This is a line from the great movie, Clerks. It also could be used to describe my night. Since I was off my day job and already had picked up my kids for the weekend, it was a rare Friday when it would have been easy for me to work. And Friday's are historicaly the best money-making nights. So I volunteered to work.
Unfortunately our GM scheduled 3 other drivers. I think 3 is kind of light for a Friday, but this is not my call. One of them had called off by Wednesday, so I volunteered to take his spot. "No, we'll be ok with 2."
Really? OK, I offered to at least call in, or stop by. So tonight I got my uniform on and dropped in around 5:15. Manager Mike met me up front saying we'd be ok with 2 drivers tonight. I didn't clock in and went to the back to say hi to GM Ady. Just then 1 of the 2 drivers said he was sick. Ady said he should go home and I could work for him. And then it started.
By the end of the night, I had taken 35 deliveries (2nd most ever, I think), driven 67 miles, made $82 in tips, all in just 7.42 hours on the clock. Twice in a row I went out the door with 8 deliveries! I'm not sure I've ever taken more than 5 or 6 at once before.
The funniest thing that happened all night was when I was walking across someone's yard, I stepped on a squeaky dog toy. I was afraid I'd stepped on a cat or some other animal, it was so loud and big and squishy!
Another unique thing was coming to a customer's door and seeing the man and woman slow-dancing together in the living room, right in front of the door! I apologized for interrupting and the man said it was ok, they were expecting me!
Out of 33 deliveries: (2 didn't count towards the tip tally)
3 stiffs (no tip)
4 $1 tips
13 $2 tips
7 $3 tips
2 $4 tips
3 $5 tips (all in the first 6 deliveries of the night)
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
'Twas The Night Before Thanksgiving ...
... and Mama didn't want to cook anymore. So she ordered a pizza!
I usually don't work on Wednesdays but I chose to work tonight because it it one of our busiest nights. I think we had 5 drivers at one point. It wasn't super-busy but it was certainly a good night.
In 5.03 hours, I took 11 deliveries, made $29 in tips, and drove 61 miles. We even had a guy assigned to wash dishes tonight. I was on the road alot, but when I wasn't, mostly I helped answer phones.
The beginning of the night was really good, as I made $20 on my first 5 runs. Tips fell off after that.
Tonight's incidents (3) all involved the order-takers:
My 6th delivery, was for $15.98. The customer was certain they were quoted $14.99. The paid the $16 but didn't tip. I'm positive they weren't going to tip anyways.
The 9th delivery was to 9xxx Brewser. I had never heard of that street, so I checked the map. Not there. Manager Mike was sure it was in the Pioneer Ridge development. I went to the car and checked my GPS. Not there either. I called the customer for directions. She seemed a little put out but gave me directions. To 9xxx Berkshire. Doh!
The 11th delivery was a new order so I was to call and confirm. But the phone # didn't print on the ticket. Mike looked it up in the computer and it was entered as 440-10-025. Doh again! It was a safe neighborhood so I drove there and knocked on the door, but clearly the house was dark and nobody was home. Waste of my time and gas.
I did get $1.05 for the run but it's a 9-mile round trip ... Even if my car got 30 mpg (which it doesn't) this would be 1/3 of a gallon at $2.85.
I usually don't work on Wednesdays but I chose to work tonight because it it one of our busiest nights. I think we had 5 drivers at one point. It wasn't super-busy but it was certainly a good night.
In 5.03 hours, I took 11 deliveries, made $29 in tips, and drove 61 miles. We even had a guy assigned to wash dishes tonight. I was on the road alot, but when I wasn't, mostly I helped answer phones.
The beginning of the night was really good, as I made $20 on my first 5 runs. Tips fell off after that.
Tonight's incidents (3) all involved the order-takers:
My 6th delivery, was for $15.98. The customer was certain they were quoted $14.99. The paid the $16 but didn't tip. I'm positive they weren't going to tip anyways.
The 9th delivery was to 9xxx Brewser. I had never heard of that street, so I checked the map. Not there. Manager Mike was sure it was in the Pioneer Ridge development. I went to the car and checked my GPS. Not there either. I called the customer for directions. She seemed a little put out but gave me directions. To 9xxx Berkshire. Doh!
The 11th delivery was a new order so I was to call and confirm. But the phone # didn't print on the ticket. Mike looked it up in the computer and it was entered as 440-10-025. Doh again! It was a safe neighborhood so I drove there and knocked on the door, but clearly the house was dark and nobody was home. Waste of my time and gas.
