Via iStockphoto / @regularguyyhere TikTok
A Domino's Pizza delivery driver has gone viral after sharing how he didn't get a tip despite waiting for the customer for 10 minutes.
A Domino’s Pizza delivery driver has gone viral after sharing his experience with a customer. Despite waiting for 10 minutes and warming up his pizza with the seat warmer, he didn’t get a tip.
While many are experiencing tipping fatigue, some people go out of their way to tip delivery drivers. Unfortunately, Tommie McCoy’s (@regularguyyhere) customer wasn’t one of them.
Sitting in the car in his Domino’s uniform, he says, “Y’all think I be joking.”
As he holds the money to the camera, he explains, “$49.59 was the bill, and they gave me a $50 bill, and they said, ‘Keep the change.'”
“And I said, ‘Oh thank you so much, I’ll put the 46 cents In my little baggie here. And I drove 10 minutes to get here. I waited 10 minutes at the gate because they didn’t answer their phone, and the gate was locked.”
He then draws attention to his car seat heater button. “And I was keeping the pizza hot, though, for him, pizza warmer,” he says. “I used my seat warmers to keep the pizza nice and hot for him, so yeah, you know it’s gonna be a good Sunday.”
Accompanying the video was on-screen text that read, “Tips are not necessary, but if the pizza guy waits for you…?”
The TikTok amassed 108,600 views.
‘I Don’t Think Tipping Is Mandatory’
In an emailed statement, Tommie told BroBible, “That video was from when I was delivering for Domino’s a couple of years ago. I had been waiting outside the customer’s gate for about 10 minutes, calling and trying to reach them while keeping their pizza warm. When they finally came out, the order was about $49.60 and they handed me $50.”
“I want to be clear that I don’t think tipping is mandatory, and I wasn’t trying to shame anyone,” he added. “The point of the video was really just showing the perspective of someone working in customer service. When somebody goes a little above and beyond for you, even a small gesture of appreciation can mean a lot.”
He continued, “What surprised me most was how divided people were in the comments. Some people felt like the customer didn’t owe the driver anything, while others understood why waiting around and then receiving essentially no tip could be frustrating. I think that bigger conversation about tipping, wages and customer service is probably why the video connected with so many people.”
Do Domino’s Pizza Deliver Drivers Deserve A Tip?
Commenters were divided over whether the TikToker deserved a tip.
“No tips are required,” one wrote. “It’s your job and your pay is between you in employer bro.”
“Already got charged for delivery, get it from your employer,’ a second echoed.
“But you were still getting paid the 10 min you were waiting…” a third said.
Meanwhile, a fourth said, “If your food are delivered you have to tip, period!”
And a fifth added, “Tips ARE required, it’s part of the social contract of food delivery. If people don’t want to tip then they can pick up their own food.”
How Much Should You Tip Your Domino’s Drivers?
Over on the r/Dominos subreddit, one user asked whether it was the norm to tip Domino’s drivers. “I’m at checkout on their website and they’re adding a $6.50 delivery fee + the tip window says ‘are you feeling generous’ and the default is ‘no tip,'” they note. “If yes I won’t order just wanted to check because it’s presented like tipping is optional.”
The consensus among Redditors was that you should absolutely tip your Domino’s delivery driver.
“Don’t know where you live but it is typical to tip for most any pizza delivery,” one wrote. “The delivery fee doesn’t go directly to drivers its used to pay their (and the non-driver employees) hourly wage which is sometimes minimum wage and even lower since they do work for tips. I think its still optional technically though.”
A second said, “Domino’s delivery driver here. The delivery fee is just a additional charge for delivery, the driver doesn’t get any bit of that. Tips however is how we make most of our paycheck. I’m not sure if it’s any different in America but it Canada delivery drivers get 100% of their tips plus $1 per delivery and then $6.50 an hour (in CAD not USD). So please tip, even just a dollar goes a long way.”
A third added, “Where I live in California I get paid $20 hourly, some change ( legit like $0.45 per mile) in mileage ( I don’t care to know the exact amount for the mileage that gets paid out I just know it’s not even a dollar per mile) and then whatever if ppl do tip.. we use our own vehicle and pay for our gas. Sadly most of us depend on tips to pay bills and to get groceries.”
BroBible reached out to Domino’s via email.