Ridechicago

Every day in Chicago I see guys, whom I'd assume were bike messengers at one point, delivering Potbellys sandwhiches on bikes. What's up with this? Are the tips that good? Are those giant bags comfortable? I always see that black guy with the dread helmet going super fast up & down Wicker Park. Any insight?

glomarduck

I think thats a delivery boy.

pitboss

I bet you have a Franz Ferdinand T-shirt. But at least that guy carrying sandwiches has a job.

dolface

does this help? https://www.potbelly.com/p_clip15.html

qmsdc15

Let's see you call him boy to his face. He might have a message to delivery to you at that point.

glomarduck

If he wants to rock we will rock. You know like a death drag.

Ridechicago

Carrying Sandwhiches...a job? ****. Why don't you just line up at Home Depot at 5am. Hell, sell Snickers bars in the middle of Damen & Fullerton? Even better, get a bucket and a squeegee.

pitboss

relax - that was not directed at you toughguy. glomarduck has no job. hence my comment. end

glomarduck

Yep no job.

SamHouston

Carrying sandwiches on a bike is a job. It also prevents it being done in a car or van. Best not to be too proud until you're crowned. I haven't worked for anyone but me in years and one of the main reasons is that I'm not too proud to do a job that isn't seen as "skilled" or "professional".

qmsdc15

What are you talking about? The tips are excellent and the large bag is very comfortable. Sorry dude, they are looking for people smart enough to spell sandwich correctly to do that job.

absntr

THat guys kicks arse. He's got a beautiful Cannondale track bike. One of these days, I'm going to chat with him, he's occasionally in Filter hanging out. I see the Potbelly folks quite a bit.

If you break it down, it's probably comparable to messengering - runs are probably shorter, tips as good or better as the commision you'd make off a run as a "real messenger" (think about how much you tip for pizza or Chinese) and you don't quite have to deal with downtown traffic.

allikzar

You should see the one he gave to his girl. That dude you are talking about is one
of my boys. He works his ass off to pay the bills. If you have a question ask him next
time you see him, nicest guy you'll meet, if you can catch up.

For the company, it is not potbellys that the guys/gals work for,
they work for another company and don't have to deal with potbellys
corporate.

samg

yeah that dude is insane.

potbelly delivery is pretty decent. No fees to deal with. sandwich for every shift. go home with cash every day. not much pressure. I enjoy it a lot. and the bags arent so bad. Lots of large catering orders too.

and as far as saying its not a job:
Downtown at lunch time is great.

but riding miles around bucktown at night in the cold rain (snow is much more comfortable) is some kind of work. somehow. jerk.

salome

Maybe I'm just pissed off because I slept in and am currently sitting at home while the tour takes place ...

Maybe one shouldn't be so quick to judge ...

I second/third/whatever all the people sticking up for the potbelly's delivery people, esp. J in Wicker Park. You can make some decent money in a day if you have enough deliveries. You get a basic salary and then tips and delivery charge. They work for ballistic and are 'contracted' out to potbelly's. I think the pay scheme is different at each potbelly's. Like in wicker park the base salary is 7$/hr and downtown I think its lower.

However I know that you're not completely free from the wrath of corporate. Another good friend of mine worked for a potbelly's downtown, made a delivery one day, didn't get tipped and swore and flipped off the building as he rode away, no actual person just the building. someone saw this and called potbelly's and corporate responded by firing him.

I'll probably be filling in a bit for J sometime next month/february when he goes away so watch your mouth.

jordache

What, you guys get tips?

sohi

i am getting hungry

samg

well if you decide to be an idiot and go off on a client for not tipping, you're going to get fired. the fact is there are a lot of people who dont tip. The dude who contracts with potbelly to provide delivery services takes pride in providing a good service, and is trying to be more customer service oriented I guess. most stores dont have hourly pay.
Potbelly riders also have the option (if they feel it wise) to go out and promote their stores to bring in more delivery revenue

yes there are tips. and sometimes pretty decent tips. Orders over $100 (which there are a lot of) start at $10 (10%) tip and go up from there. on occasion there are catering orders over $1000. You do the math. there is also a piece of delivery fees.

comming home with a wad of cash every day is nice too.

samg

good luck- downtown is nice and easy compared to bucktown. bucktown is a pain.. too many one way and dead ending streets. unless you know the area, bring a map. The coordinate book wont help out that much. The tips are not bad up there, however.

jordache

This sounds better than dropping off legal breifs and architecture rolls to busy secretaries all day.

salome

I was just saying he was outside of the building. He didn't "go off" on anyone in particular and no one would have seen him if they weren't specifically looking at him. Basically potbelly's corporate are complete asses

samg

you're right. still i'd say ive worked for a lot worse.

salome

agreed

rwan

i used to deliver "jimmy johns" sandwiches. i still work at jimmy johns, but no more delivery.

the tips sucked.


tip the delivery carrier, people. it's actually a more stressful job than you might think.

jasonyates

That was Sandro huh?

Anyways, I didn't know there were such heated opinions here about sandwich delivery.. What exactly was the point of this topic to begin with?

-Jason