As most of you may know, all of the major pizza chains (pizza hut, domino's, Papa Johns, etc) charge a delivery fee, an average of $2.50 or so. Does anyone work or has worked at a pizza place that can explain this fee? When I order online, they state that this fee does not go to the driver, so why do I have to pay extra for delivery if it's not paying the driver or paying for gas for the driver (or is it?)

I think it goes toward the gas funds where the workers file on record how many miles they drive.

You're a piker if you don't tip your delivery person at least $3.

You're a piker if you don't tip your delivery person at least $3.

And for whom do you deliver? :)

The expectation that a delivered pizza cost upwards of 5 dollars extra with all of its associated fees has driven me from having delivered pizza, especially since all of the pizza places are but less than a mile away from many addresses in town.

And for whom do you deliver? :)

No one, we go pick up our Papa John's because I like it hotter than if it has ridden around with 2 other deliveries before I get it.

I just think all service people are underpaid. If someone is lazy enough to whip out their iPhone and order a pizza, they should think about the guy schlepping around in his own car (even if he gets a mileage allowance) because it's too much trouble to climb in the F-150 and trundle down the block.

5 dollar minimum delivery tip...Chinese or Pizza

On one hand, pizza delivery can be a dangerous occupation---deadly in some instances, I'm afraid.

On the other, I refuse to submit to paying in any instance what the company should already be paying the driver; in essence a bribe to get one's pizza faster on a future visit and not before 2 other deliveries as you put it (and as is often true), and also taking the flak for others perceived "laziness", as there are many other instances by which one might ask a pizza delivered---never mind that they are offering it to begin with, sometimes 'free'.

Pizza delivery is what it is, and while I feel for those drivers who might be on the short end of the stick with this, to pay more than half again as much in many instances is ridiculous. To attempt to answer the actual question of the thread, I'm not nor ever have I been a pizza driver, but I understand that many times when a delivery fee is involved, it's nothing more than a money grab by the company, leaving the driver to fend for themselves with a possible tip.

As most of you may know, all of the major pizza chains (pizza hut, domino's, Papa Johns, etc) charge a delivery fee, an average of $2.50 or so. Does anyone work or has worked at a pizza place that can explain this fee? When I order online, they state that this fee does not go to the driver, so why do I have to pay extra for delivery if it's not paying the driver or paying for gas for the driver (or is it?)

Maybe someone in the know can explain but ive heard the same thing. The big chains charge that delivery charge and part goes to the driver for time,gas and wear and tear on car and if im not mistaken the other part goes to the business to help with insurance cost etc.
I always give the driver a generous tip to help with gas wear and tear on car and for bringing my dinner to my door in his own personal vehichle.

Maybe someone in the know can explain but ive heard the same thing. The big chains charge that delivery charge and part goes to the driver for time,gas and wear and tear on car and if im not mistaken the other part goes to the business to help with insurance cost etc.
I always give the driver a generous tip to help with gas wear and tear on car and for bringing my dinner to my door in his own personal vehichle.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This.

I only have one out of every 10 pizzas I order delivered. It's easier to go to the place and pick it up. By the time I order it and drive up there it's just coming out of the oven and being put in the box. By the time I get home it has cooled down just enough to where everything tastes perfect.

930

Indeed. What's the usual turnaround on a delivery, 40 minutes? I've walked pizzas back home faster when I didn't have a vehicle.

I have had wait times range from 30-90 minutes over the last year.

Lots of good thoughts here.

I agree that $5 should be the minimum tip for the delivery driver.
(Great section in the book, "You Want Fries With That?" by Priloux Alexander on just that topic.)

However, it is an expense that I will probably never incur as I, too, just pick up my pizza at the nearby Papa Johns (now that Perri's is no longer around).

I guess the "Delivery Fee" is another expense I won't incur.
(In fact, I didn't even know it existed until I encountered this thread.)