I did get $1.05 for the run but it's a 9-mile round trip ... Even if my car got 30 mpg (which it doesn't) this would be 1/3 of a gallon at $2.85.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Police Disguised As Pizza Guy Arrest 3 Punks In My Town
I wish this was how it always worked! This is actually in my town! Well done by the Marco's crew for recognizing the situation and the police for believing them and playing along!
Chronicle Article
WKYC Article
Chronicle Article
WKYC Article
Monday, November 22, 2010
Off The Cliff
I'm not referring to my driving ... although I ran into former driver Jim in WalMart and he had some nasty road rash on his face from a bike mishap.
But for the 2nd week in a row, we were super-busy from about 6-7:30, then business dropped off to zero. I took 7 deliveries during the first hour and a half (triple-triple-single), then I washed dishes for a couple hours and got sent home. Matt only took 1 delivery during that time also, so the inisde work was pretty much caught up.
I worked 3.61 hours, drove 19 miles for 7 deliveries (including 3 stiffs), and made $12 in tips. Unfortunately I forgot the 2-liter on one of the deliveries, so I had to buy one at a nearby store. I did get to take on of our pop's home (the one I should have taken to the customer), but I didn't make enough money that I wanted to blow $2 on a Pepsi.
But for the 2nd week in a row, we were super-busy from about 6-7:30, then business dropped off to zero. I took 7 deliveries during the first hour and a half (triple-triple-single), then I washed dishes for a couple hours and got sent home. Matt only took 1 delivery during that time also, so the inisde work was pretty much caught up.
I worked 3.61 hours, drove 19 miles for 7 deliveries (including 3 stiffs), and made $12 in tips. Unfortunately I forgot the 2-liter on one of the deliveries, so I had to buy one at a nearby store. I did get to take on of our pop's home (the one I should have taken to the customer), but I didn't make enough money that I wanted to blow $2 on a Pepsi.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
True Tales Of Pizza Delivery
Tonight was a pretty crazy night.
It started before I even got there. I made a right-turn on red. There was a car coming but he was a ways away. Well once I turned I realized he was coming WAY faster than I thought. He shifted lanes and honked as he flew past me. Of course, I thought, "If you weren't going so fast, I wouldn't be in your way." Less than a minute later a police cruiser coasted past me. The limit was 50. Pretty soon the lights came on and the guy who honked as he passed me got pulled over. Serves him right!
First trip was a double. First house tipped $1.01 on a $15.99 check. Next house, an older man handed me several folded bills for his $17.98 check. I began to walk away, hearing a younger man ask, "Was that enough?" I had just started counting and was surprised to find 3 x $5 and 2 x $1. It was only $17! I walked back and let them know, and the younger man gave me a $20. I gave him the $17 back and he said we were all set. Total 2 runs = $3.03
Next trip was another double. First house was out of the area, tipped $1.58 on a $18.42 order, and said she was sorry she didn't have more of a tip. I really don't care for sorry's. Either tip me or don't, but don't try to explain it. Next house was in a trailer park. High school son came to the door with $25 for the $23.47 check and said, "I'm gonna need the change back." I gave him a buck and offered to check the car for more coin change. He declined. Total 2 runs = $2.11.
Side note, this house called back to complain that the toppings had all slid to one side. I never tilt my bags and I never have gotten this complaint before. It may have been the kid who tilted the pizzas.
Next delivery was a single, a 12 mile round trip, out of our delivery area. It was a large order, lots of wings, and they tipped $5.77 on the $56.23 order. But how much money did I really make. Between the time I could have been taking another delivery, and the extra gas ... I'd much rather stay within our area.
Next was a triple. First house was a credit card, and I had to remind them to not leave the total blank. After the reminder she added a $2 tip to the $16.99 order.
Next house, the woman was waiting at the door, and told me now she remembered why she usually doesn't order from us. It takes 3 times as long as the other guys. I told her my car goes just as fast as theirs, there isn't much I can do. She did top $4.01 on her $9.99 order. I checked and it had only been 45 minutes since she called. Longer than I like to take but certainly not unreasonable. And not 3 times as long as anybody.
Final house in the delivery was actually 80 minutes after their order. It would have been faster if I hadn't had to take the out-of-area order. She handed me $23 for the $22.98 check. She said they told her $22 on the phone, so she intended to tip me $1, but made no move to get any more money. Total 3 runs, $6.03 in tips.
