Rarely does it happen that you get customer service so good that you want to go out of your way to let a manager know or put down a hefty tip.
In this case, not only did the customers feel their delivery driver’s good energy, but so did the internet, and they’re rewarding him with cash. But as it turns out, there are others trying to benefit from his goodwill.
Dean The Delightful Domino’s Driver
In a video with more than 3.9 million views, Domino’s customer Ashley Johnson (@_ashleyjohnson) posted a recording of her husband Spencer calling their local Domino’s in Syracuse—not to complain, but to tip their driver more.
The driver, Dean, picks up with a cheery attitude but seems to get a bit nervous when Spencer starts asking about his delivered order (he was probably anticipating a complaint) until Spencer explains why he’s calling.
“You know what’s freaking hilarious?” Spencer says. “I was just calling to see if I could up my tip to you.”
Dean tells him that once a tip is placed, it can’t be changed after the fact, but he seems to appreciate the compliment nonetheless.
“Do you have a Venmo?” Spencer asks, trying to reward Dean by any means necessary.
Dean says he does and just needs to run out to his car to grab his cell phone and confirm his handle. While he’s gone, Spencer tells Ashley, “He’s a super nice guy.”
Dean comes back, gives him the handle, and the two chat a bit about March Madness—both are BYU fans, as it turns out. They hang up with a mutual “Go Cougs.”
“If he didn’t have that positivity and that attitude that we very much needed that night, we would not have thought to call,” Johnson said in a follow-up video.
She said the Venmos were still rolling in and that Dean had been commenting back on every single one.
People in the comments section were equally tickled by Dean and decided to send him their own Venmos.
Dean Speaks Out
Dean, obviously not used to being on camera, made a follow-up video and read from his notes, thanking the many donors.
“Thank you for so much for your many gifts given, which now total over $15,000,” he says. “A week ago I was so grateful just to have the extra tip from Spencer. Now my family and I are overwhelmed with a world of generosity.”
Dean is a father of five.
In a comment, he added that the money is going to pay off debt. He said, “No toys, upgrades, or vacations. Debt pay off was the reason I chose to work for Domino’s 6 years ago and that is what your awesome gifts will be used for!”
Not all of it got through, though. In another update, Dean revealed that Venmo had permanently shut down his account. He said he received most of what was sent to him but not all of it. He also warned people that fraudulent accounts impersonating him had started popping up and urged anyone looking to send money to verify they had the right account before doing so.
How Much Of A Delivery Driver’s Pay Actually Comes From Tips
More than you’d probably guess. Food delivery drivers made 53.4% of their total earnings from tips on average in 2024, according to a report from data analytics company Gridwise that analyzed 171 million trips and $1.9 billion in gig worker earnings.
Grocery delivery workers weren’t far behind, pulling 45.7% of their income from tips, Business Insider reported. The base pay that platforms like DoorDash and Uber Eats offer per delivery can be as low as $2 or $3, gig workers have told Business Insider. That means tips aren’t a bonus; they’re basically the job.
How Much Should You Actually Be Tipping
The old pizza delivery math doesn’t really apply anymore. Delivery and service fees built into apps like DoorDash, GrubHub, and Uber Eats go to the platform and/or the restaurant, not the driver. Drivers cover their own gas and expenses out of pocket. According to CNET, here’s what to keep in mind:
- Start at 15% to 20%. Toast, a point-of-sale resource for restaurants, recommends that as the baseline for third-party delivery orders. GrubHub suggests 20% with a $5 minimum no matter how small the order is.
- Don’t let a small order total dictate a small tip. 15% of a $12 order is less than $2. The driver made the same trip either way.
- Tip more in bad weather. They’re out there in the rain or snow so you don’t have to be. A few extra dollars is the move.
- Factor in your building. If you’re on a high floor or your elevator is out, the driver has no way of knowing that before they accept the order.
Commenters React
“And then Dean replied to every single Venmo he received with a kind comment,” a top comment read.
“I sent him a tip too. You can just tell he’s so sweet,” a person said.
“Could tell the second he answered the phone that his customer service was impeccable,” another wrote.
@_ashleyjohnson Kindness matters- pay it forward 🫶🏼🍕 @Domino’s @Domino’s Pizza #dominospizza #dominosdeliverydriver #kindessmatters #payitforward #spreadkindness
BroBible reached out to Ashley Johnson via Instagram and TikTok direct message. We also reached out to Dean via TikTok direct message and comment as well as to Domino’s via email. We’ll be sure to update this if they respond.