Pizza delivery man fired for letters to bad tippers
A San Antonio pizza delivery man is fired after sending half a dozen letters to customers who failed to give him a tip. Steven Gordon, a substitute teacher delivering pizza for extra money, decided that he needed to take a step to call out the cheap customers.
The letter did not mention the pizza company by name, but simply stated that the customer had recently ordered a pizza and failed to give a tip. One of the half dozen recipients called the pizza store manager and complained. Gordon was fired as a result. The store manager declined comment, stating that it was a personal issue.
Gordon sent a letter to the editor of the local newspaper as a group apology. He has since be hired as a delivery driver for a sandwhich shop.
Source: ABC13.com - Pizza delivery man fired after sending letters to bad tippers
Well, thought that you folks might want to hear, to quote Paul Harvey, “the rest of the story”.
Long story short, I was not hired by the sandwich shop. After gas prices began rising sharply during that time frame, I decided that it was high time to get out of the delivery business once and for all. It exacted too high a toll on my personal vehicle, and the high price of gas, maintenance, insurance, and repairs (which the pizza chains do NOT reimburse for) was simply too much. I still am a substitute teacher, but I now have a great part-time job making extra money as a DJ for a local company, plus I DJ on the side for extra bucks. I am very happy that I have left the world of food delivery, as it is not worht it. There is too much competition, and the pizza chains simply do not compensate their drivers properly for the job that they perform.
On the other hand, I realize that I made a very bad mistake by sending the letters out, and that I lost my job was a fair punishment. I had been a pizza delivery driver for almost 15 years, and maybe that was my cue to find something better to do for a living. I enjoy being a sub teacher, with the eventual goal of becoming a fully certified teacher someday. Education is rewarding.
Thank you for your time.
Steven Gordon
Former Pizza Delivery Driver
Wow, I’m kinda fired up about Steven coming here to comment.
Honestly, I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same thing in your situation. And I think that firing you may have been a little overboard, although I imagine there is a little more to the story that we didn’t hear. Either way, I’m happy to hear that your situation has improved after this story.
Ryan:
Well, thank you for your kind words Ryan. Yes, there is a little more to the story. I am currently (still)working for a large school district here in San Antonio as a substitute teacher (I was when this event happened, but it was my first year). I also still am a mobile disc jockey for a local company that provides DJs for wedding receptions and parties.
But you are right. I sent several letters out to people who did not tip me, and gas prices were just beginning to get really high. I had previously worked for 10 years for the Papa, and this event happened with the big “D” pizza chain. I was really unhappy with “D” because of an absolutely insane “single run only” policy. The norm in pizza delivery is that during the busy evening or weekend rush, drivers are almost always allowed to take two, and sometimes three or more delivery orders with them. Unfortunately, “D” focuses on single order runs only, which means that the driver takes one (and one *ONLY*)order, delivers it, and returns to the store to take another. “D” claims that this policy is to provide “excellent customer service”. I say BS! If a good driver can take two orders that are, in some cases, next door to each other, this will free up another driver to take other order(s) going elsewhere. But “D” says that the single run order policy provides good customer service and focuses on getting the orders out faster. Hogwash.
Let the big guys fight it out. I’m done with it permanently. I have saved the wear and tear on my truck, and I am better compensated anyway. Let the kids deliver pizza for paltry tips and piddly wages!
Thank you for your interest Ryan! I hope this answers your questions and satisfies your curiosity.
Steven Gordon
Former Pizza Driver
San Antonio, Texas
As a delivery driver I got so upset recently that I created a website called http://www.lousytippers.com where servers and delivery drivers can list those who leave lousy tips or no tips at all. Hope I don’t get fired.