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[finalflame]

So Prime Now just got to my area a few weeks ago (SF Bay Area). I thought, sweet, Amazon is now offering a service that I'm really excited about and competing with services like Google Shopping Express.

So tonight I placed my first order, and saw it auto-fills a $5 tip. I am conflicted. I am used to tipping (generously for good service) at restaurants and for food delivery, but not for Amazon, a multi-billion dollar corporation, to deliver consumer goods at my door. In fact, when I had my Prime Fresh sub, which allowed same-day time-slotted delivery, I was never prompted for a tip, as far as I can remember.

I placed my order anyways with the suggested $5 tip (on a $20 order), even if the page to adjust it does say the tip is optional and can be changed for up to 48 hours. I have no plans of changing it. But it felt, and continues to feel, weird to tip for my Amazon delivery.

Thoughts?

 

[BashNasty]

You should absolutely tip, that's a large part of how the courier bringing you your order gets paid.

 

[markofhavoc]

Lol gaf and tipping....

 

[ItIsOkBro]

 

[Speevy]

Steve Buscemi carrying a box.gif

 

[finalflame]

You should absolutely tip, that's a large part of how the courier bringing you your order gets paid.

I don't feel that should be my problem. I already pay Amazon for Prime and it's a part of that $99/year.

No problem tipping at most other services I don't already pay a subscription to (valets, restaurants, pizza delivery, etc), but I don't feel that a method of delivery they are offering as part of my membership (which keeps incrasing in price, btw) should require a tip.

 

[Condom]

I don't feel that should be my problem. I already pay Amazon for Prime and it's a part of that $99/year. I don't feel that a method of delivery they are offering should require a tip.

Don't tip then

 

[dc3k]

I don't

 

[peaceiscloser]

Lol gaf and tipping....

Toxic Tipping Culture.

Also, don't have Prime Now where I'm at yet; but I'd probably pay a little something. Just habitual after pizza deliveries.

 

[Speedy Blue Dude]

You already let Amazon win by letting it pressure you to leave a "optional" tip for your delivery driver.

I mean, hell those restaurants and food delivery places are most likely multi-billion dollar companies as well, Olive Garden, Pizza-hut, etc. seems you already accepted that your subsidizing a living wage for their employees by accepting to give them gratuity, so it's just meh.

If you don't want to give them money, or can't give them money, just don't. Tough shit for them. They can't do anything about it, unless you care about them giving you bad thoughts in their mind that they'll never express to you.

Is Amazon Prime Now exclusive ONLY to Prime customers? If so, I'd probably wouldn't tip myself. I already pay $100 a year to even receive this service, I'm not going to pay you an extra 25% to drive a deliver my products. Amazon should be using the $100 membership fee to pay for your wage, or use the cost of delivery fee to pay your wage. Meh.

 

[SolarMystic]

You should absolutely tip, that's a large part of how the courier bringing you your order gets paid.

Is UPS guy not delivering these same day ordered goods?

 

[finalflame]

Don't tip then

Whole point of this thread is to get a sense for how others feel and adjust my behavior accordingly based on what is appropriate/expected, because this is uncharted waters for me.

Thanks for the input, though.

You already let Amazon win by letting it pressure you to leave a "optional" tip for your delivery driver.

I mean, hell those restaurants and food delivery places are most likely multi-billion dollar companies as well, Olive Garden, Pizza-hut, etc. seems you already accepted that your subsidizing a living wage for their employees by accepting to give them gratuity, so it's just meh.

If you don't want to give them money, or can't give them money, just don't. Tough shit for them. They can't do anything about it, unless you care about them giving you bad thoughts in their mind that they'll never express to you.

Is Amazon Prime Now exclusive ONLY to Prime customers? If so, I'd probably wouldn't tip myself. I already pay $100 a year to even receive this service, I'm not going to pay you an extra 25% to drive a deliver my products. Amazon should be using the $100 membership fee to pay for your wage, or use the cost of delivery fee to pay your wage. Meh.

