But but, if they’re out anyway….
I used to be a delivery driver.
I loved snowy and rainy days.
One day and that was my weeks income. Two days. The month. Three days a vacation down payment.
They're not out anyway. Look up Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Nobody in the impact zone is out if they have any sense, and anywhere you might want something delivered from is probably closed.
I live in the USA, state of MN, we get snow. I would never order anything to be delivered during a snowstorm, when it’s raining. These drivers many times don’t have the best tires, can’t afford new ones, and it’s dangerous to drive in wet conditions. If I NEED a pizza, I’ll get my own.
The original post doesn't imply the sort of weather that would necessitate emergency services. They just said "if it's the type of weather you wouldn't go out in."
So, if it's snowing and I don't have proper tires, I shouldn't give a delivery driver with proper tires the opportunity to make money?
There’s a category 2 cyclone sitting off the coast of one of Australia’s major cities. The OP is an Australian journalist. It would be a dick move to order a burrito for delivery in Brisbane right now, so take your, “well, actually…” bullshit elsewhere, thanks.
No vehicle at this time so if I absolutely have to place an order in bad weather, I tip them really well and add in the notes for them to please take all the time they need to be safe. So far, so good. One driver even said she loved driving in bad weather lol.
Having been a driver myself, I can honestly say that I loved bad weather days precisely because it was good for business. Shorter trips, bigger tips, just because people didn't want to deal with rain or snow.
This is a cyclone about to hit Australia. We don't tip. There's no reason for any deliveries to be happening right now. The companies that are still promoting delivery are fucked
I'd like to clarify: I agree with the moral position of the OP. I'm just saying the economic reality for gig drivers, at least in my experience, doesn't allow for that luxury. I sincerely wish it did.
No, I'm talking about money, which is a force far more powerful than mere cyclones. People have been risking their lives for money since it was invented. Maybe the real issue is the system that forces people to do that? Because if there weren't any drivers willing to take the risk, no more issue.
Not sure how this became so North American in the replies, so to be clear, I’m in Australia, speaking as a Cat 2 cyclone is about to hit a densely populated area. But also, I’m sorry your country is so neolib pilled you think it’s ok to endanger yourself for a tip. That’s not normal FYI
Exactly! There’s a recent shift in the leadership ‘style’ in the US that puts profit over common sense. Luckily in Australia human beings still trump $$$ 😉
Context matters! Obviously a major natural disaster is different than a bit of ice or snow. No one should be working or driving in that case!
No one should "endanger themselves for a tip" but driving in inclimate weather isn't really that dangerous if you're equipped for it.
I'm also fully aware how fucked tip culture is. I'm a staunch anti-capitalist, but in the corporate oligarch hellscape we live in over here it's one of the few ways to get paid appropriately for your work. Gotta play the system you're in until it changes unfortunately
I wondered about your skeet here in WA, but subsequent skeets clarified that you meant "during a natural disaster", not just "weather". There's all kinds of weather I can't/won't go out in, for disability reasons, that delivery drivers work in just fine. Not cyclones though!
I rarely drive. I can't go out to the shops in my powerchair when it's raining or hot enough for me to get heatstroke. It's perfectly fine for delivery drivers to work in these routine weather situations.
The majority of people on here aren’t North American? I don’t think people read everyone’s bio before they respond. They just apply it to themselves and react. This is not an American thing. Everyone does it. Americans are just desensitized to driving in storms and need money. Sorry 🙄
Over half of the Democratic Senators for instance - that's what's always weirded me out. People in powerful positions often do a lot of pretending to get there, but the trade off used to be not believing it.
Still not clear Amy!
Cyclone = Hurricane (except that one rotates clockwise and the other counterclockwise). BTW the categorisation system is subtly different too. Clear now?
I always tip drivers a little just to help a bit & say thanks but it’s not expected & they are very pleased when I do. Mind you I rarely get food delivered as I have plenty of places in walking distance.
Please 🙄. Should I say I'm sorry? I'm from the U.S., we don't have things like custard creams, universal healthcare, a guaranteed living wage and paid time off.
Only vaguely related, but once again, a huge shoutout to all the people working tough jobs (often minimum wage) making sure we're as best provisioned as possible. Hope everyone is remembering to be thankful and remembering that it's not their fault if you can't get something you usually can.
My favorite times to deliver are when there's a lot of snow on the road or especially ice. Other drivers are more dangerous than bad weather imo, the bad winter stuff keeps the other idiots off the road. Tip well and don't be an ass if your delivery is taking longer than normal and you're golden
I was thinking the same thing. They probably get more money at that point cuz 1, some ppl don't want to go themselves, and 2, hopefully ppl would be tipping more cuz they still feel bad about making you do it instead. Plus some delivery drivers have the car to handle it, not every customer does
Oh yeah, I'm in Missouri and I worked both of the days that it snowed pretty heavily last month. I made $170+ in tips each of those days and the follow up days with snow still on the ground made around $100 a day. An average tip day for me with normal weather is like $60-80. Snow days pay the bills
Ofc there's weather where no one would be safe to go out. When OP says "if you wouldn't do it yourself, don't ask someone else to", im talking about the context in which there lots of times where it's bad enough that one can't go, while another can, given their circumstances.
