My neighbor Dave said he never tips delivery drivers

We were talking in the parking lot of our apartment building in Springfield last Tuesday, and he said it with a shrug. I've always thought of myself as a decent person, but I realized I've stiffed a few drivers myself when I was short on cash... it felt weird hearing my own excuse come from someone else. Has anyone else had a moment like that, where you see your own bad habit in someone and it just hits different?

4 comments

4 Comments

cora5182mo agoMost Upvoted

Used to think it was fine to skip a tip if the service was just okay... but hearing Dave say that out loud made me cringe. @joel_jones, yeah it was right by the dumpsters. Made me realize how often I made excuses for myself. Now I just add a couple bucks to the order total as a set tip before I even check out. It’s easier than deciding in the moment when you’re already counting change.

joel_jones2mo ago

Dave said that in the parking lot?

sandraf982mo ago

Right by the dumpsters" is such a specific bad place to hear something like that. I mean, it just adds a whole other layer of awkward. Makes me think of overhearing people argue in weird public spots.

karen_sanchez491mo ago

I actually just read this whole article about how the pandemic changed tipping habits, and it talked about how people who never tip usually have some reason they tell themselves that sounds fine in their own head. Seeing Dave say it out loud by the dumpsters, that's like hearing your own voice on a recording for the first time, you know? It made me think of all the times I told myself "I'll make it up next time" and then just never did. For me it was always the pizza guy, I'd be counting out exact change and just pretend I didn't have an extra dollar. I started keeping a little jar of fives by the door specifically so I don't have that awkward moment anymore. Just makes everything easier for everyone.