Lots of chain restaurants and pizza places under large brands (Pizza Hut, Papa John's, Domino's) are actually franchised and locally owned. I actually worked in QSR management/service for 5 years, both as a server/delivery driver and as a store manager. I am no stranger to tipping. But yes, this service is available ONLY to Prime members who already pay $99/year for Prime. I feel shifting the burden of compensation to the customer tipping in this scenario is a bit wrong.

 

[Tesseract]

i'll tip if it goes to warehouse workers

 

[dc3k]

Is Amazon Prime Now exclusive ONLY to Prime customers? If so, I'd probably wouldn't tip myself. I already pay $100 a year to even receive this service, I'm not going to pay you an extra 25% to drive a deliver my products. Amazon should be using the $100 membership fee to pay for your wage, or use the cost of delivery fee to pay your wage. Meh.

Yeah, I think it's a Prime exclusive service. I've used it a couple of times. It's nice.

 

[Speevy]

If they ever get this in Georgia, I'll tip them. They're never getting this in Georgia.

 

[Stumpokapow]

I don't feel that should be my problem. I already pay Amazon for Prime and it's a part of that $99/year.

No problem tipping at most other services I don't already pay a subscription to (valets, restaurants, pizza delivery, etc), but I don't feel that a method of delivery they are offering as part of my membership (which keeps incrasing in price, btw) should require a tip.

It's weird that you blame Amazon but then hurt the couriers. Shouldn't blame and punishment be allotted the same way?

 

[titiklabingapat]

On a semi-related topic: Do you tip your Uber/Lyft drivers?

 

[smurfx]

don't think i'll use amazon now if i have to tip 5 bucks to not feel guilty. i rather just get the regular 2/3 day shipping or 1 day if it qualifies.

 

[Stumpokapow]

On a semi-related topic: Do you tip your Uber/Lyft drivers?

For me, I tip Lyft drivers (because it's built into paying) and don't tip Uber drivers (because it requires cash on hand and is outside the system). The reason I don't see that as a problem is in large part because the effective wage of an Uber or Lyft driver is driven largely by the amount of time they're in a call, and Uber has far more demand even relative to the number of drivers. So if I pay the driver the same amount, the Lyft driver is going to make less at the end of her shift, and I'd like to compensate for that given that it's easy for me to do so.

 

[finalflame]

It's weird that you blame Amazon but then hurt the couriers. Shouldn't blame and punishment be allotted the same way?

Did you read my OP? I tipped the suggested $5. Doesn't mean I think it's 100% right, or don't want to hear other people's thoughts on it.

The couriers are doing their jobs, and let's not forget that in CA you can't pay anyone a penny less than minimum wage for doing a job, even if it's a tipped posItion. I believe the onus should be on Amazon to pay a fair wage, now on me to tip for Amazon deliveries that I ALREADY pay a yearly subscription to have.

Again, paying for consumer goods delivery is uncharted water for me, and in the current format of paying Amazon for Prime + being pushed to tip, it feels less than ideal.

 

[Askherserenity]

I don't tip...I thought there was already a tipping charge when I place my order?

 

[finalflame]

I don't tip...I thought there was already a tipping charge when I place my order?

By default it'll pre-fill a $5 tip. If you make that $0, then nah, the driver isn't getting tipped.

 

[Smushroomed]

No. Fuck all that

 

[Hazaro]

Tips go to delivery person, seems very clear.
I don't mind tipping $2 for them driving 20 minutes to deliver perishables, one of the drivers was willing to wait or loop around 15 minutes as well which was nice.

Ordering groceries and having them show up in 2 hours is pretty neato

I don't tip...I thought there was already a tipping charge when I place my order?

It's suggested, you can change it. Even after the order is complete and delivered.

