What Is A Tip?

I can tell you it's not 3 dimes and a nickel.

One of my deliveries tonight was for $13.58. The guy met me with a $20, $3 ones, and some change. He dumped 2 quarters, 4 dimes, and a nickel into my hand. I gave him back 3 of the dimes and the nickel.

A dollar is a pretty crummy tip, but at least it's a tip. A few coins isn't a tip, it's an insult.

Later the same customer called back. They had expected a pizza with pepperoni and banana peppers, but they just got banana peppers. Why? According to Brianne, who took the order, the customer asked how much for 2 toppings and then said no to just have the 1 topping (banana peppers).

Being a corporate francise, the customer is always right, so we made them another pizza and delivered it. We did make them turn in the original pizza (minus about 1 1/2 slices that they had already devoured.)

Twice tonight I ran out of change. I started with a bank of a $5 and 5 $1's. My first customer was a credit card order and tipped me $2.50 in quarters.

My next customer added a $5, paying $25 for his $21.87 order. My third customer added another 2 $1's, paying $22 for her $19.22 order. At this point I had 2 $5's and 12 $1's, plus the $2.50 in quarters.

My 4th customer then shorted me, asking for $18 in change for her $19.07 order. She did give me 7 cents to make my tip an even $3. But my bank was now down to $4 plus the quarters. I should have replenished it at this point by cashing in a $20 but I forgot.

The next customer had a $13.58 order, paid with a $20, and asked for a $5 back. I had to give her 4 $1's and 4 quarters. She did live in an apartment so she didn't mind getting the quarters, I was mildly embarassed though.

I got back and turned in a $20 for 2 $5's and 10 $1's. The next customer paid me with a $20 and $3 and 60 cents, and asked for $10 back. I gave him my 2 $5's, leaving me with $13 in ones.

My last delivery of the night was for $20.57. I should have turned in another $20 to be safe but I forgot again and sure enough, the customer paid with 2 $20's. I gave him back $13 and a pocketfull of change which I believe was $2.17, leaving me with $4.16 for a tip. They are a regular customer and decent tipper so they were ok with that.

Also of note tonight, we got a new map on the wall. Our old map was almost 10 years old. My street is 9 years old that I live on and it wasn't on our wall map, but it is now. When I first noticed it tonight, I had to stop and stare for about 5 minutes. It even has some landmarks marked, like the hotels we deliver to, various gas stations, even McDonalds & Friendly's!

Total for the night was 4 1/2 hours, 8 deliveries, 35 miles, and $17 in tips.

Which Is Better?

Working or getting called off?

Last week on Monday I got called off.

Tonight I worked 3 1/2 hours, took 6 deliveries, drove 26 miles, and made a whopping $6.68 in tips.

Who Pays For My Phone?

I made a ridiculous amount of delivery-related calls tonight.

• Three different times I was sent out on a credit card delivery without being aware of it and had to phone back to the store to verify that it was a credit card payment.
• Once I was sent to the wrong street and had to call the customer to get the correct address.
• Twice I was dispatched to a duplex with A and B or Up and Down apartments. I had to phone the customer (I think it's rude to knock the wrong door, especially after 9 PM.

I had some other interesting events as I made my deliveries.

• One customer signed the credit card without writing the tip or total. I handed it back with my usual remark. "You have to fill out the total even if you don't tip. If you leave it blank, you never know what someone might write in there." The woman then added a $3 tip!
• Once another man walked up behind me as I was waiting for the customer to gather the money and bring it to the door. I asked if I was in his way and he said no he had to wait, he was delivering chinese food. I got a 3 cent tip. I told him I hoped he did better but I doubt it.
• Once I took a 4-bagger (we were a driver short tonight) where 1 of the 4 deliveries had pre-submitted a $5 credit card tip. My total tips for those 4 runs were $5.44.
• I had a delivery to a bar and was offered a shot by the bartender. Of course I'm not allowed to accept alcohol while I'm driving!

It was one of those nights where I made money by perserverance. My first 5 deliveries yielded just $6 in tips, while the next 5 brought in just another $9. But I drove for 6 hours, took 21 runs, drove 77 miles, and made $37 in tips.

I worked with Kristi as closing manager. I like working with her as she keeps people busy, making sure the prep and the dishes get done in a timely manner!

Second-Hand Stories

I drove tonight for 5 hours. I took 11 deliveries, drove 43 miles, and made an unremarkable $19 in tips. My night was not memorable but I do have 2 stories tonight from other drivers.

First Ted was telling about a delivery where a nice-looking young girl met him in a skimpy outfit. Then during the exchange she dropped several coins and bent over to pick them up, while Ted enjoyed the view. She didn't tip, apologizing and explaining where she spent too much money already, but Ted told me he didn't really mind.

Disclaimer: Ted said that, in his mind, this cute girl was definitely over 18.

Nick also had an amusing story tonight. He had a delivery to the local Holiday Inn. He parked at the entrance he thought would be closest but he ended up having to walk all the way down several halls before he got to the correct room.

The customer paid and Nick went to get the pizza from the hotbag but he found . . . an empty bag! He had been on a double and he brought the empty bag from his first delivery, leaving the hotel customer's pizza in his car.

He had to walk all the way back through the hotel to his car, and then back down the halls again. He found the customer still standing with the door propped open, talking to someone. The customer then said to Nick, "No, we weren't talking about you, we were talking about the dog."

I hope I got the stories right. They each told them with more flair than I probably did here, but my own night was so boring I decided to borrow their stories.

I'm off until Sunday night.

Called Off

Last night was a first for me, I got called off before I even got to work.

I was driving home from my day job and Kristi, another driver / manager, called. She said I didn't need to bother coming in. Business was dead and there had only been 3 deliveries since 4 PM. (It was around 6.)

So I went home and relaxed.