Seriously...? You are paying for convenience, having the pizza delivered to your home. There's a value there and these pizza places charge for it; a very, very small fee at that! They also staff their restaurants with delivery drivers every day expecting to be busy with deliveries; sometimes these drivers aren't as busy. They are still paid an hourly wage.

Yup...delivery fee plus tip? No thanks, we now make our own pizzas at home and is very fun & easy experimenting with different toppings.

To each their own. For my own, if I willingly pay 7.00 or more shipping/handling on online purchases to cover 3.40 postage, it would be odd to quibble over a similar convenience charge for home delivery of food.

In college several years ago, I was a delivery driver for Domino's in Ada. At the time, I made an hourly wage and received an additional amount for every order (pizza?) I delivered. I also made a little extra on every delivery if I put the sign atop my car. My favorite customers were drunks and bikers, as they seemed to tip better. When I happened to deliver to drunk bikers...bonanza!!

I don't recall that we charged an additional fee for delivery back then. Like many others, I choose to drive a mile or so for carryout, as I don't think of a 25-percent surcharge as insignificant. However, when I am too lazy to go pick it up, I do tip the driver between $3-5 per order as I remember all too well how much my tips let me keep the lights on back then.

I think the people that refuse to tip need to be taught a lesson. Put them in the delivery drivers' shoes to see how it feels to do the extra work for the customers, then they will realize how important and life-saving the tips will be. How about the non-tippers that stay at home during a major blizzard, not thinking twice about the safety of the delivery drivers when they call in to order pizzas and not tip? Drivers are forced to come into work (not really much of a choice) when heavy demand skyrocket with call-in orders and its sad when people don't tip them for driving through ice, snow, wind, and cold extreme weather. Even the hot summer days, they either have to decide to use their ac to waste more gas delivery to the people or tough out the extreme heat with no ac to conserve gas. Just because they are paid hourly wages does not make it right by not tipping them. In fact, not tipping them make a person extremely disrespectful and immoral.

I think the people that refuse to tip need to be taught a lesson. Put them in the delivery drivers' shoes to see how it feels to do the extra work for the customers, then they will realize how important and life-saving the tips will be. How about the non-tippers that stay at home during a major blizzard, not thinking twice about the safety of the delivery drivers when they call in to order pizzas and not tip? Drivers are forced to come into work (not really much of a choice) when heavy demand skyrocket with call-in orders and its sad when people don't tip them for driving through ice, snow, wind, and cold extreme weather. Even the hot summer days, they either have to decide to use their ac to waste more gas delivery to the people or tough out the extreme heat with no ac to conserve gas. Just because they are paid hourly wages does not make it right by not tipping them. In fact, not tipping them make a person extremely disrespectful and immoral.

I don't know if I entirely agree with your first and last sentences, but everything in between gets a hearty, "What he said!" from me!

Are the pizza companies on the hook if a driver has an accident while driving with a companies sign strapped to the top of the car? I would think that they have some sort of insurance overhead for cases like that.

Are the pizza companies on the hook if a driver has an accident while driving with a companies sign strapped to the top of the car? I would think that they have some sort of insurance overhead for cases like that.

Delivery drivers are required to carry insurance during whole time of employment. I would think its the driver's responsibility to have adequate insurance. If not, then the injured victims will possibly sue the company, but I doubt the company would be held liable...but to be on the safe side, I'm sure the companies also have insurance....just in case.

My coworker's son works for dominos, the $2.50 goes to the store, not the delivery driver. I would imagine the other chains do it the same way. Any car accidents are covered the employees individual insurance vs the company. Drivers do get at least minimum wage.

I started using Papa Murphy's where you just go pick it up yourself and bake it at home.

I would spend more in gas going to pick up the pizza myself than paying the nominal delivery fee.

How true!

Your at home oven doesn't get as hot as most places including the chains...Most chains have a Conveyorized forced hot air system which is like a turbo convection oven.

Delivery drivers are required to carry insurance during whole time of employment. I would think its the driver's responsibility to have adequate insurance. If not, then the injured victims will possibly sue the company, but I doubt the company would be held liable...but to be on the safe side, I'm sure the companies also have insurance....just in case.

