Too late to tip?
December 23, 2010 8:49 AM   Subscribe

Tipping: Someone sends a big pizza delivery ($100+) to a vendor for a holiday party, but forgets to add a tip when paying over the phone. The people receiving the pizza don't give a tip. The person who ordered the pizza eventually realizes that they forgot, but not until a couple of days later. Anything to do about it, or just let it go?
posted by epersonae to Work & Money (21 answers total)
 
Best answer: It is never, never, never too late to tip. Drop by the place with a tip, send it in the mail with a note, call and let them know you appreciated their work. They'll be happy you did, you'll be happy you did.
posted by cgc373 at 8:52 AM on December 23, 2010 [26 favorites]


Yep, tip--still the right thing to do.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 8:53 AM on December 23, 2010


Response by poster: BTW, I am not the person who ordered or received the pizza, just an innocent bystander.
posted by epersonae at 8:54 AM on December 23, 2010


It would be an incredibly kind and considerate thing to do. I'm sure the delivery person would be appreciative.
posted by kryptondog at 9:00 AM on December 23, 2010


Definitely go for it.
posted by coupdefoudre at 9:02 AM on December 23, 2010


The best thing to do would be stop by the place and leave a tip and make it a little extra. They'll treat you like gold thereafter.
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 9:02 AM on December 23, 2010 [1 favorite]


Just make sure you PUT THE TIP IN THE DELIVERY GUY'S HAND. Once I failed to leave the merchant copy of a credit card at a table at a restaurant, and so the tip which I wrote on the receipt was not processed (the restaurant got theirs, I inadvertantly stiffed the waitress). Swung by the restaurant, spoke with manager, put cash in his hand. Mistake. Asked waitress about it when I saw her next, she didn't remember it (she said "don't worry about it," so I don't think she was working me; I tipped her extra on THAT trip).

Surprisingly enough, not all fast food managers are honest.
posted by randomkeystrike at 9:04 AM on December 23, 2010 [2 favorites]


Just swing by with a tip and apologize signals got crossed, and make sure they know what order it was for.

As a former pizza delivery guy it can mean the difference between getting your order first, hot, and fresh next time or getting it last, cold, and neglected when there are multiple orders going out at the same time. Bad or non-tippers stick out.
posted by knowles at 9:05 AM on December 23, 2010


Definitely tip, but don't just send cash because it'll never get to the person it belongs to. You could go in and ask them who was on the schedule for delivery that night or you could order a pizza the same night next week. Chances are it'll be the same person. I've done that before more than once for this exact situation.

It is possible, in fact, that a tip was added to your order like at a restaurant. A place near me does that with large orders.
posted by InsanePenguin at 9:06 AM on December 23, 2010 [2 favorites]


Also, what randomkeystrike said. Some managers are sheisty.
posted by knowles at 9:06 AM on December 23, 2010


TIPs are in essesence business transactions like everything else. "To Insure Promptness" So it is not wrong to consider whether you plan to use the place again. I tend to tip or do extraordinary things like what you are considering where the business is one i will use again and again. Even an overtip that you'd feel bad about later at other places is OK when its a place you will return to. Just saying.
posted by brucec at 9:13 AM on December 23, 2010


Best answer: "To Insure Promptness"

This isn't the etymology of "tip". To me, it seems clear that the person deserves a tip for the good service they have already provided; I would call and find out the name of the delivery person, and then send a check for the tip (so that nobody else could grab it).
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:38 AM on December 23, 2010 [3 favorites]


You know how your car wouldn't start the other day, and then you stubbed your toe? As a former pizza delivery chump I can tell you all that will stop when you bring in a tip.
And if you absolutely cannot give it directly to the driver, give it to the manager. Definitely don't just give it to the guy at the counter.
A check would work too, like Sidhedevil said.
posted by gally99 at 10:46 AM on December 23, 2010


Actually, never mind the check. When I was driving pizzas there were only three people working there that had bank accounts. I don't think that's very uncommon.
posted by gally99 at 10:48 AM on December 23, 2010


I drove 30 miles back to a motel once because i forgot to leave a tip.

It feels good.

Recommended.
posted by SLC Mom at 10:52 AM on December 23, 2010


Since you're not the person who received the pizza, there's isn't anything you can do (other than send in a tip out of your own pocket)

If you're the person who forgot to add the tip into the bill, its not like you can call the customer and ask them for a tip. So just let it go.

If you're the owner of the pizza establishment and the tip goes to the delivery person, I would give the tip amount out of pocket to the driver and chalk up the missing balance to error. Unless the order taker and the delivery person are the same, then its their own bad for making the mistake.

But that's just me..
posted by p1nkdaisy at 11:11 AM on December 23, 2010


Especially considering we are still in Great Depression II - and it's 2 days before Christmas. I think you ill make this person's year if you leave a tip, even though it's late.
posted by brownrd at 11:46 AM on December 23, 2010


Actually, never mind the check. When I was driving pizzas there were only three people working there that had bank accounts. I don't think that's very uncommon.

I hadn't thought of that, gally99! Still, they could endorse the check to a friend or family member, or cash it at the bank where it was issued, so it's still better than just trusting the co-workers to give cash to them.
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:26 PM on December 23, 2010


Response by poster: Thanks, everybody! I shared your general sentiments with the person who bought the pizzas -- "the Internet says you should go back & tip" -- and she'll be dropping off a check for the delivery guy after she gets back from vacation. (She called and the manager was able to tell her who had delivered the pizzas.)
posted by epersonae at 3:07 PM on December 23, 2010


Still, they could endorse the check to a friend or family member

For the record, most banks aren't exactly keen on accepting third party checks. Some banks will refuse outright, and others might only do it for good customers and put a long hold on the check before paying out. Either way, it would be a major hassle to deal with.
posted by zachlipton at 4:55 PM on December 23, 2010


I had this situation once when my son was supposed to give the delivery person a tip, but being new at this kind of thing, did not. I called the place the next day to find out the name of the delivery person, but they don't give out that information. However; when I drove over to the store and talked to the manager, he assured me that the proper person would get the tip I handed over. Ever since then, I am greeted by name when I enter the establishment. It was the right thing to do.
posted by Leah at 7:14 PM on December 24, 2010


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