40+ Pizza Delivery Drivers Share the Wildest Reasons for Delivery Bans

Psych Ward Pizza

I once delivered to this building in a residential area that I’d never seen before. It looked like it might be an assisted living facility, but I had no idea it was there. When I walked in, a nurse came up to me, clearly curious about why I was there. I explained that I had an order for a specific person, but she started telling me it didn’t make sense because he supposedly didn’t have any money to order food.

So, I went to the room, but I didn’t go inside. It was around 9 p.m., and they had turned off all the lights, leaving the place in complete darkness. I could hear the guy’s voice from somewhere in there, demanding that I come in, but there was no way I was going to do that. Instead, I just left the meal right outside the door and left.

Not surprisingly, he called the store afterward, fuming with anger about the whole situation. Our manager wasn’t having any of it and ended up banning him from placing any more orders. It was a strange experience, but it just goes to show how important it is to keep things safe and not put yourself in a situation that feels off.

Delivery Dilemma Detour

At the pizza shop where I used to work, we had a pretty diverse menu beyond just pizzas and pastas. But there was this one customer who always seemed to have a knack for causing trouble. He would place his order, and then, without fail, he’d call us claiming that something was missing.

It didn’t take long for us to recognize this pattern. Each time he ordered, we braced ourselves for his inevitable complaint. On one of those last occasions, he pulled the same stunt again. Our boss finally had enough and confronted him. He explained that three different staff members had double-checked his order to make sure everything was included. And you know what? They had!

But this guy wasn’t having it. He insisted that we clearly hadn’t done a thorough check. At that point, our boss decided it was time to take action and put him on the banned list. It was a relief, honestly. No one wants to deal with a customer who’s always looking for a reason to complain!

Coupon Confrontation Cop-Out

When I was 24, I had a pretty intense encounter with a guy who was absolutely furious with me. He started yelling about not delivering a complimentary dessert and an extra pie that he claimed he was entitled to thanks to a coupon. He was so worked up that he practically turned bright red, and at one point, he even threatened me with physical violence if I didn’t go back and get his stuff.

Just when things were getting really heated, a police officer happened to be passing by and overheard the whole situation. Thank goodness for that! The officer stepped in, which definitely helped diffuse the tension. I felt really lucky to have that support because dealing with people like him is not what I signed up for. Honestly, my pay isn’t nearly enough to handle such ridiculous behavior!

Checkmate Check Chaos

I saw a couple trying to pay a $113 bill with a check, even though our store had a strict no-check policy. It turned into quite the debate! The boyfriend started insisting he was a direct descendant of the person who started our franchise, which wasn’t true at all. Our store wasn’t even owned by that person.

Things got even crazier when the girlfriend ripped up the check right in front of me after we told them we wouldn’t accept it. They then threatened to take legal action, which led the owner to call the cops. In the end, I had to bring all the food back to the store, and since we couldn’t use it, we ended up donating it to a nearby fire department. It was a wild day, to say the least!

Timing Terrors Trio

I ordered a pizza at 9:45 PM and showed up a minute early, at 9:44 PM, only to find the place empty. When I called, the guy on the other end told me he was over 20 minutes away and then had the nerve to scold me for being early. To top it off, I got another call saying my delivery would be delayed by an hour. So, I ended up waiting 62 minutes longer than expected, which was pretty frustrating.

Then there was another guy who ordered a pizza and garlic bread. I decided to change my order to a platter, which includes half a pizza with fries and coleslaw, while keeping the garlic bread. But when he received his order, he called the shop to complain that it was wrong and asked for a replacement. They told him to return the original order when they sent the new one, but instead, he just gave the food to his kids! He couldn’t understand why he wasn’t getting a free second order. It was a whole mess!

Sleepy Pizza Woes

I remember this one customer who had a habit of ordering food and then falling asleep right after. No matter how hard we tried to wake him up, he just wouldn’t budge. It was such a hassle for us! We’d leave the shop with a bunch of deliveries, only to waste time trying to rouse him.

There were a few times when he finally woke up—like four hours later—and would call to ask where his food was. Since we were working late hours, it was a bit of a nightmare. After this happened about five or six times, we finally got the green light to only take his orders if he was actually there to receive them.

And then there was this other guy who would always tip us with bags filled with coins. It was so annoying! We didn’t ban him or anything, but everyone really disliked that guy. It just made our jobs more frustrating.

Pizza Scam Shuffle

There was this one time when a customer ordered pizza around midnight, but when I got there, the place was completely empty. I tried calling the number he provided, but no one picked up. So, I went back to the store. Then, I found out that he had called in to give a different address, so I headed over there.

When I arrived, the guy claimed that the manager had told him he was entitled to free pizza. It sounded pretty sketchy to me, so I decided to call the manager myself. He was pretty straightforward and said, “Absolutely not.” After a few back-and-forths, I finally got the guy to pay for his pizza, but not before he tried to bribe me for a freebie. He even shared a laugh with the manager about it, but in the end, he got his details taken off our delivery list. Lesson learned, I guess!

Care Home Chaos

We had to put our foot down with the staff at a nearby nursing home. They kept placing orders for pickup but wouldn’t show up to get them. It was frustrating because it wasted our time, money, and food. So, we decided to stop all deliveries to them and told them they had to pay over the phone if they wanted to pick up their orders. It was a necessary move to keep things running smoothly!

Pizza Price Ploy

While I was studying, I worked as a delivery driver. One day, I arrived to find out that it would take 31 minutes for my pizzas to be delivered. I had to clarify that the restaurant wasn’t ours, and I told them their total came to 45 units for six pizzas.

They were not happy and insisted that the pizzas they received weren’t what they ordered. I agreed that the pizzas were wrong, but then they suggested we should just get them for free next time. I explained that we couldn’t provide the boxes without charge and that there was a fee of $15 per box.

Frustrated, he told me to leave, and I firmly told him not to contact me again. It was one of those days where you just shake your head and move on!

Delivery Drama Diaries

Wow, it sounds like you’ve dealt with some really intense situations! There were multiple incidents of credit card theft and shortchanging, which is just outrageous. One time, a customer got so frustrated that they poured water on a driver—can you believe that?

We also had to permanently ban someone for stalking two of our staff members, which is just unacceptable. There was another individual who sent an inappropriate image to a driver, and we banned them on the spot. One couple was banned for complaining about refunds while they were still eating half of the food we provided.

We also had our share of counterfeit cash issues and even a carjacking incident. Honestly, it’s hard to remember everything because it was such a wild ride! It really shows the challenges that come with the job, but it definitely keeps things interesting.

Absolutely! The stories from pizza delivery drivers reveal a lot about the unpredictability of the job. It’s not just about delivering food; it’s about managing quirky, and sometimes downright bizarre, customer interactions. The reasons for delivery bans often range from the ridiculous to the downright outrageous, showcasing the challenges drivers face beyond just getting the pizza to the door.

These anecdotes not only entertain but also highlight the resilience and patience required in the profession. Drivers often go above and beyond to ensure customers are satisfied, all while navigating unexpected hurdles. By sharing these experiences, we get a fuller picture of what it’s like to be on the front lines of food service, deepening our appreciation for their hard work and dedication.