10% with a minimum of $1.00 or $2.00 for deliveries of less than 10 dollars.

Grocery delivery is so helpful. When I was on crutches for an extended period, I shopped online and had them delivered. Glad you are able to get the service too.

When I had groceries delivered, I was told "no tipping," but I did it anyway and the deliverers took it just hoping it wasn't a set-up!

I agree with Wildchild about the tipping amounts.

15-20%, with a bare minimum of $5.00.

Depends.

If you shop locally and your merchant hires delivery people and provides transportation then I agree with Monica.

If shopping online and ups or fedex delivers then no tip. The delivery is included in the price of the groceries.

The going rate for restaurant service is pretty much 20%. They don't have vehicle expenses and we all know how expensive gas is these days.

I'd tip 20-25%, but bo less than $5.

I don't know...I think most grocery companies charge service fees... to tip an additional 10-20% on top of those fees just seems like too much. I would be tempted to tip a flat rate of a few bucks, but if the company says no tips, I would follow that rule and not tip (but be sure to say thank you) --Possibly you could give a gift at Christmas.

I don't think the delivery people count on tips for their wages like waiters do.

Here is a link that might be useful: Grocery Tips

I think the answer depends--on where you live, what the. store charges for the service, etc.

But mostly, I'd say the answer would be contingent upon whether the deliver person has to use their own vehicle. If the store provides the truck/car that brings your groceries to your home, then yes, a couple of $$$ would probably be enough. If the deliver person has to use their OWN car, pay for their OWN insurance, gas, repairs, etc--then I'd say $5 is the bare minimum they should be offered, and it should probably be more if they offer more than just dropping the packages at your front door. If they take them into your kitchen or put them a way, then I'd add a few more $$$ on top of that.

But, I live in a very high cost of living area, where delivery people almost always have to use their own vehicles, so I'm basing my answers on prices and practices here. You'd probably get a better answer if you could find people in your area who know the customs and prices customary there.

By the way, how much are your service fees and how big is your order? The chain stores around here charge service fees anywhere between $17-$30 per order. And, I don't think at most places they are suppose to accept tips.

I would be very disappointed in my son if he took a job as a delivery boy, wasn't supposed to take tips, and did. Most people ordering this service are sick or elderly and may not have a lot of disposbale income. And, if you do have money to give away, there are probably more needy people to give it to.

Don't fall into the I'm a better person if I tip more mentality. My mom taught me a long time ago that people that over tip or tip when they shouldn't are generally more insecure people (trying to buy people and make themselves look better)...just keep that concept in mind. To over tip is not necessarily a positive trait... you can find better places to give away or spend your money.

Follow the company's rule if they say no tipping. They are still making plenty of money off you and you are helping create/keep a paying delivery job for someone.

Generously tipping is a sign of insecurity? Interesting. I always overtip when I have delivery food for instance. I suppose it would be different if I couldn't physically leave my house and needed something delivered but I'm pretty generous when it's just me being too lazy to get in my car and drive somewhere.

Generously tipping is a sign of insecurity?

nah...that's just the excuse that "extremely thrifty" people use to justify under tipping or not tipping at all.

Good one Monica!

I have to agree, my boss is an extremely generous tipper, and I do mean extreme. Trust me, there is nothing wrong with his self esteem!

I've generally found that generous tippers are those who used to work in the service industry (or their families). When you see your child slaving for $2.13/hour + tips, when her friends are all making $5-6-7/hour--you forevermore tip big, because you know how hard the work is and how low the pay.

Ha Ha Monica.

I am a generous tipper because I worked as a waitress in high school/college and I can now afford to give a hard worker a good tip. I don't tip well if the service is bad, though, but I have never stiffed someone. And my self esteem is fine, no insecurities here. You had to know that statement would be questioned.

As to the original question, I agree with Monica once again.

I never worked for tips, but I am well aware of those jobs where tipping is expected by the IRS.

About a month ago, I was at my nail spa, and saw one of the newer employees chattering in Korean to another employee...by the look on her face, I knew she had been stiffed. I asked my tech, and she verified my assumption.
The customer had a spa pedicure and a set of acrylic gel nails...over 2 hours of the tech's dedicated time and effort. The bill was over $100...and the customer gave her a $5 tip.

One has to remember what "TIP" means. It's "To Insure Prompt Service". It has been stretched to include having been given good service.

I do tip well, and I do get very prompt and extra service. Most of the jobs that involve tipping are labor-intensive, and a tip allows the consumer to decide what to pay for the quality of the labor.

Oh, I know that statement would be questioned...and it took me a few years until I actually started believing it myself. I don't expect many to agree right off... but keep your eyes open.

I know people who have worked in the service industry usually tip higher and I know there are cheap people who try to come up with an excuse to not have to tip well. I'm not talking about being cheap or not tipping well when it is deserved. I tip my mailman and hairdresser very well. But, when it comes to average service, tipping above average or when you are not suppose to can tell a lot about a person. Insecure people will often over tip to try to show off or appear that they have money to throw around. Keep your eye out in the future... it may take years to really notice, but I wouldn't doubt some may come to the same conclusion I have.

It's the same type of concept as the mom who always has to buy $50 gifts for a kid's B-day party when all the other moms/kids only spend $15. They are not necessarily overly generous people -they just want to look good (or not bad) or aren't really secure about how much to spend on a kid's b-day gift. You have to know the type.. it's not philanthropic desires that drive them, but rather narrcisitic or insecure tendencies that do.

Can you imagine a man taking a woman out on a first date and tipping 25-30%... and a year later taking her out to the same place and only tipping 15-20%. It's human nature to try to impress... And, some people over spend when they don't know what to do. It is not that they are being generous (obviously, they could give the extra money to charities, etc). I know hardly anyone agrees, but I believe some people really are afraid to look bad or want to look good (like some bosses), and over tip because of it (and, believe it or not, that is an insecurity problem). Tip well because of exceptional service, not because you don't know what to do.

