Tipping in Does Tipping in Advance Lead to Better Service?

It’s late on Monday night, your fridge is empty of anything you want to eat, and the thought of cooking makes you feel like pulling your hair out. You go to DoorDash or Uber Eats, pick out your favorite meal to be delivered, and are hit with the dreaded tip screen. 

Before your driver even starts their journey to get you your food, you have to decide how much to tip. The real question on nearly everyone’s mind is, if I tip now, will my order come faster, or will I get better service? Let’s break it down into easy, bite-sized pieces. 

Why Are You Asked To Tip Before Service Begins? 

There are two answers to this question, but the first is the short one. As a driver/shopper for Instacart, Uber Eats, and DoorDash, the tips are shown to the driver before they accept the job, so generally speaking, the higher the tip, the more likely the driver is to accept the job faster and provide better service. 

The longer answer is a little more complicated. All delivery services pay will vary in exact costs, but they will break down as such. The driver will get a base payment for the service, plus any promotions the company may or may not be running, plus your tip. 

With this context, your upfront tip is telling the driver that you value their time and efforts, and they are going to take greater care with your precious dumplings from the local Chinese spot. 

How Tipping In Advance Affects Service 

As a rule of thumb, yes, the way you tip will affect the service you receive. However, there are a few exceptions to that rule, depending on what type of service you are using. 

1. Delivery Apps: As mentioned before, drivers can almost always see exactly how much you plan on tipping before taking the job. While you will almost certainly get your meal or groceries delivered, the higher you tip, the more likely you are to get better service.  
2. Bartenders or Baristas: It’s no secret that restaurant workers are reliant on tips. Over half of their salary is made up of tips. You will be served no matter what, but the kind of service you receive will be up to how much you tip. 
3. Tour Guides: Tour guides are going to have the most exceptions. Some tour companies ban tipping of any kind, while some are much more liberal with their tipping rules. Always ask before offering any type of tip. For those that do allow tipping, if you offer something before the tour even starts, you’ll likely get more attention, better pictures, and sometimes a bonus story or fact along the way. 

It’s crucial to note here that some workers will provide the same kind of service regardless of how much you tip, so don’t be disappointed if your service is the same. Instead, feel good that the worker has some extra change in their pocket at the end of the day! 

Why Tipping in Advance Can Make a Difference 

The United States is unique in many ways, and our tipping culture is no different. The main reason the tipping culture exists as it does is an interesting bit of history. Originally, tipping started in the 1930s as a way for restaurants to save money on their labor costs.

It worked so well that it has remained in use to this day. Now, as we all know a bit too well, it has spread to almost every service job and service we value. 

Aside from all the reasons we mentioned above, tipping in advance can make a real difference in three really important ways. 

1. Connection Building 
2. On the delivery apps, this won’t matter as much as it is rare that you get the same driver twice (Instacart notwithstanding). However, in the bar, cafe, and tour guide scenes, you are more than likely to see the same person again. So, by tipping in advance, you are telling the person serving you that you value them and want to have a continued relationship. 
3. Brightening Their Day 
4. It certainly sounds corny, but DoorDashing, Instacarting, and other forms of modern delivery driving are hard, and it can be a struggle to make money. By tipping in advance, you are giving a little mental boost to your driver. In turn, your good deed helps to ensure others also get better service.
5. Keeping Drivers On The Road 
6. The turnover rate in delivery driving is insanely high–300% in DoorDash’s case. While tipping in advance won’t help drivers stay driving per se, a little extra appreciation for their work can certainly help them stay on the road and, more importantly, continue to get us our late-night snacks and weekly groceries. 

When Not To Tip: Global Etiquette

In the US, you should always tip when you can, but it can backfire depending on where you are in the world. Generally speaking, in the US, you should always tip in advance as it’s a good motivator and shows a great deal of respect for the worker. 

However, in other countries such as… 

• Japan
• Denmark
• South Korea
• Switzerland
• Brazil

 …tipping isn’t necessary and could be considered rude.  

How Much Should You Tip in Advance?

Here’s a quick cheat sheet:

• Delivery apps: $5 minimum or 15–20% of your order
• Bartender/Barista: $2–5 on your first round if you’re staying awhile
• Tour Guide: $5–$10 early for extra attention (and another tip at the end)
• Amazon Fresh / Package delivery: $3–$5 if the app allows tipping up front



So, Should You Tip Before the Service?

The short answer is yes! You should absolutely tip in advance if you want faster, better, and more thoughtful service. Have you tipped in advance before? Share your experience below on whether you actually received better service.