 

[LumpOfCole]

If someone is delivering something to me as part of a route, a tip should not be necessary. If someone is delivering something to me from the source directly, then a tip is justified if the delivery is expedient.

 

[Orkidea]

Do I tip...ahahah

Spoiler

No

 

[finalflame]

If someone is delivering something to me as part of a route, a tip should not be necessary. If someone is delivering something to me from the source directly, then a tip is justified if the delivery is expedient.

What if you already pay $99/year for the service that delivery is a part of, in addition to the price of the goods you ordered?

 

[pelicansurf]

What if you already pay $99/year for the service that delivery is a part of, in addition to the price of the goods you ordered?

Are you getting it faster than in 48 hours? If you are, then I think that's "above" what you're actually paying for. So a tip is fine. If it's still prime-speed, then hell no.

 

[BoboBrazil]

Lol someone brings food to your table and you feel obligated to give 18-20%. Someone uses their own car and gas and has to walk to your door, sometimes potentially many floors up in a building, and people here feel like that doesn't deserve a tip.

 

[Stumpokapow]

Did you read my OP? I tipped the suggested $5. Doesn't mean I think it's 100% right, or don't want to hear other people's thoughts on it.

Right, I'm not referring to your behaviour in the case in the OP, I'm referring to the idea that one might say "well, this is super scummy on Amazon's part. Oh well, I'll use it anyway"--I personally wouldn't use Prime Now if I wasn't going to tip. I agree it feels weird to tip a courier. Thus I probably wouldn't use Prime Now.

I don't think the CA thing is super relevant. It's not clear to me if Prime Now Couriers are even employees (Uber and Lyft drivers aren't: i.e. their base wage is $0) and even if they were, $9-10 + wear and tear on a vehicle is nowhere near a living age. I think if someone's living in California and not making $14-15 an hour, they're being exploited.

 

[sangreal]

I tip on Amazon fresh because they have a place to put in a tip. I don't tip for the prime shipments that use the same drivers because they don't ask for one

 

[finalflame]

Right, I'm not referring to your behaviour in the case in the OP, I'm referring to the idea that one might say "well, this is super scummy on Amazon's part. Oh well, I'll use it anyway"--I personally wouldn't use Prime Now if I wasn't going to tip. I agree it feels weird to tip a courier. Thus I probably wouldn't use Prime Now.

I don't think the CA thing is super relevant. It's not clear to me if Prime Now Couriers are even employees (Uber and Lyft drivers aren't: i.e. their base wage is $0) and even if they were, $9-10 + wear and tear on a vehicle is nowhere near a living age. I think if someone's living in California and not making $14-15 an hour, they're being exploited.

Yah, I guess without knowing the compensation structure for the couriers it's hard to really understand whether the tip is appropriate or not. I think what I'm getting at is I feel Amazon should just pony up and pay that $15/hr wage and not request a tip, or charge me $3.99 like they do for same-day when ordered before 1pm on their regular storefront.

Either way I'll probably keep using the service, and tipping. Maybe not $5 on a $20 order next time, but closer to $3-4 per delivery.

 

[Afro Samurai]

I haven't tipped my previous and only 2 Prime Now orders.

 

[Joyful]

Lol someone brings food to your table and you feel obligated to give 18-20%. Someone uses their own car and gas and has to walk to your door, sometimes potentially many floors up in a building, and people here feel like that doesn't deserve a tip.

yep tipping makes no sense

 

[LoveCake]

We don't really do tipping here in the UK.

I cannot think why you would tip some random person delivering stuff to your door, ok we give our postman £20 at xmas because it's the same person 90% of the year delivering come rain or shine & he will not just ram things through the letterbox or leave stuff outside you just get that little bit more service i think, but to the random UPS or FeEX man/woman or a Amazon Logistics courier, not a chance.

When i was a paper boy people some people used to put money in an envelope & stick it on the door with "paper boy" written on it at xmas & i did take extra car to make sure their papers didn't get ripped with going through their letterboxes, i didn't ram & rip to shreds people that didn't but it did show some extra appreciation for the years work.

