Friday, February 09, 2007
Requested.
Two nights ago, one of our waitresses was requested by some customers to be their server. When all was done and paid for, they stiffed her. A big zero on the credit card slip. That, my friends, is the lowest thing anybody could ever do. Not only did you stiff your waitress, you chose the waitress you were going to stiff.
Yesterday, when I arrived at work, said waitress and I were discussing what had happened (even though I was present when it did happen). I casually added to the conversation, "if the woman at 1533 X street ever orders and requests me by name, tell her 'I'll see what I can do,' but don't write my name on the ticket." This woman, who had never actually requested me, did know me by name as I had delivered to her many times before. She was always very friendly, one of my nicest customers, in fact, but only ever tipped a dollar and change. Once, when it was cold and rainy, she tipped me two dollars "because of the weather."
Anyway, last night she called maybe an hour after the exchange between the waitress and I and, lo and behold, requested me to deliver to her. Unfortunately, it wasn't the waitress who took the call so my name ended up on the ticket and I was stuck taking it. Again, don't get me wrong, she's an incredibly nice woman, but I don't like having to miss other deliveries to potentially good tippers for her dollar.
Her order last night was $22.xx and she handed me a check for $24, as I expected. Before I left, though, she stopped me.
HER: "D, be honest with me, and I trust you will."
ME: "Okay.."
HER: "Have I been tipping you enough?"
ME: "..."
HER: "I haven't, have I?"
ME: "I'm not used to being put on the spot like this."
HER: "Well, how much is an appropriate tip?"
ME: "Honestly, about 15-20%, like a server at a restaurant. We may get paid slightly more, but we have more expenses like gas and repairs."
HER: "I never thought of it that way."
ME: "If you don't like to go by percent, a good average is about $3 per delivery."
HER: "I'm so sorry! Thanks for being honest with me, D. I'll upgrade my tips from now on."
In the end, I was happy that she requested me. I don't think, had another driver taken her delivery, that such an exchange would have taken place. The one dollar tips, I hope, have come to an end.
Thank you for asking. That's all it takes.
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