How can you
encourage more people
to tip takeaway
deliveries?
It can be difficult for customers to know where and when to tip, particularly outside of a formal dining setup where it’s nearly always encouraged. While some customers like to tip their food delivery service every time, others believe the delivery charge should cover the additional expense.
When it comes down to it, tipping is mostly down to personal preference. But as a business, how can you encourage customers to still tip your service when ordering a takeaway? Herenare a few things to keep in mind.
Focus on the service
The vast majority of people will be eager to tip for a job well done, and some will even be happy to leave gratuity for average service. However, if you deliver a service that’s below par, there’s a far lower chance that customers will be willing to tip your staff. On top of this, delivering bad service also leaves you vulnerable to negative customer reviews which can be incredibly impactful in the modern market.
Research has found that food delivery drivers receive the largest average tips for their services, with those who hand-deliver food orders receiving up to 30%. This is likely because delivery drivers go out of their way to make the dining experience more convenient and enjoyable for their customers – a hallmark of excellent service. Consider ways you can optimise your delivery service to encourage more generous tipping from your consumers.
Are you offering discounts or promotions?
Restaurants may offer discounts or promotions as a way to acquire new interest and show gratitude for repeat custom. While this doesn’t mean you should always expect customers to give back in return, they’re more likely to do so to show appreciation for the discount they’ve received.
As a restaurant owner, you may be concerned about receiving lower tips for discounted checks. However, it’s common practice for diners to calculate their tips based on the pre-coupon amount, so you shouldn’t notice a reduction in tips. In fact, you may find when they’ve been able to save a little on the meal, they’re willing to add a little extra in the way of a gratuity. Not to mention, loyalty discounts or introductory offers can help to boost customer retention, helping to secure future tips.
Is tipping encouraged?
Some customers choose to follow the restaurant’s lead concerning tips, and leave a little something extra when they see that it’s been recommended they do so. For example, you may provide the option to add gratuity when customers checkout their order online, or leave a small comment along the lines of “tips appreciated” on your website.
There are cultural considerations to take into account, too. For example, you may be serving international visitors who aren’t familiar with the national approach to tipping, so you’ll want to remind them of the etiquette to maximise your gratuities. American customers are hot on tipping, but many European countries take a more relaxed approach, so it’s important to address any grey areas around local customs in this area.
Be transparent
Ultimately, giving tips for a takeaway is a kind and thoughtful thing for a customer to do, but they should never feel pressured to leave one if they’re dissatisfied with the service they’ve received. It’s important to be transparent about your tipping policy, but also take into account that there may be a reason behind why you weren’t given a tip. If customers leave a review, take these into consideration and make the necessary adjustments to your service to improve the customer experience in the long run.
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