NYC food delivery Question. . .
 

Decided that we will stay in tonight to watch the Tonys, and have Thai food delivered from practically just across the street (Pam Real Thai Food, as suggested by Seamus).

So my question is, (since I'm new to this New York tradition) -- how much do you tip for delivery? Is it about 20%? I suspect the bill will be about $20 to $25, and again, the delivery is just from diagonally across the intersection.

That seems a bit much, IMO. Typical tips for delivery would be maybe
10%+ or at least a couple of dollars). Certainly more if it were pouring outside and/or the delivery person were going a long distance by bike, etc.

We usually tip 15% for delivery, when in NYC or here in CA.

I would give at least 15% and be prepared to have close to the right amount, sometimes they do not have change,

I think Wondee Siam is better.
http://menupages.com/restaurantdetai...mp;cuisineid=0

So does the Bangkok Post.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/060608_Re...08_real017.php

Delivery people live on their tips, as a recent NY Times article revealed.

Ever since reading that sad article, I tip much more generously, never less than $5 even when the bill is $10. (My morning bagel delivery is $14 and I give my "friend" a $20.)

Think of it this way: You give up a few extra dollars. Are you hurt by it? But those few extra dollars mean A LOT to that young man outside your door.

Five dollar minimum, 20-25% otherwise.

"Do unto others . . ."

OMG I agree w/ Gekko! That's TWICE this week!. . . .

I'm pretty generous w/ take out guys just because it's a tough life and they barely get a wage - illegal but true. There's a new indie film playing downtown at the Quad that got really good reviews about this life . . .

Tonys should be lively tonight!

Gekko - points well taken - now I think I've been under-tipping. But, if I order from a not so inexpensive sushi place around the corner, isn't 25% way too much for a $60 order? It's the same little package as a $25 diner order. I don't want to be cheap, but what's fair? I need advice before I order up tonight to watch the Tonys too. LOL

Patrick, I think $5 is more than fine.

Yes, CentralParkGirl, I do think there's an "upper limit," and I practice the same.

If I order in <i>one</i> bag of sushi from across the street and it's $100 (which it can be), I don't tip $25.

But 90% of my deliveries are in the $14-40 range, and I never tip less than $6. The young men need the money MUCH more than I do.

Gekko - good advice - thank you.

Gekko, that's just what I was guessing. I'll plan on $5.

Hey, the guy is the waiter. Give him 20%.

...unless the 20% is like a dollar.

Or what about getting a little exercise and just picking it up? Sometimes I do that, sometimes I get delivery and I always tip a lot.

No - you don;t tip on the amount - since the person isn't serving you with various courses and beverages, bringing water, clearing table etc - so it's not a percentage of the bill.

We give a minimum of $5 - up from there if the weather is bad, or if it's a large order (bigger than one brown paper bag) or from an upscale place. (But the latter sometimes have delivery charges.)

(Keep in mind that the delivery is by bike and usually comes from within a 4/5 block radius - so the delivery round trip takes no more than 8/10 minutes - and they;'re often making a couple of deliveries at once.

Yes, absolutely, if it's raining I tip a couple <i>extra</i> bucks.