A lot has changed in the past couple of years, and the way most of us get food delivery is definitely different. Although delivery services from a variety of restaurants – and even grocery stores – has been an option in big, coastal cities like New York for years, the concept has just made its way through the middle of the country.
Because of that, some people might not realize how the pay structure works for those folks who depend on delivery driving as a source of income – which is something Uber Eats driver Riley Elliot hopes to change.
https://www.tiktok.com/@livefreestudios/video/6930005143962356997
So let’s get into it.
During the crazy year that was 2020, delivery drivers have become more than a convenience – they became essential.
Image Credit: TikTok
But Riley Elliot had a frustrating day at work and took to TikTok, saying that he wished people who ordered “understood what it’s like to be a driver.”
“I just spent 45 minutes on a delivery, and had to pay $3 for parking to bring this person their food because there was no free parking. And they refuse to come out and meet me.”
That’s inconsiderate, which is something you never want to be to a person who has access to your dinner.
Just saying.
Image Credit: TikTok
“They tipped me $1.50 and Uber paid me $2.50. I gotta prove 3 times the rent for income in 2 weeks, and I can’t. And it doesn’t matter that I’m working multiple jobs, it doesn’t matter that I rarely sleep and can barely afford to feed myself.”
Life is tough out there, as is evidenced by his anguish and the tears in his eyes, and that’s something we would all do well to remember.
The video has clearly resonated, earning nearly half a million views on TikTok.
“I’m about to be homeless for the third time since May, and it’s all because people don’t tip their delivery drivers. Like, how hard is it to throw us 5 bucks?”
If you can afford to pay for dinner out and pay extra to have the convenience of having it delivered, it stands to reason that you should be able to tip the people bringing it to you appropriately.
You wouldn’t go out to eat and then stiff the server, right?
RIGHT?
Image Credit: TikTok
Even though Elliot said he made the video off the cuff and wasn’t expecting anything, he’s received donations totaling around $55k.
Which must be nice, and also prove to him that not all humans are incapable of extending a helping hand to others.
Riley didn’t even keep it all, because he walks the walk, y’all.
“Once we reached the point where we were like, ‘OK, now we’ll definitely be able to get into a place, we don’t need all of this,’ I started literally just giving money away. We sent money to folks in Texas whose pipes had burst, we send money to folks who needed medication, sent money to friends who were struggling. We spent about $15,000 that first day, just helping people out with their situations.”
Paying it forward. I love it.
Now there are tears in MY eyes.
He also made a followup video that acknowledges that at least some of his money troubles were due to the companies like Uber not paying their drivers enough, not just the fact that some people aren’t the best at tipping.
https://www.tiktok.com/@livefreestudios/video/6930210440827915526
Here’s what he said, in case the video doesn’t play.
“I just wanna take back one thing I said in my video that blew up.
It’s not entirely the fault of people who don’t tip.
It is absolutely the fault of these companies like DoorDash and Uber Eats who don’t pay their drivers very much.”
Either way, if you have the means to help out a fellow human – especially one doing you a solid – you should do it.
So should we all!
