Making someone's day has no monetary value

"Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available" (whoistheleader2) 05/28/2020 at 10:27 • Filed to: Story time

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Case in point: yesterday the most lucrative part of my day was giving away a free pizza. I picked up a pizza with Doordash only to discover that the home address listed was a little hellhole in the wall called Javacats. Well, the place was closed and empty and it was drizzling, so I just got back in my car to ponder what to do.

Last year when things were normal, I went on a small group outing with a few friends there only to discover every single one present, including myself and the person who planned it, was allergic to cats. It was so funny but I also wanted to get out of there. The food sucks too.

What I think happened is the customer was there and didn’t like the food so they ordered delivery some other time and forgot to correct their address.

Anyways, their phone went straight to voicemail and they wouldn’t answer texts, so I wasted a lot of time. They then canceled the order so I only got half pay. Since I’m gluten intolerant, I approached a random couple walking past with the unwanted pizza. She tipped me a 20 and was quite happy to do so. The pizza wasn’t worth that in the slightest but the idea that such a thing could happen was worth it to her. Who knew giving away a free pizza could be so lucrative?

From 4:30 to 9:15, I made $37, which is a record low per hour. This one good tip bumped that number to an acceptable income for a long rainy night’s work. God bless that woman.

A lonely historical marker noting the location of the lynching of a Jewish man. I’ve been trying to read them all.

Just Jeepin' > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 05/28/2020 at 10:59

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When I delivered pizza, it was definitely an adventure, and tips were much rarer than I’d have liked. My worst night I averaged a quarter/delivery.

I quit in disgust the second night in a row when I was the only driver. The first night every pizza was free because I was at least an hour late for every delivery. I couldn’t handle doing it again. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Just Jeepin' 05/28/2020 at 11:04

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That sounds awful. I would have quit too. Being the only employee for a multi person jobs sucks, as I was too well acquainted with while working at my old job.

With Doordash you have control over what orders you accept and it tells you what the projected money will be along with miles, but you don’t have long to accept it and you have an acceptance rate that probably factors into you getting good orders. I've had people cancel their tip after acceptance and I don't know why they can do that, turning an $8 order into a $4 order. I never knew so many people can't be bothered to give a dollar or too. It really goes a long way. I've also learned to loath apartment building labeling.

smobgirl > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 05/28/2020 at 11:09

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This is kind of unrelated to your story, but also something that bothers me:

Yesterday I ordered pizza and decided to get it carryout instead of delivered because the place is a mile away and it costs a $5 delivery fee plus a tip to get it delivered much slower than I can get it myself. I don’t like that the delivery fee just goes to the restaurant and not the driver.

The other day I did the same with Chipotle, because their “free” delivery option just screws you guys, right? ( I mean I think they use grubhub but same idea...and of course I also tip). Or does that cost the restaurant to offer those kind of options? And is it better in the long run to have the deliveries that screw you guys on pay than no work?

I just want to do what’s best for the little guy here. (And on that note, not too many independent restaurants within delivery range of my house that aren’t fronts for something illegal)

smobgirl > Just Jeepin' 05/28/2020 at 11:11

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People are shitty. If I got free pizza because of some policy like that I’d give the driver at least $10 because the money is already spent in my mind.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > smobgirl 05/28/2020 at 11:15

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Even if the driver was late I would just give them the money I would have spent on the pizza. I now have an appreciation for good tips and will try to return the favor.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > smobgirl 05/28/2020 at 11:18

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I don't know since I've never used doordash on the other end. With free delivery (now $1) I've been leaving some good tips to make up the difference. Yeah that delivery fee is definitely not going to the drivers. I'm sure the app makes a lot of money. But still it's good enough for me to keep at it. Just gotta get lucky sometimes. Had a $9 tip two days ago that saved my bottom line.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Just Jeepin' 05/28/2020 at 11:21

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Wow that sucks. I’ve been delivering full time for.. 15 months now. I’ve always averaged $3/ deliveries, during this Covid mess I was averaging $4.50/per. With 40-50 deliveries a day that’s a big difference. Now  that restaurants are opening again they are going back to normal.

Just Jeepin' > smobgirl 05/28/2020 at 11:21

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Fuzzy memories because 30 (sigh) years ago, but I think I did pretty decently for tips the night when I was all alone. The quarter a delivery night was another time.