If the company pays you mileage then part of the money is supposed to go towards the extra you pay on your insurance. If you use your personal vehicle for work than you need to pay for the rider. When you purchase car insurance they ask you how far you drive to work. If you are in your personal vehicle and in a wreck without the proper rider on your insurance your insurance company will drop you.

Now your company will cover you if you are injured but not your vehicle.

Its about 5-8 dollars extra getting a pizza delivered. At Pizza Hut you can get a large any topping pizza for 10 dollars. So thats about 3 dollars saved there and 3 -5 dollars saved by not having to worry about tipping a delivery driver.

Mom ordered from Papa's John yesterday. About $14 total. She gave me the $20 for the delivery guy....and the guy gave back $1. He decided it was best to keep the rest for himself. Mom was furious at that attitude and called the place back to report. Now her next order, whatever it may be, will be free. As for the delivery guy.... he needs a job now.

Mom ordered from Papa's John yesterday. About $14 total. She gave me the $20 for the delivery guy....and the guy gave back $1. He decided it was best to keep the rest for himself. Mom was furious at that attitude and called the place back to report. Now her next order, whatever it may be, will be free. As for the delivery guy.... he needs a job now.

And you seriously didn't ask him about the change? Surely you noticed what he gave you and asked for an explanation.

And you seriously didn't ask him about the change? Surely you noticed what he gave you and asked for an explanation.

I'm not the kind of person to confront someone. I almost always just typically let it go. Mom almost blew the house down. lol

I'm not the kind of person to confront someone. I almost always just typically let it go. Mom almost blew the house down. lol

Sounds like you should let your mom answer the door next time you get delivery. If I was her, I would be as mad at you as I was at the delivery person.

I just pick up myself. We live anywhere from 3 to 5 miles away. Easier that way and I don't have to pay bs fees.

RE: $20 from Mom = $1 Change. (Plus F5 Tornado)

I think the delivery guy was being generous.
After you deduct the "Service Charge" he settled less than a $2 tip.
(And now he's out of a job . . .)

Maybe the next time you are at the store you might consider picking up some Hot Pockets, Totino's Pizza Rolls or Tony's Pizza. Checkout people at the store don't expect tips.

I guess it's like they say . . .
"No Good Deed Goes Unpunished . . ."

Comment wasn't necessary, so I deleted it.
C. T.

RE: $20 from Mom = $1 Change. (Plus F5 Tornado)

I think the delivery guy was being generous.
After you deduct the "Service Charge" he settled less than a $2 tip.
(And now he's out of a job . . .)


They usually add the service charge in when they tell you the total over the phone or the internet, not have the delivery guy do it. I read it to be the total was $14, which included the charge.

The delivery guy either pocketed the extra on purpose or it was an accident. Either way, whoever ordered the pizza or answered the door should have said something.

Now her next order, whatever it may be, will be free.

I wouldn't want slice from that order...I would find it funny if the same delivery guy ends up showing up...

I wouldn't want slice from that order...I would find it funny if the same delivery guy ends up showing up...

He lost his job. It was a different guy.

He lost his job. It was a different guy.

They take notes, you know. I don't endorse any type of retaliation whatsoever, but you're not always dealing with forward-thinking honest types.

I look at it this way......If you can afford to order 20 bucks of pizza or eat in a sit-down establishment that isnt fast food then you should be able to afford to tip a few bucks. If not get your lazy rear end in your car and go pick up the order or go to mickey d's.
And never ever anger the people that are preparing or serving/delivering your food.

I look at it this way......If you can afford to order 20 bucks of pizza or eat in a sit-down establishment that isnt fast food then you should be able to afford to tip a few bucks. If not get your lazy rear end in your car and go pick up the order or go to mickey d's.
And never ever anger the people that are preparing or serving/delivering your food.

You're right about that. Don't forget this incident:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/14/dominos-workers-disgustin_n_186908.html

I was thinking of getting a dominos pizza here in the next couple weeks but after that i think i will refrain.
I hope he got fired as well as a good caning.

