So you deliver for Postmates in your spare time or are considering giving this side hustle idea a try, but you’re still new to the whole thing.
Maybe your first few deliveries are going smoothly. The money is coming in and everything seems to be working out just fine.
But do you really know where this money is coming from…especially tips?
Now you might be wondering, how do Postmates tips work? Or better yet, could I be making more money from Postmates tips?
How Postmates tips work is one of the most common questions new drivers and customers have about the platform, so it’s time to clear up some myths!
In this article, we’ll be going over all those questions you might have as a new Postmates delivery driver.
Also, stick around until the end to see how you can maximize your tip income!
Looking For Other Lucrative Gig Economy Jobs? Checkout:
- DoorDash – Earn $14 to $22+ per hour by delivering fast food and restaurant orders!
- Instacart – Earn $15 to $20+ per hour delivering groceries in your city!
How Do Postmates Tips Work? – What Drivers Need to Know
If you’re a new driver for Postmates, these three questions will tell you everything you need to know about how Postmates tips work!
1. Do You Get Tips on Postmates?
Yes, you do get tips on Postmates if the customer chooses to tip you.
When you complete a delivery, the customer gets a prompt to leave a tip on the Postmates app.
They have the option to add a tip between 10%, 15%, 20%, or they can add a custom tip amount.
Some customers may even insist on tipping in cash. Either way, you receive 100% of the tip amount.
What’s important to note is that customers are tipping after delivery…so you need to work on your customer service skills and try to be on time to increase the odds you get a tip! (more on this late).
Extra Reading – Is Postmates Worth It?
2. When Do Postmates Tips Show Up?
This is another common question new drivers have since they’ll complete a delivery and then wonder why their Postmates tips aren’t showing up.
Here’s the main thing to know: Postmates tips show up after at least 24 hours from when the customer leaves a tip.
If the customer does not leave a tip immediately after receiving their order, they will not be able to place a new Postmates order until they have filled out the “would you like to add a tip” page.
You will still have to wait a minimum of 24 hours regardless of when the tip has been paid.
Some drivers have reported not seeing their tips come in after an entire weekend. For example, a driver would deliver on Friday, but didn’t see their tips until Monday or Tuesday.
As you can see, most of these orders just show base pay and no tips.
So, don’t get too stressed out if you complete a busy shift and don’t see the tips for a while.
Postmates notifies you when your tips come in, it just can take a while…
Why Do Postmates Tips Take So Long?
There are three main reasons why Postmates tips take so long to clear:
- There is a minimum clearance time of 24 hours after being tipped.
- Customers forget to leave a tip once they receive their food.
- Customers don’t tip until the next time they open the app.
All of these reasons could result in you receiving your tips up to 5 days later.
A lot of couriers have this question if you look online!
I’m personally the worst at this for things like Uber or other delivery apps; once I get dropped off or receive my food, I usually close the app and forget to tip until the next time I open the app.
It’s very common for customers to close the Postmates app after they’ve received their food because they think the app is no longer needed at the time.
So, I’d say the main reason Postmates tips take so long to appear is that customers take a few days to tip plus there’s the 24 hour clearing period.
Extra Reading – Postmates vs DoorDash – What Platform Pays More?
How to Get Tips on Postmates
If you’re wondering how you can get more tips on Postmates, here are some delivery tips you can keep in mind:
- Be friendly with customers or even crack a joke or two when dropping off your delivery
- Text customer updates (especially if the wait will be longer)
- Complete the order in a timely manner
- Take on restaurant deliveries (usually result in higher tips)
- Check the bag before leaving (to avoid mistaken orders)
- Add napkins, utensils, mints, etc. into the bag (and let the customer know!)
- Separate hot and cold food items during delivery
Overall, you want to be professional and to do what you can to increase the chances you get a tip.
You can also read our article on DoorDash tips and tricks for similar ideas on how to earn more Postmates tips.
Ultimately, be sure to communicate clearly, but not too often. Sending up to 2 texts will be plenty to let your customer know where their food is.
Postmates Tipping Questions from Customers
If you’re a customer who is wondering how Postmates tips work, hopefully your questions will be answered below.
Plus, as a driver, knowing the answers to these questions will help you gauge a realistic expectation from customers when you’re delivering.
1. Does Postmates Force You To Tip?
No, Postmates does NOT force you to tip the delivery driver.
However, it’s highly recommended considering that 100% of your tip goes straight to the driver and drivers are really relying on tips to make working for Postmates worth it.
If you want to skip tipping your delivery courier, choose to enter a custom amount and input “0%” as your tip. When you hit “send”, the tip will register as $0.
Again, the gig economy really relies on tips to make work worth it.
This doesn’t mean you have to tip since it’s a free market after all, but I think tipping is warranted if service is good and the courier is friendly or goes the extra mile somehow.
2. Is Tip Included in Postmates Delivery?
Tip isn’t included in Postmates delivery. You have the option to select between 10%, 15%, and 20% tip.
You can also select “Other” on the tip page to select a higher (or lower) amount. It is recommended to tip at least 15% for the driver’s efforts.
Note: The “delivery fee” that is added to your order is NOT for the driver.
Credit to Quora for the screenshot. This is a great breakdown of all the payment components…order price, delivery fee, a service fee, and the suggested tip.
The main takeaway here is to never confuse the service fee for the tip! The service fee doesn’t go to the driver!
3. How to Tip on Postmates?
You can tip on Postmates in four simple steps:
- Receive your delivery
- You will prompted with a tip screen
- Enter the amount you’d like to tip
- Select “Send Tip”
You will also have the option to send your tip when you order, during the order, or after the order has been completed. Plus, you can change the tip amount before the order is completed.
Alternatively, you can keep things off the platform and just tip your Postmates driver with cash when you see them…I’ve done this for grocery delivery orders before and it’s just simpler sometimes.
Also, be sure to keep your app open and leave a tip after you’ve received your food. If you don’t, you’ll have to leave a tip the next time you open the app.
4. What’s the Average Postmates Tip?
The average Postmates tip is 15% with a $3 minimum for small to medium sized orders. Larger orders are tipped at 20% on average.
This is what the app suggests and is also pretty standard for the service/delivery industry.
In the case that your driver has incredible service, you can select to tip more by selecting the “Other” button when prompted to leave a tip.
Again, this is just the average, and Postmates doesn’t force customers to tip (although I would if it’s a good delivery experience).
5. Do Postmates Rate Customers?
No, Postmates drivers don’t rate customers. Customers don’t rate Postmates drivers either.
There is a thumbs up and thumbs down button after completing an order for customers to select. This rates the entire delivery experience as a whole… not the specific delivery driver.
Postmates states this helps drivers avoid getting negative reviews for factors that aren’t in their control, like a restaurant taking too long or messing up an order.
This is different from companies like DoorDash and Uber Eats where customers get to rate their delivery driver with a star rating.
Final Thoughts
As a new driver, learning the importance of tips is crucial to maximizing your earning potential on Postmates.
Just remember to be kind to the customers you deliver for, the same way customers should be kind to the driver.
Be sure to take a second look at the “How to Get Tips on Postmates” section and test out some of those practices the next time you head out for delivery.
Hopefully you now understand how Postmates driver tips work, when they appear, and what you can do to potentially earn more per hour.
Good luck on your future deliveries. Go get those tips!
If you aren’t making money with Postmates yet, you can sign up here and start earning today!
Want to try other money-making ideas? Checkout:
Daniel is a 20 year old blogger from Los Angeles with a huge love for everything entrepreneurship, finance, and investing. When he’s not blogging at Modern Teen, you can catch him playing volleyball, shooting archery, or finding new ways to make money.