Delivery story 172 Protagoras writes: In college I worked for several pizza restaurants, but I was working at a place called Pizza Inn in Austin, Texas while attending UT. Anyway, I freely admit I am a big nerdy white guy. I was studying Physics and later got a masters degree in Math and am currently an engineer for a computer firm in Texas, so I think I have established my nerdiness, which you wouldn't think would help too much in befriending Hispanic gangs. :) I want to relate something that perhaps only pizza delivery folks really get a feeling for, and that being that poor folks tend to be much better tippers than wealthier folks. Sure, poor folks are less likely to drop you a ten spot, but they almost always give you two or three bucks, which in 1985-1990 was nice. Anyway, I delivered pretty regularly to a Barrio area. I was one of the few drivers that would go there. The area had gangs, but it seemed as long as I showed respect and didn't act like they had some sort of communicable disease they would let me be. The folks always were friendly and got to know me since I was one of only a handful that would deliver there after dark. I always got good tips there, but there is one that I remember well. I delivered to a house I went to a lot that always gave a two or three dollar tip. This night I was delivering a big order that was over $30 with coupons for three or four pizzas. They gave me five dollars in tip and they paid it all in Susan B. Anthony dollar coins. I kept all the coins by dipping into my own money for that night, and I spent some of them over the time in college, being poor and all. I still have a dozen or so in a top drawer at home, and every time I get something out of that drawer I am reminded how poor folks can be more generous to the working guy than the wealthy. I am far from wealthy, but I am better off now than those Hispanics living in a Barrio in Austin. I will always remember to tip well when its deserved, and to never look down at folks working for a living. return to top