He lost his job. It was a different guy.

I'm not picking on you, but how do you know for sure? Did the manager say they'd fire him? If so, do you think that's the manager's "canned" response, eg: "he did what? I'll fire him and give you a free pizza, have a good night <click>"

I delivered for mazzios in Midwest city for a short time after high school then worked in their call center for a but after than. There a driver made their hourly wage (which i feel like was just above min wage. plus for each pizza you delivered the mileage was calculated at the end of your shift and you made so make change to the mile a little more change if you put the sign on top of your car. those signs had strong magnets and could scratch up paint pretty easy.
As far as those who don't tip delivery people...do you not tip you waitress in a restaurant? Cause there all they did was bring you your food about 30 feet if that. A pizza delivery person braved the weather (including heavy snow, pouring rain ect which i will promise you is our busiest time) to bring you warm food so you can keep your pajamas on. I am not sure what job if not this deserves a tip.
AS a side grip, if you are having pizza or any food delivered please for the love of god have house numbers clearly visable from the street or mention that you don't and some other defining trait that one would be able to pick your house out with. And porchlights are your and your delivery persons friend.

Although a waitperson does significantly more than deliver the meal thirty feet, the rest of your post was quite informative, and mirrors a lot of my son's concerns when he was a driver for another company a few years back.

You could argue that the pizza shops offering delivery without a surcharge simply include the cost of the delivery person into the cost of everyone else's pizzas. The surcharge at least hits the people paying for the service.

I live out of state now but I delivered pizza for a Mazzio's in OKC for a few years up until earlier this year.
When I left drivers at my restaurant were paid $1.25 per delivery which was supposed to cover gas and general wear and tear on your car. It basically worked out okay and I thought $1.25 was fair. Sometimes you would deliver one that was 15 miles round-trip and lose money but more often you'd have 4 deliveries all within one square mile so it averaged out.
Another chunk of that fee is for insurance and some of it really is just a money-grab. Last October-ish when gas prices shot up, they raised the fees by .50 but only paid the drivers an extra .25.

As for people tipping, the simple fact is that people are willing to do that job because they make tips. If nobody tipped then nobody would be willing to beat up their personal car for minimum wage. That is why the service of having a pizza delivered to your home exists.

Here is what you miss by not picking up pizza yourself and, instead, having it delivered =):

So . . . I get home from work, and when the inevitable question ("Have you thought about supper?") comes up, I reply with a simple "No."
The discussion turns quickly to The Pizza Possiblility and I say, "Okay . . . Phone it in."

A few minutes later, after locating the telephone number, performing the obligatory search for coupons, and making the call to the nearby Papa John's--since Perri's is gone, Falcone's is too far away and Little Caesar's essentially sucks except in a hurried pinch (plus probably doesn't do "reservations")--my wife comes to me, sort of wide-eyed, and says: "Well THAT was weird . . . When I asked how much it would be, first he said $11-something and then he said $14-something with delivery. I said we would be picking it up."

"Good call," I said, reflecting upon what I have learned in here (regarding pizza and pizza delivery and tipping and so-forth). "The delivery fee topic has been all over OKCTalk. It's old news."

"Huh?" she replied.

"How long did they say it would be," I inquired.

"Ten minutes," she replied.

"Yeah. Right: 'Ten minutes' . . . Sure . . ." I said, doing my best to keep the sarcastic (a.k.a. pragmatic realist in search of pizza truth and expectations met) tone to a minimum.and hoping she didn't see the smirk.

There is a significant thunderstorm brewing, just to the north, replete with lots of lightning and a little rain, as I--after about fifteen minutes--get into the car to make the two minute drive to the pick-up point.

When I pull into a parking slot in the nearly empty lot and walk through the door, I find a diverse, three-person, crew hard--and efficiently--at work. There is a young, "non-colored (in the traditional sense of the phrase)", counter guy/manager up front, an African-American dude dealing with the balls of dough, and--way in the back, by the entrance to the oven--a blonde girl of indeterminate genetic heritage decorating the pizzas and singing a song that actually has a tune.

