The US's tipping culture can be baffling for those of us who don't live there. Waiting staff and bartenders are typically paid a very low hourly rate, with their wages being made up by the generosity of customers - which can really throw off tourists and causes a lot of vitriol when staff receive a tip they believe to be sub-par.
However, the concept of tipping has quietly been seeping into dining culture elsewhere, including for delivery drivers who work as contractors for apps like Deliveroo, JustEat and DoorDash.
In a recent conversation with a Deliveroo rider here in London, I learned that people rarely tip, but even an extra pound or two can make a big impact to a deliverer's pay rate. There are plenty of stories from the States of drivers kicking off when they don't receive a big enough tip - let alone when they don't get one at all - but there are heartwarming tales of the opposite, too.
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An anonymous driver posted a photo of a handwritten note they received from a customer to the DoorDash Reddit forum, in which the customer apologised for not being able to tip more than they had.
In the letter, they explained that they are a 'firm believer' in tipping delivery drivers well, but that since cash is tight at the moment, they were offering another reward for their service.
They offered three gifts, all of which made it into the photo the driver shared on Reddit. There was a full tin of Pokémon cards (which, if they're the right cards in the right condition, could be worth a bob or two), a Hot Wheels car, and a Miles Morales Spider-Man plush toy, which the customer suggested the driver could keep, give to their kids, or pass on to someone else.
The letter concluded by the customer saying the driver does 'great things' and telling them to continue to 'keep up the good work'.
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In the Reddit post, the driver said he decided to just keep the note, but they got a lot of praise for their decision in the comments.
"This whole post is nothing but wholesome! I smiled!" one Redditor wrote.
A second added: "This is so sweet. I probably would of accepted the gifts because I always get scared that they'll be hurt if I don't."
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A third said: "Totally good people man, I wouldn’t have grabbed anything either, the note alone was enough in my opinion."
How sweet!
Rachael Davis