About those gas prices: what about people whose job depends on getting

[Bouncy Ball]

around by car?

Like pizza delivery drivers? Are they still being paid the same amount by the pizza places? Is anyone tipping a bit more generously or is it tough all over? Do those guys have to pay for their own gas?

What about shipping costs, shipping by land? My husband deals with shipping companies all the time (his company ships all over the continental US) and shipping costs have gone WAY up. So when my husband sells his product to customers, he has to include the higher cost of shipping and pass it on to the customer. They tried to keep that down for a long time, but simply cannot anymore. Shipping costs are killing them now.

Have airline tickets increased in price? I don't travel much by air, so I wouldn't know about that one.

Higher gas prices don't just affect individuals at the pump, it increases prices all around.

What are some other professions I'm forgetting about that are being directly affected by higher fuel costs? Is your business/industry being hit by this?

[Bluebear]

1. Connecticut lobstermen, Alabama cabbies and Illinois florists

Some news stories for ya :)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3456610&mesg_id=3456610

[Bouncy Ball]

2. Ooo thanks!

You're always so on top of stuff! :thumbsup:

[The Animator]

3. Let us not forget under paid people who work at a theme park across town!

[DireStrike]

4. I've always tipped car delivery guys generously.

So now I don't have to increase!

[DawnneOBTS]

5. How about students?

I have to drive 75 miles to college three times a week. I am really considering just dropping out and going to work at a supermarket that I can just walk to. I can't afford it-any suggestions?

[Bouncy Ball]

8. DON'T drop out. No matter what you do, don't drop out.

I am a part-time graduate student and I have to drive a long way to my university, too. Fortunately it's only once a week, but still.

This summer, I'll be taking six hours and driving that long commute EVERY single day for the month of June. I'm literally saving up gas money now.

Don't drop out--you'll regret it. Hang in there.

[eleny]

9. Can you take any classes as self paced from home?

Is there a college that will gove you classes on the net or will your college do that? I heard you can do that these days at some schools. 75 miles is awful! Good luck!

[FloridaPat]

6. Inflation's only 3%. THere is no problem. Those extra prices for things

you see at the grocery store and other places are an illusion.

[Bouncy Ball]

7. Sarcasm?

[democracyindanger]

10. Truth.

The illusionists are out to get us. This guy may have been on to something:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3458688

[Bouncy Ball]

11. Care to elaborate?

I fail to see what a story about Seigfried and Roy has to do with this....???

[democracyindanger]

13. Siegfried and Roy...

...the illusionists...

sigh. Now you made me break the joke.

[BlackVelvetElvis]

26. No kidding.

Grocery prices (among other things) have gone through the roof.
How much does it take for the little guy to get angry?

[TriMetFan]

12. What would be the right amount to tip?

I always give 4 to 5 bucks cash is that enough? Also thats beside the tip we write in on the cash receipts. I feel bad for these men and women that make a living like this. Its hard work.

[Bouncy Ball]

16. Generally 20% is considered to be more than fair.

So 20% of whatever the total bill is. I've been going even higher for pizza people, but we aren't ordering it as often, either. I just really feel for them. Most are trying to get through college and some are supplementing their retirement income.

[TriMetFan]

20. What I should have wrote is:

the cash is just extra and what we write in the receipts for tips is always about 15% to 20%. I wish I could give more but the truth is everything is costing every-one more. I was shocked 2 weeks ago when I paid $25 to fill up my car @ $2.23 gal. and now that the avg. gas price for unlead here in Portland OR. is about $2.40 I just don't know if we will be eating out or ordering pizza etc...

[Massacure]

17. 15% is standard. A little more if the service is excellent

And if they are a slob you can always tip less. Fortunately I never have to do that.

[elfin]

14. Last night I tipped the pizza guy 40%

I thought he was going to cry. It just isn't fair on so many levels - but especialy for these folks.

[Bouncy Ball]

15. You know what I used to do before the election?

I would tip the pizza guy or gal BIG time, then hand them a flyer for a local Dem running for state office. I wouldn't preach or say anything, I just included it with the tip, encouraged them to vote. One way or another, just VOTE.

I always got positive responses. The big tip helps. ;-)

[Blue Diadem]

18. We were just discussing this an hour or so ago,

Our son was complaining that his home owners association fees had increased 60%. I'm betting they're going to increase again when they get the bill for the community lawn and plow service for the year.