I've never had groceries delivered, but it sounds like heaven to me if someone walked the aisles, went through check out, brought them to my house and put them away. Does that really happen? Now that's right up there with my having a maid fantasy. :-) I would tip big-time, believe me!

I've only had groceries delivered a few times. The service I use has a delivery charge, and I've tipped $5 normally, and $10 for an order where I got lots of heavy stuff. Not a percentage of the order, but about $1.00 per bag, as I would for a bellhop.

And about what Carla said, I'm not entirely sure about that (I'd have to think), but I think lots of people use tips to show off. I see it all the time with lawyers, one-upping each other by throwing down $20 bills.

Tipping to show off may happen when the person is in a group, but the OP will be by herself. I agree to the suggestion to tip more if the delivery is from a private vehicle compared to a company vehicle.

I tip my hairdresser well, and she always "finds" time for me, even at the last minute. So I have to agree with Carla. We also tip well at our local pizza restaurant because they remember us and our allergies. I think it's part of the "you get what you pay for" school of thought.

20 to 25% for delivering groceries is insane. In a restaurant you tip that much at times because the server doesn't get to keep it all. They tip out the busboy, sometimes the food runner and the bar. Plus they are taxed on the tips.

As far as I know the grocery delivery people don't have to claim their tips on their taxes.

Carla is right, there is a difference between tipping well and over tipping and sometimes it's a very fine line. Actually it can work against getting good service in the future. You will be seen as an easy mark and be taken for granted. It's a "respect" thing. Runs both ways.

While I'm on the subject please leave a dollar per person on the table at buffets. Those people running around collecting plates and bussing tables are working at minimum wage most places. Drives me nuts when I see a huge party leave and leave nothing for the person who has been dealing with them for the past two hours.

I'm not sure about whether they get a "free ride" on tips from the IRS. Be worth asking and checking out. It'd also be interesting to know if they're paid hourly or by the delivery, or some other method.

Tipping is a variable thing. I always base it on service. There's times when a tip isn't called for but I will tip anyway. For a company to tell me I *can't* tip if I want to, all I can say is kiss me between the back pockets. I do not tip police officers, politicians and similar for obvious reasons. I have never received such outstanding service from a "letter carrier" to warrant a tip - more the opposite. (I should be demanding refunds.) Plus I have an aversion to tipping someone so overpaid to start with.

And to set flat amounts, 15%-20% or whatever, would you tip the same for the delivery driver who might deliver a $200 (or $1,000.00) prescription? If they set one bag in the door, said thank you and was on their way, maybe a couple bucks would be in order, especially if they use a company vehicle. If they are carrying a lot of bags, several trips, and maybe heavy stuff and especially during inclement weather, I'd be inclined to give more. Just putting it in a different room rather than drop it at the door wouldn't by itself seem like a big thing to me but if they put things away, that would be extra service to me. If the same person delivered regularly, that could make a difference in some cases. I would probably base it more on the the actual dollar amount of the tip going to them rather than a percent. I really think the amount of work and effort should factor into the amount of compensation.

But more importantly, what's your financial situation? Can you afford it? Don't spend money you can't afford to spend just because everyone else can or sometimes do. A dollar or two and a sincere "thank you" means a lot to many people, especially if it's helping out a person who's handicapped, elderly or otherwise on limited income. And if this is the case, you have no need to feel bad about what you tip and needn't feel compelled to keep up with the Jones'. Now if you can affort it, then that's a different story.

I have been using a similar system to Dick Solomon's though I don't put it out in front of them! But the happier they make me, the more they get. The more they displeasure me, the less they get. I consider it more of a "commission based" tip. The more you do, the more you get. If you put in your time and give no effort beyond the minimum to keep your job, you get the basic rate.

Here is a link that might be useful: A good tipping guideline from Dick Solomon

You got me on my soapbox when you put the word 'tip' in the subject line. As a former pizza delivery guy this is a topic that hits close to home. For once I won't weigh in on the amounts to tip - that's been covered by previous posters. But in addition to money, here are a few other things you can do to make your delivery person's job a little easier.... especially for you non-tippers.

(1) keep an ear open for the doorbell or the knock on the door. If your doorbell is broken get it fixed. DON'T order food and decide to have sex while waiting for the delivery (this HAS happened to me!). That's when we show up early :)

(2) If it's dark out put the porch light on. Replace that bulb that's been out since the Clinton administration.

(3) Be sure your house numbers are easy to see from the street. Trim any shrubbery that may be obscuring them. If you don't have them, get them. After all, you want the fire department to find your house quickly when you call them, don't you?

(4) HAVE THE MONEY READY!!! Yours probably isn't the only delivery your deliverer has, and the next person(s) want their food too. I've had women spend ten minutes looking for their pocketbook and another 5 for a pen to write a check. One guy finally found his wallet in his car! It's just conmon courtesy.

Rant ended.

Great tips softball! My son delivered pizza and the stories he told would amaze you. My neighbors across the street order pizza all the time and I can't tell you how often the delivery person stood at their front gate trying to figure out how to get inside to ring the doorbell. I'm sure their pizza was cold most of the time.

I would not tip a grocery deliverer a flat percentage. You could easily spend over $100. on a single bag of groceries if it included high cost items. I'd base it on the number of bags delivered.

Now does the grocery clerk who ran around the store and selected the produce get a part of the tip? Nope - they just get their hourly pay. One of our stores uses their regular clerks to make deliveries - so they're also getting their hourly pay - do you still tip them?

You could call the store manager and ask. In any case I'd still base if on the number of bags and any additional service they might have provided.