Let's talk about something that's been simmering inside me for a while now – the ever-expanding world of pre-emptive tipping.
You know, that little box that pops up on your screen when you're ordering takeout, daring you to select a percentage before the delivery driver even gets your name, let alone wrestled with that precarious pizza box on the stairs.
Look, I'm not a monster. I understand tipping. I genuinely believe in rewarding good service. When a waiter goes above and beyond, remembering my complicated order and keeping my water glass full, I'll leave a tip -- largely because it's expected of me. (Still, though, I question why I must "reward" someone else's employee.)
When a bartender crafts the perfect overpriced cocktail in a West Hollywood lounge to the company's standard and keeps the conversation flowing, they feel they deserve a little something extra.
But this pre-tipping trend has me feeling like I'm being held hostage by a guilt trip, and frankly, I'm over it.
The core of my frustration lies in the fact that I'm being asked to assume good service. I'm being asked to pay extra before I even know if the service is deserving of it. With delivery drivers, this feels particularly egregious. I haven't even seen the state of my food yet! Is it going to arrive cold and squished? Will they actually follow my detailed instructions of where to leave the food and not ring the doorbell because it'll disrupt the others working? Should I be tipping them for potentially ruining my Friday night pizza?
I get it, delivery driving isn't exactly a lucrative career. Gas prices are high, wear and tear on vehicles is significant, and let's face it, navigating traffic is a special kind of hell in Los Angeles. And I know that many drivers rely on tips to make a decent living. But isn't that a bigger problem with our societal approach to wages in general? Shouldn't businesses be paying their employees a fair wage to begin with, rather than relying on the customer to subsidize it? (Fast-food workers in California now make more than some college-degree graduates.)
The rationale behind pre-tipping seems to be that it incentivizes good service. But honestly, does it really? Or does it just create a sense of obligation and resentment on the part of the customer? I can't help but wonder if a system where tips are earned, rather than expected, would actually lead to better service overall.
Think about it: if a delivery driver knows that their tip depends on their performance – delivering the food on time, handling it with care, and being courteous – wouldn't they be more motivated to provide a superior experience? Instead, we're stuck in a cycle where we feel pressured to tip upfront, even if the service ends up being subpar. And then, what are we supposed to do? Request a refund on the tip? Complain to the company? It's just awkward and unpleasant for everyone involved.
I'm not advocating for abolishing tipping altogether (though I kinda am). I still believe in rewarding excellent service (if the employer pleads poverty that he/she can't afford to compensate staff). But I am advocating for a shift in perspective. Let's move away from this expectation of pre-emptive generosity and back towards a system where tips are genuinely earned. Let's allow customers to assess the service they receive and reward accordingly.
Maybe it's just me, but I'm tired of feeling like I'm funding someone's potential good behavior. I'd rather pay for proven excellence, and I think we'd all be better off for it.
So, the next time that pre-tip screen pops up, I might just take a deep breath, select the "no tip" option, and hope that the driver understands my silent protest. Maybe, just maybe, it will contribute to a conversation about a more equitable and just system for everyone involved.
Or maybe I'll just get cold pizza. Only time (and the delivery driver) will tell.