A grocery store nearby has a shopping/delivery service and I just placed a pretty LARGE order.

[MiddleFingerMom]

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Does anyone know what an appropriate tip is for one of these shoppers? And is it on a
sliding scale of some sort when the amount of items rises?
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[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear MiddleFingerMom!

You know, I really have no idea.......I guess I'd give 20%, the way I would a good server in a restaurant.

And I just wanted to say hi before I shuffle off to bed!

[MiddleFingerMom]

3. My dear CaliforniaPeggy!

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I think 20% would be way too much, although that's generally what I give for good service at
a restaurant, too.
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This person (depending on whether or not the store is union) is probably getting paid a good
wage (where restaurant folks are NOT) -- everything I'm finding online says a set amount
rather than a percentage.
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If this person is THE shopper for his/her store, I definitely want to keep him/her happy.
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If it's a rotating job -- that's not so much a factor, though I'd still want to tip him/her
fairly.
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I hope you're doing well -- and as pain-free as can be expected. I haven't seen an update --
did I miss it?
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[Denninmi]

2. I would say maybe $5 to the delivery person.

I don't think that kind of service is tipped the same way as, say, a waiter/waitress. I think it's usually a set amount, whatever your are comfortable with, instead of a percentage. I guess you would have to judge based on the amount of work it appears to be for them.

[MiddleFingerMom]

4. I think you're right -- and this was a HUGE order.

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Then again, this is a professional shopper and almost certainly doesn't shop with the
enjoyment and care that I do.
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Right now I'm leaning towards $20 -- I'll see what kind of responses I get and what
I find out elsewhere online.
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[eShirl]

8. I would have said give them a ten, or possibly a twenty

depending on how heavy the entire order is and how far they have to lug it.

[Major Nikon]

25. If I were to think about it much I'd say it depends on how much stuff they have to carry

So if they bring in 10 bags and you give them $2 per bag, that would be $20.

Another thing I do when I get into a tipping situation where I don't know what to tip, I just ask the person, "hey what's the going rate for a tip these days?" Most people aren't going to low ball you, and they can hardly feel slighted if you give them what they suggest. The only problem with that approach is if they give you some amount that is more than what you were prepared to give, but that's never happened to me.

[pinboy3niner]

5. Jeez, ya'd think giving him one of your trademark moons would be plenty

[MiddleFingerMom]

18. Like giving my dad a yoyo for his birthday, that would be a tip for me.

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Perhaps I should re-phrase that.
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[In_The_Wind]

6. I have no idea.

[IMG][/IMG]

[HipChick]

7. Depends on what he is going to help you with...

when I had surgery, mine helped put the bags inside the kitchen...he damn near put the groceries away, made himself a cup of tea and made himself at home...I could not get rid of him

[siligut]

9. He made himself some tea?

Did you offer tea and he made it for himself because you were out of commission? I kind of think he sounds sweet. So what did you tip him?

[hay rick]

10. $5 or $10.

They are already being paid, though probably not enough.

Considerations:
Are they using their own vehicle? Tip more if they do.
Do they also pick the order or just deliver it?
Does your delivery involve a long walk or carrying everything up stairs?

I recently tipped 2 moving men $20 apiece for about 3 hours work. They seemed pleasantly surprised.

[lame54]

11. $1000

[harmonicon]

13. That's the standard. (nt)

[MiddleFingerMom]

17. Oh, sure... you want me to look cheap and have him spit in my fresh brussels sprouts next time.

[lame54]

19. Can you really put a price on spitless brussel sprouts?

[rug]

12. Give him a box of candy.

[riderinthestorm]

14. I tip the pizza delivery guy $5 but its only 2 miles away so its not a "big" far away delivery

If he were having a longer trip, I'd probably tip more but since I'm really close I know I'm an easy, quick trip (without costing the guy too much in gas $).

How far away is the delivery person coming? How much time are they taking up with getting it to you? Are they doing the shopping? If so I'd probably start increasing the tip to $20 + depending.

I think I'd definitely give them more if they were bringing it into the kitchen vs whether they were dropping it on my doorstep.

[Kali]

15. you could ask, I suppose

say this is my first try at this and hand him a $5, watch facial reaction. I don't think I would start out the procedure with a $20, no matter what.

[ohiosmith]

16. Five or ten bucks. When I was a kid delivering newspapers a lady on my route would tip me every

Friday with coupons she had cut out of the paper.

[MiddleFingerMom]

20. Moot point. Union driver. Not allowed to take tips. One of his co-workers DID on the sly... took...

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... a vacation and the manager filled in and was amazed at all the confused customers who
tried to tip him -- "because Billy took my tips".
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Zero tolerance. Good job GONE on return.
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Nice guy, the driver. Incredible system for keeping cold/frozen stuff separate from groceries
and keeping groceries separate from non-food items.
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Asked him to place everything on the floor in the kitchen, cold stuff near the fridge.
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Great job. I'll definitely be using this service again. They only have one store here and it's
about 1-2 miles from my house (though they deliver all over town).
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They've provided this online service since 2006 and now keep 10 delivery trucks busy every
day (he did say that, other than a big daycare center, my order was by far the largest -- my
future orders will be about 20-25% of what todays was).
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Orders have to be a minimum of $49.
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Thanks for your help and insights.
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[In_The_Wind]

21. Thanks for the update.

Poor Billy.

[ohiosmith]

22. What time is dinner?

[MiddleFingerMom]

23. I don't have a thing to cook.

[rurallib]

24. I know I am late, but some advice on how to lift heavy objects

is always appreciated.