 

[Quonny]

Don't the drivers get paid well?

I wouldn't.

 

[mmazurkiewicz]

Lol someone brings food to your table and you feel obligated to give 18-20%. Someone uses their own car and gas and has to walk to your door, sometimes potentially many floors up in a building, and people here feel like that doesn't deserve a tip.

I've had this same opinion which is why I tip delivery guys well, but believe that waiters and waitresses don't deserve the equivalent.

Especially when its a fatty named Jenny.

 

[Keri]

Of course I tipped. The package I ordered was delivered to my door in 2-hours, that's well and beyond the service I consider included in my prime membership (free 2-day shipping). Also, I think the tip is earned, by the pressure the driver is under, to make all their deliveries so quickly. I mean, its equivalent to tipping the pizza guy.

 

[fep]

There are two types of drivers delivering to you depending on the area, contracted drivers and Flex drivers.

Amazon is trying out Amazon Flex which is like Uber for their Prime Now service. I drive for Flex and 1/3-1/2 my earnings come from the tip. Contracted drivers don't make much before tip either.

OH also, Amazon gives the whole tip to the driver. Pizza places that charge delivery fees usually take part of it (I used to deliver for the Dom oh so long ago).

Trying to find the right apartment # at night is a bitch, especially on a time crunch.

 

[sir_kevith]

This shouldnt even be a thread wtf is wrong with you? They even suggested a tip and still you question??? Maybe lower the tip if they only had to drive a couple blocks otherwise keep it there.

 

[Walshicus]

Tipping for a fucking parcel delivery?! What kind of fucked up insanity is this?

 

[njr]

I wouldn't tip for this. If a multi billion dollar corporation has problems paying their employees, I would not accept them having us foot the bill.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

It's depressing how people don't understand how little the workers in this service economy are paid.

There are people working for around $4 an hour delivering with Postmates and other services because people who don't want to leave their house don't want to tip. You folks are garbage.

When you pay $5-8 for a delivery that takes a person an hour to get to you, how much do you think they are getting paid hourly?

 

[Walshicus]

It's depressing how people don't understand how little people in this service economy are paid.

There are people working for around $4 an hour delivering with Postmates and other services because people who don't want to leave their house don't want to tip. You folks are garbage.

When you pay $5-8 for a delivery that takes a person an hour to get to you, how much do you think they are getting paid hourly?

That's their problem. Not going to subsidise every bloody profession under the sun.

 

[Ikuu]

Maybe they should just charge a $5 fee than calling it a tip.

 

[FluxWaveZ]

Never heard of tipping for postal delivery until now. Don't think that's really a thing in Canada.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

That's their problem. Not going to subsidise every bloody profession under the sun.

"Get a job" really isn't enough in America anymore. Now it's "get a well paying job, somehow, it's not my problem."

 

[Goron2000]

It's depressing how people don't understand how little the workers in this service economy are paid.

There are people working for around $4 an hour delivering with Postmates and other services because people who don't want to leave their house don't want to tip. You folks are garbage.

When you pay $5-8 for a delivery that takes a person an hour to get to you, how much do you think they are getting paid hourly?

It's a stupid backwards system. Why does your country not have laws to protect employees and pay them a decent wage? They shouldn't have to rely on hand outs

 

[Dusktildawn48]

It's depressing how people don't understand how little the workers in this service economy are paid.

There are people working for around $4 an hour delivering with Postmates and other services because people who don't want to leave their house don't want to tip. You folks are garbage.

When you pay $5-8 for a delivery that takes a person an hour to get to you, how much do you think they are getting paid hourly?

I'm a pizza driver and having been making $2 an hour. Luckily tomorrow it goes up to $3.83. I'd had many days where I made far below minimum wage

 

[PdotMichael]

Why is there a salery in the first place if we can outsource it to the customers completly?