We were wondering how many small companies that run lawn & plow services will be able to stay in business. I can't being to imagine their increased expenses with having to tow the equipment to clients and to run the lawn mowers and other equipment.

[Cleita]

19. Pizza and other delivery guys who use their own cars should

not have to pay for their own gas. It seems like there should be a law about this or a union to put it into a contract.

What if employers had to pay for their employees to get to work? I bet this would shake things up. Shift the burden to the asses whose bottom line depends on their workers getting to the workplace. Let them figure out how to get these guys to work or make it easier to work from their homes.

[thinkingwoman]

21. there is no union

of pizza drivers.

And why should a small businessperson "figure out" how to get people to work? They don't have any power or funds to set up public transit. That is government's job.

It is important to be realistic about this issue if real, meaningful change is the goal.

[Cleita]

22. Of course there isn't a union of pizza drivers for the same

reason there aren't unions for many workers who need them.The time is coming though.

And, you see the problem about the government's job to do things, don't you? Good. Because right now they aren't doing their job.

I don't think small business owners should be penalized either, but how about those big global guys who occupy a whole floor of a high rise? Are they strapped for cash too? Imagine if this problem cut into their bottom line not that of the individual who works for them, how fast this would be resolved.

My new proposal for labor laws would include transportation to and from work for the worker as part of the things employers should provide, like pens and paper, computers, etc..

There should be breaks for the small employer because they are the backbone of this country. I think we should collect taxes from the mega-guys to fund the little guys transportation of employees problem. But then I'm such a commie pinko. Can't help it.

[thinkingwoman]

23. your new proposal

for labor laws is dead on arrival. Won't happen. It's unrealistic.

As soon as you can figure out a way to collect taxes from the mega-guys while exempting the small employer--legally--have at it.

Good luck.

[Cleita]

25. Your right not today, but I think it's time for a new

labor movement to be born in this country (pun not intended), and when it is watch those showers get shaken for their ill-gotten gains.

[bush_is_wacko]

24. Look, it doesn't matter what you do for a living right now.

If you use a car to get to work gas prices are effecting your budget. I am considering finding another job over it. The cost of gas is way too high fro what i make and the gas I burn going to and from my job and I don't drive terribly far. I know someone that travels daily for his job and he says he is putting about $50 a DAY into his vehicle for gas! he doesn't pay for it. His company does, but come on $50 a day is outrageous!

[Cleita]

27. This is my point in my post above.

If workers start deciding the commute isn't worth it, they are either gonna have to pony up for the gas or lose good employees.

[bush_is_wacko]

29. I don't think they give a shit how good their employees are really.

I've noticed lately that they really just want ANYONE that will take the pay they offer AND keep their mouths shut. If you are willing to do that you have a job. If not you can view their middle finger as they walk you out the door. I'm seeing this in a lot of industries, including public education. They know they have the power to hold stuff like this over our heads right now and that is exactly what they intend to do until their free ride runs out. They are working real hard to insure that ride lasts a long, long time!

[Lady Effingbroke]

28. Regarding pizza drivers:

I drove pizza from 2000-2003. We had to use our own cars, with all of the corresponding maintenance and upkeep concomitant with 8+ hours a day of nonstop stop-n-go driving.

Gasoline was anywhere from $1.00-$1.50 a gallon here in Houston at that time, and I came out way ahead because I drove a '93 Civic that got 30+ MPG, even with close to 200,000 miles on the odometer (BEST. CAR. EVER. :loveya:) If machines can be said to have a spirit, then that little car surely did.

Anyway, I had a deal worked out with the guys at the local Gyppy Lube behind the store and would throw 'em a couple large pizzas in exchange for a free oil change, which was great, because I was working 40 hours a week and putting at least 3,000 miles a month on my car.

The giant multinational corporation I schlepped pizzas for "paid" drivers 50¢ a run, but actually what you were doing was working off the $20 in store money given you at the beginning of your shift in order to make change for your customers. My goal was 30 deliveries a shift (30 X .50 = $15), that way I owed $5 out of the original $20, and the rest was mine free and clear. Oftentimes I delivered to 40 separate addresses and owed the store nothing.

At that time, I was making about $2,000 a month just driving pizza, but that was a couple years ago.

I have an overwhelming suspicion that tips are not keeping up with the rising price of gasoline, and drivers are pocketing less of their tip money.