Manager Speak

Manager:  "I need to see that ticket"

Waitress:  "Which one?"

Manager:  "The one with that pizza ..."

I overheard this conversation tonight and it cracked me up.  We are a major PIZZA chain.  All of our guest checks have pizzas on them!

I worked 4.66 hours, drove 35 miles, took 7 deliveries, and made $20 in tips.

First delivery was a $5 tip ... I arrived at the house about 10 minutes before the customer.  I knocked a few times, then called, he was still on his way home from work.  I wonder why he didn't just pick it up himself?

Anyhow, I spent the time chatting with the next door neighbor (who shares a driveway) who was sitting out on her side step.  She commented, "At least you get a break."  To which I replied, "I don't get paid as much when I'm on a break."  She asked a few more questions and I got to educate her:

• Drivers get minimum wage.
• Drivers don't get the delivery charge
• Drivers get about $1 per delivery towards car expenses but have to buy their own gas
• I make about half my money on tips
• Most people these days seem to be tipping around $3

And indeed, 5 of my next 6 deliveries tipped $3 exactly.  (To go along with 1 stiff).

Ferrari 360 Spyder

Tips would have to be pretty special to be able to afford driving something like this on a delivery!

Seriously, though, here is a press release about the grand opening of a Domino's store in the UK, that included a soccer star, and "special" deliveries using the Ferrari 360 Spyder you see on your right.

Lost!

Well I wasn't exactly lost, but neither could I find the address, and I ended up coming back to the store with the food.

The delivery was to a manufacturing business on an industrial parkway.  Unfortunately there is a new section that I was not aware of that doesn't connect to the other sections.  I tried calling but the work number they listed just went to voicemail.  (They should have used their cell #).

When I got back to the store, the manager was on the phone with the customer, I got the correct directions quick and headed back out.  The pizza was still hot (hot bags are awesome!) and best of all the customer still tipped $5.

Unfortunately this didn't make up for my next run, a triple stiff!  One delivery to an apartment where there was some confusion whether or not the order was paid by credit card.  I think this one was late because we were out of banana peppers and (again) couldn't contact the customer using the phone # they had listed.

Next was 2 orders to a house, with a note that said "call 5 minutes before you get there."  I knew the neighborhood and knew what was going on.  They live in the "South Park" apartments, now known as Midview Crossings, where we do not deliver for safety reasons.  So they gave an address of a house across the street and they will go and meet me in front of the house.

I wasn't happy about this and knew there would be no tip, but we took the orders so I didn't have many options.  It wasn't that I was afraid, I don't get out of my car if the situation isn't right, and I spoke with both customers on the phone as I was on my way.  It's just frustrating being lied to and then being stiffed.

Along with these 4 orders, I had 3 more that were unremarkable, that tipped $3, $0, and $4.  Oh well the $3 one was remarkable, the woman proudly told me she put the dogs out back before I arrived.  Unfortunately the smell didn't go outside with them.  WHOA!

I'm so out of practice I forgot to put my totals!  4.1 hours, 7 deliveries, 31 miles, $12 in tips.

Pizza Vending Machine

For real?  In Italy none the less!

Interesting that I had a similar post about a year ago!

Pizza Movie on the Web - Larry and Burt's Gut Rot!

I was made aware today of a web series called Larry & Burt's Gut Rot.  This is based on the true stories of a pizza delivery driver and his brother.

I watched the first episode tonight and I have to say, they nailed it!  The smell that lingers in the car, the customer's payment issue (so typical), and the written notes afte the delivery, these are certainly all things I have experienced over and over during the past few years.

Any restaurant worker will love these movies.

One word of caution, the language makes these "adult" movies, it is not appropriate for the family hour.  But then again, neither is the job of pizza delivery.  So there.

I can't wait to watch the other episodes (6 in all, so far).