wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] Robert from NYC June 06, 2008 - 09:21AM

  I've seen stories on news reports about how many restaurants actually force the delivery people to had over the tips they make and some go so far as to even search them to make sure they're not holding out on handing over the tips. What can be done to stop it? If they are illegal then they can't have an legal rights to go after these restaurant owners but it's immoral, inhumane, and sad that the situation persists with no resolve in sight. These delivery guys (gals too?) might want to set up a family member or some trusted person to be located at a site where they can hand over at least part of the tip before returning to the restaurant. T]Unfortunately they would have to return to the restaurant with something of the tip or the owners would become suspicious.

  
  
• [2] eva June 06, 2008 - 10:52AM

  I saw the trailer - it was amazing.

  Thanks for being neo-realist about an unsung, unappreciated member of New York life.

  I can't tell you how many times I've been in an NYC apartment when one of those guys comes up to the door, and the client has been completely rude and even racist to the delivery guy.

  I've once even run after the delivery guy with extra money because I didn't want them to feel hurt. Even though the delivery wasn't for me.

  One of these days, China will be the a superpower, and we will have to be their delivery "boys".

  Given the karma New Yorkers have accrued vis-a-vis delivery guys, I would be very nervous...

  
  
• [3] Amsterdam&96th from UPW June 06, 2008 - 10:55AM

  These delivery people do not pay taxes on their income.

  Most black people do not tip or they are under-tippers.

  
  
• [4] Micheal from upper east side June 06, 2008 - 10:58AM

  Well I have always found these high smuggling fees to be very interesting in the terms of economic opurtunity cost. 70 K is a lot of money in the USA where as we haeverecently found out , whole towns of americans struggle to feed themselves on minimum wage. 70 K is an even greater fortune in china. is the price of chinese labour in the USA really worth 70 k? over what period of time? Cant that 70k invested in china produce more profit and less trouble for the financer in CHina than trying to squeeze it out of someone eeking out at minimum wage here in the USA? Some how it does not add up. Or if it does ... something else is going on here.

  
  
• [5] Aviva Gray from NYC June 06, 2008 - 10:59AM

  I recently noticed a bicycle delivery person equipped with a helmet and a bright orange protective vest advertising the name of the restaurant. This is a great way to promote the establishment and keep employees safe.

  
  
• [6] eva June 06, 2008 - 10:59AM

  "the eternal authenticity question - was it a problem?"

  "No!"

  Good for you guys for not falling into THAT trap. I'm dying to see the film.

  What would have been an interesting experiment - cast a white person in the role, but have all the racist clients make nasty anti-asian comments against him anyway. It would reveal the racism and racist name-calling as totally absurd.

  
  
• [7] eva June 06, 2008 - 11:02AM

  #5, Aviva, thanks for pointing that out, it is a good marketing idea.

  
  
• [8] REGINA ST CLARE from Oceanport NJ June 06, 2008 - 11:16AM

  Believe it not, I, a white 73 yr old woman, actually did deliveries for my Chinese take-out restaurant friends, who one day needed help.

  it was very interesting when I showed up with delivery, then it was more interesting that some people did not tip or barely tipped and acted like they were doing me a favor for serving them. A very few were good tippers and also very nice. Tips overall averaged about $3 oer delivery here in the burbs.

  My experience was nothing like the hard pressed immigrants. I am have great empathy and also know some of those guys will be our next American billionaires in their own right. Really loave my Chinese friends from Mainland and Taiwan.

  I am an ESL Volunteer for ASian families.

  rsc