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AIBU?

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Original poster

to have NOT tipped the Tesco home delivery man?

69 replies

Lycraphobe · 23/01/2010 18:40

I just got my first grocery home delivery - from Tesco - and I got the feeling that the delivery man was waiting for a tip. I didn't have any money handy and I wasn't about to start looking for my purse and then sorting out some money in front of him so i didn't give him anything. But it was a bit awkward for a moment or two until he decided to leave. So, is it usual to tip the tesco driver?

OP posts:
radstar · 23/01/2010 19:17

I would imagine they aren't allowed to receive tips. I used to work for a big shop like this and you weren't even allowed to receive a box of chocolates off customers, nevermind monetary gifts. I bet he was trying it on.

dippywhentired · 23/01/2010 19:18

No, never even occurred to me as you pay the delivery charge. Have also done my Granny's shopping online a couple of times with Sainsburys and she said she offered him a tip and he said delivering was his job, so don't think Sainsburys are allowed to accept tips

dilemma456 · 23/01/2010 19:22

Message withdrawn

DaftApeth · 23/01/2010 19:43

I've never tipped and never felt they were expecting it.

Maybe he was waiting for your plastic bags?

notcitrus · 23/01/2010 19:48

They aren't allowed to take tips. They've always happily carried my stuff through to the kitchen for me, too.

megapixels · 23/01/2010 19:55

Never even crossed my mind to tip the delivery person. Been shopping online weekly for years now and never done it, and they always bring it into the kitchen. I doubt that many people tip them, this thread is the first I've heard of such a thing.

misssurrey · 23/01/2010 19:57

Yes, I tip the Waitrose Deliver driver at Christmas.

fernie3 · 23/01/2010 20:16

I never tip! I think I already paid for delivery so Im not going to tip as well. Mine never help with the carrying in - they just dump it in the crate by the front door and wait for me to unload it all (even when hugely pregnant lol)

puddinghead · 23/01/2010 20:18

YANBU
Do you tip the check out person when you do a supermarket shop? Of course not.
What next. There's a delivery charge already, why should you tip? Maybe at Christmas if you're feeling in the mood but that't the limit.
This delivery driver was rude to hang around expectantly.

hf128219 · 23/01/2010 20:18

I always give the Ocado man/woman a pound or two.

josiejo79 · 23/01/2010 20:20

I used to work for Safeway and staff were not allowed to accept tips. We encouraged staff to ask the customers to write a letter or speak to one of the managers so that they could be entered into the employee of the month drawer. All staff entered got a voucher for £5 and the winner got a £25 voucher too.

I don't ever know how much to tip hairdressers or on the very rare occassion (once in a blue moon) that i go to have a pedicure or manicure how much to tip them either.

DreamsInBinary · 23/01/2010 20:22

I don't tip, and the Tesco man always carries the food to the kitchen. I offered to help, once, and he was quite out out.

gaelicsheep · 23/01/2010 20:25

I never tip anyone - sorry. We get ripped off enough as it is. OP, YANBU.

DreamsInBinary · 23/01/2010 20:25

put out, obv

laloue · 23/01/2010 21:29

I don't tip (Ocado), but I always offer to help and offer a hot / cold drink. I'm friendly and polite because...the people delivering are PEOPLE!!!!!. Years of delivering wine (no delivery charge) to flash homes to have people, (who're expecting you), ignore the doorbell "because they were eating" or " sat in the garden", made me realise just how inconsiderate many people are. In ten years I received a tip twice, a cup of tea and the offer of a Pimm's (doh!...had to drive) and I never expected any of them. So, YANBU at all and a tip shouldn't be being loitered for...but just the offer of a quick glass or cup of something warms the cockles of the heart of someone stuck in a van all day who, generally, can't leave it as the stock won't be secure.

SherriHewsonsNipple · 23/01/2010 21:30

i never tip

scottishmummy · 23/01/2010 21:44

good grief i dont tip!does anyone?

moomoomalarky · 23/01/2010 21:46

OMG hope we are not meant to tip - I had my first delivery the other day and it never crossed my mind!!

I didn't even tip my hairdresser today as the prices have gone up loads since I last went (something to do with VAT apparently) and I was reeling with the shock about that

scottishmummy · 23/01/2010 21:51

always tip hairdresser a 10%,tip restaurant

noshouting · 23/01/2010 22:51

I always tip them, Sainsburys too, didn't know they were not supposed to accept them.
I live in a top flat with two toddlers and am so grateful not to have to go to the supermarket I would probably marry them if asked

maggymay · 24/01/2010 10:18

Hubby works for tesco and tips are not expected they can take them if offered as far as he is aware but they shouldnt expect them

MrsL123 · 24/01/2010 10:35

What is with this tip culture we live in anyway? I don't get a tip for doing my job!

I used to tip my hairdresser before she hiked her prices up - now I realise she probably earns more than me, for less hours. I always tip in restaurants because I know the waiting staff are probably on minimum wage no matter how expensive the restaurant is (not that we go to any expensive ones!). But I wouldn't tip unless I've had good service, and would never eat somewhere that added a sneeky 'gratuity charge' to your bill. We went to Frankie and Benny's two weeks ago and our waiter was so friendly, polite and just generally nice that we gave him a £7 tip on a £28 bill (only had a fiver on me, so just added it to the £30 we'd left it on the table for the bill). He actually came outside in the pouring rain as we were getting in our car to say thank you, and seemed genuinely thankful and shocked. Which makes me wonder what he usually gets! It's not like we left him £50! But people like that, I don't mind tipping.

I never tip taxi drivers (they're all loaded!) and as for the xmas tips - never! I'm always skint at xmas without handing out money left right and centre just because people did their jobs for another year. Bah humbug!

BoffinMum · 24/01/2010 11:17

I have to say I do get presents from students, and sometimes I have to return them because they're too extravagent. I spoke about this with my boss and we decided that £5-£10 in the form of comestibles or wine or a paperback book was acceptable, whereas more than that could be construed as some sort of bribery.

The best present I got was a lovely thank you card from an entire student cohort thanking me for my lecture series, with things like "Thank you Dr Boff, you've inspired me to go into teaching" and "This was the best module I had this year". I made them put that on my personnel file!

roulade · 24/01/2010 11:20

I would feel really rude if I didn't tip. I used to work in a hotel and the amount of people that don't tip is amazing ( especially Americans, they very rarely tipped!)

ImSoNotTelling · 24/01/2010 11:38

I thought americans were well into tipping?

I hate doing it I feel really uncomfortable, as per boffinmum's post.