At this time I'm pretty frustrated, I've got about $17 in tips for 8 deliveries.
My next trip was another double, and another reminder to write the credit card total. "I'm not the only person that handles these" is a new line I like to use. After the reminder she added a $5 tip. Next customer was waiting in his driveway. Handed me $20 for his $13.99 order and said, "Keep the change". To which I replied (as always), "You keep the pizza!"
Next trip was yet another double. Tips were $2.01 at the first apartment and $0 at the last house. A little kid did make me chuckle, telling me he had "Glove bones." He was wearing gloves with skeleton bones printed on the back.
Totals for the night, 5.45 hours worked, 12 deliveries, $30 in tips, 55 miles.
Disappointing thing is, I was back from my last delivery before 10. I spent the next 90 minutes washing dishes, which is fine. But we got 2 more deliveries, separately, and the other driver got assigned to take them both. I don't mind staying past my shift to help clean, but if I'm still working, then I should still be in the delivery queue also!
Moneywise it was a decent night, but it should have been even a little better.
It started before I even got there. I made a right-turn on red. There was a car coming but he was a ways away. Well once I turned I realized he was coming WAY faster than I thought. He shifted lanes and honked as he flew past me. Of course, I thought, "If you weren't going so fast, I wouldn't be in your way." Less than a minute later a police cruiser coasted past me. The limit was 50. Pretty soon the lights came on and the guy who honked as he passed me got pulled over. Serves him right!
First trip was a double. First house tipped $1.01 on a $15.99 check. Next house, an older man handed me several folded bills for his $17.98 check. I began to walk away, hearing a younger man ask, "Was that enough?" I had just started counting and was surprised to find 3 x $5 and 2 x $1. It was only $17! I walked back and let them know, and the younger man gave me a $20. I gave him the $17 back and he said we were all set. Total 2 runs = $3.03
Next trip was another double. First house was out of the area, tipped $1.58 on a $18.42 order, and said she was sorry she didn't have more of a tip. I really don't care for sorry's. Either tip me or don't, but don't try to explain it. Next house was in a trailer park. High school son came to the door with $25 for the $23.47 check and said, "I'm gonna need the change back." I gave him a buck and offered to check the car for more coin change. He declined. Total 2 runs = $2.11.
Side note, this house called back to complain that the toppings had all slid to one side. I never tilt my bags and I never have gotten this complaint before. It may have been the kid who tilted the pizzas.
Next delivery was a single, a 12 mile round trip, out of our delivery area. It was a large order, lots of wings, and they tipped $5.77 on the $56.23 order. But how much money did I really make. Between the time I could have been taking another delivery, and the extra gas ... I'd much rather stay within our area.
Next was a triple. First house was a credit card, and I had to remind them to not leave the total blank. After the reminder she added a $2 tip to the $16.99 order.
Next house, the woman was waiting at the door, and told me now she remembered why she usually doesn't order from us. It takes 3 times as long as the other guys. I told her my car goes just as fast as theirs, there isn't much I can do. She did top $4.01 on her $9.99 order. I checked and it had only been 45 minutes since she called. Longer than I like to take but certainly not unreasonable. And not 3 times as long as anybody.
Final house in the delivery was actually 80 minutes after their order. It would have been faster if I hadn't had to take the out-of-area order. She handed me $23 for the $22.98 check. She said they told her $22 on the phone, so she intended to tip me $1, but made no move to get any more money. Total 3 runs, $6.03 in tips.
At this time I'm pretty frustrated, I've got about $17 in tips for 8 deliveries.
My next trip was another double, and another reminder to write the credit card total. "I'm not the only person that handles these" is a new line I like to use. After the reminder she added a $5 tip. Next customer was waiting in his driveway. Handed me $20 for his $13.99 order and said, "Keep the change". To which I replied (as always), "You keep the pizza!"
Next trip was yet another double. Tips were $2.01 at the first apartment and $0 at the last house. A little kid did make me chuckle, telling me he had "Glove bones." He was wearing gloves with skeleton bones printed on the back.
Totals for the night, 5.45 hours worked, 12 deliveries, $30 in tips, 55 miles.
Disappointing thing is, I was back from my last delivery before 10. I spent the next 90 minutes washing dishes, which is fine. But we got 2 more deliveries, separately, and the other driver got assigned to take them both. I don't mind staying past my shift to help clean, but if I'm still working, then I should still be in the delivery queue also!
Moneywise it was a decent night, but it should have been even a little better.
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