Ah yeah that changes things for sure. Given that though, the businesses offering delivery themselves will probably be closed (or at very least definitely should be)
Thank you for the context!
For sure. Despite my previous comments, we do shut down during tornados here in the American midwest. I should have had more context before I commented, it's easy to forget that the internet is global sometimes 😅
You're still talking about blizzards when it's already been pointed out to you that the OP is not in the US. She's in Queensland, and a tropical cyclone is about to hit. So unless you're talking about cyclone proof AWDs, then what you're talking about is utterly irrelevant here.
Glad to see this response, I don't use delivery services often but I grew up in the south east & have lived places that rarely see snow my whole life so I do tend to use delivery services when I'm up north in winter weather, figure y'all are better qualified and I'm an unnecessary road hazard.
Not in a Cyclone, especially as it hits and while it is on land. All the drivers will become is more people to rescue. Look at how strong the wind hits in a Cyclone and the areas that have in the past experienced flash flooding.
We had an ice storm one night while I was still a cabbie. All taxis, buses, regular autos were ordered off the roads due to the hazardous ice all over everything. A few of us sitting around feeling shitty over lost money. Phone rings. I answer it. Woman (drunk, go figure) wants a cab from her home
to a goddamned bar. Not a hospital or even a food store. A bar. I tell her we can't have anyone on the road by order of the sheriff. She starts arguing and whining. I hung up on her. Dumbasses. All of 'em.
I made lots of money delivering in the snowiest coldest days you can imagine. There are people willing and able to help for the RIGHT price in extreme weather. IOW a fat tip helps you get service. I also delivered frozen eyes and other body items to U of MN for emergency surgeries at anytime.
No, that doesn’t help because that’s not what she said or meant. You both mean well but delivering in bad weather is part of the job and should be expected. I say this as someone who had several delivery jobs throughout the 90s. At least people usually tip better in bad weather.
As a person currently bunkered down in the Cyclone that Amy was alluding to, I totally appreciate the local context and safety focus, and also very amused that US folks pick it up and refuse to accept it was a locally targeted post. Now I will remind my son not to try ordering in!
I delivered in the 90s and you expect to have more deliveries in bad weather and the tips are better. If you can’t handle that then you shouldn’t deliver. It’s part of the job. While your heart may be in the right place this is silly.
Yeah I'm sure labour laws were totally comparable to 30 years ago. Also She's talking a about the cat 2 cyclone hitting Australia right now. Not just "bad" weather.
As a half Aussie, half American, I wish all the Americans responding to this post a very Realize That There Are Other Fucking Countries On The Planet And They Aren’t All Duplicates Of America.
missing context: OP is australian and a category 2 tropical cyclone is about to hit a major city. she means 100km/h winds and almost a metre worth of rain with "bad weather"
Comments
I never take them for granted.
I used to be a delivery driver.
I loved snowy and rainy days.
One day and that was my weeks income. Two days. The month. Three days a vacation down payment.
“if you wouldn't go out in weather”
means YOU aren’t being paid enough to endanger your own life ~ and the safety of the EMTs pulling your body from the car.
So, if it's snowing and I don't have proper tires, I shouldn't give a delivery driver with proper tires the opportunity to make money?
And that’s quite enough of you and your sort for me today. Peace out, dudebro.
I never did that work because I wanted to. I did it because the alternative was starving on the street.
Economic Reality > Moral Indignation.
The concept of US exceptionalism is true, it just doesn't go in the direction proponents think it does.
Dangerous weather? Nah, break out the ramen and be a decent human.
Ok back to book. Remember to read, do wonderful things to get lost in, it’s the time for that.
No one should "endanger themselves for a tip" but driving in inclimate weather isn't really that dangerous if you're equipped for it.
*Westerners
Cyclone = Hurricane (except that one rotates clockwise and the other counterclockwise). BTW the categorisation system is subtly different too. Clear now?
"If I'm paying them they should be willing to dodge bullets for no extra fees".
Down with the oligarchy.
Respect labor.
-An American
Thank you for the context!
We don't do tips.
But, you already know that; it needs to be repeated for the enablers out there.
But, yeah...I got real tired of working nights for that very reason.
It's a cyclone and flash flooding, not some snow
if you wouldn't go out IN CYCLONE WEATHER to go pick up, etc.
Let's see how the replies change (might be too late).
But our weather is rarely bad enough to force them to stay at home.
Also, why are the stores open? Because, if you wouldn't send someone to pick it up, why would you want people driving to work?
Stay safe!
FFS. It's a Cat 2 cyclone.
For context, I’m disabled and not allowed to drive so couldn’t duck out myself.