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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU for not tipping my grocery delivery driver?

161 replies

Honeybooboo123 · 28/03/2018 22:04

I'm never sure if I am supposed to. What's the general rule?

OP posts:
seven201 · 30/03/2018 07:54

I think supermarkets deliveries are different as there's a separate delivery fee.

We tip for hairdressers, taxis (very rarely use), takeaway delivery and restaurants. I find it all so awkward though.

Aristaeus76 · 30/03/2018 08:24

The only time I tip delivery people is when it's a large, heavy item like an appliance or heavy furniture. We live in a 2nd floor flat with no lift, so they've earned it.

NotTakenUsername · 30/03/2018 08:35

No I don’t tip. And if they don’t help me unpack it I go deliberately slowly and carefully while they watch me.
They used to be a lot more helpful. The standards have slipped.

TempusFugitive · 30/03/2018 09:13

Yes tipping not appropriate. They want to get to next house ASAP and make that chrystal clear!! So if they were giving some customers service only because they slipped a few extra quid to the employee then the minimum level of service expected would go down.

agentdaisy · 30/03/2018 11:29

I never tip. Delivery drivers, binmen, bar staff, waitiors/waitresses, hairdressers (except apprentices) are all paid at least £7.50 per hour. It's low paid but so are millions of other people who work just as hard.

I worked in the store room of a shop for years moving heavy stock, sorting stock, getting deliveries unloaded/sorted on minimum wage and no one ever tipped me for doing my job.

Why should I tip someone doing a similar amount of heavy/difficult work as I do when they're earning the same as me?

Where does it stop and how do you decide who to tip and not tip? Do you tip everyone who serves you in a shop? What about the bus/train driver, your dc's teachers and TA's, store room staff who make sure there's stock on the shop floor, carers who help take care of elderly parents, everyone stacking the shelves in the supermarket, the GP's receptionist and on and on. Most of those people will be on the same wage, sometimes less, than waiters, delivery drivers and hairdressers. What makes some jobs more deserving of tips than others?

rocketgirl22 · 30/03/2018 11:48

No of course not. It is a ludicrous idea.

Onecutefox · 30/03/2018 12:00

Agentdaisy talking lots of sense.

AnnieLobeseder · 30/03/2018 12:23

It has never occurred to me to tip a shopping delivery driver. And given the absolutely terrifying cost of haircuts, I've certainly never tipped a hairdresser either. What on earth for?

However, I do come from a country where it's customary to tip takeaway delivery folk, and I've been surprised to find it's not common here, and had delivery folk look very confused when I've tried to tip them!

TheSmallClangerWhistlesAgain · 30/03/2018 12:29

We rarely get things delivered but I never tip.

The bin men are a pain in the arse who abandon our bit of the route at the drop of a hat (or a single snowflake) so they get nothing. They are well paid anyway.

I used to tip the hairdresser a couple of quid when I went to one who was a junior stylist, but the one I got to now owns the salon.

Idontevencareanymore · 30/03/2018 12:32

You're actually not allowed to tip the drivers for the company I work for. It's classed as gross misconduct and can lead to dismissal. They're allowed to accept a drink or biscuit but not money.
Same as I, in my role wouldn't be allowed to take your cash as a tip.

drivingmebananas · 30/03/2018 12:49

I always tip.

I don't pay for delivery and live in a top floor flat with no lift.

mummaCL · 30/03/2018 13:09

No tipping here. I'm also a doorstep delivery person. Not because I don't want the driver to come in, more because I don't want to hold up him up.

Juiceylucy09 · 30/03/2018 13:41

I always tip the food delivery person €2. At Christmas I tip the fastway courier as its the same guy all year round, he is very helpful, he will hides my parcels if I am not in.

MayFayner · 30/03/2018 14:04

The takeaway delivery people in my area aren't on minimum wage. They are "self-employed" and getting x amount per drop from the takeaway places.

BonnieF · 30/03/2018 14:41

YANBU. I dislike tipping, it feels feudal and demeaning.

In any case, the minimum wage has increased significantly in recent years, up to £7.83 per hour from next week. Supermarkets pay above that level. That’s a good thing, and it’s now a reasonable wage for unskilled work.

ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs · 30/03/2018 14:57

I have often wondered about this! I'm glad to see the general consensus is no tipping, as I have wondered if I should be tipping our grocery delivery people, but as they come at least once a week, and I already pay for delivery it would get expensive! If it's one of the ones I like best, I give them something at Christmas. I am always nice and always try to be helpful and not hold them up- the kids and I have an intricate (!) unpacking system which it seems is commented on by many of the drivers ("Ah! This is the house where you throw everything!")

Weirdly, I seem to tip everyone else. I hate to be thought of as a cheapskate. I have always tipped my hairdresser- she has the power to ruin my life!

Amber0685 · 30/03/2018 15:04

Only at Christmas, we have 2 regular drivers, and I get the delivery at the doorstep.

Notalo · 30/03/2018 15:09

I had no idea tipping the hairdresser was a thing. Maybe it's a UK-specific thing? It never occurred to me to tip a hairdresser, but I come from a country where tipping isn't common so I don't really tip anyone at all.

Wauden · 30/03/2018 19:42

Never thought about it; they don't hang around expectantly either.

I do chat with them and thank them (different, I know).

Pollaidh · 30/03/2018 20:20

Ocado won't let their drivers accept a tip.
When DH greets the driver DH carries the shopping to the kitchen. When it's me I ask them to bring it to the kitchen as I can't carry it. We never tip.

cheminotte · 30/03/2018 20:26

Nope never tipped the Tesco man.
Only delivery person we tipped was the 2 blokes who delivered our new sofa late one Friday evening (last delivery and they were running late) and had several attempts to get it into the right room.

bimbobaggins · 30/03/2018 20:28

I never tip the asda driver and I unpack the crates at the door

Jedimastermama · 31/03/2018 09:56

My mums tips the delivery drivers, as they kindly bring her shopping straight into the kitchen. One or two of the drivers don’t accept the tip but say thank you for the offer.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 31/03/2018 10:05

Of course not Hmm Do you tip the person schlepping around the store actually selecting and packing the food?

BossWitch · 31/03/2018 10:08

Nope. Asda man puts the crates just inside the door, I carry the crates from the hall to the dining room, unload onto the table, give back the empty crates, all done. I don't tip hair dressers either. I might round up for delivery drivers, give them 20quid for a £18 bill or similar, but only if I'm paying cash at the door and I do that less frequently now that just eat etc exist.

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