Hit 500 deliveries today and it surprised me how much small talk matters

I drive for Skip in Edmonton, not my dream job but it pays bills. After about 300 orders I started noticing certain houses tip better than others, but it wasn't about the houses. It was about saying hi to their dog or asking about the new fence they're building. Today at order 500 I realized those 10 seconds of chat doubled my tips on maybe 40% of my runs. People just want to feel seen, you know? Has anyone else found that little tricks like this changed their delivery game?

2 comments

2 Comments

jana_hernandez15d ago

Oh wow, I gotta push back on this hard! Honestly, I think you're reading way too much into a few good runs. I've been doing deliveries for three years and I keep my head down, say a quick "thanks" at the door, and my tips are totally steady. Most people just want their food fast and hot. They're not looking for a chat about their dog or their fence, half the time they don't even want to open the door fully. I bet those bigger tips you're getting are more about the order size or the time of day than you being friendly. Plus, think about it - if you're spending extra time chatting at every stop, you're losing money on the next order. Speed is what matters on these apps, not being a part-time therapist. I'd bet if you tracked your earnings per hour over a full week, the chit chat doesn't actually pay off. Don't fool yourself into thinking a quick hello is gonna make or break your pay.

thomas10515d ago

Think you're missing the bigger picture here. A little friendliness builds regular customers who remember you and tip extra because of it.