An Edinburgh Deliveroo customer has been left astonished after ordering takeout through the food courier service and receiving a driver sent message asking for a tip
Brett Clayton ordered a takeaway for dinner on September 5 and was taken aback when he received a message from the delivery rider that dropped off the food asking for a tip. The bar supervisor who works in hospitality is aware of how difficult the cost of living is at the moment but felt uncomfortable receiving the message.
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The rider had written the message: "Hi there, I know I shouldn’t ask but I'm really poor right now. I understand if you can't or don't want to but if you could leave a tip it'd help me out a lot. Any little helps."
After receiving the text on the app shortly after enjoying the takeaway for dinner, Brett took to a local group to see if anyone else had experienced similar and to find out their views. The bar supervisor wrote: "Has anyone experienced this type of message from a delivery driver?
"I understand times are tough however I feel this puts a certain amount of pressure on people who are just looking to order food and relax."
Many locals in the community group had divided opinions with some claiming it was cheeky and that workers already get paid to deliver it. While others slammed Brett saying if you can afford to order takeaway surely you can afford to tip.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live Brett said: "I personally believe tips are, and should always be completely discretionary and any weight of someone’s personal life shouldn’t be passed onto someone, especially when paying for a service.
"It’s completely understandable that a lot of people are struggling financially and I tip a lot of places I spend money, however, I do feel it’s out of order being asked in such a way."
He explained: "Having worked in hospitality for many years myself I have always been conscious that tips happen and sometimes they don’t happen, either way, I would never try to coerce someone into giving me money."
Andrew Perry, a local from the area who used to work for the company disagreed and believes you should tip Deliveroo drivers. He told us: "I used to work for Deliveroo and saw firsthand how exploitative their employment practices are.
"It’s disappointing that drivers are forced to beg for tips as this multi-million-pound company refuses to pay them a decent wage."
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Adding: "People using these services need to realise that it’s cheap for a reason and it’s nothing to do with its being groundbreaking.
"Most of these “disruptive” companies rely on cheap labour and exploitative contracts to make it worth their while. Until we refuse to use them, they have no reason to change."
Deliveroo has been contacted for comment.
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