First, I consider $5 to be a generous tip, you still have people that will only tip a buck or two on a $30 order. So even with a $1.50 delivery charge, $3.50 is still an good tip in my opinion. If there is a $3 charge, they $2 is an allright tip anyway. Because I want to give a generous tip, doesn't mean I should be stiffed by a restaurants greed for the delivery charge.
It's petty, small, cheap and obnoxious to screw the driver because you don't like the restaurant's policy. If you don't like it, don't order from them. It's no reason to stiff the help.
>>Just because the delivery charge is high, it doesn't mean you should end up over paying for delivery.
The delivery charge represents gas, insurance, wear and tear on the car, and so on. It is not part of the gratuity. Since driving got so expensive, restaurants started passing on the cost. Reasonable? Your call. If you don't like it, don't order from those who impose it.
>>A lot of the time they use their own car an #1, get a higher hourly wage for doing so, and #2 they get to make a deduction for the mileage (anything other than the first and last trip of the day, which is probably to and from the restaurant).
>>If the restaurant wants to offer delivery, then they should do so without extra fees. The delivery driver is just part of their normal overhead They do make money off the sale of the food. There was a time when no one charged for delivery.
>>It seems most of the places have the charge to mostly add an additional revenue stream, rather than to offset increased operating expenses.
The driver is typically a minimum wage worker who performs a separate service. Tip her for what she did or didn't do. Expecting the driver to do something about the restaurant's policy is jejune, to say the least. Short tipping her is just a way of taking out your anger on someone who is in no position to fight back or do anything about it.
>>I'm pretty sure they get at least the standard minimum wage, not like waiters to get a lower minimum wage plus tips.