Of course, a quarter went further then, but not that far.

Svend > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 05/28/2020 at 11:22

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It’s one part of why I clean cars. 

TheRealBicycleBuck > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 05/28/2020 at 11:23

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Delivering pizzas was one of the least lucrative, but most entertaining jobs I’ve ever had. We lived in a rural area, so finding the houses was often quite a challenge. It also meant that people generally didn’t tip much at all. Still, driving around all   evening and into the late night with the stereo blaring was the best.

Just Jeepin' > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 05/28/2020 at 11:24

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There was one really sketchy apartment complex we delivered to that no one wanted. I think they finally stopped delivering there for security.

smobgirl > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 05/28/2020 at 11:28

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Ok cool. It’s hard to get the real picture from the media - all of the articles I’ve seen on food delivery imply they’re screwing both the restaurants and the drivers, while also hemorrhaging money from the delivery companies. I got nothing. I’m just going to make sure I tip and not worry too much about it.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > TheRealBicycleBuck 05/28/2020 at 11:31

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I’ve got my old phone hooked up to the aux so I don’t have to mess with the cord every time I get in and out so I can just blast the music and sing along. Not exactly the biggest money maker but with college starting soon and a pandemic going around I don’t have much choice. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Just Jeepin' 05/28/2020 at 11:32

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I haven’t delivered to any that actually made me feel unsafe, yet.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 05/28/2020 at 11:33

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I’ve only been doing peak times. Are you delivering with a restaurant and get paid by the hour in addition?

DipodomysDeserti > smobgirl 05/28/2020 at 11:34

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“ And on that note, not too many independent restaurants within delivery range of my house that aren’t fronts for something illegal.”

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Svend 05/28/2020 at 11:34

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There are some things you are just happy to do for people because you don’t mind doing it and they do. I do mind working for free so the tip made my day too.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 05/28/2020 at 11:38

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I work for a restaurant, use their car, and get paid 7.25/hr. I end up making 18-22/hour with tips typically. And I work 4 9 hour-ish days. Usually working 11-8, but I stay till it’s not busy any more. Sometimes i leave early, sometimes I don’t leave till 11pm.

It’s kinda of an amazing job that I just stumbled into. They happened to by hurrying for the schedule I wanted a few days after I got fired from another job. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 05/28/2020 at 11:43

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49 hour days? You’re on the next level here. I’ve got those bargain brand 24 hour days ;)

Using their car is huge here. With transportation to and from houses not taking a toll on your own car plus hourly pay and tips, you can make some good money if deliveries are coming in hot. I’m not sue I will have that much time for a real job once college starts in the late summer term so I’m going to stick with this app based choose your hours style. I’ve made some good pay per hour but sometimes I just sit with no deliveries so I don’t get paid.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 05/28/2020 at 11:48

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a while back i went to a nice restaurant and had half a pizza left over that we took with us not thinking we couldn’ t bring it into the movies. There was a fairly dirty, homeless guy begging for money out front so we offered the pizza t o him, he opened it up, looked inside and gave it back like we were crazy.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > smobgirl 05/28/2020 at 11:50

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https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/technology-52724062

And don’t invest in softbank

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > DipodomysDeserti 05/28/2020 at 11:50

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What is the story behind this?

3point8isgreat > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 05/28/2020 at 11:57

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It’s from the show B reaking B ad.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > OPPOsaurus WRX 05/28/2020 at 11:59

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I believe almost everyone has a story like that, especially if they had a cooking fail, but it is still always funny. Sometimes something as simple as clean socks might be the hardest thing to come by.

I will usually offer to buy food or anything else handy nearby if asked for money and you can usually tell which ones just want drug money. Sometimes people can be so grateful for a gas station hot dog loaded up with condiments. It only costs a few bucks but that’s an expense I’m happy to undertake. I really should carry socks with me, now that I think about it. You’d be surprised how in demand they are.

I had someone recently really really want money for the bus pass that wouldn’t give up but nearly 10 minutes later he finally had to concede. I offered to buy him food but he seemed to underestimate me and kept pushing for the cash.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 05/28/2020 at 12:03

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ThTs the worst. Last Saturday it was so slow I left.

