A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:This isn't a relationship question but I would like the honest opinions if the people here on dearcupid. I am a 20 year old girl and a college student. I have been hired as a part time pizza delivery driver for a local pizza place. At first I was all for it and very excited to do something new as I've been a cashier for the past 2 years and I've been extremely bored. However I've told my parents and brother and they were very much against this saying they believe this would be very dangerous for me especially being a female. They say delivery drivers are often robbed and shot and they really don't want me to go through with this. I've been pretty scared since then. On the other hand my 2 friends have been delivering pizzas for some time now and say they have never had any problems and they get great tips on weekends. So I'm very conflicted here and unsure of what to do. I start my training tomorrow and I was going to at least give it a try for a few days? I live in a relatively safe area but I guess you never know. Do you guys think I should try it out or back out of this? Do you think I would get hurt? Reply to this Question
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female
reader, femmenoir  +, writes (30 September 2015):
 Hi,
I used to be a pizza delivery girl and i didn't enjoy it, from a safety standpoint.
Please deliver with caution, if you do decide to go ahead with it.
What i found, was that men in general, would give me a hard time, after i knocked on the door.
Many would comment on my looks and a number of younger guys actually asked me to come inside, or to come back after my shift.
They didn't actually physically harrass me, but by way of word, they did and it made me feel slightly edgy and uncomfortable.
I did the job for a bit of cash on the side by night, whilst i was at Uni by day, but it didn't last long for me.
I gave up for good, after only 3 mths of weekly part-time work.
I have to admit, i often felt very scared and unsafe, especially as i approached some homes.
In fact, i'm amazed, even to this day, that i remained within the industry for 3 mths.
Speaking of pizze deliveries, there was a very sad and disturbing story, from the UK, that was about two female police officers.
They were called out to a home, supposedly because those within the home, required police assistance, but when the two female officers arrived at the house door and knocked, the numerous male occupants inside, grabbed them both, dragged them inside and killed both officers.
You really have to keep your eyes open at all times, especially in this sector of work, as you are either riding, or driving to 'random strangers' homes and you cannot predict how they will behave, or what they will say.
I don't mean to scare you, nor sound paranoid and i don't mean to 'label' 'every man' obviously, but you don't know if they're holding a weapon behind the door, or how many men will be present after you arrive.
I once delivered to a house, whereby approx 6 men came to the door when i knocked and they were all pretty trashed.
Always carry your mob ph with you and make sure it's fully charged prior to your shift.
If ever you're in danger, dial the emergency no in your area and ask for immediate police assistance.
Also, you could ask one of your immediate family members, to drive around with you, whilst you deliver on your 'FIRST' shift, just as backup, incase something should suddenly happen.
They can watch you from the street, whilst inside their car, even if just for an hour or two and if you feel safe enough, you tell them and they can drive away.
Please look after youself and be safe. Your family and friends would be devastated if anything should happen too you, especially if it could have been prevented.
Always better to be pre-prepared and better to be safe than sorry.
I know you must get out and live and anything could happen to you from anywhere really, but obviously your risks of endangerement increase, when you deliver pizza at night.
All the best and let us know how you get on. :-)
A
female
reader, So_Very_Confused +, writes (29 September 2015):
 My brother was a pizza delivery guy for ONE day. He was held up at gun point and that was it for him. He was in a moderately bad part of town when it happened... not the best from far from the worst.
Not helpful I know but it's reality.
Good luck.
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A
female
reader, YouWish +, writes (29 September 2015):
 OH! Almost forgot - since he was in a college town, he got paid extra tips by drunk pizza eaters who thought he could double duty as a cab driver and take them a couple of miles to their place because it was on the way back to his restaurant. One of them nearly puked in his car, but my older brother got $50.
I think you'll be fine! You are lucky to have a family who cares for you, which is why they worry. Do the pepper spray thing at least and stay available to them by phone.
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A
female
reader, YouWish +, writes (29 September 2015):
Both of my brothers delivered pizza when they were teenagers. I called my older brother about your question, and he said that the worst things that happened to him were some drunk college students trying to stiff him out of paying for his pizza (this was before the age of cell phones), and a couple of aggressive large dogs.
Otherwise, people really love pizza, and generally order it because they want to eat it, not to play games.
I asked about advice for you, because you're a girl, and he said "It depends on which territory she's delivering. If it's a suburb, she'll be just fine. Same with a college town, like I did. You get a lot of drunk people in dorms, but you just help them count out their cash to pay you."
I asked about defense for you, and he suggests pepper spray and turning on you location finder on your phone. Keep your keys in hand so if you run into trouble, you're not running to your car and fumbling for them.
He mentioned wear and tear on your vehicle as well, and while it goes without saying, keep lots of small bills for making change. He said if you're worried about getting robbed, carry very little money, and in taser-legal states, you may want one.
It's more likely that you'll come across parties wanting you to "join in" rather than bad stops. My brother once got $100 tip from some rich kid's party where they dared him to drink 5 shots in 10 seconds (stupid!). He did it, got the tip, went outside, puked most of it up, and then bought gum to try and hide the smell when he got back to Pizza Hut.
My brother thinks you'll have a blast unless your territory is in a high crime area like East St. Louis. I think you should go for it. I never did it because when I was young, I vowed never to work in food service because my brothers would come in reeking of onions and stuff. I have nothing against food service people, as all of my friends were in it, but I found my strengths in other sectors like retail.
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A
male
reader, Denizen  +, writes (29 September 2015):
 I have no experience of pizza delivery so my advice is limited. I imagine working after dark increases the risk from felons. If you are on a motor scooter or similar you are also at risk from road accidents.
My best advice would be to do the training and see how they answer your questions. If you are still uncomfortable with it turn down the job.
I think if you take the job you should also make yourself look as nondescript as you can. Wear your crash helmet and be prepared. Lone females are always at risk alone at night as you already are aware.
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A
male
reader, no nonsense Aidan +, writes (29 September 2015):
This may have happened to some pizza deliverers, but then it will have happened to all manner of others too because crime does happen. The question to ask is whether delivering pizza is in itself more risky than just going about your daily business. I think you obviously have to be sensible, and if you are then I don’t see that you’re at any greater risk of crime because of your job. Stay at the door and don’t allow yourself to go in to a house out of a public area. Your family are obviously worried, but the harsh truth is that if you want to be completely safe all the time you’d never leave the house. I think you should give it a go and see how you feel after a few days. They will probably cover safety in your training and that might make you feel better.
I wish you all the very best.
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A
female
reader, Ivyblue +, writes (29 September 2015):
 Only a crystal ball can tell if you are going to get hurt but the chances in this type of work are higher.I wouldn't let my child, male or female do it. What about making the pizza? Good on you for wanting to get some work while you study but honestly I'd be looking for something else
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