"Here for a pickup?" the front man asks.
"Yup."
"What's the name?" he inquires.

I share that critical information and I am told, "It will be a few minutes . . . It's in the oven now . . ." (This somehow reminds me of that old joke/parable about the guy who dropped off some shoes for repair, forgot about them, and went back years later after he stumbled upon the pick-up receipt only to be told, "Next Wednesday." Except not quite to the same scale of temporal non-alignment.) Fortunately, I wasn't in any hurry.

"I apologize for her singing," the young man at the counter says.
"Don't apolgize," I respond, "It's nice to see someone happy enough in what they are doing to be singing."
Apparently, and unfortunately, the lead guy's words caused her to cease the vocalizations.

"I'll wait outside," I say. "There's a pretty cool storm out there. Lot's of fresh air and ions and ozone and stuff."

Just as I step back outside the door, leaving CounterGuy and his quizzical smile behind, another Pizza-Seeker's car--on a stormy Oklahoma City night--pulls into an adjacent slot in the nearly empty lot.
"Good call," I think to myself.

About three minutes later--and just as the only delivery vehicle I have seen that evening pulls into the lot--I go back inside.
The other customer is just fininshing up her order for about thirty pizzas, wings and drinks--that she is apparently going to come back for later.

Counter Guy brings my hot, fresh, pizza to the value-exchange area, I pay for it, and thank them for doing such a good job . . .
Including kudos for the complimentary singing and how they helped make supper easy.

Incidentally: That particular pizza was just as good as I expected it to be.
Maybe it isn't "Better Ingredients" that make "Better Pizza" . . . Maybe it's just "Better People" . . . ?

Here is what you miss by not picking up pizza yourself and, instead, having it delivered =):

So . . . I get home from work, and when the inevitable question ("Have you thought about supper?") comes up, I reply with a simple "No."
The discussion turns quickly to The Pizza Possiblility and I say, "Okay . . . Phone it in."

A few minutes later, after locating the telephone number, performing the obligatory search for coupons, and making the call to the nearby Papa John's--since Perri's is gone, Falcone's is too far away and Little Caesar's essentially sucks except in a hurried pinch (plus probably doesn't do "reservations")--my wife comes to me, sort of wide-eyed, and says: "Well THAT was weird . . . When I asked how much it would be, first he said $11-something and then he said $14-something with delivery. I said we would be picking it up."

"Good call," I said, reflecting upon what I have learned in here (regarding pizza and pizza delivery and tipping and so-forth). "The delivery fee topic has been all over OKCTalk. It's old news."

"Huh?" she replied.

"How long did they say it would be," I inquired.

"Ten minutes," she replied.

"Yeah. Right: 'Ten minutes' . . . Sure . . ." I said, doing my best to keep the sarcastic (a.k.a. pragmatic realist in search of pizza truth and expectations met) tone to a minimum.and hoping she didn't see the smirk.

There is a significant thunderstorm brewing, just to the north, replete with lots of lightning and a little rain, as I--after about fifteen minutes--get into the car to make the two minute drive to the pick-up point.

When I pull into a parking slot in the nearly empty lot and walk through the door, I find a diverse, three-person, crew hard--and efficiently--at work. There is a young, "non-colored (in the traditional sense of the phrase)", counter guy/manager up front, an African-American dude dealing with the balls of dough, and--way in the back, by the entrance to the oven--a blonde girl of indeterminate genetic heritage decorating the pizzas and singing a song that actually has a tune.

"Here for a pickup?" the front man asks.
"Yup."
"What's the name?" he inquires.

I share that critical information and I am told, "It will be a few minutes . . . It's in the oven now . . ." (This somehow reminds me of that old joke/parable about the guy who dropped off some shoes for repair, forgot about them, and went back years later after he stumbled upon the pick-up receipt only to be told, "Next Wednesday." Except not quite to the same scale of temporal non-alignment.) Fortunately, I wasn't in any hurry.