I did 1 delivery in a hour and that was also the only order we took. There was two drivers here so I asked the other if he was cool with me leaving. went home, worked on my yard for 2 hours, cam back minutes before 10 orders came in!

I’d only missed 4 deliveries while I was gone.

I also used to work at a Dominos, the worst day I ever had there was 3 deliveries in 7 hours! I only made 5.15 an hour without  tips there.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 05/28/2020 at 12:12

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Georgia has a $5.15 minimum for people who get tips such as servers but I didn’t realize that was common everywhere. What state are you in again? The problem with that is that slow days happen in restaurants and there is never a slow day for paying bills.

I’ve been keeping a careful log (uncharacteristic for me) of all the miles, money, and hours spent so I can get a good idea of the toll it is taking on the value of my car, since I plan on selling it quite soon. Not using your own car for the deliveries has got to make a huge impact on your bottom line. I would take the Cruze over a thrashed company Spark or whatever for comfort but not if I am putting so many miles on it.

Turns out the Cruze is just about the perfect car for this if it had just a slightly larger gas tank and/or could tell you your range (why is this not a thing?!?!) so whatever I replace it with should be able to get good gas mileage.

jeepoftheseus > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 05/28/2020 at 12:12

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That’s a nice set up.  I had a similar situation when I was in high school. I worked in the kitchen at a small take out pizza joint I made it clear to the owner when he hired me that I would not drive. Gas was almost 4 bucks a gallon and I had a lifted XJ that got 12 mpg on a good day. First busy weekend when a driver called out he gave me his car keys and told me to hit the road. Still paid hourly but now with tips and not using my gas. It went on like that most of the two years that I worked there, it was great.

He had a old beater Camry that I normally drove but the man also owned a construction company and had a brand new GMC diesel 4x4 . The night he tossed me those keys I was stoked but my tips were awful with that thing. I always requested the Camry from then on as tips were pretty nice with that junker!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > jeepoftheseus 05/28/2020 at 12:19

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Almost everyone tips over the app so they don’t get to see my car beforehand. If they do, my Cruze looks way more expensive than it was, especially in reddish orange (brown at night) with my custom interior lighting bumping to the music, so that’s a good thing.

Curious how people might unconsciously assume someone in a $4,000 Mercedes is richer than someone in a new Corolla. I bet it would have been the same story if the Camry were new and the GMC were the beater.

That sounds like a nice gig.

jeepoftheseus > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 05/28/2020 at 12:46

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I would imagine it’s a good bit safer now since most everyone pays with apps or card. It was always weird having hundreds of dollars of cash on you while going to strangers’ houses. Deliver stuff long enough though and you get some pretty amusing stories to laugh about.

Another awesome delivery-ish job I had when I was right out of college was picking up donations for a Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Moving furniture sucked, especially out of beach houses,  but we got first dibs on buying the stuff that was donated. Got a lot of my adult furniture through that gig.

DipodomysDeserti > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 05/28/2020 at 12:48

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Pollos Hermanos from Breaking Bad.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > jeepoftheseus 05/28/2020 at 12:51

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I have more stories than I can remember volunteering with a local charity. Working around people funny stuff always happens if you know to recognize it. Literally my first day delivering I got to know another guy doing the same after we were both confused by a massive apartment complex with no exterior labeling. And don't get me started on my job at Panera Bread and the infamous "Muffy" incident. What would you do if someone demanded Muffies?

I’m not sure moving furniture is the job for me but that sounds like you got some steaming hot deals.

jeepoftheseus > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 05/28/2020 at 12:59

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Haha probably call that menu item “the  mutha f-ing muffies” for the duration of my time there!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > jeepoftheseus 05/28/2020 at 13:03

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I took me a painfully long amount of time to figure out what they meant. Good thing they usually used the drive through. Have at it:

Excuse me but my mne imet nt lled and I knead Muffies. Im nowd tree Muffies. Es, ik can see the m uffies wright dare I ne treed muffies.

jeepoftheseus > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 05/28/2020 at 13:05

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At least it was drive through and not face to face! I’d have been cracking up. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > jeepoftheseus 05/28/2020 at 13:14

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No, this was the only time they came inside and I was only involved because there wasn't anyone at the register. I think I cracked a smile but she was remarkably patient in her muttering unintelligibly about Muffies. Figured out what they were?