AITA for Ordering Delivery from a Burger Joint Just 10 Blocks Away?

On a chilly evening, a frazzled mom and student, drained from exams and chasing a toddler, craves a burger from her favorite local joint, just 10 blocks away. Too tired to bundle up her 1.5-year-old for a cold trek, she opts for delivery, paying a fee and a generous tip.

But when the driver arrives, she’s met with a scowl, harsh words, and a snowy middle finger. Shocked, she reports the rudeness. Was ordering delivery a lazy move, or was the driver’s outburst way out of line? This tale of a quick meal gone sour questions delivery etiquette and customer respect.

‘AITA for Ordering Delivery from a Burger Joint Just 10 Blocks Away?

There's a local burger joint that my family and I love. It's about 10 blocks away from our house and they do both delivery and pick up. I'm a ft student and SAHM to a toddler (1.5) while my husband works ft. I had a big exam and a couple of lab practicals due today and was too tired to cook dinner so I decided to order a couple burgers and fries from the local joint.

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It was already dark out, really cold, and I didn't feel like trying to wrangle my kid into their snow suit or the stroller to walk over there as we don't have a car, so I ordered delivery on their website for an additional fee (this wasn't a delivery service like Door Dash or Uber Eats, the restaurant uses its own online platform and hires its own drivers to delivery food).

I paid online and left a 20% tip. About 30 minutes later I got a notification the delivery driver was at my building so I went downstairs to pick my food up. When I got to the door the delivery person was very rude and told me that next time I should get off my ass and pick up my own damn food and that she doesn't get paid enough to deliver food less than a mile.

I just grabbed my food and didn't say a word to her and headed back toward the elevator. I heard a pound on the (locked) door as I walked away and turned around to see she'd hit the door with some snow and was flipping me off. I went upstairs kind of frazzled and ended up calling the restaurant to let them know what happened and to please reimburse me for my tip.

The manager I talked to was horrified and apologized and ended up returning my tip. He also offered a 20% off coupon for a future visit. We love this burger shop so this poor experience isn't going to stop us from eating their food, I just am not going to get delivery from them again. AITA for ordering delivery from a restaurant a few blocks away? Is this some kind of unwritten rule of delivery that I didn't know about?

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This delivery drama is a sizzling mix of customer expectations and workplace professionalism gone awry. The mom, juggling exams and parenting, made a practical choice to order delivery, paying for the service and tipping generously. The driver’s rude outburst, however, crossed a clear line, turning a simple transaction into a personal attack.

Workplace expert Alison Green notes, “Delivery workers are the face of a business—unprofessional behavior can tank customer trust.” A 2023 customer service survey by Zendesk found 60% of customers avoid businesses after a single negative interaction, underscoring the driver’s misstep. The mom’s decision to report the incident was justified, protecting future customers.

This story highlights broader issues of service industry respect. The driver could benefit from training, while customers should feel safe using offered services.

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Here’s how people reacted to the post:

Reddit’s reactions to this burger joint blunder are juicier than a double patty. Here’s what they had to say:

Nalpona_Freesun - NTA like thats a super easy and close delivery and if anything it being shorter makes it more lucrative on a tip-time ratio.

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coffin_rave - NTA. What the hell is the delivery person's problem? Who cares how close you are. Ten blocks, next door... shouldn't matter. There's a bazillion different reasons why someone might need delivery no matter the distance and she has no business to comment on it.. Edit: spelling

AttemptedAdult - NTA. It seems like an ideal delivery for a quick buck for the driver. It sounds like they should not be delivering food to anyone with that attitude.

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bamf1701 - NTA. The driver in fact *does* get paid to deliver food less than a mile. You paid the fee for the delivery, you get the food delivered. For whatever reason you want. The delivery person had no reason to mouth off to you like that, and you had every right to call and tell the manager about how the driver acted.

[Reddit User] - NTA she must not be too bright, because that was a very quick delivery with minimal time/gas and she got a decent tip. I'm glad you spoke with the manager, that kind of attitude was totally uncalled for.

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DanCynDan - NTA. If the restaurant offers delivery for your area, you’re not an a**hole for ordering it.

FoolMe1nceShameOnU - **NTA, but that delivery person certainly was.** I'm disabled, chronically ill, and mostly housebound. I'm also pretty poor, so the occasional restaurant delivery meal is really the only way I have to treat myself. My three favourite restaurants to order from are all within five blocks of my apartment, and not once has any delivery person complained.

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If anything, they're happy to do it. It's a SUPER QUICK delivery, especially if they happen to be in the neighbourhood, and (like you I'm sure, with a toddler at home and exhausted), I'm very appreciative. It's an easy, fast few bucks for them that costs almost no gas!

With gas prices the way they are, I have no idea why the delivery guy would want to drive FARTHER?! You're definitely NTA. Everyone deserves to use delivery services - that's what they're there for - but ESPECIALLY people who genuinely need them, and that includes both people like me, and exhausted parents.

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MindDeep2823 - WHAT. That is crazy! You are absolutely NTA, but that delivery driver sure is!! You used their own delivery service, you tipped very nicely, and that's all your obligated to do. In any case, the delivery person doesn't even make sense. She's getting a nice tip for doing 3 minutes of work, that should be a win win for everyone!

Amiedeslivres - NTA. Delivery helps a lot of people. You chose it because bundling up a toddler to run a short errand in the cold sucks and isn’t a good use of your time and energy. Legit. Somebody else might order delivery because they are disabled

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and don’t have the spoons for even a short trek. Delivery people don’t typically know who their customers are or why they might be ordering delivery—so they have *no business judging*. They deserve compassion but so do you.

TastefulDisgrace - NTA. I have a hard time imagining 10 city blocks cause I live in the middle of nowhere where 10 blocks is a bit of a travel, but 10 blocks seems like a reasonable delivery to me? Even if it wasn't, if you're within the delivery area then I don't see any reason for the fuss, that's literally the job.
These takes are hot off the grill, but do they fully capture the balance of customer rights and worker responsibilities?

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This story of a delivery gone wrong flips the lid on service expectations and respect. The mom’s choice to order a burger was practical, yet the driver’s hostility turned a simple meal into a mess. Both sides deserve empathy, but professionalism should win out. Have you ever faced a rude service worker, or felt judged for a simple choice? Share your thoughts—what’s the line between customer convenience and worker frustration?

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