I gave him five stars and left a positive review, explaining how carefully he had protected my order during the storm. I also asked that his excellent service be recognized.
A few days later, I saw him again
at the Chinese restaurant while picking up dinner after work. He recognized me immediately and joked about how unusual it was to see me outside. We laughed about the incident, and I asked whether he had seen my review.
He thanked me and explained that positive ratings mattered more than many customers realized. His account had been affected by complaints about late deliveries during the storms, and my comment had helped him.
That surprised me. I had never considered how quickly a customer’s judgment could affect someone’s work. If I had seen only the wrong address or the driver opening his delivery bag, I might have assumed the worst and left a negative review without understanding what was really happening.
The experience taught me how important it is to look beyond first impressions. People make mistakes, face difficult circumstances, and sometimes have to solve problems that customers never even notice.
A little patience and understanding can make a real difference.
I still order delivery, and I still keep an eye out for my food when the driver gets close. However, I no longer pretend to be away from home when I am sitting just a few feet from the door.
Whenever I hear someone complain that delivery drivers no longer care about their work, I remember Luis standing under my neighbor’s porch in the pouring rain. He thought his customer was nowhere nearby, and he had every reason to finish the delivery quickly and move on. Instead, he carefully dried every container, replaced the ruined bag, and used his own jacket to protect someone else’s dinner.
