I think our tipping culture is okay but I’d like us to move to calling them delivery fees so we can keep the idea of the tip as a pure bonus between me and those serving me.
I don’t like feeling like I am required to tip but I like tipping. Especially when not expected but socially accepted.
A 10% default tip in a situation like this doesn't feel bad to me as a consumer.
The commenter above incorrect about the taxing, but are correct that tipped workers don't have precisely the same wage laws. Tipped workers are allowed to be paid a lower minimum wage that varies by state. In NYC is is $10/hr as opposed to the standard 15/hr minimum. In Florida it is $5.54, while regular minimum wage is $8.56/hr.
Yes employees are supposed to be compensated in missing tip pay to reach the actual minimum-wage. But also yes, this is the fastest way to get yourself fired from a company. If you are the only employee asking for compensation due to low tips you're effectively admitting you do not offer customer service to the same tier as other tipped workers and should be fired.[0]
[0] I don't personally believe this. But every manager I've ever had while doing tipped work has believed this. And good luck getting a lawyer to fight for you when your salary was previously $5.54 / hour.
The computer system notifies drivers when they are delivering a first-time order for a specific address or phone number. This is intended for security purposes (you are supposed to always call when outside for a new order to ensure it's not a robbery or scam). But for myself and other drivers, the main function of the "first time delivery" notification was to let us know this person would not be tipping. Anecdotal evidence purely, but first-timers would almost never tip, and then would always tip every time after. I imagine because they saw the notice on the box.
I do wish it were as you described. Because of the wage laws in Florida when I was in college, a delivery at the edge of our radius that didn't tip basically cost me money. I was never compensated for gas or mileage, and tipped workers are allowed to be paid a separate minimum wage. If I remember correctly it was about $3/hour when I was working? I was lucky enough to deliver for a store that had coverage in a very rich neighborhood though and I'd say on average I made way above what the average pizza driver did. Jobs are weird.
Because there will be a certain group of people who shame others to tip.
I see some people have different definitions than me but defining tips as discretionary and optional. Required costs are fees and should be called such. It’s pedantic nitpicking based on a goal of explicitly paying workers and not hiding it in mandatory tipping. I hope they get what they want.