[walru]

True, but at the same time not every bartender makes a great cocktail, or cares to. If people want service levels to race to the bottom this is the way to do it.

The main problem with the DD model is that they're asking people to decide a tip before being provided a service. That's unfair to the customer and driver. As far as paying a decent wage before that, DD could provide a mile cost reimbursement as well as one for the time spent on the order. Paying the driver a blanket fee for every order they deliver rather than one based on time and millage is not sustainable. I understand that's much how the model used to work, but the whole thing about tip culture is rewarding people who do the little things to make the experience worth it for you having to pay extra. As a customer of DD you're only going to be aware of things after you've received your food.

Also, if a bartender is not getting the best shifts, that may be because the bar cycles their shifts or they aren't as good, or maybe Wednesday is a busier night and they only staff one bartender so that person may end up doing better than having to split a bar with several others. That said, if it's busier on a Saturday and the bartenders are getting hammered, why should they have to subsidize the bartender who isn't there?

[seventhtiger]

Tipping is a poor form of quality control. If you get a bad cocktail, ask for a new one or speak with the manager and give your direct feedback. Paying less puts them in a complex game of guessing why you did that.

[pluma]

I too think my bartender should starve if they make so-so a cocktail.

[walru]

I didn't say that. My point is that people who excel at their jobs should have the ability to be rewarded. Do you disagree?