friday Night

We weren't too busy tonight, I was scheduled until 10 and got out about 9:30.  Worked 3.39 hours, took 9 deliveries, drove 21 miles, and made $24 in tips.  Minimum tip was $2 (well $1.88 but close enough).

People Who Don't Tip The Pizza Guy

I worked 4.28 hours tonight, took 12 deliveries, drove 41 miles, and made $22 in tips.  I got 3 stiffs and I wanted to write about them.

• Stiff #1 sent the kid to the door to pay.  This is common practice and allows the stiffer not to face the driver.  Pretty shameful if you ask me.

• Stiff #2 was a surprise, the woman was very friendly and thankful on the phone, she was still friendly and thankful at the door, and she paid for a $26 order with $40 so she had the cash to tip with.  Thanks is nice but I'd rather have a tip.

• Stiff #3 was a stupid 20-something ... I called to confirm the address when I was about 2 blocks away, then I passed a bicycle rider (on a very cold and snowy day) with a flashing red light.  The customer must have looked out the window because when I got to the door he remarked, "I thought you were riding a bike!"  At least his ignorance gave me a little amusement, but I'd still rather get a tip!

Super Sunday - Super Survey

I decided to take a survey as I drove around tonight, at each house I asked 2 questions:  Which team were they rooting for, and what was their favorite commercial.

I had 15 deliveries during the game and forgot to ask once, so here are my 14 answers to the football question:

Green Bay - 8 orders, $23.50 (average $3 tip, only 1 stiff)
Pittsburgh - 2 orders, $5 (average $2.50, 1 stiff)
Split house (people cheering for each team) - 2 orders, $7.50 (average $3.75, no stiffs)
Philadelphia - 1 order, 1 stiff
Not sure - 1 order, 1 stiff

The moral of the story is, football fans tipped way better than non-football-fans.

I only got 3 people to answer the favorite commercial question, one said the commercial with the test baby, one said he wasn't sure but it had to involve beer, and one said Doritos (they always seem to have some good ones).

So I just got home and watched the test baby commercial - I have to say, not impressed.  Not only I wasn't amused, I'm not sure I really even understand the product.  An alternative to hotels I guess.

I watched the Doritos commercials and I found 2, they both were pretty good.  The one with the pug was pretty predictable, but the house sitting one was both funny and surprising.  I guess now I found another, the one with the finger-licking was pretty wierd.

Work-wise, tonight was pretty typical for a Super Bowl.  Busy, lots of drivers, decent money but not great.  As usual, no "parties", I never delivered more than 2 pizzas and some sides to one house all night long.  Totals were 6.51 hours worked, 58 miles driven, 19 deliveries, and $49 in tips.

Wierd Things You See As A Pizza Driver

Tonight was pretty unremarkable (and unprofitable) as I worked 3.05 hours, took 8 deliveries, drove 19 miles, and made $10 in tips.

I did see a girl carrying a broken chair out from her apartment to the dumpster.  I said "That looks like the chair Goldilocks broke!"

A few weeks ago I delivered to an apartment and they had all the burners on their stove lit.  They were not cooking anything (obviously, they ordered pizza) so I can only assume that they got "free gas" and were using the gas as auxilliary heat for their home.  Kind of sad.

No Sierra Mist - Can I Suggest a Mountain Dew?

My first delivery of the night included two 2-liters, a Pepsi and a Sierra Mist.  I checked the cooler and we are out of Sierra Mist.  I took an extra Pepsi and also a bottle of Mountain Dew, so I could offer the customer a choice.  He picked the Mountain Dew.

Also, I had a free "customer satisfaction credit" order tonight, which means the customer complained and we gave them a credit for some free food on their next order.  Usually these customers assume I should deliver it for free also, but this woman was kind enough to give me a $2 tip (all in quarters).

I worked longer than most Mondays recently, as driver Matt is not driving due to (I think) car trouble.  I worked 4.43 hours, took 13 deliveries, drove 39 miles, and made $29 in tips.  Not a bad night!