"I apologize for her singing," the young man at the counter says.
"Don't apolgize," I respond, "It's nice to see someone happy enough in what they are doing to be singing."
Apparently, and unfortunately, the lead guy's words caused her to cease the vocalizations.

"I'll wait outside," I say. "There's a pretty cool storm out there. Lot's of fresh air and ions and ozone and stuff."

Just as I step back outside the door, leaving CounterGuy and his quizzical smile behind, another Pizza-Seeker's car--on a stormy Oklahoma City night--pulls into an adjacent slot in the nearly empty lot.
"Good call," I think to myself.

About three minutes later--and just as the only delivery vehicle I have seen that evening pulls into the lot--I go back inside.
The other customer is just fininshing up her order for about thirty pizzas, wings and drinks--that she is apparently going to come back for later.

Counter Guy brings my hot, fresh, pizza to the value-exchange area, I pay for it, and thank them for doing such a good job . . .
Including kudos for the complimentary singing and how they helped make supper easy.

Incidentally: That particular pizza was just as good as I expected it to be.
Maybe it isn't "Better Ingredients" that make "Better Pizza" . . . Maybe it's just "Better People" . . . ?


Great narrative, RadicalModerate! Perhaps your praise of the 'pizza girl' might change the view of the manager. Let's suppose you repeated your order [process] in a couple of weeks, and returned to the store and noticed that the 'pizza girl' was nowhere in sight and someone new was in her place, would it be the same experience, even if your order was a duplicate of the last time [pizza results]? I wonder if the manager would see it as, "she didn't leave no vacancy" -- after all, there's a body there performing the exact same task as 'pizza girl'.

Every time I go in there--maybe once every two months--there is an entirely different crew.
So I suppose that both the direct and indirect questions are moot. =)

BTW: I didn't get the impression that CounterGuy was actually "apologizing" for the free and unexpected entertainment. I think he was excusifying for the non-timeliness of my order in a friendly, winsome way. Frankly, I think he liked the singing too. In fact, I am nearly sure of it. =)

Most people just say they live 1/2 a mile from the pizza joint of choice.
My closest Mazzios is 4 miles and my closest pizza hut is 3 1/2.
If you figure that my truck gets 15mpg in the city and I'm driving over 7 or 8
miles to pick up a pizza to save a 2.00 delivery fee, it sounds like a wash to
me just in gas, let alone wear and tear on my car and the miniscule chance of
a wreck and a thousand dollar deductible on a neckbrace!
I have pizza delivered because it's a luxury I can afford and I don't tip the driver
5, on a 20 buck order, I tip him 3 or 4 and here's why:
1. he gets minimum wage 7.25 per hr.
2. he gets some of the money grab for minimal wear and tear on his sled.
3. he gets a little dork bonus for the magnetic sign that tears up the paint
I asked my pizza guy how many pizzas he delivers an hour and he said 5 on a good
hour and 3 on a bad hour

If I tip him 3 bucks on a bad hour, that equates to 16.25 per hour, even if he
never has a good hour in his life and this doesn't include ANYTHING for
his bonus or mileage/gas/tearthecrapoutofmycar allowance

If you think your pizza guy would be happy with 16 bucks an hour, just tip him 3
bucks like I do, if you think he needs to make as much as a first year surgeon,
then tip him more...........

And for all you guys who say you pick it up yourself because you like it piping hot,
I'm not fooled.......those aluminumized lunch box sleeves they stick them in keep
them damn hot like a styrofoam cup keeps your coffee hot for days. Truth is, you
do it so that you can get to the end of the calendar year and brag to your accountant that in addition to funding your Roth IRA to the max, you also saved 14.00 on bulls&it pizza delivery fees and tips.......you beat the system and stuck it to da man......
and ended up with a pizza at least half a degree hotter than your stupid uneducated neighbors.....
you also managed to put a well skilled delivery driver back on the breadline and out of dental school......