Among Friends

[chrystaltree]

Yes, you should have tipped him.  He was just the delivery guy, the mix up was not his fault.  But don't worry about it, it isnt such a big deal. You were rightfully ticked off.

[cbrite]

Well.....I sort of feel sorry for those hard workers at Burger King at the drive thru part..........I tipped a few of them.....it's hard to make a living or even break even paying bills... I forgot my garbage guys this year and my delivery boy for my pharmacy tho.... got side tracked.....They help me a lot and I'll make it up to them.

[willdob3]

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@drizzellla wrote:

My brother every year sends a floral arrangement for Christmas. I have had houseguests since 12/22. And my brother when he arrived on 12/24 he wondered where the flowers were. We had not received any.  He received a confirmation that the flowers were delivered on 12/23.

Well, my brother called yesterday 12/26 and said that we did not receive any flowers. They said they would send them right out. None arrived. He called again and they said they would use a different florist. And would send them out today 12/27. Well today all my houseguests have left.  So at 5PM I got a delivery of flowers.

The guy wanted a tip. And we did not tip him. But I now feel bad. It was not his florist that messed up.  They delivered the flowers on the day they said they would. But here it is 4 days later we finally got the floral arrangement. And all my guests are gone.

I guess I should have tipped him.

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@drizzellla

Why in the world would you tip someone who does his job & nothing more? That is what he is paid to do. Tipping is for over & above what the job calls for.

I would not tip someone who asks for a tip. That is uncalled for behavior.

There should have been no charge for those flowers. And offering something extra to you in apology would be acceptable.

[MarkeieMark]

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by 'the guy wanted a tip'?  Did he come out and say where's my tip?  

[Q4u]

The fault is with the companies that underpay their employees and the system that has allowed this to happen.  Tipping was initiated to reward exceptional service, not to help support a restaurant/company that pays so little that tipping is expected in order to support their personnel.  And it has gotten way out of hand.

That's how I personally feel but please don't get me wrong, I tip and tip generously because I understand how very hard service people work.  But that's not to say that I approve of the system we have in place.....    

[BirkiLady]

Why would the receipient be expected to tip? It was a gift! When placing the order for flowers (or anything else), I include a tip for the arranger and the delivery person. Takes care of any issues for the store owner, his/her employees and the person receiving my gift. No monies are expected or exchanged. 

What's the matter with a delivery person who would ASK for a tip? He isn't much of a public relations person for that florist IMO. Confident the florist would be very interested to hear about such rude behavior. 

BTW: I also write a thank you note to my florist for the lovely arrangement sent (after I've heard comments or viewed it). They now appreciate my business and know exactly what I need for various occasions. The floral arrangements for mother's memorial service were spectacular from our side of the family. Same florist did my sister's arrangements. Not nearly as pretty. She doesn't ask for advice, tip or thank anyone for anything. She expects people to be at her beck and call. She still doesn't realize kindness pays more than money. 

[blackhole99]

My husband always tips the max, he feels like wait staff and local delivery people are no doubt working for tips and minimum wage. After all it's the Holidays and the poor guy shouldn't have had to ask for a tip, let alone be denied a tip. That's just MO.

[Moonchilde]

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@on the bay wrote:

I don't think you should feel bad.

I don't think he should have been asking for a tip. 

I've actually never heard of a floral delivery person asking or expecting one!

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In addition, many people are not home and flowers are left on the porch - no tip possible or expected. Drivers who deliver from florists in florist vans are usually paid to do so as only a part of their job. I don’t think they’re starving. 

With all the services I do tip for, flower delivery tipping would never occur to me. The charge for the delivery is usually fairly hefty by itself. 

[Plaid Pants2]

As others have said, tipping has gotten way, way, waaaaaaay out of hand.

Do y'all tip your doctors, cpa's, pharmacists, dentist too?

The only people that I tip is my hair stylist, cabbies, pizza deliveries, and wait staff, that's it.

It's not my job to financially support every person that I come across.

[Moonchilde]

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@Q4u wrote:

The fault is with the companies that underpay their employees and the system that has allowed this to happen.  Tipping was initiated to reward exceptional service, not to help support a restaurant/company that pays so little that tipping is expected in order to support their personnel.  And it has gotten way out of hand.

That's how I personally feel but please don't get me wrong, I tip and tip generously because I understand how very hard service people work.  But that's not to say that I approve of the system we have in place.....    

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But if it wasn’t that way - if all employees everywhere, in any job, were paid a high enough wage so that all their necessities were covered and no one “needed” a tip - then prices would just go up to cover it all. A $2.50 Coke might be $4. A $5 burger & fries might be $8.  A car wash might be $30, a basic Supercuts haircut $35, or a delivery charge might double, or more. And then people would complain that it was all overpriced.