How Much to Tip Weed Delivery Drivers Guide

The popularity of weed delivery has blossomed over the years and it’s no surprise why. In a world of Uber Eats and Doordash, you can get food from your favorite Thai restaurant delivered straight to your doorstep. It was only natural that weed delivery would follow suit. 

After all, it’s the most comfortable option. The line at the dispensary can get long and you probably know exactly what you want anyways. Choosing weed delivery is an especially good option if you’ve already smoked up your stash and find yourself in a pinch, unable to drive, or without a ride. 

And yet, figuring out how much to tip weed delivery or whether you should tip at all is a hot debate among cannabis enthusiasts. We’re here to provide our rule of thumb when tipping to set your mind at ease before smoking your bong.

Photo: Unsplash

Should you tip weed delivery drivers?

Although you’re not required to, tipping for weed delivery is good practice. Just as it’s customary to tip the waitress at your local restaurant or your Uber Eats driver, you should extend the same gesture to weed delivery drivers. 

But tipping for weed delivery is not the same as tipping at a restaurant. Your weed order may be for a month’s supply, not a single meal and will therefore be much more expensive if you tip at a normal 15-20%. Naturally, the range in cost for weed orders makes knowing how much to tip that much more confusing. 

How much to tip weed delivery drivers

Generally, most people agree between either paying a percentage or fixed amount each time.

Percentage

When paying for a small order under $50, a 10-20% tip is the normal range for weed delivery. Whether you choose to go lower or higher depends on how satisfied you are with the service and how much you’re willing to give.

Fixed Rate

That said, paying 10-20% may seem steep if you’ve just bought an ounce of flower for $250. It may seem unfair to have to shelf out upwards of $50. 

That’s why, when it comes to more expensive orders, the consensus leans towards paying the same tip amount regardless of the order cost. For instance, paying a fixed amount of $5-$15 each time.

Uber Eats vs Eaze: How food and weed delivery differ in complexity and cost

Food and weed delivery is not an apples to apples comparison. Here’s why.

Complexity of Order and Timing

One of the arguments against doing a percentage tip for weed delivery comes from how seamless it tends to be compared to food delivery. Delivering a few pizzas, for instance, is inherently more complicated because of the size, weight and need to deliver it while it’s hot.  

Weed, on the other hand, tends to be packed in airtight containers and bags, comes in a small package and is lightweight. The only major difference compared to food delivery, is that you may need your driver to deliver your order discreetly. However, most weed delivery drivers know this all too well and tend to be more careful so as not to raise any eyebrows.

Quantity and Overall Cost

Above all, a weed delivery order can be much more expensive than a food delivery order, depending on how much you’re ordering. 

For instance, if you are a daily cannabis consumer that smokes continuously, a two-week supply of an ounce can cost upwards of $250 in California. That amount is roughly equivalent to eating a single meal at a Michelin star restaurant, while the average cost of a food delivery order is $33.94. 

It’s safe to say you’re not ordering takeout from Michelin star restaurants, so it’s unfair to put weed delivery in the same category as food delivery.

Other factors to consider when tipping weed delivery

When tipping for weed delivery, the service quality, location and traffic may also factor into the tip you give. 

Service quality 

Did the delivery driver meet or exceed your expectations and follow your instructions? Did the order arrive on time and discreetly? Was the driver kind or rude? 

Frequency of orders

Do you order once a month, every week or multiple times a week? For instance, if you order more frequently and the same driver delivers, you may want to create a positive relationship. That way, you’re more likely to receive consistent quality deliveries.

Location and traffic

Consider how far your driver has to travel to get to you. If you live in a more remote location or far from the dispensary, you may want to choose to tip more generously. You may also want to add a few bucks if the driver delivered with heavy traffic and saved you the misery bumper to bumper traffic. 

How much most people actually tip weed delivery 

While weed delivery is still relatively new and the etiquette around it is still being shaped, it’s clear that most people tend to tip on the lower end than what is often suggested. For instance, Eaze delivery driver Dash Bridges received tips in the $3-$5 range, no matter the order cost. Occasionally, people would graciously tip by percentage but more often than not, it was a fixed amount. 

Tipping cash vs in the app

Today, most weed delivery apps allow customers to tip the driver in the app. But should you tip with cash or in the app?

It’s really up to your personal preference. Tipping via the app tends to be safer because the driver won’t have to carry around large amounts of money after working their shift. 

However, some weed delivery services such as Eaze, don’t offer in-app tips and cash is the only option. Whether you use Ease, Leafly or Weedmaps, it’s good to look into whether they have the option to tip through the app so you don’t leave your driver high and dry. 

Why tip for weed delivery?

Not everyone tips weed delivery drivers but here are a few reasons why you may want to start. 

Affording the Luxury 

Tipping is a kind gesture that shows you value the service. They saved you a trip to the dispensary and that is a luxury.

Tips incentive drivers

For most drivers, tips make a huge difference considering they have to front the cost of gas, maintenance and often only get paid an hourly minimum wage. Naturally, drivers consider the amount of tips they get when deciding whether it’s worth their efforts. If they don’t get much, they may choose to opt out, and without drivers, the system falls apart. 

Also, they are more likely to provide better quality service if they know they’re going to get a tip. 

Drivers take the risk 

While rare, since drivers can carry hundreds of dollars worth of cargo and tips, they are more likely to be targeted by muggers. They make sure your order gets to you safely with no risk to you.   

Order online for pickup to bypass paying a tip

At the end of the day, it’s hard earned money and you shouldn’t feel obligated to have to pay a specific percentage or amount each time. That said, if you do not value the service enough to pay a decent tip, you can always choose to pick up from your dispensary instead. If you do decide to take a stroll to your local dispensary instead here are a few tips to get in and out fast.

Order and pay in advance 

Since dispensaries notoriously have peaks when the lines are out the door, we highly suggest ordering online or calling in. That way, you can drive up and skip the line or even pay through the car window. 

Take out cash beforehand to avoid transaction fees 

The benefit of paying online is that you don’t have to have cash on hand. Most dispensaries charge a fee for paying by card or only accept cash. While they often have an ATM within the dispensary, it’s best to take out cash beforehand or pay directly online.

To tip or not to tip

Our rule of thumb is to pay a fixed tip of $5-$15 to the weed delivery driver. After all, weed delivery is a modern luxury that offers real value because it saves you time and stress. If you feel that’s too much to spend on top of your order, consider going to the dispensary yourself.